Strengthening, equipping, and encouraging God’s people
Strengthening, equipping, and encouraging God’s people
Seven different groups in Parish Services provide resources, training, and personal assistance to congregations and called workers.
Seven different groups in Parish Services provide resources, training, and personal assistance to congregations and called workers. These services include providing congregations with evangelism tools, such as www.whataboutjesus.com; developing worship publications and workshops; and serving youth through Sunday school, youth rallies, and other programs. Parish Services also supports WELS schools; gives individualized counsel and help to congregations; ministers to institutionalized persons; and serves different adult groups, such as singles, families, and seniors.
“A shift has occurred in the past four to five years,” says Bruce Becker, administrator for Parish Services. “In response to the declining synod budget, we have found different ways of funding our ministry.” Special Ministries, for example, partnered with the North Atlantic Mission Board to create a new civilian chaplain position to enhance its ministry to the military. This call has been accepted by Pastor Paul Ziemer, who will serve military personnel here in the United States but also minister to troops stationed in the Middle East and other areas of conflict.
Another commission, Parish Schools, developed a new supplemental funding program to strengthen Lutheran schools across the country (see page 22). With funds generated by per-student contributions, Parish Schools is able to restore suspended programs and expand services offered to schools, such as accreditation. “The number of schools seeking accreditation is really growing,” says Becker. “Schools want to be recognized for academic excellence on a national level.” By utilizing these and other services, schools are able to highlight strong academics as part of their Christ-centered education.
Likewise, the Commission on Worship, together with Northwestern Publishing House, is expanding resources offered to congregations. Currently they are working on a supplement to Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. Designed to make worship more meaningful, flexible, and satisfying, the supplement will include a variety of new worship material, including 80 to 90 songs, new service settings, an expanded lectionary, and more. This supplement will be first featured at the national worship conference, July 28-31, 2008, in St. Peter, Minn.
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