13 Ministry Ideas

With 13 Ideas
Gettysburg Seminary
Can help your synod's congregations encourage people to think
Vocation

Synod Newsletter editors are encouraged to use the following paragraphs (one per month)

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From the Rev. Dr. James G. Cobb, Assoc. Dean for Church Vocations and Lifelong Learning, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg

Church Vocation Idea  #1
One pastor gives the following confirmation test/essay question: “Have you ever thought about becoming a pastor? Why or why not? He says that he most enjoys reading the responses and that this gives him insight into what is real/unreal, hesitant/confident, understood/misunderstood about pastoral ministry. Try this question with your youth and enjoy the resulting conversations….
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Church Vocations Idea #2 
In teaching about the church’s creed as the guiding beliefs of our church, divide youth into three groups with time to come back with the creed set to three different styles of presentation. Instruct one group that they must “sing” the creed (perhaps to the tune of a popular song); have one group “cheerlead” the creed and another group set it to “rap.” I think you will be surprised at the creativity but also the learning that takes place.
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Church Vocations Idea #3 
What do youth see as most central to our Christian faith? Divide them into teams with a sheet of newprint and give them this assignment: you are the pastors of a congregation soon to build a church building. Your assignment: design the interior of the worship room/sanctuary. Hopefully, you will find cross (Jesus), bible, bath and meal represented. If not, why not? What other appointments are crucial to the visual conveyance of faith? Good discussion starters, enjoy the conversations…
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Church Vocations Idea #4     Please use in November:

Christmas Vacation: Who comes “home?” Answer: all our college kids/young adults. Therefore, the parish ought to plan a gathering in their honor. Can they provide leadership for the Sunday (s) after Christmas? Can they gather for a meal? Can there be special prayers for this age group? Can someone from campus ministry/synod candidacy or the local pastor give some remarks about vocations in general and church vocations in particular? Can we dare to hope that one or two might consider seminary? Try the event; they will thank you for a special remembrance of them. (And it’s never too early to think about next December)
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Church Vocation Idea #5

What a good idea the WELCA group at First Lutheran Church, Ellicott City, Md. recently had:
for their year end banquet, they hosted all WELCA members, spouses and then had as special guests, any 7th-8th graders (and their parents) who had expressed an interest in church vocations. I was invited to represent the Seminary as a speaker on church vocations. Thank you, to this congregation for a very special event. I know that years from now, the youth will remember that once-upon-a-time, they considered this idea (whether it comes to pass or not!).
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Church Vocation Idea #6        Special Paragraph for January, please:

Every April, the Seminary sponsors an “Open House” weekend for prospective students. Some who come are students who have made application for admission. Others are “inquiring” students who wish for more information or, are just beginning to consider the idea. Across Region 8, in our 8 sponsoring synods, names should pour in to us for these invitations. All rostered persons in our region and, alumni outside the region are invited to send someone from their congregation. In 2001, we had 47 persons plus many spouses attend and many thought this was the best-attended event in years. I think we should be swamped with nominations! We have 1200 congregations in this region. If each one sent one, we couldn’t handle it. But, we haven’t yet had such a problem. Present us with such a problem. Call in the name of a prospective student from your congregation: 1-800-MLUTHER, ext. 3008. We will work out the problems of too many.
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Church Vocations Idea #7 

How many times have I heard this story, so it bears repeating: “Pastor so-and-so sat me down and had a talk and said I should consider seminary.” Yes, that is still the single, most consistent answer I hear when I ask others how they came to sense a call into ministry. To our ministry colleagues I say, ‘I realize there are times when your morale is low and you can’t seem to muster much enthusiasm for ministry and therefore can’t propose the idea to another. I know that sometimes the salaries are discouraging and you think others will back off when that fact becomes known,’ but the reality is this: we need to encourage gifted, faithful people to prepare for the church’s ministry. Some, coming after us, will need to be the ones continuing the apostolic transmission of the story of Jesus. Identify your person. Have the conversation. Be the one they will remember for “sitting them down and telling them to go to seminary.”
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Church Vocations Idea #8 

The church is so well served when the laity expand their vision and experience of “church.” Of the many inventory/assessments that pastors do each year, one evaluation ought to be this: how many of our members in the year past, have been exposed to the wider church? How many attended a conference, synod, region or church-wide event? How many attended a global mission event or seminary ‘lay school of theology?’ What lifelong learning events/speakers/opportunities did our youth and/or adults participate in, beyond our parish? Encourage your congregation to “go and see.” The work and mission of the kingdom extends beyond the local but the local parish will benefit greatly from such immersions. Even candidates for ministry have been known to surface through such experiences. Bulletin boards, newsletters, bulletins, Sunday announcements and your personal support will give such encouragement. Please do so.
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Church Vocations Idea #9

Pastors: This is a very simple idea about encouraging candidates for ministry:
Bring one to campus! Yes, you too can help us to identify and encourage persons for the ministry of the church. The ride to campus will be worth-while in itself. Turn off the cell phone or beeper, get in the car and talk. Once on campus, let us arrange a schedule to attend a class, worship in chapel, meet students and faculty at lunch, take a tour, meet with Vocations staff. (And the congregation will think you are working; why should ‘they’ know that sometimes ministry is fun?).
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Church Vocations Idea #10 

Senior high youth love to hear adults (believe it or not!?) talk about their life’s work. Some of your solid parishioners with good faith articulation ought to come into class and speak about their sense of “vocation.” I have heard great stories from farmers and corporate execs., from accountants to pre-school teachers, doctors and graphic designers, volunteers and sales clerks. This has two advantages at least: youth get to look in over the shoulder of different jobs while they may be considering what will I do with my life. And second, the presenting adult will have to reflect on their ministry in daily life and how work and faith intersect. Develop a segment of curricula on vocations and enjoy the classes.
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Church Vocations Idea #11

How young is too young to think about pastoral ministry? I don’t know the answer to that but a pastor recently told me that he mentions the idea often to the parents of a three year old, who, during childrens’ sermons, always responds with enthusiasm (and often correct answers!) to Biblical questions from Sunday Church School lessons or questions about the worship or liturgy. Are they already thinking about Jesus, faith, Gospel, church? Yes!
I received a picture of a parishioner of mine at First Lutheran, Norfolk, Va., who went to school for “career day” (grade 3) and she and her parents had made a clerical collar, an alb and stole. How I would have enjoyed listening to her explain to fellow students what all of this meant (it was a public school not a parochial school). It was a great picture.
When is a child too young? I don’t know. Some seeds are planted very early in life. (“And a sower went out to sow….”
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Church Vocations Idea #12     Best if used in July or August

Labor Day weekend is a great opportunity to lift up vocations as a way of serving our Lord. Invite parishioners to wear their work clothes to church. Sunday School classes (perhaps combined for a good inter-generational event) can hear various ones speak about their work. Creative persons can put doll displays together as boys and girls might represent various work vocations. “Calling” stories in the Scriptures or listing of various jobs/gifts/talents might be read. Pray for our “workers in the world.” There are numbers of thematic hymns (LBW index, p. 938-939 under ‘society and work, daily,’ so appropriate for celebration). May the labors of our useful work be an offering to our God. May the Church support every member in her or his calling.

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Church Vocations Idea #13 

Please remember our Seminary in the prayers of the Church often. Pray that God continues to raise up and encourage those servant-leaders who will prepare for the ministries of our church. Pray for the faculty, staff and students at Gettysburg Seminary that all will be diligent and faithful in the work of preparing persons for the vocations needed by the Church. You and your congregation’s prayers for us are vital to what we do.