ELCA Starts Forming Vision, Strategy for Children's Ministry

Chicago (ELCA)-MR — In a room decorated with kites and pictures of children from around the world, 80 people -- children, pastors and staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide office - - gathered at the Lutheran Center here March 4 for the first ELCA Children's Ministry In-House Consultation. A goal of the consultation was to start composing a vision and strategy for ministry among children and families.

"The whole reason why we are here is for children" and to learn "how to bring children into the life of the ELCA," said the Rev. Steven R. Meysing, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wheaton, Ill.

"There are observable indications that many churchwide departments and divisions devote specific attention to children in their vision and strategies for ministry and resource development, but its potential has yet to be actualized within the context of an overall strategy or promotion for children's ministry," said Miriam C. Campbell, associate director for children and family ministries, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries.

"Of the many churchwide units devoted to serving children, youth and adults in the ELCA, we have yet to establish an information base that would define or characterize a full-service priority or intent to nurture children as they grow," said Campbell, an ELCA associate in ministry.

"In keeping with our baptismal intent to nurture and engage children as they grow, it is critical that we attend to them in an intentional, proactive and full-service way, if for no other reason than because it is the privilege and responsibility of every area of congregational ministry to welcome, nurture and engage children right from the start," she said.

In addition to starting a process for the development of a vision and strategy for children ministries, other objectives of the consultation included engaging children and adults in conversation, uncovering the strengths of children and determining needs for ministry, specifying research that might be helpful in creating a stronger commitment to nurture and empower children, and organizing structures for children advocacy, faith formation and leadership development.

Through a video presentation, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, welcomed participants. He said "25 percent of the 5.1 million-member ELCA is children." Hanson was joined by Cynthia Berry- Bailey, 10, Mayra Dumke, 11, and Anna Duran, 11. In the video, the children described the importance of church in their lives.

Other highlights of the consultation included a dramatic presentation called "Once Upon a Pew," which told a story about one child inviting another to church. Adults and children also engaged in group activities designed to share some first memories and impressions of the church, and met separately. In small groups, adults explored how children ministries can fit into the work of the churchwide office, and children engaged in crafts and conversation.

The next step includes documenting the insights that were shared at the consultation, Campbell said. She added that an ELCA churchwide inter-unit staff team for children's ministries will formally organize to help gather resources for the Lutheran Center's library.