What is Next Steps (Phase One)?
The Commission for Ministerial Growth and Support of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod recently conducted five gatherings of retired/retiring pastors across synod, collecting data that would be helpful in assisting them to serve synod congregations in retirement. The Indiana District was the site for one of these workshops and after it was completed, the district stepped forward and offered to conduct such a pilot project. With funding from the Lutheran Foundation, plans were made to work with congregations and retired/retiring pastors of the north-east region in an effort to give input to the Commission that may be helpful as the trends continue.
On October 1, 2007 the Indiana District “NEXT STEPS PILOT PROJECT” got underway. Nita Voltz of the District office and Rev Dave Dubbelde are part-time staff for the effort and will be working with the 60 congregations served by the Lutheran Foundation and about the same number of pastors. Pastors and congregations are being interviewed in preparation for the establishment of relationships that will allow these men of experience to work with congregations with unique ideas for serving God’s people and reaching out to others who are not yet His own. You input will be valuable to the pilot project as we gauge what we can expect as we approach the retired/retiring pastorate of the LCMS related to their potential involvement in assisting ministry efforts in Synod’s congregations.
Someone mentioned recently that Moses did his best work about his 80th birthday. We are anxious to work with retired pastors who have been blessed to be able to serve, in some cases, for decades. In partnership with them, we pray that NEXT STEPS will be a blessing to our congregations and the people they serve to the glory of God. You can reach NEXTSTEPS at nextsteps@in.lcms.org or 1-800/837-1145 ext 213.
NOTE PROGRESS TO DATE UNDER PHASE TWO, THREE & FOUR