The Future of DCE Ministry. The future of the Church.

I am headed to Austin, Texas tomorrow to join in the celebration of the retirement of my friend, Paul Krentz.  For over nineteen years Paul has served the Texas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod as a Mission and Ministry Facilitator (MM&F) for Area B (roughly northeast corner of Texas).  Paul and I are both trained and certified as directors of Christian education (DCE).  Under the previous structure, I served the Texas District as parish assistant for youth and education on a part-time basis.  God had other plans for me under the new structure and I moved on to Lutheran High School of Dallas, instead of moving into one of the MM&F positions. 

In some ways I am melancholy about Paul's retirement, because I fear it is the end of an era.  In the 80's and 90"s many DCE's served at both a district and national level.  Some served in MM&F type positions, others were on the Synod's youth ministry staff or were curriculum writers.  One even served as special assistant to the Synod President.   DCE's are trained educators   Some work with children, youth and their families.  Others specialize in adult education.  Many stand on the cutting edge in terms of goal setting and developing strategies.  That skill set should make them attractive to district and synod leaders who were looking for individuals who could equip others.  That has changed over the last ten years.  Paul was one of the few DCE's still serving on a district staff.  To my knowledge, there are none on the national staff.  When those positions are open these days, they filled with pastors.

Do not get me wrong: I am not anti clergy.  How could I be when both of our sons are pastors?  The problem I see is that most pastors are generalist.  Granted, they do have the theological training, but most do not have the background in education and youth ministry.  I would think that in putting together a staff on both a local, district and national level you want individuals who bring a variety of gifts.  Who better understands the needs of millennials?

Some of my DCE peers have even expressed concern about the future of the office of DCE.  One went to far as to say they would not recommend any young person enrolling in a DCE program.  "There is no future for DCE ministry."  If that is the case, I am sad.  I grieve because of the children, teens and parents who might not have the benefit of having a specialist who can minister to them.

Don't Worry about the Competition

We had trouble finding a place to park at church yesterday.  We attend a small, but growing, church plant that worships in the fine arts building at Dallas Lutheran School. On a typical Sunday there are less than fifty of us.  To my surprise, yesterday the streets were parked full and a policeman was directing traffic.  Explanation: The Buddhist Center of Dallas is located next store to the school and yesterday they were celebrating the Buddhist New Year.  The Buddhist Center has an agreement with the school that allows them to use the parking lot, so this week we had to share space.  In this age of religious diversity, it is not  uncommon to find Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu worship centers around Dallas.  Of course, there have always been Mormon houses of worship, along with Christian Science and Jehovah Witness meeting halls.

There are some who find this trend disconcerting.  After all, we think of ourselves as being a "Christian" nation.  I read a report from Pew Research last week that might add fuel to the fire.  Christianity is growing, but not at the rate of other world religions, especially Islam.  The report projected population growth in a forty year period from 2010 to 2050. Islam, in particular, is the fastest growing group.  In 2010, Muslims represented 23% of the world population, but that will swell to 29% by 2050.  Christianity will grow slightly, but because of the increased population in other parts of the world, the percentage of Christians in the world will remain constant at 31.7%. There are some among us who have expressed concern over the growth of Islam in the United States. Some have expressed fear that the Muslims really are intent on taking over our country.

What I find most troubling about this is the fact that Christianity seems to be on the defensive.  In my mind this runs counter to what Jesus intended.  After all, in the Great Commission Jesus commanded his followers to "make disciples of all nations."  (Matthew 28:19)  Our goals should be to share the Good News with all.  We have the only real hope.  Only Christianity is based on the belief that God came down to man, rather than man trying to reach God.  We have a living Savior who forgives our sins.  In marketing terms, we have the ultimate product.  The disappointing thing is that we cannot even maintain our young followers.

In my mind we need to focus on being Jesus' disciples in this world, and not worry about the competition.

RFRA - WWJD

I am having a difficult time with the discussion about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  I  get uncomfortable when religion end up on the front page, because the reference is usually negative.  In my opinion much of the world already has a negative view of us as Christians.  One of the issues that millennials take with the church is that  we are known more for what we are against, than for what we stand for. 

As I understand it, the issue came to the forefront because a bakery refused to provide a cake for a wedding based on their religious principles.  In this case the couple being married were of the same sex.  From a religious perspective,  the baker believed a marriage between people of the same sex goes against the Bible.  While I share that biblical perspective, I have to wonder about the approach. 

I recall the WWJD bracelets that were in style decades ago.  When it comes to extending a ministry or a service to others, would Jesus refuse based on the other persons belief or lifestyle?  In response to the question, "What would Jesus do?" I think the response is he would serve them.  Remember, we have a Savior to reached out to lepers and prostitutes.  He dined with tax collectors and was not opposed to spending time with the Pharisees either.  While we do not know much about the adult years prior to his ministry, we do know he was a carpenter.  I doubt that Jesus refused to build furniture for folks just because they held a different political perspective or lived a lifestyle he did not approve of.

Jesus gave the command to love others.  He demonstrated that love by going to the cross.  When he died, his sacrifice was for all people.  There is no room for a "No Shoes, No Service" sign outside a church.  Likewise there should be no policy that states we refuse to serve gays and lesbians.  They need to know the love of Jesus.  For that to happen we need to have a relationship with them.  Providing service, or selling them a product might just open the door for that to happen.

True Confession, and New Beginnings

It has been a few weeks since new broke of the case of extreme racism by members of a fraternity on the campus at the University of Oklahoma.  I previously reacted reacted to the issue of college Greek organizations and their racial bias.  In this blog I would like to look at the issue from a different perspective.  What are we to do with the two young men whose actions were reflected in the video?  The university has taken action.  They have been kicked out of school.  The fraternity is also gone from campus.  Now how are we, as a society, going to react?   What kind of retribution is going to be administer by the court of public opinion?

Before you are quick to judge and condemn the young men involved, I ask you to remember the sins of your youth.  I remember some of mine and they still haunt me.  I wish I could go back an talk to the girl I wrote a "dear John" letter to.  I wish I could take away some of the damage from the, so called. practical jokes that I got involved it.  I wish I could take back some of the hurtful words that spewed from my mouth.  I wish I had not attached hurtful nicknames to people who did not deserve it.  I wish I had told the truth and excepted the consequences instead of having the habit of lying my way out of difficult situations.

Now that I have spilled my guts, I would encourage you to do some hard thinking about the mistakes you made in your youth.  We have all done them; Cheated on a test,  lied to our parents, told a racial joke or maybe even used a racial slur.

The only difference in the case of the offense in question is the whole world knows about it.  That is the reality of social media.  Both young men have taken ownership of their mistakes and asked for forgiveness.  These men are both in their early twenties.  They both had bright futures in front of them.  The real tragedy might be if we do not allow them to learn from their mistakes and move on. The best way to do that is to stop talking about it.

Easter is Coming... and So are the Millennials

It is no secret that churches see their attendance swell on Easter Sunday.  Some of those folks are worshiping as part of a family gathering, but others might be visitors who are just looking for a place to worship on a day that they feel is sacred.  It is logical to think that some of those visitors might be young adults..  Experts tell us that many millennials are spiritual, even if they do not regularly attend worship.  In some cases they are drawn back to church on Easter because it is something they grew up doing.  So how do we prepare our church members, especially those who are part of the hospitality team, to welcome millennials? 

Do not hand them an information card:  Millennials are reluctant to share personal information until they feel comfortable.  Asking for an email address is not a good idea.  If they have a positive experience and feel their needs have been met, they will come back.  When they are ready, they will share relevant contact information.  

Focus on Gospel, not Law: While this might seem logical, it often is not the case.  We tend to want to remind once a year visitors that we around fifty-two Sundays a year.  We might even feel a sense of disdain toward those who only show up for festival services. That is not what millennials want to hear.  They view faith as a personal thing and might feel spiritual even if they are not attending a specific church on a regular basis.  Offer them a message of hope that is applicable to their situation.

Accept them for who they are: Some millennial visitors might not look like your typical church member.  They tend to dress casual.  Being dressed up might mean a new pair of jeans and collared shirt.  Body piercing and tattoos are acceptable among millennials.  Learn to live with that if you want them to come back.

Stay Traditional: Many millennials, especially those who grew up in the church, enjoy traditional liturgy.  That is especially the case on major festivals. Downplay the guitars and drums on Easter and Christmas.  

Do not expect them back next Sunday: Even if they have a great experience and feel comfortable, they probably are not going to become regular attenders.  The chances are slim that they are looking for a long-term relationship.  Rather they are looking for an accepting environment where their needs met.  When they have a crisis or need ministry, they will contact us if experience indicates they will be accepted unconditionally.

The bottom line is millennial are different.  We need to accept that and love them for who they are, not who we would like them to be.

I Must Admit My Bias

Okay, I will admit that I am biased.  The news out of Norman, Oklahoma last week reminded me of my disdain for fraternities, sororities and the entire Greek system.  This time it is the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of Oklahoma.  It even hits close to home because the two young men at the center of the controversy both are from Dallas.  One of them even graduated from prestigious Jesuit College Prep, the same institution that calls golfer Jordan Speith an alum.

Now I do need to provide a disclaimer.  Our oldest son, Peter, was a member of a fraternity during his time at Texas Christian University.  Beta Upsilon Chi is a Christian fraternity that is sanctioned by the university but not part of the Greek system.  The organization is open to any young man who is a follower of Jesus Christ and who is willing to commit to participating in all activities.  BYX also does not all alcohol at their events.  In spite of that their parties are some of the best attended.

In my mind the big difference in Greek fraternities and Sororities is that they get to hand pick their members.  During rush, those who want to be part of the Greek system try to impress the leaders of the various fraternities and sororities that they are worthy candidates.  The leadership get to decide who is their type and deserves membership. Since the  Equal Right Amendment there has been pressure on Greek organizations to admit People of Color, as well as those from other cultures. The current news story might be proof that admitting people does not mean you need to like them.

Still, the Greek system is part of the culture on most major university campuses.  Many high school graduates head off to college with the intent of pledging to a fraternity or sorority.  That leads us who stand on the sidelines, and that includes parents and grandparents, to underscore our values and ethics. It call for reminding them there are certain things that we will not compromise on.  Racism is certainly a part of that.  It is probably a conversations that two sets of parents in the Dallas area wish they had had.

Did Luther Get it Wrong?

I recently had the opportunity to meet Dr, Chap Clark.  Chap Clark is a professor in the youth ministry department at Fuller Seminary and author of the book Hurt: Inside world of  Today's Teenagers.  I have always respected Chap Clark and consider him a contemporary.  Like myself, Chap has dedicated his entire professional career to ministering to youth. 

Chap Clark was in the area at the invitation of a local Lutheran Church.  I was able to attend a town hall seminar.  It was an interesting mix of public school educators, counselors and church professionals.  I took a number of things away from that day, one of which is a new perspective on Deuteronomy 6.  That is the chapter where the Children of Israel are instructed to teach the Lord's decrees and commands to their Children.  Those precepts are to be passed on from one generation to the next. 

Chap Clark offered an insight into Deuteronomy 6 that I had not heard before.  He pointed out that the Lord's command was given to all the people, "Hear, O Israel."  He also pointed out that the references to "family" and "home" at that time meant the entire community.  The implication being that all those in the community shared the responsibility for passing on the heritage of faith to the next generation.   In my mind that runs counter to what I had always been taught: namely that parents have the primary responsibility for "nurturing their children in the faith." The church is there to assist and support them, but parent are to take the lead.  In the Table of Duties, found at the beginning of the Small Catechism, Martin Luther quotes Ephesians 6:4 in the command to parents, "bring them (your children) up in the training and instruction of the Lord."  The implication is that this is a parental obligation.

 All of this causes me to wonder if Martin Luther somehow got it wrong, or perhaps did not go far enough.  Maybe we should have another entry in The Table of Duties.  To the Church: "The commandments that I give you today are to be upon your heart.  Impress them upon your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)  The implication being that the community of believers has a responsibility to all the children in their midst.  When a child is baptized, they become part of our family.  While the parents have the primary responsibility, we all share in it.  We are all called to mentor young people.  That is not limited to children and teenagers, but young adults as well. 

The challenge now becomes, how do we get older adults to engage in the lives of young people.  For decades, we have allowed senior adult ministry to flourish in a bubble.  Check out the typical church on a Sunday morning.  After the service, the adults are gathered around the coffee pot, the children go to their Sunday school classrooms and the teens head to the "youth room."  And where is the space where the heritage of faith can be passed from one generation to the next?  What formats do we allow where more experienced believers can mentor those who are young?