Report of the Director of Evangelical Mission

Director of Evangelical Mission Report to the West Virginia – Western Maryland Synod Assembly
May 2023

From where does the funding for the Director of Evangelical Mission (D.E.M.) come?
The position of the D.E.M. is supported through your mission support to the ELCA. In order to coordinate the partnership between the ELCA’s churchwide ministries and the 65 synods of this church, Directors for Evangelical Mission serve in positions shared by both of these expressions of this church. They are fully churchwide staff who are fully embraced by synods. My position in the Synod is 0.5 FTE.

What is the role of the Director of Evangelical Mission?
As your Director of Evangelical Mission, I serve under the guidance of the Bishop. The 4 areas of focus include, but are not limited to:

• Missional vision and planning for the synod
• Mission development or “new starts”
• Congregational renewal or “redevelopment”
• Mission Support and stewardship
  

MISSIONAL VISION AND PLANNING FOR THE SYNOD

In November of 2022, the Synod Council held its annual board retreat in Wheeling WV. The topic we explored for the retreat was “What is the purpose of the synod?” The retreat facilitator was Pastor Harold “Jake” Jacobson, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Evangelical Mission for the Northwestern PA Synod and pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Clarion PA.

The role of the Synod was then defined as… “God’s people gathered by the Holy Spirit to support the work of the church by: Fostering community and communication; Developing and equipping leaders; and Providing support for ongoing discipleship.”

As the Director of Evangelical Mission, part of my call is to work alongside the Bishop and the Synod Council to find ways in which we can support the congregations in living out their visions for mission.

MISSION DEVELOPMENT OR “NEW STARTS”

At the current time, there are no new mission starts on the territory of the WV-W MD Synod.

CONGREGATIONAL RENEWAL OR “REDEVELOPMENT”

Of the 4 responsibilities listed under the purview of the DEM, this one receives the most attention. I, alongside the Bishop, work with the congregations to explore new forms of cooperation with other local Lutheran congregations as well as our Ecumenical partners. “Renewal” happens when a congregation has functioning committees and is seeking to breathe new life into existing structures. “Redevelopment” happens when congregations are willing to look at those existing structures and decide that a new structure is needed.

Redevelopment can take different forms. Often this includes changing the model of the congregational call itself. Some of the models include: Parish, Federated, and Union. Other arrangements include Mergers, Consolidation, House Church, Synodically Authorized Worshiping Communities, and Independent Congregations. Redevelopment may also mean Holy Closure. For more information on each of these, please contact me.

Redevelopment conversations are difficult but necessary. Changes to the ELCA assignment process for graduating seminarians, relocation challenges for families from outside our region, retirements with few retired ministers remaining in the synod, along with other challenges, means our congregations without pastors need to think creatively. Questions are our friends… How can we cooperate with each other to better utilize our resources? What is the role of an expanded lay leadership program? Are there people who feel called to the ministry but need an alternative route such as Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM)?

As I work alongside Bishop Riegel in helping the congregations, we often hear one fear that sets the initial tone for this conversation. People think the synod wants to close their congregation so we can have their congregations money and buildings. Please hear me…Bishop Riegel and I do not want to close your congregations. We cannot close your congregations. We will walk with you on the journey to find every possible solution that will keep your congregation functioning if that is a viable option. When an ELCA Lutheran church closes, the community loses an important voice for today’s world. The community loses a generational witness to grace filled lives through faith and how faith has helped people through hard times.

MISSION SUPPORT AND STEWARDSHIP

The synod would not exist without your faithful stewardship. Your mission support dollars make the ministries of the Synod possible and they support ELCA ministries on national and global levels.

Your support of the ministries affiliated with our Synod is crucial for their ability to serve.

• WVU Campus Ministry
• Community Lutheran Partners
• Camp Luther
• United Lutheran Seminary (formerly Gettysburg)
  

Your support of the Rostered Leaders Fund helps to offset the debt our pastors incurred during college and seminary. This is a unique offering of our synod that has helped relieve the burden of debt for several of our pastors.

Your support also helps the larger church serve as Christ’s hands and feet around the world.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Clergy Continuing Education Committee – The Continuing Education Committee consists of 1 representative from each conference and the Bishop as an advisory member. It is the responsibility of the committee to plan the continuing education events for the synod clergy. Rostered leaders are expected to complete 50 hours of continuing education each year.

In November 2022, we met at Cacapon State Park. Bishop Craig Satterlee was our presenter. In February 2023 we met at North Bend State Park and Pastor Jake Jacobson presented. Plans are underway for the Fall 2023 event.

Worship leadership – I continue to travel around the synod leading worship as requested. For the spring/summer of 2023, I will also be serving as the interim for the Mountain Lutheran Parish.

In conclusion, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Director of Evangelical Mission. I am grateful to Bishop Riegel for our partnership in serving the congregations of the WV-W MD Synod.

Yours in Christ,
The Rev. Sherri Schafer
Director of Evangelical Mission
WV-W MD Synod, ELCA