Yesterday, Today, and Forever!

1. Yesterday, Today, and Forever! Bishop Wayne Miller Metropolitan Chicago Synod

2. Jesus Christ the Same????? • If Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today and forever… • Why was he so hard to recognize??

3. Transformations: Somber reality • Today • We are a synod of 180 congregations • In 2016 we reported 83,000 baptized members • Nearly ONE HALF of our congregations cannot support a full time pastor • Yesterday • In 1988 we were a synod of 250 congregations: in 2007, 206. • In 2007 we reported 110,000 baptized members • Most congregations could support a building and a full time pastor

4. Form and substance • The vision is the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever: • We are here to blanket the territory of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod with Christian disciples joyfully bearing witness to the love and power of Jesus

5. Form and substance • The form MUST change: • We may never again be a synod of 250. • We may not be able to support all our buildings • We may not be able to support the same professional leadership structure in the same way • ADAPTING TO CHANGE IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REFORMING CHURCH IN 2017

6. Signs of Hope: adaptive change • Today • We have invested $287,429 in congregational renewal through TSI • We have invested $145,000 in adaptive leadership development through Intentional Impact • We have launched 8 new communities on the Affiliated Mission Community model • Yesterday • In 2007 we had no intervention strategy for congregational renewal • In 2007 we had no organized leadership development strategy • In 2007 we had no viable model for starting new communities

7. More Signs of Adaptive Change • OPEN HANDS OPEN HEARTS will be transformed for 2017 • INTENTIONAL IMPACT is moving more deeply into congregations as a leadership development tool • A MISSIONARY TRAINING SCHOOL has been developed under the leadership of Redeemer Park Ridge and is supported by a MISSION PLANTERS’ NETWORK

8. Investing in forever • We cannot LIMIT ourselves to the FORM of 250 congregations • Clinging to broken forms suffocates mission • We can work toward 100 congregations with 300 “preaching points”

9. Investment strategy #1: Strong Congregations • We need 100 congregations that are actively engaged in new approaches to evangelical expansion • The TSI initiative will continue to support congregations looking for ways to do this • Intentional Impact leadership development must become part of the culture of these congregations

10. Investment strategy #2: New community starts • A significant number of these 100 strong congregations will need to embrace some form of the AMC new community strategy: • Instead of just assimilating individuals into our congregation we walk in accompaniment with new communities

11. Investment strategy #3:cultivating generosity • These 100 strong congregations MUST be engaged in teaching and living the principles of abundant and generous living • The new form of OPEN HANDS OPEN HEARTS might help… but with or without it, we are never done teaching this

12. Investment strategy #4:New models for leadership • Actively seeking leaders for seminary preparation is necessary but insufficient • Current work with ELCA colleges to build “double majors” in church leadership and other employable skills • Seminary and candidacy will be concurrent with congregational leadership rather than pre-requisite

13. Investment strategy #5:Peace and justice • We must lead the culture beyond hostility and combat or we are simply a new expression of the PROBLEM • Develop skills and opportunities for respectful listening. • Anti-Racism is foundational to all future engagement around justice and peace. • Find common ground by focusing on children and families

14. Investment strategy #6:From income to wealth • Our form is changing: • Congregations are smaller • Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few • Need is growing among those with no wealth • Christ calls us to the margins • Growth in the weekly offering plate is necessary but insufficient to fund our cherished missions

15. Investment strategy #6:From income to wealth • Through several large and unexpected gifts, totaling over $4 Million, the synod finds itself in a position to build a more diverse endowment funding strategy • Endowments must be used to fund mission that CANNOT be supported by the offering plate alone • A more diversified endowment strategy will invite more congregations and individuals to participate

16. Investment strategy #6:From income to wealth • Fund for Mission • Begun by Bishop Kenneth Olsen in 1997 with a goal of $5 Million endowment principal • Seed grants to congregations for new mission • Fund goal reached with a large gift from building sale by Bethel, Palatine

17. Investment strategy #6:From income to wealth • Fund for Mission • To date, fund has given $1,768,040 in congregational grants! • With TSI , AMC, Re-development, Churchwide Partnership and Leadership grants, synod has given over $6 Million in mission grants since 2007 • The $5 Million fund balance will allow us to indefinitely fund 4 AMCs each year

18. Investment strategy #6:From income to wealth • Advocate/ MCS Poverty Endowment • Begun this year with unrestricted one-time partnership gift from Advocate Health Care: $1.5 Million • Designated by Synod Council as endowment for mission on the margins, where self-sustaining congregation models are difficult or impossible

19. Investment strategy #6:From income to wealth • MCS Campus Ministry Endowment • Begun by Synod Council this year with a goal of $2 Million principal • Earnings will provide ongoing support for the campus ministries of the synod

20. Investment strategy #6:From income to wealth • Leadership Development Fund • Currently under development by Synod Council with goal of $1 Million principal • Still under consideration: • Should this be clergy focused? • Should this be lay leadership focused? • Should this be used to develop more opportunities for our rostered Word and Service ministers?

21. Investment strategy #7:Partnership • Greater Impact together than alone: • ELCA World Hunger • Wheat Ridge • Related Foundations • Ecumenical/ Interfaith partnerships • Community Engagement

22. Investment strategy #7:Partnership • REGULAR MISSION SUPPORT from congregations is still first and essential… • 52 congregations of this synod INCREASED their regular mission support this year!!!

23. A bright forever begins today!