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MINISTRY IN DAILY LIFE
Ideas from ELCA Congregations
Here are a number of ideas about ways congregations can nurture ministry
in daily life, as reported in a survey conducted by the Division for Ministry
of the ELCA.
These suggestions are not just theoretical. The congregations have used
them in practice. they occur within existing congregational structures
and programs (e.g., confirmation, worship, adult education) and are not
"add-ons." For further information, contact Sally Simmel, division
for Ministry, 8765 West Higgins road, Chicago IL 60631-4195, e-mail ssimmel@elca.org,
phone 800-638-3522, etc. 2874.
1. Confirmation
- Have an ongoing mentoring program for confirmands that lasts throughout
the confirmation period. Adult mentors are trained and they and their
confirmand partners go into the mentor's workplace, to the confirmand's
workplace, to a neonatal unit and to a cemetery. Sharing faith stories
is central - e.g., police officer mentor talks with confirmands about
"Thou shalt not steal." Mentor is part of confirmation service
along with baptismal sponsor.
- Ask confirmands to make a confirmation stole, with 3 symbols of faith
on one side, 3 symbols of activities in daily life on the other.
2. New Members
- Conduct interviews with all new members to discern their gifts, leading
to specific "callings" to areas of ministry where they want
to grow.
- Use "Monday's Ministers" by William Diehl in member classes
to help new members recognize their callings to ministry in daily life.
- Offer "Discipleship education" for all new members, after
which trained consultants sit down with graduates to discuss how and
when they want to serve.
- Introduce new members to the congregation along with the location
of their ministries in daily life.
- Set explicit expectations for new members, including ministry in daily
life.
3. Worship
- Use material from workplace visits for examples in sermons.
- Have as a regular part of worship a "Mission Minute", a
presentation (perhaps by video) of someone's ministry in daily life.
- Select a "minister of the week" who talks about his or her
ministry during worship, and then that person's ministry is prayed for
during the week. Include children as well as seniors.
- During Lenten services have members give talks about a connection
between a beatitude and daily life or between a scriptural practice
and daily life. This compels lay members to reflect on the intersections
between their faith and daily life.
- On certain occasions during the year worship can center on an occupation
which is recognized and affirmed - e.g., Festival of St. Luke might
feature health care, or on Labor Day, members' occupations recognized
- "love in work clothes."
4. Workplace Visits
- Have the pastor do regular workplace visits to affirm laity and link
Sunday to the workplace.
- Some pastors who do workplace visits regularly say about them: "People
listen more intently because they know I care." "As you get
to know the people, you find out how important their work is, so it
is natural to visit them at work." "I am intentional in touching
'everyday life' for people and not leaving them so along."
5. Vision, Mission, Logos (consciousness raising)
- Vision statements and stewardship emphasis can be vehicles for focus
on ministry in daily life. Consider a year's theme of "Everyone
a Minister," with banners, T-shirts, etc.
- Have a map of the community with pins showing where members spend
their time - "Where in the world is St. Paul's Church?"
- Make a slide show of the daily life ministries of members.
- "Duck Award" - a duck head on a plunger is given monthly
to someone who sticks his or her neck out in faith in some activity
in the world.
- Begin meetings with "What exciting thing happened in your ministry
this week?"
- Use "SPLASH" materials and "Connections: Faith and
Life" (Augsburg-Fortress) with the congregation.
6. Structure
- Reflect ministry in daily life in the congregation's mission statement,
e.g., "The Holy Spirit empowers us for ministry in daily life."
- Where possible have a Director of Member Ministries who helps people
identify their gifts, visits workplaces and works with staff to emphasize
MIDL in all the congregation's work.
- Have a Shared Ministries Committee to include all members in some
area of extended ministry.
- Job descriptions of congregational staff and their evaluations should
include focus on their support of members' ministries in the world.
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