Over the past decade there is increased use of distance education.  In our church body, one could especially note the advent of the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program in 2007.  Approximately 1/3 of the new students at our seminaries in the past two years have been distance education students.

AP reported last month that Americans’ job satisfaction fell to a record low.  “We can’t get no job satisfaction.”  A new survey found only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their work.  Worker dissatisfaction, it was reported, “has been on the rise for more than two decades.”  Wow!  What is the satisfaction level for church workers?  Last fall What a Way surveyed church workers asking “How satisfying is your church career?”  The result was incredible!  93% satisfaction rating!  70% of the respondents said very satisfying, and 23% said somewhat satisfying.   Perhaps we could encourage more people to consider a church career.  Why not think of becoming a joyful worker?

I just learned of the report from “The DCE Career Path Project Team,” and I think that this team and its project may have wonderful implications for our work in What a Way.  It will certainly be of interest to our church workers and to congregational leadership.

Rather than rehearse the details of the project and its findings, I direct you to this Web site: http://dcecareerpath.wordpress.com/

Phase II of the project will begin in 2010 and will focus on individuals who have been congregational DCEs for 13 years or more.

I learned from Terry Dittmer, LCMS Director of Youth Ministry, that in 1980, for the first national youth gathering, our pool of eligible youth was about 220,000 15-19 year olds.  Thirty years later we are looking at a pool of about 100,000 14-19 year olds, fewer than half of what we had in 1980.   We are an aging church.  By the grace of God, members are living longer.  But will our church always include teens?  What is reality?  We need to make youth ministry a priority, and we need to find ways to bring un-churched and marginally churched young people into our churches.  We need children and youth NOW; our children and youth need to be a church priority.  They are the future pastors, teachers, and other leaders for our church.

Today I met with nine wonderful leaders of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO.  Using only their baptized names for this public message, Tom, Sheri, Ryan, Mike, Jeff, Jennifer, Gerrit, Doug, and Dave worked intently to begin development of a pilot program for congregations to use What a Way resources and rebuild a lifestyle and culture fostering active recruitment and energetic retention of church workers.  When will it be available?  These nine have the goal to develop this congregation model by January 2011.  Stay tuned!  God bless these significant leaders!

As I muse at year’s end, I reflect on my life goals.  No set of life goals is complete without targeting some form of joy.  Bringing joy to others is pure and noble.  Unselfish concern for the well-being of others brings joy.  I find that imparting joy to others brings real joy.  Although it costs me thinking time, emotional outlay, and action garbed in physical and monetary clothes, it returns much more in joy.

Suffering is the opposite of joy.  If joy brings a bubbly spirit and a smile, suffering wrinkles the face and makes the spirit cry.  Note, however, suffering is a part of life for without it there is no growth.  Suffering is a great teacher.  Someone said that we can tell if we are on the right path if it is upgrade; as long as we keep moving upgrade we know that suffering is keeping us on track.  Life has plenty of suffering.

That you not get suffering overload, think of Christ who, suffering in your behalf, gives you the joy of His strength in time of suffering.  Feel His presence in the food of His feast and in the fellowship of His flock.  Act on Christ’s grace and joy in you as you give these gifts to others.  Happy New Year!

Today I finished a 20 slide Power Point Presentation with Notes on Christian Vocation.   Junior and Senior high schoolers and college aged persons are the intended target audiences.  If you could use this resource for the church you serve, the youth group, college student ministry, or other event, please contact me.  I will gladly share it with you.

I also have a  Bible Study on Christian Vocation that is available free.

In talking to a fellow pastor about service in the church today, he said something that sticks with me about the main troubles in the field.  He said they are 1. isolationism and 2. spiritual life.  What do you think?

Pastors and parishes will benefit from the shift noted by Rev. Larry Harvala from preparing students to “forming servants” in theological education.  His article is in For the Life of the World, CTS, Fort Wayne, December 2009, “Forming Servant Pastors.”

David Weidner gives us something to think about and perhaps comment on, namely, “Challenges Facing DCE Ministry,” in the Fall 2009 Issues in Christian Education:

1. The matter of educating the congregations about the vital role of DCEs.  What is a DCE and what can he or she do for the congregation?  DCE training programs at the six Concordia Universities that offer the program have done a great deal to advance the ministry.

2. Discussion of the long-term viability of the profession.  Can an individual continue to be effective as a parish DCE as she or he ages?

3. Another phenomenon impacting the question of longevity is the movement of individuals out of congregationally-based DCE ministry.  Of the 1700 plus individuals certified as DCEs, only 630 remain serving as DCEs in a congregation.

4. In this current economic downturn a major challenge facing numerous DCEs is job security.

5. At the level of actual practice there are practical challenges:  impact of technology on families and teens, new congregational governance structures, team ministry and its tapestry of unique gifts and talents.

“The future is bright for DCEs,” David concludes.  Give the article a read!