PROSPECTUS KOINONIA 2.0 IN THE MINNESOTA SOUTH DISTRICT

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1 PROSPECTUS KOINONIA 2.0 IN THE MINNESOTA SOUTH DISTRICT Process 1. Koinonia Project 2.0 in the MN South District will produce A Statement of Concord based on the six chief parts of Luther s Small Catechism. The statement will express clearly what we believe, teach, and confess and what we reject within the framework of the six chief parts. Participants will include the pastor(s), a lay person, and a commissioned worker (if the congregation has one) from each district congregation. 2. A one-day colloquium will be held in six locations around the district with each colloquium focusing on one of the six chief parts. Participants will be assigned to one of these locations. Because of lay participation, the colloquium will be scheduled for a Saturday. Because of Saturday evening services at some churches, the suggested time for the colloquium is 9:00a 3:00p. 3. Each colloquium begins with a resource theologian presenting a paper on a specific chief part, emphasizing the significance of that chief part for the church and world today. 4. Following the paper, working groups of nine (comprised of pastors, commissioned workers, and lay people) meet to write statements of agreement and rejection of errors for their assigned chief part. Each working group of nine includes a trained facilitator. Each working group is part of a large group assigned a specific chief part. For a statement to be passed on by the working group to the large group, it must be agreed upon by all members of the working group. The large group in each location is convened by a leader and resourced by a resource theologian. We project that each location will have in attendance with as many as eleven working groups. 5. Following the meetings of the working groups, each of their statements will be shared with the large group. The trained large group leader will facilitate a discussion, looking for commonalities among the statements and further developing the statements where possible. Each colloquium will conclude with worship. 6. At a later date, the six resource theologians meet to bring the statements together into a unified statement of concord on the six chief parts. The statement is both an expression of our concord and a witness to our culture. The six resource theologians are the writers of A Statement of Concord. 7. Finally, all participants gather for a final meeting in one location. The statement developed by the resource theologians is presented with commentary, discussed, and amended where necessary. Final approval of the statement is given. The concordat is signed by participants. 8. The statement is distributed throughout the MNS District.

2 Timeline Fall, 2016: Publicity; Registration; Recruitment and Training of a Resource Theologian from the MNS District, a Large Group Leader, up to Eleven Working Group Facilitators for Each of Six Locations. Saturday, 9:00a - 3:00a, February 18, 2017: Colloquium in Six Locations March-April, 2017: Resource Theologians Meet to Develop Statement Saturday, 9:00a - Noon, May 6, 2017: Plenary Session with Adoption and Signing of A Statement of Concord and Celebration of Concord (Location to Be Decided) Concept Approved by MNS Praesidium & Circuit Visitors Suggested Locations and Assignments (Resource Theologians Not Yet Confirmed) Chief Part Location Ten Commandments Immanuel Lakefield Creed South Shore, White Bear Lake Lord s Prayer Messiah Lakeville Holy Baptism Janesville Confession & Absolution Waconia Sacrament of the Altar Rochester Leader Harold Storm Bob Gehrke Bob Schulze David Mumme Lucas Woodford Dean Nadasdy Resource Theologian Jim Vehling David Lumpp Mark Schuler Tom Trapp Armand Boehme Steve Briel Host Pastor Dan Provost Dan Bodin Matt Wait Larry Griffin Phil Wagner Nate Schwartz

3 KOINONIA 2.0 Resource Theologian 1. Attend the training of leaders and resource theologians on Saturday, January 7, 10:00a- 12 Noon, in preparation for the colloquia on February Serve as one of six resource theologians for pastors, commissioned workers, and lay people attending one of six colloquia on the Six Chief Parts of the Small Catechism, meeting at six locations on February 18, 2017, 9:00a 3:00p. 3. Present a brief paper (30 minutes maximum) at the beginning of a colloquium on the significance of a specific chief part of the Small Catechism for the church and society today. 4. Be available for theological counsel as small groups and a large group work on statements of agreement and rejection throughout the day on February Meet, as often as necessary following the colloquium, during the months of March and April, to collate the results of the six colloquia into a single Statement of Concord. 6. With fellow resource theologians, present A Statement of Concord to a plenary session of all participants meeting at a single location on Saturday, May 6, 2017, 9:00a 12 Noon. This will include a brief commentary on each of the six chief parts by each resource theologian. 7. Participate in a Celebration of Concord at the close of the plenary session on May 6.

4 Large Group Leader 1. Attend the training of leaders and resource theologians on Saturday, January 7, 10:00a- 12 Noon, in preparation for the colloquia on February Serve as a large group facilitator at one of six colloquia meeting at a district location on one the six chief parts of the Small Catechism February 18, 2017, 9:00a 3:00p. The large group leader at this event will: a. Lead an opening devotion prepared for the event. b. Introduce participating pastors, commissioned workers, and lay people to the focus and process of the colloquium and Koinonia 2.0. c. Introduce the resource theologian, his role in the colloquium, and his paper. d. Facilitate the assignment of participants into small groups of seven, including the facilitator for each group. e. Assist small group facilitators in their role, when necessary, as each small group generates statements of agreement and statements of rejection relevant to a specific chief part. f. Bring together the work of the small groups, facilitating their reports to the large group and noting emphases and redundancies among small group reports. g. Invite commentary by the resource theologian. h. Explain the next steps of the process, inviting participants to return for the plenary session on Saturday, May 6, 9:00a Noon. 3. Attend and participate in the plenary session on May 6, including the Celebration of Concord.

5 Working Group Facilitator 1. Attend the training of Koinonia 2.0 working group facilitators on Saturday, February 18, 2017, 8:00a, at one of six regional locations in the MNS District. 2. Serve as a working group facilitator of at one of six colloquia, meeting at a district location on one the six chief parts of the Small Catechism February 18, 2017, 9:00a 3:00p. The working group of nine will be comprised of pastors, commissioned workers, lay people and the facilitator. The working group facilitator at the colloquium will: a. Take a moment for each working group participant to introduce himself or herself to the group, giving name, position, church, and location. b. Begin the working group sessions with prayer. c. Lead the working group toward a series of statements of agreement and statements of rejection relative to one of the six Chief Part of Luther s Small Catechism. Their target should be our congregations and our society. The working groups will address these questions: i. Concerning this chief part, on what do we agree? ii. Concerning this chief part, what do we together reject? iii. Concerning this chief part, where do we need to strive for greater concord? d. Assure that every member of the group contributes to the discussion and that no single person dominates. e. Where possible, reference the opening paper by the resource theologian. f. Where necessary and desired, invite the resource theologian to respond to questions from the working group. g. Work diligently to be sure that the working group develops statements easily understood, free of jargon, and directly related to the Small Catechism. h. Be sure that the entire group is comfortable with each statement developed. i. Close the working group meeting with thanks and prayer. j. Serve as reporter to the large group following the development of the group s statements. 3. Where requested, assist the resource theologians in understanding a specific statement of concord, as they prepare A Statement of Concord. 4. Attend and participate in the plenary session on May 6, 2017, including the Celebration of Concord.

MINNESOTA SOUTH DISTRICT

MINNESOTA SOUTH DISTRICT District news Rev. Stephan commissioned On Oct. 24, 1983, Merlin Stephan entered the U.S. Navy and served with the Seabees at various duty stations until April 1990. Following his Navy service, Merlin