Family Lifespan Ministry Final The following paper will attempt to answer the following questions in the context of the framework used by the National Council on Family Relations as a guide. First one will find a survey of the ministry strengths and growth areas of Risen Christ Lutheran Church through the various offerings that strive to meet the needs of families across the lifespan. Second, one will see how the pastoral staff of Risen Christ Lutheran Church needs to grow in order to clearly meet the needs of a variety of learners that enter into ministry areas (such as Bible studies, seminars, events, classes, or worship services). Finally one will see the multi professional needs of the leadership and congregation and a survey of the family ministry across the lifespan at Risen Christ Lutheran Church. I. Families & Individuals in Societal Contexts Risen Christ does well to incorporate current issues in sermons that apply the timeless Word of God and reveal the negative tug of the cultural norms. Bible studies often are centered around various cultural fallacies so that members of our family see clearly how to be transformed by God s Word, rather than conformed to the false promises of this world (Rom 12:2). Risen Christ also uses various newsletter articles to address the boundaries needed to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. Yearly one Bible study focuses specifically on this area of life (if not all of the family life offerings currently we offer two pastor led Bible studies, one on a book of the bible and the other is topical for families and those who are newer to the faith). One specific offering to address this is the modified version of Faith Legacy that we use to encourage families to teach the faith at home by first establishing appropriate boundaries in life as parents model the faith. For relationships there are monthly marriage articles in the newsletter, 1
relationship support from both pastors, a strong pre marriage program, yearly marriage enrichment offerings, and a celebration of National Marriage Week (with a sermon series, week long devotional, and the introduction of a Marriage Bible study). Risen Christ also attempts read the various cultural demographics that we have, by supplying our outreach members with relevant information (about ever 5 years). One area that Risen Christ does not address is in the realm of theory. We currently do not formally teach members of our church family about systems theory; however it is addressed in support sessions when families are in need as well as marriage preparation. II. Internal Dynamics of Families Risen Christ Lutheran Church strives to build up families of faith through various offerings; one such offering is in the form of Bible studies directed at addressing family support and the inter workings of the family. This yearly Bible study on parenting always has added information about family resources, family support, and family dynamics (as well as information about and encouragement to attend appropriate Faith Legacy offerings). By addressing the stressors that family s experience, members of the family will be better equipped in dealing with the stressful times that will come their way. When families do find themselves in the midst of a crisis, both pastors are available for support and have even intervened to serve as a stabilizing element in the crisis. Risen Christ offers a conflict management, forgiveness, time management (boundaries), and grief Bible studies on a regular basis in various forms (Sunday morning Bible study, mid week offering, seminars, and small group materials). Regular encouragement through the newsletter is also used to support families in understanding family functions. 2
Risen Christ currently has little instruction on actual theory of family systems and family dynamics, rather focus is placed upon the practice of appropriate interactions with in family systems through the modeling of the Christian faith and life. III. Human Growth & Development Across the Life Span Risen Christ has well established benchmarks for education of children and youth up through high school; however, is lacking in education and support for those who have graduated high school. Risen Christ needs to develop a stronger balance in addressing the development of life span education while education occurs (even very well) across the life span there is little direction to it and certainly not goals or marks to achieve through the educational offerings. Along with this deficiency one also sees that families are not supported at later transitions in life such as college graduations, empty nest, retirement and the like. Risen Christ does offer transitional support for the birth of a child, baptism of a child, engagement, marriage, and marriage enrichment. This is an area that requires greater attention (Risen Christ has been blessed with a youthful congregation, but as charter members age the need for this type of ministry is heightened). IV. Human Sexuality Risen Christ does well to teach the values of sexual purity, abstinence, and adherence to God s Word and will; however, appropriate programming and support for families in the area of human sexuality is greatly lacking. One growth area that I would like to see Risen Christ Lutheran Church focus on includes the anemic offerings on human sexuality. The lack of a well 3
developed abstinence program at Risen Christ must be remedied immediately and incorporated into the following ministries: confirmation, Faith Legacy, parent education, and high school youth. Through Bible studies and seminars families will be supported, informed, and encouraged to speak with their children about sexual development, sexual activity, and abstinence according to God s Word. V. Interpersonal Relationships Risen Christ Lutheran Church does well in teaching the value, importance, and styles of interpersonal communication. This is important to the warmth and welcoming nature of the Risen Christ family so much so, that the staff regularly looks at dealing with various personalities through ministry (use of Personality Plus by Florence Littauer). Marriage and family communication offerings are made yearly as well (through Bible studies and seminars). Risen Christ Lutheran Church would do well to equip and encourage members to build these interpersonal relationships across the socioeconomic and cultural boundaries by becoming students of the culture. As we do so, we can learn a great deal about how to meet their needs in ministry, with the goal of connecting them to the greatest relationship they can have with the heavenly Father! VI. Family Resource Management Family resource management is another area in which Risen Christ has room for growth. Largely there is an awareness gap on behalf of the pastors of what is offered by the state and local agencies. This is something that the pastoral staff should research and make available to those who might benefit from these resources rather than wait until the need arises and then seek out appropriate resources. 4
This is an area for growth in terms of locating the resources that are available and how they can then be utilized by families and individuals. The pastoral staff needs to be informed of the resources that are available in the community (programs from federal, state and local government agencies as well as local community based agencies). These resources then need to be compiled and disseminated so that families may utilize the resources afforded to them. One way this will be remedied and is currently underway follows. I will be meeting with representatives of 4 different resources entities one from the state and three private. These interviews will be an opportunity to become aware of what resources are available, an opportunity to build a relationship to draw upon for support when needed, and an opportunity for the church to then be a resource for ministry to these centers. This will meet a great need for more family lifespan resources as well as develop a relationship that will make those resources readily available. This networking will also keep me informed of new updates in the community and field of study. This community involvement will bring up opportunities to draw in other professions as the church grows so that the church itself can be a center for support in the ministry she does this could be done through a perish nurse hotline, a question and answer column, or through a developed counseling center (among many, many other ideas). VII. Parenting Education & Guidance Risen Christ Lutheran Church offers parenting Bible studies and seminars annually to support and strengthen families through Biblical guidance. More theory could be introduced into the various offerings, which are heavily weighted on the practical side of things. Another valuable asset that Risen Christ could make use of is the local family agencies (for education, support, 5
and outreach). Each parenting offering is evaluated and reported to the Board of Education to formulate a future offering, or examine the need of a seminar to offer to supplement the current parent education needs. In concert with area churches, various topical issues are addressed and offered in a seminar for area parents (i.e. cyber bullying). VIII. Family Law & Public Policy This is an area in which Risen Christ Lutheran Church is deficient. While teaching the values set forth in God s Word, there is little application to public policy for fear of issues that may arise (though some are addressed, such as abortion and marriage issues). While the church is not an agency that is to write or dictate the laws to the government, we are however to encourage, equip, and educate people of the church so that they make decisions based upon the values reflected in the Christian faith. This could be done through a community education event or through a regular Bible study that addresses current issues in the government. Risen Christ needs to be involved in family law and public policy by putting their faith and values into action so that families are protected and the community is strengthened. IX. Professional Ethics & Practice The staff of Risen Christ Lutheran Church does an excellent job of addressing the cultural issues that face the Risen Christ family; however, as a Lutheran church, they could do better at reaching and meeting the needs of different cultural and socioeconomic groups of the area. I believe we do a very good job in addressing the various learner needs; however, there are areas to grow in as we are actively doing. A few blessing that we have are a very diverse offering in our Bible studies: Biblical (based on a theme or book of a bible; largely for mature Christians); Topical or 6
thematic (based on a book or need based in the congregation such as marriage, parenting, or the like); Small group (various offerings that provide relational support and are offered in an array of styles). In all these we vary our approaches from relational, to lecture, to uses of media and the like. This keeps people engaged (and sometimes wondering, what to expect). One area that I wish we could grow in is meeting the needs of the kinesthetic learner is a better way. The models and principles for learning can really be summarized in one statement allow the members of a class to be involved in as much as possible. This not only promotes learning, but it also increases the relationships with in the class. Churches can use a great deal of resources within the pew by facilitating discussion in Bible studies, rather than conveying Biblical information this allows input from individuals and application to their personal lives. The learning styles take into account two different modes of learning the way we take information in and how we then use that information. Both of these are separated into two different categories. People receive or perceive information either concretely or abstractly. People use the information either sequentially or randomly. As a FLE we need to be aware of the learning styles and plan to meet their various needs through the learning event. One would also be wise to determine what learning style they fit into, as we generally feel most comfortable teaching in this learning style. Apart from our learning styles, it is best to use a variety of methods to reach the various learners in the class. X. Family Life Education Methodology Risen Christ Lutheran Church would do well to education the governing boards of the church family so that family life ministry does not experience a 7
silo or compartmentalizing effect. Rather family life education should permeate all that the church does in ministry. While the individual boards all have their area of focus, together they strive to meet all the needs of families throughout the lifespan. So to, each offering that we have continues to meet a specific need, while together they meet the needs of the families across the lifespan. To ensure this, Risen Christ Lutheran Church needs to develop a clear vision that will accomplish this, annually set goals to accomplish this, and establish ministries and Bible studies that will strive to meet the vision of proclaiming a new beginning in the family of God, through faith in Jesus, the risen Christ! XI. Faith & Values Faith and values are woven throughout all that Risen Christ does very well. Various curriculums that I have had experience with, have recently found, and will soon use to help meet the needs of family lifespan ministry include the following: For early childhood we have found that Group s hands on bible curriculum to be extremely well done; however, there is a great deal of additional work for our experienced teachers using this curriculum (has great ideas, need theological support and meat for the instruction of God s Word). For adolescence I have just received the TrueU curriculum from Focus on the Family (the adolescent version of The Truth Project). This curriculum is very well done; however, may be difficult for some students to participate in it is very academic, but present reasons to support what and why you believe. For adulthood I am currently writing a Bible study for marriage, based upon the Marriage Makeover theme. Use of Christian books can be an inviting Bible study for FLE s to create their own curriculum that can be focused for several different purposes. 8
For late adulthood, I am compiling a grief and end of life issues seminar. Thrivent has great materials in the form of checklists for what needs to be done at the death of a loved one, will planning, and the like. I am also including information about preparing your funeral service and using Grief share resources for presenting grieving information. Risen Christ Lutheran Church has done many wonderful things in her ministry, but with the help and direction of her Lord Jesus Christ she can do much more to meet the needs of the Body of Christ across the lifespan. 9