Congregational Life Committee

Chairperson: Pr. Greg Olson
Secretary:
Staff Liaison: Pr. Jay Quinn, Assistant to the Bishop for the North Conference

Our Mission/Purpose is to:  Support and equip congregations to carry out their ministries.  Currently, most work is carried out by subcommittees in four areas: Worship, Youth Ministry, Parish Planning, Education and Stewardship.

Our Current Goals are:  To plan and implement the Congregational Resourcing Events (CRE's) in March of every year, maintain the Synod’s Web Site, help support the Synod’s Stewardship efforts through the “Synod Stewards”, and to offer grants to be used as seed money to inspire, to offer training and support for members of NIS to be a part of the ELCA’s educator network.  We hope by these efforts we can empower the people of the Northern Illinois Synod to develop creative ways of reaching our mission of providing support, encouragement and resources to the ministry that occurs within the congregations of the Synod.

Our Future Goals are:  To continue to focus on improving communications by maintaining the Synod’s Web Site; offering grants to be used as “seed money” for resources in congregations; locating designated “Synod Communicators” in all of our congregations to help disseminate information on CRE’s, educational workshops, etc.; as well as continuing to search for strong speakers and topics for the CRE’s every year; and finding new and innovative ways to offer resources to congregations.

A Brief History:  Congregational Life is one of the four standing committees, formed in the Northern Illinois Synod, ELCA, and is mandated through the Synod’s Constitution.

Members will be Expected to:  Attend three to four committee meetings per year; serve as a committee liaison with one of the subcommittees; speak from their own experience, expertise, and commitment to congregational life; and share their ideas and skills.

Time Requirements of this Ministry are:  Three to four committee meetings per year, and three to four sub-committee meetings per year which will vary in number and time.

Our Commitments to Members are:  Prayer, support from the Chairperson and the Assistant to the Bishop, and orientation at the fall meeting.

Members Should Know:  Congregational Life in our Synod, as it is expressed through ministry at the Synod level, is understood as a calling to be present in the lives of our local congregations as they proclaim the Gospel where they are.  The Congregational Life Committee is one of four standing committees of our Synod and oversees the work of five subcommittees: 

• The Lutheran Youth Organization plans and provides leadership for synod youth events.  Such events include Leadership Lab, Synod Youth Assembly, Sr. High Event, and Jr. High Event.  The subcommittee also promotes involvement in regional and ELCA events.  Ms Mary Lasits (815-758-3203) is the Synod Youth Coordinator.
• The Stewardship subcommittee is developing a strategy for stewardship education and resourcing for congregations.  Their “Synod Steward” program trains lay persons to work with congregations in the area of stewardship.  The Stewardship subcommittee also plans workshops for pastors and lay leaders.
• The Worship subcommittee plans and conducts worship for all Synod events, such as Synod Assembly, ordination services, and the Professional Leaders Conference.  The subcommittee is also seeking ways to resource local congregations, perhaps through conference and synodical events.
• Parish Planning is a new area we are offering in 2005 with special grants to be used as seed money to inspire and empower the people of the Northern Illinois Synod to develop creative ways of reaching our mission of providing support, encouragement and resources to the ministry that occurs within the congregations of the Synod.  
• Educators Network is a function of churchwide that offers people of our synod special training and resources so that they can assist those who are charged with educational ministry in the congregation. The CLC seeks out these people and underwrites their work

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