Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Seminars Available Online!


Most of the seminars at this year's convention were captured in video or audio form. They are available below the videos of the worship services.

Visit Faith & Fellowship's Convention page > here

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Download the Convention Minutes (Draft Version)


You can download a draft version of the convention minutes. An final version will be available when it is approved by the Council of Directors.

Click Here > to download the convention minutes

Friday, July 2, 2010

Convention Media is Posted on faithandfellowship.org

We have updated the Convention Page on Faith & Fellowship website (www.faithandfellowship.org) with the latest media available. We will continue to update it as we get more videos and audio in the near future. We are also creating a DVD with the worship services and bible hours for purchase. More on that coming soon.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Statement on Missional Theology Adopted

The motion to "recommend to the 2010 Biennial Convention the adoption of the Statement on Missional Theology as edited, as a Recommended Resource and Teaching Guide for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren" passed unanimously. Several corrections and amendments will need to be made to the report.

A version with the amendments from the Convention will be posted online and made available in print soon.

The version that was brought to the Convention can be
downloaded here.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Ministry in a Post-Christian World

Ministry in a Post-Christian World
by Dr. Eugene Boe
Academic Dean
Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology
Lutheran Brethren Seminary

2010 CLB Convention
June 21, 2010

This seminar was the opening session that was meant to lay the foundation for the rest of the seminars at this year's Convention of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

Watch other videos from the 2010 Convention

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Election Results

President
Rev. Joel Egge

Council of Directors
  • Canadian Region Layperson - Greg Butler
  • Central Region Layperson - LaWayne Rogness
  • Eastern Region Pastor - Ryan Nilsen
  • Eastern Region Layperson - David Jacobsen
  • Pacific Region Pastor - James Erickson
  • Pacific Region Layperson - Mike Berry
  • Western Region Layperson - Marvin Nelson

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Worship Services are Online!

The Worship Services and Morning Bible Hours are being uploaded as they are ready. Sunday Evening (President Joel Egge) and Monday Morning (Pastor Chris Priestaf) are online at the CLB Vimeo website. The others will be uploaded as they are ready.

We will be providing the MP3's (and some video) of the seminars in the next couple weeks, as well. We will obviously let you know when those are ready.

Follow and add your own twitter and Facebook updates about the convention at the Faith & Fellowship convention page.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Seminars - Part Three (Missions and Other)

Telling His Story to WomenThe new look of Women’s Ministries
Interested in a makeover? Join members of the Women’s Ministries team as they share how “His Story” is touching the lives of women in the church and community. Come and see the new look and wide ministry of the Women’s Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. Experience the Good News in your own life, your church, and your community.

Telling His Story in a Multi-Cultural NeighborhoodHow various congregations are reaching their neighbors
Pastor Jim Erickson, Calvary Community Church, Fullerton, CA leads a panel of people from various churches throughout the CLB who will share with you methods they have developed to reach those around them. The diversity in race and ethnicity is a gift from the Lord. Learn how different churches are serving and sharing Jesus with the diversity in their midst.

Telling the NationsAdopting a People Group
Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations. You’ve heard of adopting a son or daughter, but a people group? Yes, there are people groups across the globe who have yet to hear the story of Jesus. Come and find out about adopting one of these people groups. Pastor Dave Foss, Bethel LC, Fergus Falls MN will facilitate discussion with representatives from churches that have taken part in adoption, the process, and the inherent blessing the church receives for accepting such a call.

Telling His Story to Muslims…Is it really worth it?
We hear conflicting things about Islam that evokes various emotions and questions. A few of these include:
  • Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?
  • How can I share the Gospel with Muslims?
  • Can a Muslim follow Jesus and remain a "Muslim"?
Dan Venberg, missionary to Chad, will provide a brief overview of the religion of Islam, contrasts between Christianity and Islam, and a discussion about why and how the Church should engage our Muslim neighbors with the Gospel in our communities and beyond.

Reaching Out To New GuestsHow you can help First Time Guests become Regular Attenders and Members
What difference would it make in your church if more guests came back the following week and then decided to make your church their home? Church planter, Pastor Jeff Olsen, Grace Community, Wesley Chapel, FL will share with you some of the methods he's found to be successful over the years. He has put together a non-threatening strategy that helps guests to see their value and to experience the love of Jesus in a place they can call home.

Less income and Expanding Ministryhow congregations are telling God’s Story on a contracting budget
How does our ministry thrive when the income is barely keeping our church alive? In today’s economy, many churches are finding it hard to meet their budget. Can ministry expand when the income is less? Pastor Matt Lundgren, Yellowstone LBC, Billings, MT will lead us as we pray, discuss, question, and seek God's leading on how we can make the most of the ministry to which God has called us. Come prepared to share your story and hear encouragement from God's word to keep proclaiming the Good News to a world in need.


* The locations and times will be communicated at the convention.

Seminars - Part Two (Crossing the Generational Gap)

Reaching across Generational GulfsUnderstanding and Reaching the “other generations” for Jesus
We all have people from different generations under one roof. How does the one texting on her iphone bridge the gap with the one who remembers using the switchboard to make a call? Join Pastor Rich Iverson, Hope LBC, Barnesville, MN as he shares some of the ways he fosters ministry across the generations. Enhance your ministry, in and outside of the church, with thoughtful and practical ways to communicate the Gospel to people of all ages.

Your Ministry & Social Networkingusing the social network to tell God’s Story
Facebook? Twitter? Blog? Come and explore various ways to use these social networks in your church and ministry. Pastor Ryan Nilsen, Praise Christian Fellowship, Barkhamsted, CT leads a panel of pastors who will share with you practical, creative, and easy ways they have used the internet to enhance their ministry.

Leadership TrainingEngaging and Training Congregational Leaders
We have the vehicle, now we need drivers! Is your congregation ready to go but in need of quality people to lead? Or, maybe you have a group of quality leaders and want to develop a good means of training and equipping them in the process of ministry. Pastor Steve Heppner, Elim LBC, Malta, MT will help representatives of congregations lay out a series of support events to keep people connected and encouraged in their leadership team.

Telling His Story through ConfirmationConfirm/This!
Confirmation curriculum will be introduced and Pastor Bruce Stumbo, Bethel LBC, Grand Forks, ND will present updates made to the original ConfirmIT! confirmation curriculum. He will introduce “ConfirmIT!2” and a new one-year pre-confirmation curriculum titled, “FaithIT!” based on the Faith Alive Student Bible from Concordia Publishing. It takes students into the basics of law/gospel theology and prepares participants for confirmation curriculum.

Seminars - Part One (Combined Session)

The Seminars kick off with a "combined session" with Dr. Eugene Boe.

Ministry in a Post Christian WorldA description of today’s mindset and what that means
Theologian Dr. Eugene Boe, LBS Academic Dean, shares the state of the North American mindset. How has the culture changed over the last couple decades and what does that mean for Christianity today? Based on extensive research, Dr. Boe will share findings and facts about the North American perspective and the context in which the current church is living. He will outline what that means for sharing the Good News of Jesus today.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Statement on Missional Theology Available

Below you will be able to download a copy of the Report from the Study Committee on Missional Theology. The Report of the Study Committee on Missional Theology is being received by the Theological Council which will, through the Council of Directors, bring a recommendation to this year's Convention. This is an important subject worthy of your reading prior to the Convention and discussion during the hour it will be presented to the Church.

I, on behalf of the Church, thank the members of the Study Committee for their many hours of reading, deliberation, and writing. Presenting the summary backgrounds of many aspects of the missional theology conversation, they lead us to Biblical and confessional foundations for evaluation of that particular emphasis followed by affirmations and denials. This paper will be a teaching guide for mission that is domestic and international ministry and evangelism to those who do not yet confess Jesus Christ as Son of God and their Savior.

Anticipating your fellowship during the Convention, June 20-22nd,

Joel Egge, President

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Final Image - Telling His Story


Click here to read about the image at the Faith & Fellowship Magazine website.

Pastors' In-Service Sessions (Part 2) | PM Session

Saturday, June 19, 2010

PM Session:
1:30 to 3:30

Describing or Declaring the Law and Gospel, What is a Sermon?
(working title)

Description:
Paul instructs, “Preach the Word.” God works through the foolishness of preaching.

In studying Scripture, pastors need to address textual facts and questions. Pastors need to understand how theological tools (concepts) such as Law and Gospel assist in understanding and correctly applying the Scripture. These studies, perhaps by necessity, employ descriptive and explanatory speech.

Is preaching the same as explaining? How should a sermon address the congregation’s need of repentance of sin and receiving God’s grace?

Questions for this session might include:
  • “What is preaching?”
  • “What is the purpose in public worship or in soul care?”
  • “What is the relationship between declaring and describing God’s Word?”
  • “When is it important to describe the Law and Gospel?”
  • “Does a description of the Law and the Gospel have the same power as the proclamation of the Word of the Law and the Word of the Gospel?”

Presenter: Rev. Dale Hanson

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Registration form (PDF)> download
Registration form (Word)> download

Pastors' In-Service Sessions (Part 1) | AM Session

Saturday, June 19, 2010

AM Sessions
:
9:00 to 10:15 and 10:45 to 12:00 Noon

The Relationship of Autonomous Congregations within the CLB Synod (working title)

Description:
We confess, The Church of the Lutheran Brethren practices the congregational form of church government and the autonomy of the local congregation. The office of pastor and elder is to be filled by men only. The synodical administration has an advisory function as it relates to the congregation and an administrative function as it relates to the cooperative efforts of the congregations. –CLB Statement of Faith, paragraph J.

A persistent issue in our Church is how to understand and function in our synod which confesses the (visible) church is located in congregations of confessing Christian while these congregations are members of a synod. The Church of the Lutheran Brethren believes the congregations are gathered believers under Jesus Christ within the family of God (hence, the autonomy) but united by calling and promise in a synod which administers the cooperative ministries of the congregations.

The question to be addressed is, “What is the nature of this relationship and the extent of the authority given an individual congregation and given to the family of congregations, the synod?”
Asked in a different way, the question is, “Who is responsible for the mission the Lord Jesus has entrusted the to Lutheran Brethren congregations?”

Some specific questions that might be included are:
  • What responsibilities does a congregation have to the family (synod) of congregations? Do these responsibilities place limits on their autonomy?
  • Can CLB congregations adopt any internal structure they desire? (Note the SOF paragraph stating the autonomy of the congregation also restricts who can be a (congregational) pastor and elder.)
  • Can a CLB congregation expect other CLB congregations to participate in the cooperative efforts of the congregations?
  • What authority is given to congregational pastors and elders in the congregation and to what authority are pastors and elders accountable?

Presenters: Rev. GT Gunhus and Elder Ken Peeders

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Registration form (PDF)> download
Registration form (Word)> download

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Tentative Schedule

We have a tentative schedule for the convention.
Download it > here (PDF)