Representatives from ELCA Schools/Centers and ELCA Department for Schools were invited to join with other children’s ministries leaders in the ELCA for a “future Search” conference entitled, “Treasured and Safe: A Future for Children in Families, Congregations and Communities” January 4-6 2002.

Judith Tutt–Star, Principal at Timothy Lutheran School, Lakewood, CA, Mary Ann Pollock, Principal at St. John Christian Day School, Baltimore, MD, Kris Finley, Director, Trinity Lutheran Preschool, Lynnwood, WA and Donna Braband, Acting Director, ELCA Department for Schools represented our Lutheran Schools and Centers at the conference. Other participants represented synods, social ministry organizations, ELCA colleges and universities, Women of the ELCA, ELCA youth, congregations, outdoor ministries, ecumenical partners and other “stakeholders” groups.

This conference provided an opportunity for the ELCA to creatively and collegially look to the future on how the church can address the needs of children in families, communities and congregations.

We were challenged by Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA to look for ways that…. “we can turn weeping children into rejoicing children as they receive the gift of the fullness of life which God wills for them.” Hanson was a member of the ELCA’s Help the Children Initiative task force.

The Rev. Roland D. Martinson, the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, delivered the keynote address. He called today’s children “social pioneers who are redesigning every indicator of what it means to be, belong and become. These children are already leaders, poised for incredible possibilities, but they are also more disenfranchised than they were a decade ago”, Martinson said. “The divide between the ‘haves and the have-nots’ is increasing. Services for children are being cut out of the budgets of local, state and federal governments”, he said.

Martinson challenged the group to answer questions: “Can the church not have children be at the center of worship? How will we tend to the presence of God in the children who are suffering in the world? If you want to influence the future, care for a child.”

Evolving from three days of discussion were sixteen recommendations in four categories. The recommendations will be provided to the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop for use in the church’s strategic planning process. These categories included Children in Congregations, External Collaboration, Advocacy and Media. These recommendations are strong and focused in nature. Some recommendations could be quite easily accomplished with the existing church structure. However many recommendations were highly innovative in nature and might possibly require a broader based child advocacy group in the church to oversee the development of new programs.

It was for this reason that the conference made suggestions that will accompany the recommendations. There was consensus of the group to suggest writing a memorial to the ELCA 2003 Churchwide Assembly designed to request the establishment of an ELCA Commission on Children and Family.

Here at ELEA, we will continue to keep you informed as to the progress of these recommendations and any subsequent plans the church may enact on the behalf of children. We ask you to pray for the church’s strategic planning process, that God’s children will receive the attention they so deserve.

Back to Spring 2002 Index