Breakout Session Descriptions

Keynote Q & A

Kent Hunter
Church Doctor Ministries

This session offers participants a chance to further explore the topic that our keynote speaker has offered.

 

Board Q & A

Brodie Taphorn & Darrin Vick
LCMC Board of Trustees

If you are a visitor to the gathering, new to LCMC or if you’ve been a part of the association for some time but still have questions about our fellowship, join us.  We will answer the questions that people most frequently ask about LCMC and any other questions you may have about the association.
 

Ministry Board Q & A

Steve Turnbull
LCMC Ministry Board

Our Ministry Board meets on a regular basis and responds to questions, concerns, and opportunities for pastors and call committees. On the agenda for this breakout is a report of the seminary summit of last July, the leadership conference from last spring, the senior pastor’s retreat, and the ongoing work of the board. This is also a time for questions and answers from members of the Ministry Board.
 

LCMC Lutheran Men

Keith Aho
LCMC Lutheran Men

Lutheran Men will hold a quick business meeting.  With the guidance of Pastor Wilson Metz, we will explore opportunities for men to grow in service in their church and community, then explore how we move men to support newly planted and needy congregations in LCMC.

An officer in Lutheran Men for 8 years, Keith will elaborate on new opportunities for funding LM's gift grants and loans. He also serves as President of St. Paul's Lutheran of Alango. He is the Chief Member of Homestead Mills, a specialty cereal manufacturer in Cook, MN.

Pastoral Spousal Support

Pam Hulstrand
Pastoral Counselor, On Bended Knee Ministries

Better Halves Workshop for spouses of clergy and church workers.  Sometimes the spouses of those in front line ministry are the forgotten ones. This breakout will be an intentional place for you to be heard and seen and ministered to. It is possible to not only survive but to thrive in your marriages and places of ministry.

Pam and her husband of 30 years, Eric, have served churches together in North Dakota and the Twin Cities. Out of her passion for building stronger marriages, Pam launched, "On Bended Knee Ministries" in 2011. She is a trainer for Prepare-Enrich and works with both premarital and married couples individually and in group settings. Pam has a particular heart to come alongside couples in ministry to encourage, counsel and support.  More Info: onbendedkneeministries.com

 

Securing Your Future

Mr. Tom Luing, CFP, EA
Capital Management Associates

LCMC provides the LCMC Retirement Plan with the goal to motivate and encourage retirement savings and ensure that Pastors and Church staff are retirement ready.  Attend one of the retirement breakout sessions with Tom Luing, Capital Management Associates. Tom is the Financial Advisor on the LCMC 403(b) Retirement Plan.

• Breakout Session 1 (60 Minutes to Change):  To help you improve your financial life!  During this session we will look at four stages of your financial life: Surviving, Driving, Arriving, and Thriving. Workbook provided.

• Breakout Session 2 (Interactive Needs Assessment Workshop):  Will focus on retirement preparation and planning; setting goals and strategies to reach your retirement and financial goals.  We will also touch on the benefits of the LCMC 403(b) Retirement Plan.

The LCMC Retirement Plan can help you reach your retirement goals. To enroll in the plan contact Annette LaPlant with Capital Management Associates at 952-746-1118 or email: alaplant@cap-mgt.com.

Meet & Greet for Pastors and Congregations

Christian Huntley
Pastor, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

If you are open for or considering a new call or ministry position, or if you are representing a congregation trying to fill a role, this will be an opportunity to mingle.

 

Social Media

Laurel Swanson
Administrator, Lutheran Church of the Cross

Whether you resist it or embrace it, social media is here to stay, and can be a valuable connection and relationship building tool for your congregation.  Explore ways to use various forms of social media in life-giving and healthy ways to build awareness of your church in your community, and help others connect to you and to one another.

Laurel has served Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona as their Administrator since 2006, primarily focusing on communications, finances, facilities and "dot-connecting."  She serves on the Board of Directors for The Church Network, a national association of Church Administrators, as well as on her local Chamber of Commerce board.  She and her husband, Jamie, have two sons, Spencer and Parker.  As a family they are involved in Scouts, Fine Arts and various sports.

 

Lutherans for Life: Invisible to Indispensable

Scott Licht, National Director, Lutherans for Life
Mona Fuerstenau, Director of Ministry Partnerships, Bethesda Lutheran Communities

In the midst of painting the familiar “One Body, Many Parts” picture, 1 Corinthians 12:22 says, “those that seem to be weaker are indispensable”. Those that “seem to be weaker”, not those that are weaker, are indispensable; necessary to the body. They may be invisible or overlooked, but each are gifted and have their role to play, their work to do, just as the eye, the hand, and the foot that are described.

Who’s invisible?  People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with an unplanned pregnancy, those at the end of life, experiencing post-abortion trauma, or considering suicide make us uncomfortable.  The Great Commission includes everyone, maybe even especially those that make us uncomfortable. There are lessons to learn from each of these that are needed to complete the body.  We are incomplete without them.  Come, learn how indispensable they are in your worship community.

Scott was never really sure what he wanted to be when he grew up, so he has done a lot of different things.  Along the way, he has earned an MBA, an MS in Information Systems, and an MDiv equivalent.  He serves Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church in Huxley, IA, as Pastor.  As National Director of Lutherans For Life, Scott manages the back-office staff and day to day operations of the ministry, as well as preaching, teaching, and presenting to a wide variety of audiences on the preciousness of God's gift of life.

This workshop will also be led by Mona Fuerstenau.  Mona is a disability advocate with over 30 years in the field. She speaks across the country working to engage and equip communities for meaningful participation by those with a disability. She came to her current position as Director of Ministry Partnerships with Bethesda Lutheran Communities by way of her passion for sharing Jesus, her enthusiasm for Asset Based Community Development, her work as a retired Speech-language Pathologist and as the parent of two young adult diverse learners.

 

Leading Through Change

Marcus J Carlson
Senior Pastor, St. Mark's Lutheran Church

Change is difficult, especially in the church. Change is a necessarily reality, especially as we seek to help our congregations focus on the Great Commission and develop a kingdom mindset. While the Gospel of Jesus has not changed, the world has and how we lead, do ministry and life together in our congregations must. Leading change is both a blessing and a challenge. In this breakout we will explore the nature of leading change and leading through change. We will look at the various aspects, challenges and joys that come with change in a church setting. We will also address some practical tips and tools for leading through change in the healthiest and most effective way possible.

Marcus currently serves as Senior Pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Auburn, Indiana. He is also a professor, speaker, spiritual director, consultant and author of two books; The False Gospel of Guilt and Shame and Rethinking Confirmation: A Practical Guide. Marcus is an LCMC Pastor and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Marcus is active in his community and is married to Jessica and they have two children, Micah and Abby.

 

Hispanic Ministry

Eddy F Perez
Pastor, Iglesia Luterana San Pedro

This breakout session is designed to help English speaking congregations in developing strategies to reach out to Hispanics in their areas.  Pastor Eddy Perez serves as Pastor of Iglesia Luterana San Pedro in Miami, FL. Pastor Perez is a former Medical Doctor who was called by God to the Ministry of Word and Sacraments. He is widely known for his commitment to the Holy Scripture and his passion to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pr. Perez serves as Coordinator of the LCMC Hispanic Network.

 

Church Planting

Dan Clites
Coordinatior for Church Planting, LCMC

"All Power and Authority are Given to You!"

If the Holy Spirit is calling you (or your congregation) into the missional adventure of planting a church, then please visit this Annual Gathering Breakout with LCMC's Coordinator for Church Planting Development, Dan Clites.  Dan will host an open discussion on the power of planting, with lots of dos and even some don'ts, including hearing experiences from some of our current LCMC planters.  This time will serve you well in your discernment and aid in the Spirit's construction of a vision.  

 

Small But Mighty Church

Sandy Miller
Pastor, First Lutheran Church of Hope

Who says bigger is better!?  If that were the case, Jesus would have surely gathered more than 12 disciples to teach and lead.  The truth is, there are some real advantages of being a small congregation!  Come and hear how one church has embraced being a small congregation, and as a result has found that they can be mighty in the Kingdom of God.  We'll talk about strengths, opportunities, and how to overcome 'perceived' obstacles in the small church so that we don't just survive, but actually thrive as we answer Jesus' call to discipleship and mission in our communities and world.

Sandy has been serving as Pastor of First Lutheran Church in Hope, MN for the past seven years.  FLC has an average worship attendance of 50 in a community of 100, and yet they are church growing steadily in discipleship and mission, not without a few bumps and bruises along the way!  After a 30 year career in business, Sandy answered the Lord's call and entered seminary at the Master's Institute, graduating in 2011.  She is passionate about teaching and proclaiming the true gospel of Jesus Christ that saves, redeems, heals, and calls forth.  She and her husband, Steve, have been married for 29 years, have 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild!  In between family and ministry, she enjoys singing, gardening, swimming, biking, and being outdoors in the MN summers.  Sandy is also in her third year of serving on the LCMC Ministry Board.

 

Youth Discipleship

David A White IV, Pastor of Family, Youth & Children's Ministries, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church
Aaron Thompson, Director of High School Ministry, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church

When one church found themselves with a lot of “good stuff” in their youth ministry but a lack of clear direction, they decided to hit the reset button. Instead of problem-solving their youth groups, they took a step back to examine their entire path of discipleship from birth to college. What do you do when your youth ministry is slowly crumbling or feels off course? How do you lead others through the fog towards what really matters and then realign everything to that end? How do you build and nurture a model of ministry that doesn’t just hope it all shakes out to mature disciples on the other end? What’s the deal with phase specific and outcome based ministry? Come hear the story of how God is using intentional but imperfect efforts to restore confidence and build partnerships between the church and its families.

David A. White IV is a slightly balding follower of Christ who really wants to spend his life on what matters most to God. His attempts are as imperfect as his “daily” workout routine but he has been able to consistently invest in young people and their families for almost 18 years. During that time, God has given him repeated opportunities to lead in turnaround situations where significant issues needed to be addressed and confidence restored. He currently serves as the Pastor of Family, Youth & Children’s Ministries at UALC in Columbus, OH. In this role he helps families with children ranging from birth to college pursue a relationship with Jesus and explore what it looks like to be a modern day disciple. And yes, he does play guitar. His positivity and contagious enthusiasm are slightly annoying to his 6 staff members, but together they are passionate about equipping families for discipleship and seeing God breathe life into to their local communities. David is a graduate of Miami University and Bethel Seminary. He and his wife Amanda have been married for 17 years. They have 3 children, ranging from 12 to 4 years old. Most weekends you’ll find them doing something sporty.

Aaron has been ministering to youth in the local church since 2003 (which makes him 76 in youth pastor years). He has been Anne’s husband for 13 years and Julian’s dad for 7.  When he isn’t in the office or out with students, you can probably find him at the movie theater, comic book shop or arcade in his neighborhood.  Aaron is passionate about: ministry to next generations, teaching the Bible, amplifying creativity in the church and his Monday night trivia team, Risky Quizness.

 

Church Security

Patrick McHale
Congregational Chairman, Resurrection Lutheran Church

The seminar will acquaint the attendees with the information required to establish a security program in their respective House of Worship.  We will discuss how to acquire endorsement and support from Church leadership, how to select and train security team members, how to develop and implement security procedures and protocols, plus explore the costs associated with campus assessment, security equipment costs, training costs, background check costs, liability insurance, and more. 

Mr. McHale has attended Resurrection Lutheran Church in Charlotte North Carolina for approximately 38 years.  He is currently serving as the Chairman of the congregation, the manager of the Security team, the manager of the Medical response team, manager of the usher teams, and is also a member of the worship team(s).  He retired from the workforce in 2015 after spending 44 years in the nuclear generation industry, beginning in 1971 with the Navy’s nuclear propulsion training program.  He has worked closely with the Central Church of God Security Manager in Charlotte NC, and has consulted with City Church in Charlotte, and Point of Grace Lutheran church in Cornelius NC.  He has attended Church safety seminars provided by Threat suppression incorporated, and House of Worship safety seminars provided by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). He has also contracted STI Inc., and Tactical Solutions Inc. to provide security assessments and training for the Church security teams, the Usher teams, and the medical response teams. He has worked directly with local law enforcement in the performance of security assessments of the Resurrection campus, and on the Point of Grace Lutheran church property as well.  He currently provides oversight and direction to 7 security team members, 4 Usher captains, 8 Ushers, and 5 medical team response personnel.

 

Intentional Interim

Steve Abend & Dawn Spies

Intentional Interim – Pastor Focus (Breakout Session 1):  Do you have what it takes? This breakout is designed to assist pastors to discern if they are called into specialized ministry as an Intentional Interim pastor. We will be looking at the five process task that Loren Mead sets out for pastors in his system of intentional interim ministry.  We will also explore what gifts and personality types that is best suited for intentional interim ministry. Finally, you will be able to a questions about intentional interim ministry with trained intentional interim pastors.  Steve was trained in 2009 by North American Lutheran Interim Pastors (NALIP) association and has severed in several intentional interim congregations since.  Steve currently partners with Steve Lien to train intentional interim pastors. Steve also completed a Masters in Communication from Oakland University in 2014 to assist in communication during the intentional interim time.

Intentional Interim – Congregation Focus (Breakout Session 2):  We will look at Loren Mead's 8 stages of the interim time and the 5 developemental tasks the congregations can engage in during the interim period. There will be a time for a question and answer time with trained intentional interim pastors.  Dawn Spies has served in a variety of interim settings.  She actively moves with her husband Daniel, a Navy Chaplin, and her son, Isaiah. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry from Evangelical Divinity School in Leadership and Ministry Management.  When she's not working on her major project, serving the Church, or being a wife and mother, she enjoys knitting.

 

Church Administration: Stimulating Giving in a Non-Deductible Environment

Harold Carlson

What are the implications of the new tax laws on charitable contributions and what can congregations do to stimulate giving?  We will also provide an opportunity for discussing general administration topics.  

 

Pastoral Certification Interviewer Training

Jeremey King & Sandy Miller
LCMC Ministry Board

This session is designed to further equip those who conduct pastoral certification interviews within LCMC. We will discuss our certification requirements, interview process and its purpose, and key elements of the interview itself. We will train participants on the appropriate use of the our forms and procedures to help ensure consistency in the interview process throughout our growing association.  

 

Church HR:  Interview SUCCESS Formula – More than a Gut Feeling!

Linda Krei
LCMC Ministry Board

Building your team and finding the right fit is extremely important. Learn how to gain clarity on your IDEAL Candidate and develop open-ended behavior-based questions to gain insight about character, competency and chemistry/culture fit, PLUS learn interview do’s and don’ts along with effective on-boarding.

Linda is known as a visionary leader with ability to positively influence organizational culture and facilitate change to achieve bottom-line results in business organizations.  She is a certified business coach with ActionCOACH as well as a senior-level Human Resource Executive, experienced facilitator and coach/teacher with the John Maxwell team.  She has experience in human resources, culture transformation, change leadership, leadership coaching, organizational training and development, and customer and quality service. Linda is also a certified trainer in Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability and numerous other leader assessment tools.  Linda is married to her high school sweetheart Terry and enjoys singing with him in a contemporary praise and worship team. They enjoy family travels with their 2 children and grandchild.

 

Change Readiness

Ebassa Berhanu 
LCMC Ministry Board

Change is hard! And it is undeniable we live in a world that is changing faster than the church can keep up with.  In, “The American Church in Crisis”, written by David T. Olson, shows how the church is in trouble because they have neglected to keep up with population growth.  Between 1990 and 2006 roughly fifty-two million people attended worship each week. However, with population and immigration growth, there were over ninety-two million more people living in the United States in 2005 than in 1990.  This indicates the percentage of the population attending church declined in every single state.  How do we lead through change? Thom Rainer, in his book, “Who Moved my Pulpit”, developed an eight-stage roadmap for leading change in the church:  (1) Stop and Pray; (2) Confront and Communicate a Sense of Urgency; (3) Build an Eager Coalition; (4) Become a Voice and Vision of Hope; (5) Deal with People Issues; (6) Move from an Inward Focus to an Outward Focus; (7) Pick Low-Hanging Fruit; and (8) Implement and Consolidate Change.  Join me as we look at these essential points to learn how we can be Christ-like leaders, consistent in His word, in an ever-changing world.