I don't want to send a message that 6,150

L C M S  

congregations are not important; we will respond as

N U M B E R S   AT   A   G L A N C E

appropriate or refer them to their district office, 

Wilke said.  We have a system established and it's

Congregations

6,150

called districts. We want to focus on strengthening

Baptized Members

2,540,045

relationships and partnership with district offices. 

Confirmed members

1,920,949

District and Congregational Services has six

ministry areas: child, family, outreach, school, 

Total giving

$1,217,157,294

stewardship and youth ministries. 

Men on clergy roster

8,497

Wilke added that DCS will continue to pro 

Children baptized

32,606

vide valued resources such as the national Youth

Gathering and resources for Lutheran schools. 

Children confirmed

24,534

Adults confirmed

19,964

Trinity nurtures leaders 

Members gained from outside

40,947

from early ages

Sunday school enrollment

492,751

As the Synod recruits church workers, it can

Av. weekly worship attendance

156.8

look to the recipe used by Trinity Lutheran Church

   From the 2001 statistical reports

in Mobile, Ala.

 We nurture young people from an early age,

even in confirmation class or before,  says Pastor

tions wanted fewer programs and more direct con 

Ulmer Marshall.  When you see young people with

tact and assistance from the national and district

the gifts or abilities for ministry, or you see young

offices of the Synod. 

people who are leaning that way, you want to help

 District staff struggle with the same ques 

them think about the ministry. 

tions,  Wilke observes. He sees district staffs

Marshall has served Trinity since 1973, leading

becoming more diverse as they also refine their

the 51 year old congregation as it grew from weekly

work.  We have to find a balance between develop 

worship attendance of 30 to more than 250. During

ing appropriate resources not just programs 

that time, five of its sons have entered the pastoral

whether these are Bible studies or how to 

ministry in the Synod. 

materials,  Wilke said.

 If I count all the others who have come

Young people, like

these assembled for

groundbreaking of a

new education wing,

are nurtured through

day school and after 

school programs at

Trinity Lutheran

Church in Mobile, Ala.

Pastor Ulmer Marshall

intentionally works with

youth to encourage

them to consider

church work careers.

(35) FEBRUARY 2002

7