http://www.churchandchange.org/
Registration Has Begun!
Visit the 2007 Conference Webpage
Thank You Thrivent!
$10,000 Grant Awarded
to Church and Change
2007 Church and Change Conference Milwaukee, WI
October 15-17, 2007
Our Purpose
Church and Change is a growing group of WELS Christians who desire to think and work like the Apostle Paul who said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." The Church and Change group is interested in practicing and promoting innovation in ministry methods throughout the WELS especially at the "grass roots" level. Some in WELS live and breathe music. Some history. Some church libraries, or mission festivals, or prison ministry, or limiting abortion. Good! God uses all effort by his people to his glory. Church and Change is group of committed WELS Christians who live and breathe innovation in ministry across all spectrums. Church and Change folk are committed to Lutheran Theology as explained in the Lutheran Confessions. However, they are thinking about, working with, and pioneering different ways to reach more people, more often, with the gospel so the Holy Spirit can do His thing. Innovation in methodology is yesterday's news in the WELS. Pastors, teachers, synod administrators, worker training leaders, home and world missionaries, worship leaders, computer buffs, and countless local laymen and laywomen, have been tweaking (and/or radically changing) ministry methods for years. In every WELS generation God has raised up men and women, for reasons known only to Him, who are interested in pushing the envelope of "gospel delivery systems." And this, long before concepts like "English" or "radio ministry" or "Parish Assistance," or "paradigm" or "long distance learning" entered WELS thinking or culture. The goal of Church and Change is to provide a gathering point, a "home room" for WELS innovators. Perhaps this is the same need felt by the WELS Church Librarians which led them to gather for support, encouragement, and well -- good old fashioned fellowship - one of the greatest assets in the WELS. Do WELS administrators and WELS laypeople know about each other's efforts at innovation? The purpose of Church and Change includes inviting WELS innovators to communicate with one another, and work together where possible to avoid duplication of effort which wastes God's resources. The world is changing rapidly. Who are the innovators of today who will help us "make the leap from German to English" in this generation? Hopefully, Church and Change can encourage the process of helping WELS ministries keep pace with our rapidly changing culture in America, and around the shrinking globe. If you are currently serving as an innovator in your WELS ministry, please join us. Encourage us. Pray for us. Let us know what you are learning these days. We will happily do the same for you.
