PERCEPTIONS of MISSION and PRACTICES of MINISTRY AT TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, CORDOVA, NE

1
PERCEPTIONS of MISSION and PRACTICES of
MINISTRY AT TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH,
CORDOVA, NE

• by Robert Sachs

2
A project submitted to Gary Simpson and Craig Van
Gelder faculty of Luther Seminary In Partial
Fulfillment of The Requirements for DMin
Course The Integration of Theology and
Ministry St. Paul, Minnesota September 2002
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the
following for their help My professors, Gary
Simpson and Craig Van Gelder, who promote
excellence in their students. My eleven
colleagues in the DMin program who confirm,
critique and expand my integration of
theology. My congregation, Trinity Ev. Lutheran
Church, Cordova, Nebraska, who offer prayers,
time off, and financial support for this project
and program. My beloved wife, Connie Johnson,
my mentor, editor, and life companion.
4
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AELC American
Evangelical Lutheran Church ALC American
Lutheran Church AEA Annual Education
Average AWA Annual Worship Average ELCA Evangeli
cal Lutheran Church in America DMin Doctorate of
Ministry LCA Lutheran Church in
America NIV New International Version of the
Bible NKJV New King James Version of the
Bible NRSV New Revised Standard Version of the
Bible TELC Trinity Evangelical Lutheran
Church UELC United Evangelical Lutheran Church
5
Overview of perceptions and practices
6
Overview of perceptions and practices

• The windmill sign entering the village of
  Cordova reads
• The winds of the past fan the days of the
  future.

Photo courtesy of www.telcordova.com
7

Overview of perceptions and practices

• The Hebrew word for wind also means the Spirit of
  God.
• How do the people of Cordova perceive the Spirit
  of God acting?
• What influences their perception of mission as
  the church?
• What influences their practices of ministry as
  the church.

8

Overview of perceptions and practices

• As prophetic (and imaginative) public
  companions, Missional congregations acknowledge a
  conviction that they participate in Gods ongoing
  creative work.
• Simpson, Gary, Critical Social Theory-Prophetic
  Reason, Civil Society, and Christian Imagination,
  Minneapolis Fortress Press, 2002, page 144

9

Overview of perceptions and practices

• In TELCs perception of mission and ministry, do
  the people perceive and practice Gods calling
  as
• preservation of the past, or
• presentation of new opportunities?

10

Overview of perceptions and practices

• The past
• Danish Lutherans organized a congregation and
  then incorporated a community following the
  Homestead Act of 1862 and the completion of the
  Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.
• Nebraska became a state in 1887.

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
11

Overview of perceptions and practices

• In 1870, Danish immigrants homestead and farm
  what later became Seward County Nebraska.
• They preserve the culture, language, vocations,
  and their Lutheran teachings and practices.

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
12

Overview of perceptions and practices

• Once settled, these Danish Lutherans, like most
  European immigrants, made little contact with
  non-Danish speaking Americans in the area.

Theodore G. Tappert, The Lutherans in North
America, ed. Clifford E. Nelson, Philadelphia
Fortress Press, 1975, page 268
13

Overview of perceptions and practices

• Today
• According to the 2000 census, Americas migration
  from rural to urban shows stabilization if not
  reversal, for the first time in 10 years. The
  Cordova area population reflects this trend.
• New residents are not related to original
  homestead families and do not share the Danish
  Lutheran heritage.
• As in most of America, people here live longer,
  and generational diversification is greater than
  ever.
• Development of modern communication, technology
  and transportation bring rural American closer to
  the world.

14

Overview of perceptions and practices

• This study examines the influence of
• Religious heritage
• Social and Technological development
• And influences of Biblical interpretation
• In perceiving God, the church, themselves, and
  others.
• In practicing Missional ministries.

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INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE
16
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• Danish Lutherans following the American Civil War
  were influenced by two primary sources
• The ideas and theology of the sixteenth century
  Protestant Reformation by Martin Luther, and
• The institutions and philosophies of the
  eighteenth century philosopher, John Locke.

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
17
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• These two streams created two parallel story
  lines of explanation in the shaping of our
  national identities . . . sometimes complementary
  and sometimes conflicting . . . Gods
  providential destiny and humankinds noble
  experiment.
• Both of these story lines have become
  problematic as the Christian-shaped culture in
  North America has begun to collapse, and the
  Enlightenment-shaped modern project has begun to
  lose its sense of optimism.

Van Gelder, Craig Defining the Center Finding
the Boundaries The Challenge of Revisioning the
Church in North America for the Twenty-First
Century Missiology An International Review 22
(1994) , page 318
18
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• 16th Century
• Ideas and theology of Luther include
• The separation of church and state.
• Worship in the language of the people.
• People are justified by Gods word alone, faith
  alone, and grace alone.

19
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• 18th Century
• Ideas and institutions of Locke include
• The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
  happiness.
• The institution of government for the
  protections of personal property.
• The acceptance of currency as the medium of
  exchange, accumulation of property without any
  limit.

Bellah, Robert N. Cultural Barriers to the
Understanding of the Church and Its Public Role.
Missiology An International Review 19 (1991)
page 462
20
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• Biblical theology
• Community with God has a prior covenant relation
  as creator and created.
• Community is an unlimited commitment based on
  loyalty and trust.
• Community involves obligations to God and
  neighbor that transcend self-interest, though
  promises of participation in a divinely
  instituted order.

• Lockean Philosophy
• Community is formed by individuals through their
  common heritage and history.
• Community is a limited institution based on
  self-interest and preservation.
• Community has the right to do whatever and
  whenever people want, as long as it doesnt hurt
  anyone else.

Bellah, Robert N. Cultural Barriers to the
Understanding of the Church and Its Public Role.
Missiology An International Review 19 (1991)
page 462
21
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• These two streams have influenced the perceptions
  and practices of mainline protestant churches in
  North America, including TELC.
• The two streams stand in conflict because
  Lockens philosophy does not integrate an
  understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
  through the suffering, crucifixion and
  resurrection of the Lord, as Gods way to free
  people from sin and reveal communion with God and
  community with neighbors, because
• Instead of the individual belonging to the
  family, it is the family which is at the service
  of the individual, and
• Individual voluntarism in the church has become a
  consumer Christian store offering the best
  package deal. This progresses into the idea that,
  As long as Im all right with Jesus, I dont
  need the church.

Bellah, Robert N. Cultural Barriers to the
Understanding of the Church and Its Public Role.
Missiology An International Review 19 (1991)
page 463
22
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• 19th Century
• Danish Lutheran mission
• Church of Denmarks mission society was
  reorganized in 1878 as The Danish Evangelical
  Lutheran Church in America (commonly known as the
  Danish Church), to send immigrates and
  homesteaders to rural America.

Theodore G. Tappert, The Lutherans in North
America, ed. Clifford E. Nelson, Philadelphia
Fortress Press, 1975, page 268
23
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• In the mid-1880s two theological movements from
  Denmark came to America
• The happy Dane movement was begun by Nicolai F.S.
  Grundtig (1783-1872), pastor, hymn-writer, and
  outspoken critic of rationalism, popular in
  Denmark. He became a strong supporter of humanism
  in 1825.

Theodore G. Tappert, The Lutherans in North
America, ed. Clifford E. Nelson, Philadelphia
Fortress Press, 1975, page 268
24
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• The sad Dane movement was organized in 1853,
  headed by Vilhelm Beck, with the primary identity
  and purpose to effect spiritual renewal within
  Danish Lutherans.

Theodore G. Tappert, The Lutherans in North
America, ed. Clifford E. Nelson, Philadelphia
Fortress Press, 1975, page 268
25
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• Happy Danes
• Stressed confessions in Luthers Small Catechism.
  
• Emphasized Danish nationalism, renaissance of
  culture, and a local theology based on the Small
  Catechism.
• Primarily a clergy supported movement fed by
  displays of public gatherings.
• Regarded sad Danes as narrow minded,
  self-righteous, and sectarian.

• Sad Danes
• Focused on the Scripture as Gods inspired living
  word.
• Practiced repentance, conversion, and abstinence
  from common cultural recreation.
• Primarily a pietistic laymens movement nurtured
  by small group devotional meetings.
• Regarded happy Danes as doctrinally unsound,
  worldly, and defective in spirituality.

Theodore G. Tappert, The Lutherans in North
America, ed. Clifford E. Nelson, Philadelphia
Fortress Press, 1975, page 269
26
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• In 1880, seven miles SE of Cordova, families
  from these two Danish Lutheran movements first
  worshiped in a school house.
• Once a month Pastor L.N. Gydensen would traveled
  from Omaha by horse and buggy to conduct services.

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
St. Johns Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Our Congregations History 1900-1950, Cordova,
Nebraska.
27
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• In spite of their internal conflicts, these
  Danish homesteaders organized Vor Frelsers
  Danske Evangelisk Luthesk Menighed ved Cordova,
  Seward County, Nebraska, in 1883.
• The congregation build a simple wooden
  structure, without steeple or stained glass
  windows, on an acre of land one mile southeast of
  Cordova donated by Marcus Christiansen.

St. Johns Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Our Congregations History 1900-1950, Cordova,
Nebraska.
28
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• By 1894 their internal theological conflict was
  so great that half of the congregation bought out
  the other half. The happy Danes built a structure
  in Cordova, forming St. Johns Danish Evangelical
  Lutheran Church (AELC ALC).

Photo courtesy of www.telcordova.com
St. Johns Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Our Congregations History 1900-1950, Cordova,
Nebraska.
29
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• That same year, the remaining half of the
  congregation also purchased land in Cordova (one
  block east of St. Johns), moved the original
  building, added a steeple, and formed Our
  Saviors Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (UELC
  LCA).

Photo courtesy of www.telcordova.com
St. Johns Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Our Congregations History 1900-1950, Cordova,
Nebraska.
30
INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• The two churches, St. Johns (AELC ALC), and
  Our Saviors (UELC LCA), voted April 1, 1960 to
  merge once again, thus ending 66 years of
  separation.

Photo courtesy of www.telcordova.com
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100th
Anniversary 1983 Congregational Directory,
Cordova, Nebraska
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INFLUENCES OF RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

• In 2002, perceptions of mission and practices of
  ministry continue to reflect the influences of
  past religious heritages, which are sometimes
  complementary and sometimes conflicting.

Photo courtesy of www.telcordova.com
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INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
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INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS

• In the 1870s a small conclave of Danish
  immigrants homesteaded the four corners of
  Seward, Saline, York, and Fairmont Counties, 150
  miles west of the established Danish communities
  in Fremont, Blair, and Omaha, Nebraska.

St. Johns Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Our Congregations History 1900-1950, Cordova,
NE
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INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
The settlement of the Cordova area west of Omaha
Lincoln followed the Old Oregon Trail. The
Union Pacific RR, and Lincoln HWY, have
become the Interstate 80 route.
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INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
Internet Searches resulting from Google Ask
Jeeves websites, 2000 Census - US Bureau of
Census
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INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
1 St. Johns Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Our Congregations History 1900-1950, Cordova,
NE 2 Interview with selected members related to
original homesteaders
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INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
Strauss, William and Howe, Neil, Generations-The
History of Americas Future, 1584-2069, New York,
Quill William Morrow Press, 1991, pages 79 89
38
INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
Strauss, William and Howe, Neil, Generations-The
History of Americas Future, 1584-2069, New York,
Quill William Morrow Press, 1991, pages 79 89
39
INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
Strauss, William and Howe, Neil, Generations-The
History of Americas Future, 1584-2069, New York,
Quill William Morrow Press, 1991, pages 79 89
40
INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS

• Simpson Van Gelder, Luther Seminary, GR7511
  class notes, 2002

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INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS

• Of those who use technological communication in
  our four county area
• 40 use computers/internet
• 50 use cellular phones
• 70 listen to radio
• 100 watch TV

2000 Census - US Bureau of Census
42
INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS

• Of those who use personal transportation in our
  four county area
• 24 drive gt1 mile to TELC
• 19 drive gt5 miles to TELC
• 45 drive gt10 miles to TELC
• 12 drive gt25 miles to TELC
• 6 are snowbirds

2002 TELC Demographic study of membership records
43
INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS

• Generations in the four county area
• Households related to homesteaders
• 50 are related
• 25 of both spouses are related
• 30 of Xers Yers remain in their county after
  high school.

• Generations at TELC
• Households related to homesteaders
• 80 are related
• 50 of both spouses are related
• 15 of Xers Yers remain in their county after
  high school.

2002 TELC Demographic Study of membership records
44
INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS

• Generations in the four county area
• Households related to homesteaders
• 70 of the farmers are related
• 60 of non-farmers are related

• Generations at TELC
• Households related to homesteaders
• 95 of the farmers are related
• 80 of non-farmers are related

2002 TELC Demographic Study of membership records
45
INFLUENCES of SOCIAL and TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS

• Within TELC, social values of the generations
  related to homesteaders are, in general, similar
  to those of the Lost generation.
• Within TELC, social values of generations not
  related to homesteaders are typical of other
  Americans.
• Within TELC, social values of Xers Yers who
  attend college and leave Cordova are similar to
  those of other Americans.

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INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
47
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• The influences of religious heritage and social
  and technological developments affect the way
  TELC members interpret the Bible, perceive the
  mission of the church, and practice ministry.
• In adult studies, TELC members own and use NIV,
  NKJV, and NRSV Bibles, as well as bringing their
  happy sad Dane Theology.

48
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• In August 2002, I lead a Bible study on Luke
  2413-49 -- Jesus resurrection appearance on the
  road to Emmaus.
• 12 members attended.
• Most of the 12 had previously attended a
  five-session study on Erlanders book, Baptized,
  We Live, which explains how Lutherans see, hear,
  teach and follow the Gospel.

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INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Luke 2413-49 Road to Emmaus Bible Study

1 Gary Simpson, Luther Seminary, GR7511 2002
class notes on Luthers Happy Exchange. 2 Class
notes on Steven Bevans, Models of Contextual
Theology New York, Maryknoll Press, 2002.
50
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
Luke 2413-49 Road to Emmaus Bible Study

• Who do we say or think Jesus is?
• Why is Jesus hidden from us?
• What does Jesus expect us to do?

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
51
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
Luke 2413-49 Road to Emmaus Bible Study

• Where does Jesus reveal himself?
• How does Jesus reveal himself?
• Where does Jesus expect us to go from here?

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
52
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
Luke 2413-49 Road to Emmaus Bible Study

• Where do we find God?
• Where does God find us?

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
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INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
Luke 2413-49 Road to Emmaus Bible Study

• How do we perceive Gods presence?
• How do we perceive Gods Spirit acting?
• How do we perceive Gods gifts?
• How do we perceive God using strangers?

Graphics courtesy of Google.com
54
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Luke 2413-49 Road to Emmaus Bible Study

Gary Simpson, Luther Seminary, GR7511 class
notes, 2002 Modification of Luthers Happy
Exchange
55
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Luke 2413-49 Road to Emmaus Bible Study
• Ways we Know Christ and Make Christ Known
• Through worship
• Through Education and prayer
• Through Communication
• Through hospitality

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INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Practices of ministry through worship at TELC
• Age requirement to receive Holy Communion
• Prior to 2000 . . . . . . 14 years old
  (confirmation)
• In 2000 . . . . 10 years old (pastoral
  instruction)
• Frequency of celebrating Holy Communion
• Prior to 1946 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
  times a year
• Prior to 1960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
  time a month
• Since 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . every other
  Sunday

Annual Reports of TELC
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INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Practices of ministry through worship at TELC
• Sunday Worship Communion Attendance
• In 1994 AWA . . . . . . . 104, 26 (63, 38
  communing)
• In 1996 AWA . . . . . . . . 95, 29 (66, 29
  communing)
• In 1998 AWA . . . . . . . . 91, 29 (83, 31
  communing)
• In 2000 AWA . . . . . . . 102, 35 (85, 51
  communing)
• In 2002 AWA . . . . . . 108, 38 (95, 52
  communing)

2002 Annual Reports Trends of TELC to ELCA
58
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Practices of ministry through education and
  prayer at TELC
• Sunday School Attendance
• In 1994 AEA . . . . . . . . 50 adults children
• In 1998 AEA . . . . . . . . 43 adults children
• In 2000 AEA . . . . . . . . 54 adults children
• In 2002 AEA . . . . . . . . 85 adults children
• Prayer partners (begun 2001) . . . . . 21 members
• Prayer partners (2002) . . . . . . . . . 27
  members

2002 Annual Reports Trends of TELC to ELCA
59
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Practices of ministry through communication at
  TELC

• To family friends already members
• To family and friends not yet members
• To guests and newcomers

60
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION

• Practices of ministry through communication at
  TELC

• Prior to 2001 weekly church bulletin
• Prior to 2001 monthly newspaper announcement
• Prior to 2001 monthly church newsletter

• In 2002 weekly church bulletin
• In 2002 weekly newspaper stories
• In 2002 monthly church newsletter
• In 2002 church website, www.telcordova.org

61
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
Practices of ministry through hospitality at
TELC

• In 1998 AWA 91, 0 guests per month
• In 1999 AWA 98, 0 guests per month
• In 2000 AWA 100, 1 guest per month
• In 2001 AWA 105, 2 guests per month
• In 2002 AWA 117, 4 guests per month
• Prior to 4/2002 . . . . . . . . no worship
  greeters
• Since 4/2002 . . . . . . 2 worship greeters/door

62
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
Practices of ministry through hospitality at TELC

• In 1998 no pre or post worship fellowship
• In 1999 no pre or post worship fellowship
• In 2000 no pre or post worship fellowship
• After 2001, pre worship fellowship, called Solid
  Rock café, is hosted by our 26 Jr./Sr. high
  school students.

63
INFLUENCES of BIBLICAL PERCEPTION
Practices of ministry through hospitality at TELC

• In 1998 0 Lenten suppers, 3 potlucks
• In 1999 0 Lenten suppers, 3 potlucks
• In 2000 1 Lenten supper, 3 potlucks
• In 2001 1 Lenten supper, 5 potlucks
• In 2002 6 Lenten suppers, 5 potlucks

64
Conclusion of perceptions and practices
65
Conclusion of perceptions and practices
New ways TELC can share Gods spirit

• Invite new comers to join us for worship,
  education, prayer, and hospitality.
• Welcome and introduce ourselves to strangers when
  they join us.
• Include guests in our community and Gods
  communion.

Photo courtesy of www.telcordova.com
66
Conclusion of perceptions and practices

• Gods Spirit is more than the winds of the past
  fanning the days the our future.
• Jesus says we are witnesses of all these
  things, happening now.
• Luke 2448

67
Bibliography
68
Bibliography

• Bellah, Robert N. Cultural Barriers to the
  Understanding of the Church and Its Public Role.
  Missiology An International Review 19 (1991)
  461-473.
• Bevans, S.B. Models of Contextual Theology New
  York Maryknoll Press, 2002
• Erlander, Daniel Baptized, We Live Lutheranism
  as a Way of Life Chelan, WA, Holden Village,
  1981.
• Simpson, Gary, Critical Social Theory-Prophetic
  Reason, Civil Society, and Christian Imagination,
  Minneapolis Fortress Press, 2002.

69
Bibliography

• Simpson, Gary and Van Gelder, Craig, Integration
  of Theology and Ministry, Luther Seminary, class
  notes by D.Min student, Rob Sachs, 7/29-8/3/2002.
• St. Johns Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church,
  Our Congregations History 1900-1950, Cordova,
  Nebraska.
• Strauss, William and Howe, Neil, Generations-The
  History of Americas Future, 1584-2069, New York,
  Quill William Morrow Press, 1991.
• Theodore G. Tappert, H., The Lutherans in North
  America, ed. Clifford E. Nelson, Philadelphia
  Fortress Press, 1975

70
Bibliography

• The Venture Bible New Revised Standard Version
  with Apocrypha, Folio Bound Views Software,
  distributed by Augsburg Press, Minneapolis, MN
  1992-1994,
• Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100th
  Anniversary 1983 Service Bulletin, Cordova,
  Nebraska
• Van Gelder, Craig Defining the Center Finding
  the Boundaries The Challenge of Revisioning the
  Church in North America for the Twenty-First
  Century Missiology An International Review 22
  (1994) 317-337.