77-2 Resolution on Leadership Training Seminars
Background
As Christians, it is important that we be leaders, following the leader of our lives, Jesus Christ.
The National Council of LSM-USA has identified the need for leadership training seminars within the movements to facilitate witness and service in response to our Christian challenges.
A leadership training program could provide participants with basic leadership skills.
The evaluation from the Follow The Leader leadership training seminar held in the eastern regions of LSM-USA enthusiastically supported the continuation of a program of peer ministry in the area of leadership.
Further, the bringing together of several regions of LSM-USA for teaching, fellowship, learning, and worship strengthens our fellowship in Christ.
Be It Therefore Resolved
1) That the National Council of LSM-USA encourage, support, and facilitate, a program of leadership training by selecting for the 1977-1978 academic year three regions, one each from the eastern, central and western portions of the country, in which to hold leadership training seminars. In subsequent years, different regions in different parts of the country could be selected for leadership training seminars. The Council will be responsible for selecting a committee including at least one council person to plan each seminar. Each of these three committees will then be responsible for planning, publicizing, and implementing a seminar in their respective regions
2) That information from the Follow The Leader seminar, 1977, be made available to the above committees by its co-ordinator, Kathy Sibbach, and that she be an advisor to each of the above committees.
Actions Taken
+ LSM—Central USA – Leadership Training Seminar, “A Call to Lead.” Was held February 17-19, 1978 at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca, where over fifty people gathered to hear the keynote speaker, Dr. George Forell. Dr. Forell is a professor of religion at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. His presentations included some Biblical and spiritual understandings of leadership, centering on the servanthood and ethics of leadership. To be Christian leaders, we need to first be followers and servants of Christ.
The weekend also included community building, workshops, free time, and worship, with most of these events led by students. The workshops covered the areas of peer ministry, a campus ministry game, the calling of a student, how to be heard socially and politically, women’s perspectives, community building, and creative worship.
The weekend offered a learning opportunity toward the many ways of leadership in the church on campus and a growing relationship with other Christians in the Central USA.
+ LSM—Western USA – Leadership Training Seminar, “Shepherds of His People” was also held February 17-19, 1978. It was organized by the Pacific Southwest region and held in Berkeley, California. The guest speaker, Dr. Gary Pence of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, spoke to over 25 students on some of the theological aspects of Christian leadership, studying leadership as a redemptive process. As leaders in the church we should treat life as a gift rather than a curse because of the grace and redemption we receive through Jesus Christ.
In addition, four workshops were held on leadership and the human potential movement, community building, women in ministry, and cults. A more complete report on this seminar will be given at the 1978 Legislative Assembly.
+ An article appeared in the Winter ’78 issue of the LSM-USA NEWSLETTER describing these seminars.
+ Resources on LTS’s are filed at the LSM-USA national office and are available to seminar planners.
+ Special thanks to National Lutheran Campus Ministry for their generous support of a $1000 grant for Leadership Training Seminars.