St. John's aims to regain touch with community

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

LAKEWOOD — St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is settling into its new status as the synod’s first congregation to go under “synodical administration.”

That means the council of the struggling church has handed over major decisions to the synod in order to free itself up to plan a new future.

Now led by the Rev. Joe Smith, the small congregation of about 35 members will reach out to Lakewood residents, and listen to what they say their needs are. Church members then will build a new mission around responding to those needs.

“Every (church) community that I have served assumes they know who their neighbors are. I don’t think that we do,” Smith said.

The first “listening” event might be a barbecue with the young, military families that live in Lakewood. Maybe it will be getting a booth at Lakewood’s Summerfest.

“Rather than look for fresh meat for our committees, we actually look how we can serve people,” Smith said. “It’s a culture shift; it’s a language shift.”

Other first steps are planned. The congregation is doing “asset mapping” to identify its strengths.
As Bishop Robert D. Hofstad turns the focus of the synod from starting new congregations to strengthening existing ones, he said he hopes St. John’s becomes a model. He also said its members showed courage in choosing synodical administration.

“I commend members of St. John’s, in the highest way, for taking a leap of faith into the future that may now be uncertain, but will certainly be faithful,” he said.

Synodical administration is not permanent; the congregation’s council will eventually take back the leadership it handed over. But while under synodical administration, St. John’s members now have the strong and close support of the wider church community as they walk together into a new future.

Pictured: The Rev. Joe Smith of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lakewood says a new traffic signal on Bridgeport Way will cause passers-by to stop and take a look.