My Colleague Pastor Kris Snyder and I are working on a project together. We are highlighting the Geographical Parishes in the Northeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA. The finished product will hopefully be a video resource and a written assessment of our findings. We both believe strongly that shared ministry is the future of the Church in rural America. We hope to both affirm the places where shared ministry is being done well and provide some assistance to those communities new to the conversation. The purpose of this blog is to keep interested people informed about the progress of the project and maybe hopefully invite voices outside of our Synod to weigh in on our efforts. There will be more coming.
In Christ
Reverend Matthew R. Voyer STS
About Me
- Matthew Voyer
- I am originally from Peaks Island Maine. I am currently serving as Pastor of a St. John Lutheran Church in Lawrenceburg Indiana. My hobbies include reading, boardgames, and comic books. I coached football and basketball and was a camp director before entering seminary.
This is most certainly a conversation - an evolution in how we think about and do ministry in rural settings. Even those who have done yoked ministry have been called to a time of examination about how can we share ministry and be "of one mind" in Christ. The time for churches to all have their "own pastor" has long past. To be creative and cuting edge would be to minimize repeating programs such as confirmation, look at ways in which we can build on the strengths of each other, and find the best practice for supporting those congregations who are facing the challenge of filling their pulpits on Sunday morning.
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