A series of articles on why we do what we do here at St. John’s.

How are decisions made for the Ministry of St. John’s?

In some denominations a local organizational structure is imposed on a local congregation, while others are organized in any way they choose. Lutherans are somewhere in between, especially congregations like St. John’s who are part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Over the generations the St. John’s Voter’s Assembly was the main decision-making assembly, meeting regularly throughout the year to receive reports and deliberate on a whole host of decisions related to the ministry of the congregation.  While the Voter’s Assembly remains the ultimate decision-making entity for St. John’s, the ongoing management and oversight of ministry has been moved to ministry boards and the Governing Board.

Currently there are THREE ministry boards which provide oversight and make ongoing decisions for the life and ministry of the congregation.

• The Board of Elders is primarily concerned for the worship life and spiritual care provided through the congregation. The pastor (or pastors) report to this board and the board provides ongoing guidance for the pastor. Decisions often relate to worship schedules, plans for bible study, and the care of church members, especially those unable to be in worship. This board usually meets monthly on a Saturday morning.
• The Board of Trustees is primarily concerned with the physical assets of the congregation. Most of their decisions are related to the ongoing maintenance of our buildings and grounds, as well as capital improvements. They monitor the ongoing financial health of the congregation especially as it relates to our ability for this maintenance and these projects.
• The School Board is primarily concerned with the ongoing ministry of our school ministry. The school’s principal provides reports and the board’s decisions related often to policies, contracts, handbooks and other items related to the ongoing operation of the school.

The Governing Board is intended mostly to provide a means for communication and general oversight of our congregation’s work, especially as these three boards and others relate to one another. When they make a decision it is often related to financial commitments that are beyond the operating budget. 

For example: this past summer the Board of Trustees deliberated over the need to replace the gymnasium floor and made a decision as to the best solution in place of the carpet. The School Board received reports on the status of things. The Governing Board allocated the funds necessary since the cost was not included in the 2025 Spending Plan approved by the Voter’s Assembly.  

Another example: This past year the Board of Elders recommended to the Governing Board that we call an associate pastor. The Governing Board appointed an Exploratory Committee to meet, deliberate and make a recommendation. The Governing Board received this committee’s recommendation and reported it to the Voter’s Assembly, since ultimately the Voter’s Assembly is the only decision-making body in the congregation that can issue a call.

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Next month: Securing People instead of Vacant Buildings