Review of 2004 Activities

Review of Missions Chair Activities, 2004

web site: http://faculty.cu-portland.edu/herbhoefer/

* = activities involving both NW Dt. and CUP

+ = activities involving both LCMS WM and CUP

# = activities involving both NW Dt. and LCMS WM

A. Northwest District Activities

*1. Reviews of Rick Warren’s books The Purpose-Drive Life and The Purpose-Driven Church

Note: These books are popularly used in our LCMS congregations, and district pastors have asked for theological guidance/evaluation. The reviews have also been reques ted for use by the CTCR.

*2. Drawing up supplemental CUP syllabi for 8 LAP courses, including 3 Prospecti

Note: Some of the LAP students want to get college credit for their courses. I went through the syllabi that were available and worked out what supplemental work would be necessary, if any, to receive credit at CUP. Three of the courses were new to the CUP curriculum, so I had to draw up a Prospectus for the course. These courses are now in the process of being accep ted by the faculty and incorpora ted into the CUP catalog.

3. Ministry Task Force

Note: The NW Dt. convention passed a resolution to study the doctrine of ministry and its application, with special reference to the roles of laity and women. The task force met once so far.

4. Ethnic Ministries Task Force, Chairman

Note: The NW Dt. convention passed a resolution to study how ministry and outreach among ethnic populations in the region might be encouraged and mobilized. I was appoin ted to the task force, but, when the chairman failed to convene any meetings, I was reques ted to step in. We have now formed the task force membership and set the date for the first meeting, Dec. 10 th . I have made visits to two ethnic ministry worship services and provided reports for the task force.

*5. Theological Cabinet with CUP

Note: This “think tank” was formed by the Presidents of the NW Dt. and of CUP to discuss issues of the church and society, as a resource in our mission thinking. It usually meets twice a year.

6. Discussion Guide for “The None Zone”

Note: This book researched the features of religious life in the Northwest. I prepared a study guide and arranged a conference call with the author for a discussion with the district office staff

#7. China Connection Task Force consultant member

Note: This informal group has been encouraging outreach to China and gathering funds to support the work. We are now in the process of expanding the focus of the group to the entire Pacific Rim and forming into a registered mission society.

* #8. Fall Mission Festival (for Portland-area LCMS congregations)

Note: For the past seven years, the Mission Institute has sponsored (in recent years in cooperation with the Concordia University Foundation Center for Spiritual Renewal) a gathering of lay leaders and pastors from the Portland area to reflect on different mission themes. The participation has ranged from 120 to 25, usually averaging about 80. The theme this year was “Pray to the Lord of the Harvest.”

B. Concordia University Activities

1. Teaching 15 hours of classes, especially mission-rela ted courses (World Religions, Issues between Islam and Christianity, Church at Work in Mission )

Note: According to the agreement, I am paid to teach only 8 hours of classes per year. I have taken on these extra hours of classes on an adjunct basis.

*2. Drawing up supplemental CUP syllabi for 8 LAP courses, including 3 Prospecti

Note: See A. 2 above.

*3. Theological Cabinet

Note: See A. 5 above.

*+4. Mission Institute

Note: Activities once again have been the annual Fall Mission Festival, the promoting of mission experiences for students (Spring Break, summer, post-graduation), recruiting for the Beautiful Feet mission conference, etc.) Because of my heavy off-campus responsibilities, I recrui ted Prof. Jeanette Eggert to take one of my credit hours for this work and take up the student recruitment responsibility of the Institute. As a follow-up to these efforts, I brought two CUP graduates with me as mentees in cross-cultural ministry on my trip to India in Jan-Feb.

5. University and Division of Theology planning, retreats, etc.

*6. Reviews of Rick Warren’s books The Purpose-Drive Life and The Purpose-Driven Church

Note: See A. 1 above

+7. Masters of Christian Outreach course “History of Missions”

Note: CUP initia ted a Masters in Christian Outreach together with Concordia University-St. Paul four years ago, based at CSP. I have been teaching a web-based course on “The History of Missions.”

+8. Article: “Gospel Proclamation of the Ascended Lord”

Note: This is a 15-page article (available on my web site) that encourages the proclamation of Jesus as Lord as a better evangelistic approach than the substitutionary atonement model. The article has been circula ted electronically and it is scheduled t to be published in abridged form by Evangelical Mission Quarterly Jan. 2006)

+9. Article: “Faith Beyond the Church”

Note: This is a 3-page article on the development of forms of Christianity among caste Hindus in India that is occurring outside the established church. It is intended for The Lutheran Witness .

+10. Bible Correspondence Course: “Jesus the Jihadi”

Note: This is an 8-lesson Bible Correspondence Course on gospel of Mark intended to introduce Muslims to the faith in categories that they can understand and relate to, similar to the 10-lesson one for caste Hindus that I did, “Jesus My Master” based on Matthew’s gospel. These courses are intended for translation and use in Lutheran Hour Ministries mass media work or by others in outreach to people of major faith traditions.

C. LCMS World Mission Activities

1. Area Director for India and Sri Lanka

Note: For the past five years, I have served as Area Director for our work in India and Sri Lanka . As part of that responsibility, I travel to India , tour the mission work, meet with church leaders, conduct mission seminars, and teach at the seminary there. I send “Updates” back, which serve to publicize around the church what is happening, for the prayer and financial support. I spend 3-4 hours each day as well in administrative work (e-mails, phone conversations, letters, etc.)

2. Organizing preparations for Director of Muslim Outreach

Note: The new responsibility assigned to me in my expanded role with LCMS WM has been to direct the development of the rationale and parameters of the planned non-geographical Director for Muslim Outreach. The first step in this regard was conducting a gathering of past and present LCMS Muslim missionaries, which was held on July 7-8. There will now be a follow-up meeting on Nov. 22nd to bring the recommendations of this conference into the form of a specific job description.

3. Ablaze! missionary gatherings in July

Note: I participa ted in the gatherings of past and present LCMS missionaries prior to the LCMS convention as the representative of our work in India .

4. India Mission Society meetings

Note: I work with a group that attempts to support the work of our partner church in India , the India Evangelical Lutheran Church . They focus primarily on the work of the seminary there and the church-planting efforts. We had meetings in.January, July, and Nov.)

5. Auditing “Islam in Africa ” course

Note: As part of my preparation for the responsibility to develop a mission strategy for outreach among Muslims around the world, I participa ted for one week in an intensive course on “Islam in Africa ” conduc ted by Dr. Jim Dretke at the Ft. Wayne seminary.

6. POBLO Executive Board

Note: The People of the Book Lutheran Outreach is an LCMS-rela ted mission society that has established congregations in ethnic populations around the USA as well as a missionary training center in Pakistan for outreach to that region. The Board usually meets four times a year.

7. Preaching at new POBLO congregations, Aug, 22

Note: POBLO has begun a new outreach to Tamilians in the Detroit area, and I was invi ted to preach at one of their opening services. I also preached at the already established Hindi congregation there, with translation.

+8. Mentoring two CUP graduates in India for one month

Note: See B.4 above.

+9. Masters of Christian Outreach web-based course “History of Missions,” partnership with Concordia U.- St. Paul

Note: See B.7 above.

+10. “Gospel Proclamation of the Ascended Lord” (15-page article, to be published in abridged form by Evangelical Mission Quarterly Jan. 2006)

Note: See B.8 above.

+11. “Faith Beyond the Church” (3-page article for The Lutheran Witness )

Note: See B.9 above.

+12. “Jesus the Jihadi” (8-lesson Bible Correspondence Course on gospel of Mark)

Note: See B.10 above.

13. Two Mission Sundays on India

14. Association for Communal Harmony in Asia

Note: I have been a member of the Board of Directors of this organization for five years. We have a web site, hold forums, sponsor events, and promote activities that work toward peace in South Asia , particularly between Hindus and Muslims. For the past year I have served as President.

15. Rethinking Forum

Note: I was a founding member of the Rethinking Forum five years ago and served as Chairman since then. We publish materials and hold seminars, both in the USA (and England ) and in India on developing culturally roo ted forms of outreach and nurture among caste Hindus. LCMS WM is one of the sponsoring agencies of the organization.

16. Background Points on Depression in India

Note: MOST Ministries is responding to a request from the high school principals of the IELC Ambur Synod to help teachers recognize and deal with depression and suicidal tendencies among their students. I drew up points to provide background on this issue, and I met with the counselors who are planning to go to India to provide training.

D. Topics for Discussion on Future Activities

1. Fundraising for the Endowment

I have not been involved in approaching donors about providing an endowment for this Missions Chair. The plan was that all three organizations would approach potential donors known to them. I don’t know if others have approached donors. I would think that there would be considerable interest in this project, so I would hope that we can pursue this plan in 2005.

2. Involvement with LAP

I worked on the upgrading of LAP courses for academic credit, and I don’t know that there is anything more to be done on this at the present. I had discussed with Chris Reinke a year ago about possible involvement with the LAP courses. He had sugges ted that I might take over teaching the course on missions and I might develop courses on Hinduism and/or New Age, but I have been unable to reach him to finalize these discussions. I need some feedback on whether this proposed involvement is a priority for the three entities.

3. Role with LCMS World Mission

From 1997-2003, LCMS World Mission suppor ted one-third of my salary to compensate CUP for my time serving as Theological Consultant and then as Area Director for India and Sri Lanka . From 2004, LCMS WM increased the support to 50 percent, adding the responsibility of developing the new LCMS WM position of Director for Muslim Outreach. The expectation is that this position will be filled in Spring 2005. In addition, LCMS WM will be appointing a Regional Director for Asia in 2005. That person will need to determine any future role that I might have in India and Sri Lanka . LCMS WM may, therefore, be reassessing its need for and its financial support of my ministry some time in 2005.

4. Status of Mission Institute

The CUP Mission Institute does not have an institutional budget. It is an informal organization on campus in whose name I pursue several mission-rela ted activities. There have been several proposals for integrating this organization into the structure and budget of the university, but nothing has materialized. As things now stand, if I ever left CUP, the Institute would cease to exist. I don’t know if CUP wants to incorporate this Institute and its activities into its structure so that it is a permanent feature of the campus.

5. Proposal of Center for Lutheran Studies

CUP administration has proposed that the new configuration of the university feature a Center for Lutheran Studies. The rationale for the Center indicates that it should have a strong mission emphasis with a focus on addressing the social and spiritual issues of the Northwest from a Lutheran perspective. I don’t know how soon that Center will be developed, but I may be integrally involved in that planning and activity.

6. CUP Missions Major

As part of the Missions Chair planning, the CUP administration proposed the upgrading of the Missions Minor to a Missions Major. My initial proposal has been stalled and questioned. The critical question being asked is: “How can we develop a curriculum that will effectively inspire and prepare future missionaries, particularly in cross-cultural situations?” I will have to try to develop a curriculum that accomplishes that crucial but difficult goal.

7. Orientation to Mission in India

I have often been asked about taking groups to India to introduce them to the mission work going on there. CUP students have asked me to take them to India , perhaps as an academic course. Last Jan-Feb., I took two CUP graduates with me for a month as mentees in cross-cultural ministry. I offered that opportunity this year to MACO students/graduates and to seminary students, but there were no takers. We have people going regularly to India for the two-week Spoken English Workshop at the seminary in Nagercoil, and other mission societies also take LCMS laypeople and pastors there as part of their programs. The NW Dt. has encouraged the China Connection Task Force to consider expanding its focus to include all of the Pacific Rim countries, including India . I need to know if any of the partners in this Missions Chair think I should be moving my ministry in this direction.

8. Ministry Satisfaction/Demands

2004 has been a new venture for all three partners and for myself. Working for God’s mission in three different spheres can be complica ted and exhausting. I have found all of the partners supportive and accommodating in my ministry, and Mark Wahlers has been effective in helping me keep things together. I think I have met the expectations and requests of the partners so far. I have to be careful not to let the open-ended possibilities of the position overwhelm and compel me. For example, I did not take much of a vacation this year, as I sought to meet the continual opportunities that were coming before me. I found each aspect of the 3-fold ministry fulfilling and meaningful, so I’m happy to continue the relationships. I will need to keep an awareness of maintaining balance and limits as we move forward to another year.

Respectfully submit ted ,

Herb Hoefer

Nov. 18, 2004