The nebraska district lay formation logo image with phrase conversation application vocation formation. Logo includes conversation bubbles, a lightbulb with a gear, people being held in a set of hands, and growing leaves.

The Nebraska District LCMS has committed itself to the work of serving God’s family, encouraging them to be fully engaged in living and sharing the Good News of Jesus. This mission encompasses all District members, including workers, staff, and laity.

Currently, there is no clear strategic pathway for developing and resourcing laity.

By intentionally investing in increasing the biblical and practical ministry competencies for laity—cultivating, connecting, and caring for them—a Lay Formation process would foster healthier congregations and ministries in God’s Kingdom.

Lay Formation, building upon the success of Leadership Learning Communities and other Nebraska District formation approaches that prioritize holistic learning, presents an opportunity for significant impact in local congregations and communities.

Understanding the Need:

  • Our identity as God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9), pastoral and church worker shortages, and shrinking budgets require the Church to rethink the deployment of an increasingly educated and equipped laity.
  • The Church in America needs fresh approaches to cultural engagement, empowering lay voices for faith conversations, evangelism, and Gospel-sharing.
  • Leadership development has historically prioritized organizational maintenance over fostering faith leaders in all spheres of life. This approach limits focus on equipping individuals for broader, long-term leadership unless pursuing professional church work.
  • Overburdened pastors and church workers struggle to provide mentorship and equip laity adequately and often find themselves unable to or uncomfortable with “handing off” ministry.
  • Developing an equipped laity requires a practical, relational, whole-person approach connecting local churches to one another and, thus, to the Nebraska District.

Potential Populations Served:

  • Active laity, both male and female
  • New or prospective congregation leaders
  • Laity in moments of life transition (newly retired, children leaving home, graduating from college, new career, etc.)
  • Male and female laity considering paid vocational Christian ministry
  • Ethnic ministries
  • University students and young adults
  • Vacant, multi-point, and under-resourced parishes
  • New mission/ministry starts

Anticipated Outcomes:

  • Moving toward a more engaged laity, equipped to carry out God’s ministry in all spheres of life.
  • Increasing professional church workers’ capacity and competency to mentor and release ministry to laity.
  • Partnering with and supporting church workers by resourcing and equipping laity.
  • Increasing the competency and capacity of laity for serving and maturing in Christ.
  • Participants would grow in:
    • Clarity of calling and a deeper sense of vocational living
    • Discovery and development of spiritual gifts and talents
    • Biblical and Lutheran Confessional understanding
    • Learning with other leaders
    • Practicing Christian community
    • Practical application of new leadership skills learned

The Nebraska District Lay Formation process is a crucial step in continuing to equip the local church to raise up laity for meaningful ministry. By responding to the biblical call to equip God’s people for works of service (Ephesians 4:12-13) and by addressing pastoral and church worker shortages, overburdened church staff, and the need for deeper engagement, this process will foster healthier congregations and communities.

We ask you to pray for a successful project launch with our pilot group, for the resources to pave the way for sustainable leadership development, and that this process would strengthen the Church’s mission to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. We anticipate opening this process to more congregations after the completion and evaluation of the 2027 pilot phase. Questions can be sent to info@ndlcms.org.