Our Ministry Model
At Mt. Zion, our model of ministry grows out of the conviction that every person has a call from God according to their unique personal gifts to bring a message of compassionate love and service to the world in the name of Jesus Christ.
Following in the footsteps of Martin Luther, we believe that God calls each person into ministry in his or her daily life, and that Mt. Zion is a place where people explore their calls, where they can serve, where they can grow, and where they can be strengthened for service in all aspects of their lives.
In order to facilitate this dynamic and exciting idea of mission, we needed to transform our organizational structure into one that emphasizes discipleship over membership, and mission over maintenance. We sought to remove the barriers that often impede ministry, including our own traditional (and often cumbersome) concepts of committees, councils, and charters, in order that we might reflect a more forward-thinking model that focuses on connecting people with their ministry passions, providing resources to equip them to do what God calls them to do, and to create community.
The Mt. Zion Transformation Model
Create three core ministry areas: Welcoming and Gathering, Preparing and Strengthening, and Sending and Serving
Recruit and Equip new leaders for a variety of roles: overseers, consultants, dreamers, mentors, communicators, do-ers, thinkers, team players, independent agents, and resource persons.
In many areas of ministry, our staff members serve as coordinators for our ministries. This means that they collect and focus the energy around a certain group of ministries, and interact with the leaders of ministry teams, championing successes, assisting with challenges, and helping establish a vision for the ministry core area.
Within these core areas, we are constantly seeking people to find themselves called to areas of ministry. Whether they serve as part of a team, coordinate their own ministry, or help recruit others, these leaders play essential roles in the vitality of our ministry. Each of them works closely with our pastors and staff so all are supported and equipped.
After several years of exploration and planning, we are in the midst of implementing this ministry model. It will take some time to make this transition, but we feel this is an incredible opportunity to facilitate inspired leadership by many different people who want to live out their faith in an authentic, meaningful way. It is an exciting time for us as we identify those who have been called to serve in this way, and we can’t wait to see the surprises that God has in mind for us!
Welcoming and Gathering (1 Corinthians 12:27)
The purpose of the Welcoming and Gathering Ministries is to invite people to encounter Jesus Christ; help them feel welcome, valued, and safe; and connect them to ministries that fit their gifts and interests. They include three types of Ministry Teams:
1) Inviting, 2) Hospitality, and 3) Connecting.
1) Inviting Ministry Teams are engaged in extending and invitation to our community to worship, play, study and connect. A few examples include: website/publicity, welcome packets, evangelism, and new member connections.
2) Hospitality Ministry Teams are engaged in giving and affording a genuine welcome, cordial reception, and entertainment to guests, members, and strangers. A few examples include greeters, coffee hour hosts, wine and cheese fellowship, teacher appreciation, and Lenten soup suppers.
3) Connecting Ministry Teams are engaged in coordinating and sustaining the ministries that link people together according to their particular interests or stages in life. A few examples include Love Circle, Picture Directory, Book Club, Young(er) Women, Women’s Retreat, and Youth Group.
Preparing and Strengthening (Romans 8:28-39)
The purpose of the Preparing and Strengthening Ministries is to equip people with the tools necessary for a faith-filled, abundant life in Jesus Christ. People are encouraged, taught, trained, supported, empowered, and challenged to learn, grow, and respond continuously to God’s call in their lives. They include three types of Ministry Teams: 1) Worship, 2) Education, and 3) Administration.
1) Worship Ministry Teams are engaged in creating a welcoming environment for all to gather for worship, engage in prayer, and partake of the sacraments. A few examples include: prayer group, altar care, lectors, choirs and bell choir, Baptismal banners, wedding coordinators, ushers, Communion deacons, acolytes, and liturgical art.
2) Education Ministry Teams are engaged in coordinating the support and communication about growing in faith and discipleship at Mt. Zion. A few examples include: Brown Bag Bible Busters, women’s Bible study, men’s bible study, Sunday School, Adult Education, First Communion, Confirmation, and home Bible study groups.
3) Administration Ministry Teams are engaged in coordinating the operational aspects of the church related to staff, facility, grounds, scheduling, and communications. A few examples include: Offering Stewards, Building Finance, Landscape, facility and planning, ministry model transformation, adopt-a-room, and information kiosk.
Serving and Sending (Matthew 28:19-20)
The purpose of the Serving and Sending ministries is to foster opportunities for people to put their faith into action. As people discern their gifts and interests, they go out and make a difference in the name of Jesus in their home, church, and world community. They include three types of Ministry Teams: 1) Compassion Care, 2) Giving, 3) Outreach.
1) Compassion Ministry Teams are engaged in sharing our gifts to provide service, healing, and friendship to our brothers and sisters in need. A few examples include: care for elders, Knit One Pray Two, and hospital visitation.
2) Giving Ministry Teams are engaged in offering with joy and thanksgiving what God has first given us-our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of God’s gracious love. A few examples include: endowment, general financial stewardship, capital campaign, and Thrivent congregational representatives.
3) Outreach Ministry Teams are engaged in sharing God’s Word throughout the world, serving our community and beyond. A few examples include: Mt. Zion/Reformation prayer partners, Food Pantry, Christmas has a Heart, Special Guests, Mt. Mehru Coffee, Kyle’s Korner, and connections with the Greater Milwaukee Synod.
