October 2025
Each and every ministry, whether rural, urban, or suburban, has both huge challenges countered with immense joys. Many of these are similar, no matter the location. Others are specific to the particular settings in which they serve.
This month’s ministry theme led to a conversation with Rev. Kris Whitby, who serves as the LCMS Northern Illinois District as Assistant to the President – Mission & Ministry. Through that discussion, we learned about urban ministry in the NID, what some of the current struggles are, and what unique, rich opportunities exist in our urban centers.
Approximately 20-25% of our LCMS Northern Illinois District churches are considered urban congregations – situated in major cities, such as Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, and Rockford. Once vibrant places for LCMS ministries, urban congregations now often struggle for a myriad of reasons.
When asked what changes have been seen over the last years and decades for these congregations, Pastor Whitby replied, “Changes have been both internal and external – and these are not unique only to urban congregations. The church in general has been affected, because the culture around us has changed. I believe this can be summed up by two things: a deterioration of trust in institutions in general and a growing sentiment of ‘I can lead a wonderfully good and happy life without ever stepping foot in a church.’ Our urban churches are experiencing the same thing that the church in general experiences, but it may be happening more quickly. Over the last 50 years, in Chicago alone, there has been a dramatic decline in membership, perhaps added to even more dramatically by the demographic change of advancing age of attending members.”
He added, “There are such rich opportunities available to us. These congregations are no longer serving in an environment where mission work has to be ‘out there in the world.’ That mission opportunity is right here. We can reach multiple nations – people who don’t know Jesus right in our own backyard.”
Some of the struggles he mentioned are similar to those also experienced in congregations through the District and the rest of the country; specifically, the friction of remembering what was once a vibrant ministry vs. the burden of needing to realize the models that previously made ministry work may not work in today’s world. Many congregations long to return to the past, knowing that they’re not going to be able to, but yoked to a structure that feels familiar.
Joys that can be found in urban ministry are also not so different from ministries in suburban and rural settings. “Ministries that engage in the needs of their neighbors find joy in the being Christlike in their community and in being the ones communicating Christ. The joy of knowing your ministry provides such a needed hope in what is an often chaotic, sinful world, by engaging compassionately with your neighbors is one of the greatest joys of ministry.”
NIDnews.org was specifically interested in finding out more about what the District’s current plans for the future of urban ministry in our area might entail. The District is currently beginning a Chicago Urban Clarity Process. Pastor Whitby elaborated, “Next steps are to initiate a conversation with urban pastors in Chicago, including the adjacent suburbs. What affects Chicago affects the suburbs as well. We realize there are a lot of worker-priests (pastors who, in addition to serving a congregation, work a part- or full-time job). We are beginning the conversation, finding the opportunity to bring together pastors and key lay leaders to start to discuss how we can partner with Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) and adding to the discussion of how we help each other sustain ministries during these challenging times.”
Pastor Whitby and the LCMS Northern Illinois District as a whole are hopeful for the future of urban ministry. He shared, “I am hoping to see vibrant ministries which reflect their neighborhood – confessional and vibrant in the sense that their neighbors not only hear the Gospel, but they are part of the confession of our faith and that the neighborhood sees the church as a place where they can see Christ. I am hopeful that our ministries will have the joy of seeing that God is working through them – Word and Sacrament making an impact in the lives of others.
“I am humbled and grateful for the church workers in our urban ministries. I am in awe of the dedication and effort to bring a joyful confession of Christ into communities, sometimes in what seems against overwhelming circumstances. I am humbled to work with them and realize that I am often reminded that God is at work. These brothers and sisters in Christ and the ministries they serve are doing things I know they couldn’t do on their own.”
We pray for God’s continued guidance on the Chicago Urban Clarity Process and for our urban ministries and the neighborhoods in which they serve, and we thank Pastor Whitby for his time!
A portion of the offerings gathered at the recent Lay Leadership Summit were designated toward NID Urban Ministry. Pastor Whitby shared that those funds will be used to help meet the needs of churches in Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Rockford, all those “city centers” mentioned earlier, but also to help meet the needs of their church workers. If you wish to contribute to this cause, please us this secure link: Missions: Near and Far.
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