Church Together Toolkit

In coordination with your pastor and congregational leadership, please share these  stories and insights with your congregation , ideally in worship, but also through other communication channels, through faith formation opportunities, etc.   Please seek ways to  share the stories of your congregation’s ministry and witness with the rest of us as you network with other Church Together Ambassadors  in exploring additional avenues for passing along the energy and enthusiasm generated when we gather in Assembly.

Download Word version of Toolkit

Bishop Gonia: Leadership

"When we hear the word  leadership , we often think in terms of pastors, deacons or other church professionals. Yet our baptism calls us to shared leadership within Body of Christ using the gifts and skills we’ve each been given. Our commitment as the ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod is to equip all leaders for ministry, beginning with essential capacities such as self-awareness. Plans are underway for the 2019 launch of our  Excellence in Leadership initiative. Learning and growing as leaders together empowers us to be Christ’s Church for the life of the world."

Mission Moment

Excellence in Leadership As Lutheran Christians, we have always held a deep commitment to life-long learning and leadership formation. For pastors, deacons, and lay church professionals, this learning is fostered partly through our Theological Conference and Leadership Retreat that takes place each fall. Leaders from across the synod for a week of community, worship, renewal, and learning. Our prayer is that leaders return to their faith communities better equipped to engage in ministry for the life of the world. New in 2019, we will be creating learning opportunities for all leaders: lay people in the pew, Congregational Councils and ministry boards, as well as deacons and pastors. We are calling leadership efforts “Excellence in Leadership.” We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but we do know that it begins with each personal journey toward emotional and spiritual wholeness. Stayed tune for more information!

Mission Moment Image: Deacons, Pastors, and lay leaders commune one another during mid-day worship at Theological Conference

Prayers and Hymns

Faithful God, you have called us, your Church, to be your hands and feet in the world. Grant those called to lead wisdom and a discerning spirit. We pray for boldness of vision and a renewed commitment to collaborative leadership. We ask this in name of the one who lead us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Hymn: ELW #575 In Christ Called to Baptize

Offering Connections

(to include in the offering portion of worship)

September 2:    Synod leaders gather each fall for continuing education, retreat, and community at the annual Theological Conference and Leadership Retreat.               September 9:   On your behalf, the Rocky Mountain Synod Council (photo, left) meets monthly via video conferencing and in person 3 times per year to make decisions and cast the vision of the synod between synod assemblies. Each conference has a representative to Synod Council.               September 16:  Conference Deans provide leadership to the conference and serve as liaison to the Office of the Bishop. Your gifts have supported our Leadership Development fund, which funds our annual Dean’s Retreat.               September 23:  Because of your generosity, our RMS Candidacy Committee gathers 3 times per year to accompany those pursuing rostered ministry as a pastor or deacon.

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