MNYS STRATEGIC PLAN CLAIMED COMMITTEE
We Are Claimed with an Inclusive Faith
How is preaching ministry different today than in previous generations? How is it the same? What does it mean to proclaim the gospel in a Lutheran key today? How can we understand proclamation more expansively to include occasions and experiences beyond the monologue sermon, such as music, drama, dance, and other forms of the arts?

At this year’s MNYS Bishop’s Retreat, our ELCA Rostered Ministers explored responses to these questions during the keynote presentations, conversations, and during times of worship, while also experientially exploring music, drama, dance, and other visual arts as forms of gospel proclamation. Visit the MNYS Facebook page to watch the livestream videos of all the worship services.

The keynote speaker was the renowned preacher, professor, author, and bishop, William Willimon. Click the links, below, to watch Professor Willimon’s presentations:

  1. Beginning with the Word. Christianity as inherently acoustical and auditory. Jesus as the embodiment of good news. Faith comes through hearing.
  2. Preaching as the most important work of the pastor. How the proclamation of the church is changing. The greatest challenges in preaching today.
  3. The joy of preaching in a world that thinks it already knows God. How preaching is a core, countercultural activity of the church. Sustaining the ministry of preaching.
DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR HELPING…

- Communicate an inclusive faith ?
- Congregations ?
- Immigrants ?
- Confront racism in our church?
- Provide wise counsel in managing finances ?
- All of the above?

The Metropolitan New York Synod has opportunities for you to serve more people, increase our impact, and deliver God’s Work, Our Hands to the Metro New York area.

There are five synod committees implementing our Strategic Plan. To see if you may be right for one of these committees, please fill out this form .
MNYS STRATEGIC PLAN SENT COMMITTEE
We Are SENT to Welcome the Stranger
ELCA Advocacy | ACTION ALERT

On September 7th, the Administration proposed a regulation change that will undermine existing child protection standards for immigrant children. The proposed regulation would overturn minimum child protection standards set by the courts in the 1997 Flores Agreement.  

While the Flores Agreement outlines that children are not safe in detention facilities and should not be kept in detention for longer than 20 days, the proposed regulation allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to keep children in detention indefinitely, despite the psychological and physical toll of detention. 
The ELCA has historically stood against the detention of children and families. Detaining families seeking protection is immoral. Join the ELCA advocating against the unlimited detention of children! 
MNYS STRATEGIC PLAN GATHERED COMMITTEE
Gathered in Vibrant Congregations
Leadership Development Grant

The  Leadership Development Grant, funded by our  Strategic Plan, provides a special focus on supporting programs that will specifically nurture education, training, and formation for leadership skills and qualities that complement the aims of the Claimed, Gathered, and Sent Strategies. 

Application deadline: November 15, 2018.
MNYS STRATEGIC PLAN ANTI-RACISM COMMITTEE
Confronting Racism
Growing in Faith Anti-Racism Training

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bellerose
Saturday, November 17, 2018

Thanks to the MNYS Leadership Grant Program and the Strategic Plan Anti-Racism Committee, Growing in Faith: NY Diakonia Program can bring you this vital training from Crossroads at no cost.

This event is open to all!

MNYS TOWN HALL MEETING
"In other words, your two or three minutes of sharing at our  Town  Hall Meetings can offer hopes, strengths, and concerns. I do ask you to keep a focus on our election of the next bishop and the future of our synod. Do you believe that God is about to do a new thing?
I sincerely believe this is a sacred time and sacred opportunity.  I am praying for the process, but I am also praying for the bishop chosen to bring the ministry of oversight to all the people of the Metropolitan New York Synod."  —A pastoral letter by Interim Bishop Donald J. McCoid

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU!
The MNYS Facebook Page is an excellent tool for your congregation to help create awareness about its events.
To list an event, please send us an email with the event's Facebook link and a brief description.
We Are Church Together!
WORSHIP, PRAY, LEARN.
First Lutheran Church, Albany
Saturday, December 15, 2018

Bishop Donald McCoid, MNYS; Bishop John Macholz, UNYS; and the ELCA Revival Team invite you to a day of spiritual discernment, understanding change, and invitation to discipleship.

More information, here.
SENT
WELCOMING THE STRANGER
Here is a new resource that will give you the latest updates from ELCA Global Mission. You will notice a clear and concise update on the AMMPARO program, with photos and important information. This resource is made available twice a year for the Conference of Bishops. To access this resource, click here.
CLAIMED
 INCLUSIVE FAITH
Enjoy our new site-search engine! With this sensational new tool, you will be able to find the right information you are looking for—faster and easier than ever!
Go ahead, visit mnys.org and find what you are looking for!
GATHERED
VIBRANT CONGREGATIONS
The Wider Church Grants are intended to help fund programs outside of our synod’s regular operating budget. Examples of grants made in recent years are Lutheran Music Program, Koinonia, and Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, among others. The application deadline for 2019 grants is November 24, 2018. 
FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS & PARTNERS
WORKSHOP: Faithful Innovation in a Disruptive Age

Grace Lutheran Church and School, Malverne.  
TODAY! Saturday, November 3
8:30 am - 3 pm   
                       
An MNYS Leadership Development Grant supports this event, sponsored by the Center for Evangelical Mission. The event features an associate professor from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
For more information, click here.
To register, click here.
safeTALK

Christ's Lutheran Church, Woodstock & Atonement Lutheran Church, Saugerties

Learn four basic steps to help identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them with helping resources. For more information, click here
Mission-Driven Development

The Interchurch Center, Manhattan
Thursday, November 8
8:00 am - 6:00 pm

The Interchurch Center, WMCA-570-The Mission, The Council of Church Advisors, and Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP invite you to their 4th Annual Educational Conference. Breakfast and lunch will be served. This event will conclude with a reception.
For more information, click here.
To register, click here.
Fall Revival 80th Anniversary

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Cambria Heights
Friday, November 9
6:00 pm dinner - 7:30 worship

You are invited to the 80th anniversary of this spiritual revival. We welcome the Rev. Kevin Vandiver as the guest Preacher/Presider. For more information, click here.
Retreat                 

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Red Hook,
Saturday, November 10th.
9:30 am - 3:00 pm   

What does The Small Catechism mean today? We will explore this question in a day of experiences and conversations, guided by Pastor Jonathan Linman. A retreat for the Hudson Conference of the Metro New York Synod, and friends. For more information, click here.
Opening Our Hearts and Minds

Manhattanville College, Purchase
Thursday, November 15
7:30 am - 10:00 am

Westchester/ Fairfield County welcome religious and community leaders to their annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast honoring those who reach out to understand other points of view. To purchase tickets, click here. For more information, click here. 
Grant Announcement

The Grant Selection Committee for the Lutheran Crusader Fund is pleased to announce the receipt of applications for the 2018-19 grant cycle. The deadline for all proposals is December 1st. To learn more, click here.
Congratulations!

Wartburg's Chairman of the Home Operations Board of Directors, the Rev. Amandus J. Derr, was recently named a Trustee of the Year by LeadingAge NY, an association dedicated to promoting practices and conducting research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age.
Ambiguity is Harmful and Clarity is Reasonable

Church Clarity is a network of churches that radically supports LGBTQ+ and establishes a new standard for church policy disclosure. You are welcome to join and expand its database. To submit your church, click here. To learn more, click here.
A 10-Day Tour to Greece, by Land and Sea 

October 6 - 15, 2019

Calvary Lutheran Church invites Metro New York Synod parishes to experience Greek history and culture, and learn more about early Christianity as they visit some of the places associated with the Apostle Paul and the New Testament. 10% early‑bird discount. For more information, click here.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES & MORE
ORGANIST AND MUSIC DIRECTOR: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Flatbush—more information here   ▶︎
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR: St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manhattan —more information here   ▶︎
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS: Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries —more information here   ▶︎
BOOKKEEPER: Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church, Manhattan —more information here   ▶︎
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR: Trinity Lutheran Church, Astoria —more information here   ▶︎
WEEKDAY SEXTON: Ascension Lutheran Church, Deer Park—more information here  ▶︎

CALENDAR
NOVEMBER 4: Town Hall Meeting Quadrant 1- Laity—more information here ▶︎
NOVEMBER 5: Town Hall Meeting Quadrant 1- Clergy—more information here ▶︎
NOVEMBER 5: FMC Meeting—more information here ▶︎
NOVEMBER 5: GATHERED Committee Meeting—more information here ▶︎
NOVEMBER 6: Strategic Plan Working Group—more information here ▶︎

WE'RE PRAYING FOR...
• The Rev. Winston Bone, who died in Christ on October 24
• The souls of our brothers and sisters who died in the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting. ( Read the Pastoral Letter by Bishop Donald McCoid)
• The 189 victims of the plane crash in Indonesia
• Haiti, and all those affected by the earthquake
• The asylum-seekers who are part of the migrant caravan
• Those affected by Hurricane Michael
• For our work toward shaping a more inclusive church that welcomes and affirms all of God's people, specifically our  LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters
• For refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers; and those who come to their aid
• Those affected by violence in their schools, workplaces, and homes 
• The unity of this church and its mission
• Peace in our world
• Peace in our nation
• The care of God's creation 
• ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission, Mercedes Lee, serving in Senegal
• ELCA missionary Randall Carol, serving in Tanzania
• MNYS missionary Melanie Nelson, and her husband David Kingery, serving in Bukoba, Tanzania
•  Bishop Mike Girlinghouse, the staff, and the people of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod