Houston denominational leaders from across the city invite all Christians to join them for an evening of music, worship and prayer as ecumenical groups gather to pray for Christian Unity in Houston and around the world.

Synod Assembly returns to the Hilton Houston North May 17-19, 2018. Put it on your calendars, and we'll be sending out more details in the new year.

The 2016 Churchwide Assembly made several changes to the Model Constitution for Congregations. Among those changes was the addition of a new class of members, namely, "seasonal members." That change can be found in *C8.02e of the Model Constitution, as follows:

"e.     Seasonal members are voting members of other ELCA congregations who wish to retain such membership but desire to participate in the life and mission of this congregation, including exercising limited voting rights in this congregation. The Congregation Council may grant seasonal membership to such persons provided that this congregation is a member of a synod where the Synod Council has approved seasonal member voting on its territory. Such seasonal members shall have all the privileges and duties of voting members except that:

1)      they shall not be eligible for elected office in, or for membership on the Congregation Council or on a call committee of, this congregation;

2)      they shall not have the right to vote on any matter concerning or affecting the call or termination of call of any minister of this congregation;

3)      they shall not have the right to vote on any matter concerning or affecting the affiliation of this congregation with the ELCA;

4)      they shall not be eligible to serve as voting members from this congregation of the Synod Assembly or the Churchwide Assembly;

5)      they shall not, even if otherwise permitted by this congregation, vote by proxy or by absentee ballot; and

6)      they shall not, within any two calendar month period, exercise voting rights in this congregation and in the congregation where they remain voting members." (Emphasis added)

Thus, whether a Congregation Council in our Synod may grant seasonal membership initially depends on whether the Synod Council "approved seasonal member voting on its territory." At its meeting on November 11, 2017, the Council approved such seasonal member voting. Therefore, all of our Congregation Councils are free to grant such membership status as they see fit.

Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.

 

John Turnquist

Contact Beverly Davis by email or 713-400-0517 for more information and to register. 

Learn More About Community of Hope

Children's Music Workshop followed by a concert by  Minnesota songwriter James Hersch, Saturday, January 13:

Workshop: Children ages K-5 are invited to a creative workshop featuring a variety of winter activities, including composing an original song with Mr. Hersch to share at the end of the day! Register online.

Concert: James Hersch promises to bring a touch of winter...without the shovels...when he performs for us. Please join us for an intergenerational concert of original acoustic music. More information on his ministry

Date:  Saturday, January 13th

Time:  Children's Workshop   1:00PM - 5:45PM ($10 fee)

               Intergenerational Concert 7:00PM (free)

Location:  Kinsmen Lutheran Church

                      12100 Champion Forest Dr

                      Houston, TX  77066  

Light refreshments and time with the artist will follow the concert. If you have additional questions, please email.

To register or for more information, please visit www.kinsmenlutheran.org/events or call (281) 444-3126.

If you are interested in sharing this opportunity with your congregation, here is a downloadable flyer with the information, in English and in Spanish.

The Best Fishing Story Momma Ever Told

Karen Hauser,  Christian comedian and storyteller, joins the women of Trinity Lutheran, Frelsburg, for a breakfast and storytelling event on  Saturday, January 20, 2018.

 

Location: Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church

                      Diamond Center

                      1031 Church Lane

                      New Ulm, TX  78950

                      Located just south of Frelsburg (intersection of 

                      FM 109 and FM 1291)

Time:         Registration and Breakfast at 8:30 am

                      Program begins at 9:00 am

                      Event concludes at 11:30 am

 

No registration fee - Freewill donation to defer expenses

 

RSVP  by Wednesday, January 17

Would you like to volunteer at the Gathering and help young people grow in faith and encounter Christ? Serving the youth of this church is a vocational calling that requires careful discernment. There  is a need for Local

Volunteers. Applications are open .

If you have questions, contact Lynnae Schatz .  Thank you for considering this opportunity to share grace.

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) has adopted a new three-year strategic plan that will map the process for becoming 'a community to form leaders to form community.' 

Strongly informed by present circumstances in our church and world, the plan recognizes the need to form leaders who are adept at forming faithful communities. Such communities are needed as signs of hope in our time of strained trust and a diminished sense of belonging and such leaders must themselves be formed in faithful community.  Read More