SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - JAN. 18, 2018
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Conference Assembly Dates: 
  • Crow River Conference
    February 25 - Bethel, Lester Prairie at 2 p.m.
  • Glacial Ridge Conference
    March 4 - Trinity, Alberta at 2 p.m. 
  • Great River Conference
    February 25 - Living Waters, Sauk Rapids at 2 p.m.
  • Lac Qui Parle Conference
    February 25 - Grace, Dawson at 2 p.m. 
  • Lakeland Conference
    February 25 - Immanuel, Clara City at 2 p.m. 
  • Minnesota Valley Conference
     
    February 25 - TBD
  • Prairie Conference
     
    March 4 - Campus Religious Center, SW MN State University at 2 p.m.
  • Scenic Valley Conference
    February 18 - Hawk Creek, Sacred Heart at 1:30 p.m. 
  • Shetek Conference
    March 11 - Shalom Hill Farm, Windom area at 2 p.m. 
  • Watonwan River
    February 25 - First, St James at 2 p.m. 

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
I want you to know about our statement.  This statement appears in a number of edited forms to meet required word limits of web and print media.  

A Statement From the ELCA Synod Bishops of Minnesota
In the church's way of telling time January is the season of Epiphany, when Christians remember the Magi-travelers from the east who followed a star to the infant Jesus. Not by accident these mysterious wayfarers are often depicted as reflecting the wondrous diversity of the whole world. The Christ child is thus honored as Lord of all, regardless of race or gender or class or nationality.

In this season of Epiphany ("revealing") we bishops speak with one voice in professing that we believe all people are loved by God, priceless and full of amazing potential. We rebuke our nation's president for the vile, bigoted language he reportedly used on January 11th to describe certain countries in God's beloved world.

This episode far transcends the "politics" of the moment. It speaks to the very soul of our nation and touches upon some of our dearest American values: deep respect, loving care, and welcoming hospitality toward others-especially the marginalized. We are not just grieved by the unfortunate language that was used. More troubling to us is the president's assumption that our country should only care about and receive the gifted and successful of the world-along with the presumption that he knows which countries provide such. Our disagreement with the president arises from both our faith and our personal experiences with neighbors from around the globe.

We bishops call upon all Minnesotans to join us in repudiating racism and all other forms of bigotry. We implore all ten members of our state's U. S. Congressional Delegation to ask the president to apologize for his unfortunate remarks, to engage with international partners in seriously addressing the global refugee crisis, and to work in bipartisan fashion toward truly comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform in our own country.

Bishop Thomas Aitken, Northeastern Minnesota Synod
Bishop Jon Anderson, Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Bishop Steven Delzer, Southeastern Minnesota Synod
Bishop Patricia Lull, Saint Paul Area Synod
Bishop Ann Svennungsen, Minneapolis Area Synod
Bishop Lawrence Wohlrabe, Northwestern Minnesota Synod
Funding Initiative Interpreter -
Pr. Dwaine Bruns

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
We are thankful to announce Pr. Dwaine Bruns will be serving as our Funding Initiative Interpreter in our northern five conferences. This is a 15 hour a week position from Jan. 1 through the end of May. This position is in addition to his current work as our Conference Minister in the Great River Conference.

As Funding Initiative Interpreter he will be doing development work touching base with congregational pastors to say "Thanks!", listening to give input to our Listening Project 2.0 and to learn more about how to support your congregation's ongoing efforts to Embrace God's Mission and Equip God's People. He will be available to meet with councils and committees to help them better understand this work of your synod. He also will be available to be present with you for worship to bring greetings or share in adult forums. In return for being present at worship to talk briefly about our synod funding initiative, he will be glad to preach if that would be helpful.

As we evaluate our remaining resources from our Ministerial Excellence Grant from Lilly to address the economic challenges of pastors, we realized we have not invested some of our planned budget which Lilly expects us to invest. The remaining resources made Dwaine's position possible. We hope this extra energy will help us continue to gather resources to "Equip" all God's people.

Dwaine retired in 2016 after 34 years of service as a pastor, with 30 of those years spent in SW Minnesota. He is especially interested in encouraging faithful stewardship and innovative worship. Dwaine lives outside of Avon with his wife Jeanne, a high school mathematics teacher. Personal activities and hobbies include reading, playing guitar, golf, travel, hunting and fishing. 

Lenten Giving 
We are thankful to announce the gift of an anonymous donor who is willing to match gifts given to our Embrace God's Mission + Equip God's People Funding Initiative up to $10,000 between now and the end of Lent.

We are thankful for their generosity that invites people and congregations to join in generosity towards this emphasis in Lent. We appreciate every gift that moves forward our calling to equip all God's people for ministry and mission in God's world and God's Church. 

How to give:
Click here to make an online gift or mail your gift to SW MN Synod, PO Box, 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283. Please indicate that this gift is for the Lent Matching. 
IMPORTANT DATES!
Start checking off your to do list. At the beginning of every year we always ask you to share your congregation's information in many ways. These really important tasks help grow our ministry. Please take the time to fill out the following: 


Mission Support Intents
As your congregation prepares a budget for 2018, please share with us your Mission Support Intent amount for the Southwestern Minnesota Synod by  clicking here.
Deadline: ASAP

Update Your Congregational Leadership Data
The synod office uses this information for the call process, giving statements, and getting helpful resources to the correct person. 
Click here to update now.
Deadline: ASAP

Forms A & C (Parochial Reports)
Please fill out your 2017 ELCA congregation report forms A & C by 
clicking here. If you do not know your congregation ID or password please call the synod office at 507-637-3904. 
Deadline: February 15th.

Equipping Congregations Day 
Please keep in mind the 2018 ECD is two weeks earlier than last year's 2017 ECD, AND Presiding Bishop Eaton is our keynote speaker. Registration is filling up fast! Click here for more information. 
Registration will close if we reach maximum capacity or Thursday, February 1, 2018.

Job Openings


Bishop Jon Anderson's 2017-18 Annual Report
Bishop Jon's report is available to print and download. Click here.
God's continues to reform. God works on you and me.  God is not done reforming God's people and the congregations of this synod. God continues to reform this world and the many Lutheran institutions that seek to serve our mission field and the world. God's reforming and saving grace continues to be poured out upon us.
Click here to read more.
Synod Events
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information.
JANUARY 
Ecumenical Service
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 21, 2018 @ 2:00 p.m. 
Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar, MN 

FEBRUARY
February 10, 2018
Willmar, MN

MARCH
March 9-10, 2018
Lake Geneva Christian Center, Alexandria

March 10, 2018
SMSU, Marshall or Livestream!

S AVE THE DATE
2018 Synod Assembly 
June 8-9, 2018
Redwood Falls, MN 

2018 Fall Theological Conference 
October 7-9, 2018
Alexandria, MN

Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA 
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904