Bishop Suárez's Synod Update for Mid-October, 2020 |
Hello and welcome to this Florida-Bahamas Synod update! Today, I’d like to share some updates from throughout our synod. I also have some very important updates on the COVID-19 situation, so please watch this entire video.
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Message for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost
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In case you missed it, click here to watch our most recent Sunday message, led by Pastor Rob Carlson, Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission for the North Region.
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As called for in our policy statement, the ELCA will now be developing pastoral guidelines for ministry in a multi-religious world. This survey is part of that development.
This survey is intended for ELCA laity, retired rostered ministers, and ecumenical and inter-religious partners. (Active rostered ministers, ELCA pastors and deacons, have received a similar, but separate survey by email to which they should respond.)
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ELCAvotes
We are called to conversation and prayer around our role as U.S. residents and as people of faith in ensuring our election systems promote dignity and respect for all.
We are called to act by speaking out as advocates and engaging in local efforts to guarantee the right to vote to all citizens. To sign up for up-to-date information on ELCAvotes, click here!
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Seeking Two First Call Theological Education
Team Members
All newly rostered ministers, both pastors and deacons, are required to participate in a three-year program of continuing education, formation, and collegial support. We are seeking additional team members who have a passion for supporting our rostered leaders, especially those new to the role of pastor or deacon, and those who value ongoing continuing education.
In non-COVID times, we meet in person with First Call leaders one day prior to Synod Assembly and Conference on Ministry. Currently, we have been meeting via ZOOM. As a member of the team you might lead a class, conduct a formative review, or serve as a point person for one of the First Call ministers. If you sense that God might be Calling you to serve the wider church in this way, please submit a one-page reflection, directed to Bishop Suarez, as to why you feel Called to serve in this capacity, and tell us a bit about the gifts and experience that you would bring to the team and the First Call rostered ministers.
Please email reflections to Deacon Connie Schmucker at connies@fbsynod.org by October 12th. Bishop Suárez and the current First Call Theological Education Team will review all submitted reflections.
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Prayer of the Week from our Racial Justice Think Tank
Prayer for Awareness
God of infinite mercy, forgive us when we hurt others with words and actions that are so familiar we don’t notice, or even know, the origin or negative connotation associated with our words and actions. Open our hearts and minds to listen and learn.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of love, help us to be aware of prejudices embedded within us. Draw us into conversations and activities with those who are different so that we can value each other more deeply as siblings in Christ.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of justice, when we consciously or unconsciously see another person as less important or less entitled, when we turn a blind eye to those receiving substandard housing, food, healthcare, respect or safety, send a spirit of humility upon us. Stir our hearts. Give us the strength and the courage to face and address all injustice.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
To you God of infinite mercy, we pray. Amen.
This prayer was submitted on behalf of the Racial Justice Think Tank by Deacon Connie Schmucker, Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership.
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The October Issue of Tapestry is now available!
Click here to access the most recent news from the Florida-Bahamas Women of the ELCA.
Among the many topics discussed in this edition: a call to support the Women of the ELCA and your SWO presidents, an update from our Love Offering recipient (CALM), a message from your (Fall) conference coordinators, a call for emergency help from LWR, and more...
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2020 Hein-Fry Book of Faith Challenge
Presented by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the annual Hein-Fry Book of Faith Challenge seeks to enliven the biblical engagement of the whole church by encouraging the development of faithful, innovative and effective ways to teach and learn Scripture. The event is sponsored by the seven ELCA seminaries, the Hein-Fry planning team and the ELCA Book of Faith Initiative.
Every year, one student from each seminary is invited to develop and present a class or series for people both familiar and unfamiliar with biblical texts. In follow-up, the students are invited to report their findings.
This year the challenge will comprise four online events:
- Jennifer Garcia from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., will present “Sharing Our Faith in a Time of Social Distancing” on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. Pacific time.
- Taylor Berdahl from United Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa., will present “Biblical Responses to COVID-19: Lament, Bodies, Breath” on Monday, Oct. 26, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.
- Karl Anliker from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago will present “Look for the Women: A Virtual Bible Study in Search of Hope” on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 2:30 p.m. Central time.
- Christopher Shealy from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Columbia, S.C., will present “How Scripture Is Weaponized, and What We Can Do About It” on Friday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m. Eastern time.
The Rev. Susan R. Briehl will serve as online host.
The public is invited to attend these free online events, but registration is required for each of them. Registration information is available here.
The Hein-Fry Book of Faith Challenge is an endowed theological lecture series established after the American Lutheran Church (ALC) and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) merged into the ELCA in 1988. The series combines the ALC’s Dr. Carl Christian Hein Memorial Seminary Lectures and the LCA’s Franklin Clark Fry Theological Lectures.
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The Crumley Archives has a new address. Find them at www.crumleyarchives.com to access latest news, on-going projects, hours of operation, and contact information.
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Best Practices for Reopening our Congregational Schools
On October 8th, our synod was blessed with an enlightening presentation on reopening congregational schools from Corey Newman, Executive Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Education Association, and Michael Rottmann, Nation Board President of the ELEA and principal of Grace Lutheran Church and School in Winter Haven.
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Updated COVID-19 resources are available on our synod website! Articles include:
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