SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - October 21, 2019
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Thanks for Everything Carla Klawitter
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
We will miss Carla in your synod's office team. 

Carla retired as a synod staff member on Sept. 30th. We are grateful for the many ways Carla helped the synod office do its mission of embracing God's Mission + Equipping God's People - Deepening Congregational Vitality - Enhance Local and Global Mission - Develop Servant Leaders. In her early years she supported Pr. Larry Wohlrabe when he served in this office in his many different roles.

In the next chapter of her service she began to work with the financials of our synod in addition to working with the Candidacy Committee and supporting the work of a synod minister and many other details I will not list.

People who served in this office know the ways she contributed to our life, work and the mission we share of building up congregations and leaders ministry.
  • Carla was gifted with her red pen as a former newspaper person and editor. 
  • She also had the gift of Woo - :Winning Over Others" on the Clifton Strengthfinder list. 
  • I loved to watch former candidates contacting her and thanking her for how she helped and supported them as they went through the process of preparing to be approved for ordained ministry. 
  • She also was a gifted hymn writer for many special occasions. 
  • She engaged in helpful therapeutic cleaning of the office when she needed a break.
We will always be grateful for Carla's deep commitment to her calling her in the midst of our work and our team. I am thankful to have served with her. I will miss her in our day to day life.

A staff is not made up of parts like a machine. It is made up of faithful and flawed people who seek to serve the mission of Christ. We are grateful for all the ways Carla has cared for congregational leadership, candidates and leaders and has also sent gifts of love through checks from our congregations and people to spread the love of Jesus.
Bishop John Kinney
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
One of the surprises of this work as bishop is the deep friendships and relationships that develop with people who you don't see all that often. One of those for me was Bishop John Kinney.  Click here to read a story from the St. Cloud Times about Bishop Kinney. 

I always felt close to Bp. Kinney after a worship service we had in St. Cloud to remember the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification(JDDJ) over a decade ago. We were both supposed to preach for seven to eight minutes on a text related to the JDDJ. He surprised me by beginning with a heartfelt apology for the ways Roman Catholics had hurt Lutherans in our territories and history. I dumped my planned sermon opening and made a parallel apology for the ways Lutherans had hurt Roman Catholics in our history in our territory. His statement to us that night will stand as one the most powerful moments in my service in this office. I grew up in rural Stearns County and things were hard when I was young going both ways. I am thankful we are living in a better season between the Lutherans and Roman Catholics today.

I give thanks to God for all of the people who have worked to improve the relationship between Roman Catholics and Lutherans in many ways through the years and decades and even longer. Many of you have been a part of that work. May future generations continue to share that vocation as well. 

May God guide us all to an even better future between Lutherans and Roman Catholic people and leaders. I trust someday God will gather us around Holy Communion table again.

Bp. John Kinney would host us at his home during our annual Minnesota Roman Catholic & Lutheran Bishop's retreat for a feast in the basement filled with holy laughter, storytelling and a meal. I treasured those times and other times we had a chance to visit. I knew him at a distance early as a pastor in St. Cloud and watched him grow more generous through the years as he names in the above story from the St. Cloud Times.  I hope I might also grow as I grow older. 

I give thanks to God for Bp. John Kinney and the privilege to have known him.

Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM)
Interested in applying?
Applications will go live soon on Nov. 1, 2019!
Are you interested in a year of faith-based service somewhere in the world? Consider becoming a YAGM! Starting November 1, the ELCA will be accepting applications for its Young Adults in Global Mission program for 2020-2021. Eligible applicants are ages 21-29 and desire to walk alongside global companions in the spirit of accompaniment. Areas of service include health and development, human rights, education, homelessness, addiction recovery, congregational ministry and others.

Candidates for YAGM apply to the program at large rather than a specific country, although they may express a country of preference. Programs are available in Argentina/Uruguay, Australia, Central Europe, Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal and the United Kingdom. Click here to learn more.
 

Recharge! Youth and Children's Ministry
Ecumenical Training Day

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
We want to encourage you to send people to learn about youth and children's ministry. The Recharge event is coming and we will give full tuition scholarships of $50 to those people who are sent with the support of their council or pastor.

Recharge is a one-day multi-denominational children's and youth ministry conference that aims to inspire and equip church staff and volunteers in their efforts to share their faith with the next generation. Whether your 20 year-veteran youth pastor, just started volunteering as a 2nd grade Sunday School teacher this year or somewhere in between, Recharge is for YOU! 98% of people who have attended say they will go to Recharge again AND recommend it to others. This gathering pulls in a wide range of adults who care about the next generation. Look here for details.

To register for Recharge you have two options:
  1. Contact Jenni Smith Thorpe on facebook, email Jenni.Thorpe@bethelinwillmar.org or call (320) 235-5450 with the name of your congregation, and the names and number of those attending by November 26. Jenni will buy the early bird group rate tickets, you'll reimburse her church, Bethel Lutheran Church and then the synod will reimburse you up to $50 per person after you've attended the event.
     
  2. Register on your own at individual, group rate, super early bird, early bird or regular registration prices. The synod will reimburse you up to $50 per person after you've attended the event.
After you have attended the event, please fill out the online grant application. Go to www.swmnelca.org, see the grant page under the For Congregations menu. The RECHARGE Equip Grant application is located under the Equip Grants tab.
Mental Health Support
Check out these great events and resources.
  • www.farmcounseling.org
     
  • Rural Mental Health Support Training with Ted Matthews, Director of MN Rural Health with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  Click here for more information. 
     
  • Preventing Suicide in Ag Communities Training Available
    MN Department of Agriculture
    Six free half-day safeTALK sessions planned throughout Minnesota. Click here for more information. 
Ethics and Boundaries for Ministers Training Event
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Faith Lutheran Church, Spicer
8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $40 per person
Presenters: Rick Loseth, Pr. Elan Hacker, and Deacon Sarah Hausken
Click here to register.
 
Sexual misconduct by rostered and other religious leaders is one of the most serious challenges faced by the church today. Violation of the sacred trust between church members and their leaders brings deep pain to all who are affected: victims, offenders, family members, friends, and the congregation itself.
In response to this challenge, the Southwestern Minnesota Synod bylaws include the following provisions (S14.25.01. and S14.47.01.):
 
"Within twelve months of assuming office all ministers of Word and Sacrament under call shall demonstrate completion of at least six contact hours of continuing education in the prevention of sexual boundary violations." and
 
Our synod council has a continuing resolution encouraging all of our rostered leaders to have continued work on appropriate boundaries of all kinds, but especially sexual boundaries, every three years.
 
If this date doesn't work for you, you may comply by attending another training event that includes at least six contact hours of instruction in the same content covered by the synod's workshop and provide proof of attendance for your file.
Synod Events
Visit the synod events webpage for more information.
NOVEMBER
Clergy Spouse Retreat
November 1-3, 2019
Luther Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria MN

November 2, 2019
First Lutheran, Marshall MN
November 5, 2019
Faith Lutheran, Spicer
November 22-23 & 23-24, 2019
Best Western and Conference Center, Willmar, MN

Leading Worship: A Skills Workshop
November 16, 2019
Cross of Calvary, Olivia, MN
DECEMBER
 
JANUARY
January 11, 2020
St. Stephen Lutheran, Marshall MN

FEBRUARY
2020 Equipping Congregations Day 
February 29, 2020
Willmar, MN

SAVE THE DATE
SW MN Synod Assembly
June 12-13, 2020
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, MN


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