January 26, 2021
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
Synod office update
Synod staff members continue to work remotely for the foreseeable future. Contact them using their email or cell phone.
Conference assemblies upcoming
Conference assemblies are regional gatherings of 10 to 15 churches. (There are 12 conferences in the Minneapolis Area Synod.) The business of conference assemblies includes:

  • Nominations for synod committees (to be elected at synod assembly)
  • Approval of resolutions for consideration at the synod assembly
  • Nomination of voting members for the 2022 Churchwide Assembly in Columbus, Ohio
  • Selection of leaders for conference leadership

This year conference assemblies are being scheduled by the dean (one of the pastors of a conference congregation). All conference assemblies will be held between February 8 and 19. Those individuals who are chosen by their congregation to be voting members at the 2021 Synod Assembly should try to attend the conference assembly for their congregation.

The synod’s Reference and Counsel Committee is willing to have a Zoom meeting with anyone planning to introduce a resolution. If you would like to meet with members of the Reference and Counsel Committee prior to your conference assembly, email Bob Hulteen.

As a reminder, consideration of resolutions is made somewhat more complicated using online technology. Please think about whether you can accomplish the goals of a resolution that you might write in another way. The Reference and Counsel Committee can offer guidance on this as well. 
These times were made for walking
“If you’ve seen me from across the Zoom room at a meeting or virtual event lately, you likely have noticed the favorite thing that I’ve discovered about working from home this past almost-year of the pandemic: When I’m at my desk, I like to be walking! While 98% of the time I’m terrible at multitasking, apparently my secret gift is being able to walk and type at the same time.”
Synod Tool Kit scheduled for Saturday, March 13
Hop on a video call with your church council, leaders from around the synod, and Bishop Ann Svennungsen to gain valuable tools to help your church in times like these. There will be workshops on preventing burnout, young adult ministry, racial justice, budgets, and more.

Saturday, March 13
9:00 a.m. – Time with Bishop Ann
10:00 a.m. – Workshops I
11:00 a.m. – Workshops II

Spotlight of two of the workshops:

Real Estate and Property Management in COVID and Beyond
Regarding real estate: Leasing opportunities and where is demand and where it is waning, including current availabilities. Regarding sales: Where demand is coming from and facts on sales, e.g., how many, what types, etc. Regarding property management: Safety protocols, including possible trends related to enhanced air quality safety.

Engaging Local Energy Democracy
When we flip on the light switch we don’t usually think about the complex webs of our energy use – from the actual crisscrossing wires of the grid to the choices we make individually and collectively that shape our energy systems. Beginning with demystifying this electrical web, we’ll learn how we can take our power back – literally. Come to learn about what energy democracy looks like, and how you can be a part of building local solutions. 
Live Well: One
small step at a time
The tiniest things can combine to make a significant difference. This year, Portico invites you to check out 2021 Live Well. Portico will guide you through activities that might seem simple, but can get you on the path to feeling stronger, more balanced, and more resilient. Featured this month: three ingredients for a healthy breakfast, tracking how much you spend on food, and how to savor your meals mindfully.
Upcoming Trainings for
Addiction Team Ministry
Addiction issues of every kind are at an all-time high during this pandemic. Addiction takes many forms, not just substance abuse, but unhealthy behaviors that hurt individuals and whole families. Your congregation can create a ministry to help those who suffer.

The Center of Addiction & Faith is offering this Addiction Ministry Training to help address this problem. As we come out of this pandemic, your congregation can be preparing to understand these issues and how they can be addressed in healthy healing ways.

Thursday, February 4; Tuesday, February 9
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Living Well, Leading Well
A monthly series of virtual workshops sponsored by Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center promoting wholeness, wellbeing, and renewal in our personal and professional lives. Each workshop will be taught by specialists in the areas of counseling, biblical studies, peace-making, and pastoral ministry. See below for details on our next two topics in this series.
Cultivating Wisdom
Thursday February 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. | $20

Every day brings a new flood of information. It’s difficult to take it all in, much less to discern what bits are trustworthy, significant, and true. Perhaps what’s missing is not information so much as wisdom. In this workshop, participants will explore what the Bible’s wisdom tradition has to offer Christians facing the peculiar challenges of life today. Rev. Dr. Carol M. Bechtel, professor of Old Testament at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, will lead this timely and interactive online event. 
Pursuing Justice
Thursday March 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. | $20

Join Rev. Chris Dorsey to learn about the call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). Dorsey is president of Higher Education & Leadership Ministries and has worked as a university chaplain and professor of preaching. Dorsey has significant leadership experience in racial justice and equity in churches and seminaries. 
Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?
  • Pastor Craig Pederson will be offering a virtual farewell to Pastor Julie Ebbesen at St. Peder's Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, January 31. Pastor Julie is retiring.
  • Pastor John Hulden will be offering a virtual farewell greeting to Pastor Mark Vinge at House of Hope Lutheran, New Hope, on Sunday, January 31. Pastor Mark is retiring.
  • Pastor Craig Pederson will be offering a farewell greeting to Pastor Deb Bergstrand at St. John's Lutheran, Mound, on Sunday, February 7.
  • Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be installing Pastor Miriam Samuelson-Roberts at Christ Church Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, February 14.
  • Pastor John Hulden will be offering a farewell to Pastor Sarah Anderson at Christ Lutheran, Blaine, on Sunday, February 14.
  • Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be conducting a Mission Site Profile at Grace University Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, February 14.
Upcoming Events
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org