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SYNOD NEWS
Bishop Gafkjen's October I-K Lutheran Newsletter
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod Transformational Leadership Academy has launched! As the TLA grows in coming months it will offer robust theological, spiritual, and practical formation for the whole people of God across the Indiana-Kentucky mission territory and beyond.
Please click here to read the full article.
Transformational Leadership Academy
The Transformational Leadership Academy is hosting its second formation event for the Lay Worship Leaders program. All are invited to attend! Dr. Cory Driver will be discussing the deep relevance of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament for both early Christian communities and for us today. The seminar will be called "Encountering the Old Testament Again/For the First Time." Participants are encouraged to email
cdriver@iksynod.org with passages from the Old Testament that they have been confused, angered or delighted by, so that we can be sure to discuss those particular sections.
Dr. Driver has taught Bible in seven countries, and at two seminaries. His Ph.D. is from Emory University in Jewish Religious Cultures. He is the director of Indiana-Kentucky's Transformational Leadership Academy.
Particulars: Saturday, October 26. Formation Event Part 1: 10am-12pm, Lunchbreak 12pm - 1pm, Formation Event Part 2: 1pm - 3pm
Cost: $20 for all attendees, except for participants in the Lay Worship Leader Program, whose program fees cover the cost of attending.
Retired Rostered Leaders Luncheon
The Bishop and staff had a wonderful time of fellowship and food with our retired leaders at Pilgrim Lutheran in Carmel, IN on Thursday, September 19. We look forward to seeing our retired leaders, spouses, and partners, on Tuesday, October 15 at St. John, Louisville, KY!
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday/weekend. Blessings abound!
Please share your congregation's stories and photos from "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday/weekend. We would love to share your stories with the wider church. Please send to tdearchs@iksynod.org
Constitutional Changes for Congregations
The 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, held last month in Milwaukee, WI, passed several amendments to the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations. The newly amended version is now available:
https://www.elca.org/About/Churchwide/Office-of-the-Secretary/Constitutions, along with a document that highlights all of the amendments. For congregations who have revised their constitution since 2016, these amendments can be adopted at one congregational meeting with a majority vote of those present and voting, if you are in conformity with the previous 2016 model. For congregations who have not recently updated their constitution, this would be an ideal time to engage that process. You can find a resource to guide that process on our synod's website:
https://iksynod.org/document/guidelines-revising-congregational-constitutions/.
This document has been updated to reflect new language and is available for your use. Constitutions may be submitted for an advisory review before the final approval by the congregation, by emailing the draft version to
constitutions@iksynod.org. This email should also be used when submitting your updated constitution that has been approved by the congregation (see C16.01 and C16.02).
College Student Information
Please help us connect your college students with the campus ministry where they are attending college. This information is more helpful than you may know. Contact Carol Ann Webb at
cwebb@iksynod.org with student name, college they are attending, and contact information. Thank you for your time and attention in sending us this information so that it can be shared with campus ministers.
Synodical Youth Ministry
We invite you and your congregation to join us for the synodical youth ministry initiatives planned in the coming year. Don't miss out on these great opportunities:
Confirmation Retreats (grades 6 through 8 and adult mentors)
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Friday evening, October 4, through Sunday morning, October 6, 2019. Held at Lutheran Hills Camp, Morgantown, Indiana
- We will focus on the Lord's Prayer and we will help students identify their unique gifts, grow in faith, and building connections for youth across the synod. There will be experiential learning sessions, a hands-on service project, and time for recreation and fun. Worship will be held on Sunday morning.
- Cost is $75 per person which includes lodging, food, and programming at Holy Shepherd and $100 per person at Lutheran Hills.
For more information about any of these upcoming events, or to register, contact Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship, at youth@iksynod.org or 317.253.3522. Please click here for a flyer to share with your congregation.
New Instagram Account!
The synod has embraced visual storytelling. Please find and follow us @IKSynodELCA. Please be sure and tag us in your photos!
Give with Tithe.ly
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod signed up with Tithe.ly to make giving easier than ever. Download the app and set Indiana-Kentucky Synod as a regular mission to support. You can also simply text the word GIVE to 765-347-9974, then follow the link. You may also visit our website (
www.iksynod.org), click the
Donate Button, and follow the prompts.
Treasurers: Save a stamp and send Mission Support with Tithe.ly! ACH and debit/credit cards accepted.
Please include your congregation name in the "Note/Memo" line.
Thank you for all you do to support the ministries and mission of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod!
Many have expressed interest in knowing where Bishop Bill will be preaching and presiding so that they may attend if they are nearby. Below you will find a schedule of upcoming services and events where our Bishop will be presiding, preaching, participating or leading.
Bishop Gafkjen's Calendar of Events - all times listed are local
October 4-5: Trinity Seminary Advisory Board | Columbus, OH
October 6: Faith Lutheran | Jeffersonville, IN | 10:30 am | Preach and Preside
October 8: Finance Committee | Synod Office | 10:00 am
October 9-11: St. Olaf Board of Regents Meeting | St. Olaf College
October 12: Ordination & Installation of Doug Couch | Redeemer Lutheran, Somerset, KY | 11:00 am
October 13: Zion Lutheran | Sunman, IN | 10:00 am | Preach and Preside
October 14: Teach TEEM Class: Ministry in Context | Synod Office
Bishop Gafkjen looks forward to being with you and your faith community. Please contact his administrative assistant, April Lynch,
alynch@iksynod.org to schedule a time.
Synod
Weekly News
The Indiana-Kentucky Synod welcomes stories and photographs of ministry moments to share with its mission territory. Stories and accompanying photos are accepted for the Weekly News (which is sent out each Thursday), the monthly I-K Lutheran, and the web site (www.iksynod.org). Send announcement submission to Thomas Dearchs, Director of Communications, Administration, and Worship Life tdearchs@iksynod.org by Tuesday at noon (Eastern time) to be included in the Thursday Weekly News. Please see the Publication Submission Guidelines document for complete details on submissions.
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CONGREGATION NEWS
Prayer Concerns
During the weekly I-K Lutheran Center staff devotions, we included these individuals and mission centers in our prayers:
Holy Trinity, Lafayette, IN
and Rev. David M. Doane
Holy Trinity, Muncie, IN
and Rev. Jerome O'Neal
Holy Trinity, New Castle, IN
and Rev. Matthew Masko
Holy Trinity, South Bend, IN
and Rev. Scott Bowie (Interim-UCC Pastor & Rev. J. Timothy Diemer, Pastor of Record
Hope, Columbia City, IN
and Rev. Matthew Converse
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Paul Schumacher, Retired
Rev. Steven Schwier, Retired
Rev. Steven Scott, Retired
Rev. James Hilleson, Chaplain/Director, Pastoral Care - Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, IN
Rev. Brian Johnson, Director of Campus Ministries, Valparaiso University
Northeastern Minnesota Synod and Bishop Thomas Aitken
A Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4):
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Ponder Anew...what the Almighty can do!
As many of you know, Wednesday afternoons and evenings, I help out at Faith Lutheran on Petitt Ave. in Ft. Wayne. I coordinate the weekly Neighborhood Meal, help with the youth program and fill in for Pr. Marty and Tinea, our musician, when they can't be there. The neighborhood is on the southeast side of Ft. Wayne and includes some of the poorest residents of Ft. Wayne.
Please see below for a link to the complete article.
--Rev. Amy Beitelschees-Albers
Zion Lutheran, N. Manchester, IN
So Much More Ministries, Ft. Wayne, IN
Please click
here for an article shared by Pastor Amy Beitelschees-Albers.
St. Martha's Episcopal Church, and Word of Hope Lutheran ELCA Church in Lexington, KY have initiated a Faith based non-profit, A Caring Place, to service the Lexington area. A Caring Place is reaching out to the lonely and socially isolated and offering them a 3 tiered program: 1) A telephone comfort care program, where we may call someone daily to reach out with the hand of friendship, to see how they are doing, and listen to any concerns. 2) A daily morning refuge center (starting on 10/30 with Weds only) where anyone can come, and a person will be available to talk with them, reminisce, answer questions, help fill out application forms to community resources. 3). Support, as their comfortableness increases, in transitioning to a community program, such as the Lexington Senior Center.
We are having a Meet and Greet with many Church leaders and/or their representatives, and a few non-profits which are similar to ours on Oct 17th at 6:30 pm to 9 pm.
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CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
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Bishop Eaton's September/October Column for
Living Lutheran
You are to be bold.
In her September/October column for
Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the 2019 Churchwide Assembly, saying the actions taken were based on "our scriptural and confessional understanding of who God chooses us to be." In Milwaukee, she says, "we stepped out in faith." Read her column here.
Lutheran Child and Family Services
Lutheran Child and Family Services will be operating this year's Christmas Store from December 9-12 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, located at 6810 East 10th Street, Indianapolis. We are looking for donations and volunteers. We are also looking for individuals and churches to purchase gifts for Lutherwood residents to open on Christmas morning. Please click
here for a Christmas Store Flyer to share with your congregation and click
here for a wish list.
We have so much to celebrate as we complete
Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, the first comprehensive campaign for this church. Through the generosity of members and congregations across this church, ELCA ministries received $250 million - $195 million in cash and multiyear commitments, as well as $55 million in planned gifts - to continue, strengthen and expand their work here at home and with our global companions around the world.
Thank you.
The generosity of this church shows that, with God's blessing, our vision needs to be broader. Together, we have accomplished more than we ever thought possible - and this is just the beginning. This campaign has opened our imaginations and dreams for what more God is calling us to do in the years ahead.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to mobilize the resources of this church to do God's work in the world. We are so grateful for you.
The Rev. Ronald T. Glusenkamp
Director,
The Campaign for the ELCA
Look up
2019 Faith Conference
Advancing Mental Health Ministry
Monday, October 7, 2019 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Grand Wayne Center | Fort Wayne, IN
Please click here to register.
Sponsored by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Hearts * Hands * Voices events are affordable, practical workshops with a focus on skill-building. Musicians, pastors, and others interested in worship and music are invited to attend a workshop titled "The Church's Song" on Saturday, October 19 at Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, IN. Presenters are Lorraine Brugh, Cheryl Dieter, and Anne Krentz Organ. The cost is $45 ($20 for students) and includes lunch. For complete workshop information or to register go to
https://alcm.org/event/valparaiso-in/.
"AWAKENING THE SAGE WITHIN"
November 9th, Indianapolis/ Beech Grove - Here is a 1-day weekend retreat designed for elders and elder groups in area congregations, offered by the Benedict Inn in Indianapolis, and Sage-ing International. It's led by I-K Synod pastor and spiritual director, Al Rider, partnering with Paul Severance, retired director of United Senior Action of Indiana. Rather than "
age-ing", the theme is "
sage-ing"... Uniting spirituality with the process of growing gracefully into the final, crowning chapter of life, with a focus on gratitude, service, and leaving a legacy. Join us. For more information on this ecumenical opportunity, click
here.
Subscribe to ELCA Newsletters
Access the latest resources, stories and events from around this church through ELCA e-newsletters and subscribe to several all in one place. Keep up-to-date with the ministries that mean the most to you or share with a friend and encourage them to subscribe. Sign up for news about the global church, Lutheran Disaster Response, stewardship and ELCA World Hunger at
ELCA.org/subscribe.
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