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SYNOD NEWS
Bishop Gafkjen's September I-K Lutheran Newsletter
One of our synod's pastors recently asked me "What's on your Kindle? What are you reading?" Of course, what I am reading (and listening to while driving across this territory) says something about where at least some of my attention is focused and what I am giving a good portion of my mental and spiritual energy to. In fact, reading is a key spiritual, personal, and professional discipline for me. I often encounter the Word as I wander through works of fiction and non-fiction alike. Here's a list that includes a couple of books I recently finished along with a few that I am currently working my way through. Please click
here to read Bishop Gafkjen's complete article. Enjoy!
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 is currently being updated to reflect new language and an updated version will be available after September 16. Constitutions may be submitted for an advisory review before the final approval by the congregation, by emailing the draft version to
[email protected]. This email should also be used when submitting your updated constitution that has been approved by the congregation (see C16.01 and C16.02).
Last Call for Hotel Rooms at the Professional Leaders Conference
It turns out it is not too late to get a room at the Drury Plaza for the Professional Leaders Conference, Sept. 22-24, 2019. When we sent them the rooming list they informed us that they still have open rooms and would make them available to our attendees. If you have not yet registered, or did register but would like to add a hotel room, you must email me,
[email protected], by Fri. Sept. 6
th. We cannot guarantee double rooms unless another attendee also requests one.
First Training of the Transformational Leadership Academy
Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen will be leading a seminar on "Jesus Among the People." She will help participants
not only learn more about who Jesus lived and ministered among, but also how their identities intersect and inform Jesus' own identity as well as his message and ministry.
10am - 3pm, Saturday, Sept 14th at the I-K synod office.
Class cost is $20.
For Lay Worship Leaders, this training is a necessary part of ongoing continuing education. If you wish to participate, but have a scheduling conflict or difficulty traveling to Indianapolis, please contact Cory Driver ([email protected]) for alternatives.
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
[email protected] 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, September 20, through Sunday morning, September 22, 2019.
Held at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in St. John, Indiana (please bring air mattress, sleeping bag, etc.)
- 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 [email protected] or 317.253.3522. Please click here for a flyer to share with your congregation.
Advancing Racial Equity Training at the I-K Synod Professional Leaders Conference
Registration (without lodging at the hotel) is still open for all pastors and deacons planning to attend this year's conference, Sept. 22-24. You have the option to register with or without meals as a commuter. If you do need lodging in the Indianapolis area, please let me know. This year's event will continue this important conversation and action against racism in our world and within the church. September 13 is the deadline to register with meals - and Sept. 20 without meals. Click on this link to register, or go to this page to read more about the topics, speakers and see the general schedule for the conference: If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Heather Apel, [email protected]
I-K Women of the ELCA Biennial Convention
Join women from across Indiana and Kentucky as they gather to celebrate this retreat/convention on September 13 and 14, 2019, at the Holiday Inn Airport in Indianapolis. The activities planned for this event include Bible studies, service projects, workshops, fellowship and much more. Every woman is invited to come. You do not need to be a member of women's group or even be Lutheran. We are joining together to Rest, Relax and Reflect. For more information,
email
[email protected] to receive a packet of information. Or you can click here (https://bit.ly/2I6jrEC) to see digital information.
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
September 6-7: Conference Deans' Retreat | Waycross Camp & Conference Center, Morgantown, IN
September 8: Worship at Christ, Kokomo, IN | 11am | Preach and Preside | 10th Ordination Anniversary for Pastor Sharon Walker
September 8: Holy Closure Service | Trinity Lutheran Church | Linton, IN | Preach and Preside
September 11: Grab and Go Breakfast Ministry with Grace Village Campus Ministry | 8am | First Presbyterian Church, Muncie, IN
September 12: Interim Pastor's Meeting | 10:30am | Synod Office
September 13-14: Synod Council | Lutheran Hills Camp, Morgantown, IN
September 15: New Hope, Monticello, IN | 9am | Preach and Preside
September 15: Installation of Pastor Ken Ranos | Bethlehem, Indianapolis | 4pm
Bishop Gafkjen looks forward to being with you and your faith community. Please contact his administrative assistant, April Lynch,
[email protected] 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 [email protected] 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:
Gethsemane, Fort Wayne, IN
and Rev. Debra Meuter
Gethsemane, Indianapolis, IN
and Rev. Barbara Dahl
Gethsemane, Lexington, KY
and Rev. Laura Altman
Gloria Dei, Crestview Hills, KY
and Rev. Dominic Guido
Gloria Dei, Highland, IN
and Rev. David Adams
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Alan Rider, Retired
Rev. John Roberts, Retired
Rev. Robert C. Rohrman, Retired
Rev. Gretchen Freese, On Leave from Call
Rev. Dr. Daniel Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop
Western North Dakota Synod and Bishop Mark Narum
Prayers are requested for Marilyn Tangman, widow of Pastor John Tangman, who is recovering from health issues. She is a resident at Lutheran Community Home, 111 Church Ave., Room 301, Seymour, IN 47274. Cards of encouragement would be welcomed.
Furnishings Available
Trinity Lutheran Church in Linton, IN is moving toward Holy Closure, and will have a final Holy Closure Service on September 8, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. Here is a
list of items they are making available to other churches that could use them in their ministry. Please contact Shane Smith,
[email protected], prior to September 8 if you are interested in any of these items. Trinity Lutheran will make them available after the final worship service.
Furniture Available
Christ Lutheran in Crawfordsville, IN has undertaken a renewal of their space and has some furniture available. The pieces are all available now and they would like to have them out of the building before Sunday, September 29.
Hymnals Available
Calvary Lutheran Church in Bluffton, IN has 96 copies of
Lutheran Book of Worship available to a church in need of them. Please contact the church at 260.824.0177 if you are interested.
Last September, nearly 100 attended and participated in the sharing of our different cultures while all, especially the watoto (children), learned how we have so much in common. We had visitors and members of the Salem/Shalom family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Liberia, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Haiti, Senegal, Central African Republic, and the U.S.A. We were blessed with a choir and musicians from
the Kenya Indy Ministry. Check our facebook video library to see them sing "God Is Good" in Kiswahili, several of the many tribal languages in Kenya, and the English language
.
Join Salem Lutheran Church and Shalom International Ministry for this year's event on September 14. If you wish, bring a dish to share - something that represents the culture and tradition of your heritage.
There is an opportunity to help raise the festival tent with a designated contribution to Salem's Outreach fund. You may give online with credit, debit or Paypal. The link is on our web site and facebook page. Giving by check to the Salem street address insures 100 percent of your gift goes to our ministry. We are currently a little more than half-way to our goal of covering the $1000 cost for the tent, stage and tables.
Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church has been serving Christ from Pike Township for 183 years and the Shalom International Ministry has been a partnership of Salem with the ELCA and Indiana-Kentucky Synod.
The Salem campus is at 4700 West 72nd Street in the village of New Augusta on the northwest side of Indianapolis (46268).
Have something to share during our program? Let Pastor James Capers know. Contact office manager Devoe Slisher for PDF files for flyers/bulletin inserts.
[email protected]
Phone 317-291-5004.
God's Work. Our Hands.
Would your congregation be looking for a God's Work. Our Hands. Day project? Be part of a true community effort in Indianapolis where the need is great. Check out the attached flier and sign up to help disabled and/or low-income families in the city, as well as fix up two pocket parks. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me or Dan Mowrey from First Trinity Lutheran Church who is coordinating this effort in First Trinity's neighborhood near 42
nd Street and Emerson. The need is great and your hands will make the difference in people's life as you share God's grace with them. Please see the attached
flyer.
Women's Retreat with Pastor Vicki Garber
You are invited to attend a Women's Retreat at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio. Pastor Vicki Garber will be the retreat leader. Her past retreats have been awesome, and this too will be spiritually powerful as it nurtures our bodies, minds and spirits. It will be a time of Bible study, prayer, reflection, fellowship and peace. Please click
here to get the invitation and
here to get the registration form. For questions contact Walda at
[email protected].
Position Opening
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, an ELCA Lutheran Church in Crestview Hills, Kentucky is looking to fill two positions:
Organist - this is a year-round, part-time position to play two Sunday services and special services scheduled during Lent, Holy Week, Advent, and Christmas Eve as well as weddings and funerals. Previous liturgical worship experience strongly preferred. The organ is an 11 rank Schantz organ built in 1994.
Director of Choirs - this is a part-time position that would be responsible for the adult chancel choir, children/youth choirs, and hand bell choir. This position requires someone who is able to effectively lead rehearsals and Sunday performances, while creating a fun and exciting atmosphere that is encouraging for choir members. Individuals must be reliable, an effective communicator, and possess organizational skills to plan prepared weekly pieces and submit relevant information to the church Parish Administrator. Candidates should have an understanding of the traditional style of worship and its observance of the liturgical season. Previous experience strongly preferred.
Potential candidates can apply to either or both positions. Please respond to [email protected] by September 30, 2019 with cover letter and CV/Resume.
Position Opening
Faith Lutheran Church, Goshen, IN is currently looking to employ a Traditional Worship Organist. A job description can be found here and an employment application can be found here. If interested, please submit a cover letter with the employment application. Submit applications to: [email protected] or Faith Lutheran Church
c/o Pastor Jessica King
202 S. Greene Rd.
Goshen, IN 46256
Position Opening
Director of Music Ministries
Faith Lutheran Church - Lexington, KY
Please click
here for a job description.
Position Opening
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1005 N. 21st Street, Lafayette, IN, has a part time opening for a Praise Team leader
who will act as the primary leader of modern liturgical music and encourage congregational participation. This position will require proficiency in playing the piano for modern liturgical worship services and the opportunity to play for other special services and events. This position is from 7:30=9:30am on Sundays.
Contact the office email
[email protected]
for more details, or to submit an application.
Position Openings
Pilgrim Lutheran in Carmel, IN is currently looking for applicants for one staff opening. We are seeking a part-time Youth Director (10 hours) to join our staff. This position will be open beginning in June. Anyone interested can contact the church office at 317-846-2221 or submit a resume to
[email protected]. Please click
here for the Youth Director job description.
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CHURCH-WIDE NEWS
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Bishop Eaton's August Column for
Living Lutheran
Our common witness.
In her August column for
Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the Lutheran movement. As we move forward as a church, she wonders: "What will our Lutheran identity be in the ELCA? Read her column
here.
2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Summary of Actions
Please click
here to read the summary.
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.
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday
"God's work. Our hands." Sunday is Sunday,
September 8, 2019. This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.
Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ - every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life - flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God's grace. You work every day to make your community a better place. Let us continue doing this work together in 2019! View the
video and access
resources to guide your congregation's planning, promotion and more.
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