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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.
Stewardship Event November 20
On Wednesday, November 20 from 8:00am--4:30pm, the Ecumenical Stewardship Center is hosting a conference titled "Spirited Generosity: Offering Vitality in the 21st Century" in Atlanta. Resurrection Lutheran Church in Indianapolis (445 E Stop 11 Rd) is serving as a satellite site for the event. Come hear outstanding speakers and engage in thoughtful discussion around topics such as the history and theology of the offering in Judeo/Christian culture; cultural influences on the offering; engaging the offering as an act of worship, discipleship, and mission; and making the offering a meaningful moment when communities gather. Cost is only $5 per person to help defray lunch costs. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Jerry O'Neal, IK Stewardship Director at (260) 307-1345. We hope to see you at Resurrection November 20th!
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.
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.
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 17: Extended Staff Meeting - (off-site)
October 19: Ordination of Christephor Gilbert | St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY | 2:00 pm | Bishop Gafkjen, Presiding, Rev. Steven Renner, Preaching
October 20: 50th Anniversary Service | Epiphany Lutheran | Fort Wayne, IN | 9:00 am | Bishop Gafkjen preaching
October 22: New to Roster Gathering | Synod Office
October 23: First Call Theological Education | Synod Office
October 23: Installation of Rev. Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen | Christian Theological Seminary | Indianapolis | 11:30 am
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:
Messiah, Brownsburg, IN
and Rev. Erik Allen and Deacon Hope Moran
Messiah, Fort Wayne, IN
and Rev. Timothy Graham
Messiah-Trinity, Louisville, KY
Mt. Pleasant, Kendallville, IN
and Rev. Phyllis Smoot
Mt. Zion, LaGrange, IN
and Rev. Justin Smoot
Rostered Ministers Not Under Congregational Call:
Rev. Joan Sorenson, Retired
Rev. Doris Sparks, Retired
Rev. Paulette Stahlke, Retired
Rev. Mark Kloess, On Leave from Call
Deacon Karen Kosberg, Chaplain, Parkview Hospice
Minneapolis Area Synod and Bishop Ann Svennungsen
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.
Installation
Everyone is invited to the installation of Rev. Dr. Amy Lindeman Allen and Rev. Dr. Kimberly D. Russaw on Wednesday, October 23 at 11:30am at the Sweeney Chapel at Christian Theological Seminary located at 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Special Guest, Dr. William O. Gafkjen, Bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod will be preaching.
Ignite the Church Conference
4th Annual Ignite the Church Conference, Orlando, Florida, February 11-13.
Are you looking for a continuing ed event to inspire, encourage & challenge your ministry? Would Florida in February be a blessing?
Consider attending the Ignite the Church Conference in Orlando, Florida, February 11-13. In addition to 4 large group gatherings with talks and panel discussions on topics related to Congregational Vitality, there will be 12 intensive electives on a wide range of important topics like Reaching Younger Generations, Expanding Kingdom Impact, Church Renewal and Discipleship, Renewing Music, Vitality through Mission, Engaging Your Neighborhood, Evangelism, Social Justice, and Raising Up and Equipping Leaders. There will also be a field trip to Orlando's Castle Church Brewing Community, one of the ELCA's newest and most unique mission starts. The $99 Super Early Bird registration rate includes 2 meals and snacks when you register by November 30th. Rates increase to $109 in December and $129 in January. 75 Leaders from 20 states attended last year's gathering. All conference proceeds are donated to the ELCA Fund for Leaders. Last year's gift totaled $2500. For more information go to
www.IgniteTheChurch.net
We hope to see you there!
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.
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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