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October 18, 2022
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews
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White church truths conference | |
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In order to work for racial justice, there are truths that must be faced, even about the faith practiced in most Minnesota churches. At the White Church Truths conference, attendees will face the truths hidden in their own beliefs and open their eyes more clearly to the future – and their role in it.
Dr. Michael Emerson, professor and department head of sociology at the University of Illinois Chicago, will be keynote speaker. He is the author of 15 books, including his latest The Grand Betrayal: The Agonizing Story of Religion, Race, and Rejection in American Life, which will be published next year.
Saturday, November 5: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis
In the U.S. today, an entire religion has developed around the worship of the dominance, centrality, privilege, and assumed universality of being white, offers Dr. Michael O. Emerson. Panelists Felicia Boone, DEI consultant for Hennepin County; Rev. Kelly Sherman-Conroy (Lakota), Native theologian; and Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, lead pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church, will offer panel responses.
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How strong is your constitution? | |
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A congregation’s constitution is its primary governing document. It provides a framework for its purpose and mission and includes provisions that address important matters such as council and committee leadership, membership criteria, the call of a pastor and/or deacon, administration of real estate and property, and the congregation’s relationship with the synod and the larger church.
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Can talking politics be healthy? | |
Anxiety and passions that run high in election season don’t stop when we enter your church doors. Yet we can shift the tone, facing the heightened rhetoric with tools and faith-centered convictions that break through heightened rhetoric. We can and do foster civil relationships and dialogue that invites trust amid our differences and lead healthy community conversations on the common good.
This webinar is offered twice on Tuesday, October 25 -- Noon - 1:00 p.m., or 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Offered in conjunction with the ELCAvotes initiative.
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Hunger at the Crossroads: Conflict and Hunger | |
Violent conflict is one of the most significant drivers of hunger around the world. From wars between nations to ethnic and tribal violence, conflicts affect farms, markets, jobs, housing, trade, and more. In this webinar, ELCA staff from around the world will help participants dive more deeply into the tragic and significant ways violent conflict impacts hunger.
Thursday, November 3; 1:00 p.m.
Online
This webinar is hosted by ELCA World Hunger.
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Making redemption tangible | |
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“In Minnesota, more than 48,000 residents are not allowed to vote in elections due to the fact that they are currently on probation or parole. Even though these citizens have finished their prison sentences, they are not able to share in one of the fundamental aspects of participatory democracy. The Minneapolis Area Synod has worked with a group of congregations that seek to return voting rights to those citizens who have completed their prison sentence and are re-entering life within the community.” To read the rest of this article: https://mpls-synod.org/news/making-redemption-tangible/
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Portico: Prepare for
2023 enrollment selection
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As congregations prepare to make selections in October, keep these things in mind:
- The ELCA recommends two ELCA-Primary health benefit options: (1) Gold+, or (2) Silver+ with a monthly employer contribution to the member’s health savings account (HSA). Sponsoring employers (congregations and organizations) select their option by October 14. Your registered EmployerLink user can access the 2023 Decision Guide and their Custom Comparison Report to help determine 2023 costs and options. Note: any organization that does not make a selection will be assigned Silver+ (A) to offer their plan members the ability to choose the coverage that works best for them.
- Sponsored members, watch for an email from Portico with specific information about 2023 Annual Enrollment, including when your selection period will be open. Most – but not all – plan members will make their selection between October 20-27.
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Rekindle the gift
within you
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All ELCA deacons, pastors, and bishops (under call, on leave or disability, retired, or an approved candidate for call) are invited to come to the desert — a place where God has a habit of renewing weary leaders — for the 2023 ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering. Each day of the gathering will begin in worship as we center ourselves around our theme, "Rekindle the Gift Within You."
July 17-20, 2023
Phoenix, Arizona
The days will begin with Bible studies and keynote speakers. The afternoon hours will offer a variety of individual options from activity in the Interaction Center to workshops and caucus times.
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As Reformation Day approaches, look to Augsburg Fortress | |
Plan online fundraiser using ELCA Good Gifts catalog | |
Augsburg Fortress offers Advent, Christmas resources | |
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ELCA World Hunger is once again offering its Good Gifts catalog ... because people demand it! Congregational members are finding that replacing oppulent Christmas spending with more meaningful gifts that save lives is becoming ever more popular.
WHether you organize a special informational event or simply promote the program with members, ELCA World Hunger provides all needed materials and digital tools. Can ELCA World Hunger count on your participation?
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Families Celebrate Advent & Christmas is a colorful deck of cards that is full of rituals, prayers and reflections. Endlessly flexible for busy schedules, you can create a new after-meal ritual, use them as decorations, or carry them on the go. Explore the entire season from Advent to Christmas through Epiphany. These make a great gift for families in congregations.
A free promotional pack is available to help congregational leaders best use Families Celebrate Advent & Christmas in congregations or small groups. This pack includes postcards, labels to edit and put on card packs, and more.
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Convergencia/Konvergens: Celebrating St. Paul's immigrant story | |
Celebrate St. Paul's / San Pablo's 135 years in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis with Swedish and Latinx folk music, performances, and food!
Saturday, October 22; 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
St. Paul's / San Pablo Lutheran Church
2742 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis
Special guest and photojournalist John Noltner will be taking portraits exploring the theme of belonging and community. These portraits will be part of a broader public art project. Participation is optional.
This cultural celebration is made possible thanks to the generous support of the American Swedish Institute and the Lake Street Council.
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SOLI seeks writers passionate about generosity | |
The Stewardship of Life Institute (SOLI) is hiring people to write commentary for the Revised Common Lectionary throughout the church year. It will look for work that has a stewardship emphasis. Samples of previous entries by a former writer can be found here. Guidelines for submission can be found here.
SOLI will pay $150 per article written. Please send a writing sample and brief resume with references to mzimmann@uls.edu. Writing will begin as soon as December 2022. This opportunity is open to rostered and lay people. SOLI is seeking people in the church with a passion for stewardship and are excellent writers.
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Architecture and its effect
on faith interactivity
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ELCA shares new guides
for inter-religious ministry
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On October 20, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., Dr. Marilyn J. Chiat and Dr. Jeanne Halgren Kilde will speak on “Remembering and Restoring the Past to Ensure the Future: Religious Sites of Minneapolis and St. Paul.”
The speakers will consider the question: “What do the histories of, and the continued research on, various local congregations and houses of worship in Minneapolis-St. Paul teach us about how communities are created, relationships are built, and how inter- and intra-congregational interactions are lived out?”
This program centers around Chiat and Kidle’s partnerships with historic North Minneapolis congregations and will show how historical and architectural research can bring leaders across lines of religious and ethnic differences to revitalize historic religious houses in our region.
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At the end of September, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminded constituents that it is the duty of the ELCA to “live out our baptismal vocation among people of different religions and worldviews.”
In 2019, Churchwide Assembly declared to extend “God’s love, grace, mercy, and justice to all those who are made in the image of God and to the whole of creation.” In light of this, Presiding Bishop Eaton shared two new guides with the Church that will provide guidance and explore challenging topics to continue to fulfill that declaration.
Linked below are the new guides, as well as other ELCA inter-religious resources to help constituents live into their commitments.
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2022 Johnson Symposium to feature
Winona LaDuke and Diane Jacobson
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The Johnson Symposium on Faith and Society is an annual event in which a leading theologian, scholar, and/or practitioner leads conversations over a two-day period on important issues facing the church and society today. This year's presenters are courageous leaders in the creation care movement: Winona LaDuke and Dr. Diane Jacobson.
Friday, November 11 -- Saturday, November 12
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Register by Friday, November 4.
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Minneapolis Area Synod releases 2023 Compensation Guidelines | |
The 2023 compensation guidelines are provided as a starting point for determining compensation for clergy, deacons, and staff. However, these are only guidelines. They cannot possibly speak to all congregations with varying financial and personnel resources and expectations.
These guidelines emerge from ongoing review of current salaries, salaries paid in other denominations, PORTICO Benefit Services, the overall picture of compensation, and synod staff’s ongoing work with congregations. There has also been comparison with teachers and other professionals with comparable education and responsibility.
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Provide input to draft ELCA social message on climate crisis | |
Acting upon requests from multiple sources in November 2021, the ELCA Church Council authorized the development of an ELCA social message on climate care. (Social messages are ELCA teaching documents that address a focused social topic.) A “Draft of a Social Message on Earth’s Climate Crisis” now is posted for public comment and feedback.
Read the social message draft and then use this survey to share your input by Friday, December 2, 2022. Your input helps inform revision of the draft that is sent for review by the Conference of Bishops and the ELCA Church Council in March. Longer responses can be sent as email to draftsocialmessage@elca.org.
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Celebrate Reformation Day with a medieval mass | |
St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church will commemorate Reformation Day with a special celebration of Luther's revision of the medieval mass. The Formula Missae was revised for the City Church (St. Mary's) in Wittenberg in 1523. A mix of Latin and the vernacular, the Formula has much to teach us about worship in our own day.
Sunday, October 30; 5:00 p.m.
St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Paul
Bishop Patricia Lull will preach. A reception with beer and German treats follows.
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Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks? | |
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Bishop Ann Svennungsen and Pastor Craig Pederson will be attending the covenant signing ceremony for the Leipzig Partnership Agreement at Mount Olive Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 23.
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Pastor Norma Malfatti will be attending the farewell for Pastor Marissa Sotos at Tree of Life, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 23.
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Ms. Emilie Bouvier will be preaching and leading an adult forum at Woodlake Lutheran, Richfield, on Sunday, October 23.
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Pastor Craig Pederson will be attending the farewell service for Pastor Bryant Bakkum at Prairie Lutheran, Eden Prairie, on Sunday, October 30.
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Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be attending a Ministry Site Profile review at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 30.
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Pastor Craig Pederson will be attending the 15th anniversary celebration for Deacon Phil Holzman at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, October 30.
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Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be preaching at the service of holy closure at Zion Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, November 6.
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Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be participating in the ordination of Lindsay Bates at St. Andrew Lutheran, Eden Prairie, on Sunday, November 6.
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Courageous Leadership Webinars, Wednesdays
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Joint Fall Ministerium, October 27
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Boundaries Training, November 3
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Faith and Humor: The Bible's Funniest Stories, November 3
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Growing Through Grief, November 5
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Youth Ministry Gathering, November 8
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Southwestern Minnesota Synod Boundaries Training, November 9
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Southwestern Minnesota Synod Boundaries Training, November 10
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Annual Johnson Symposium, November 11-12
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Youth Ministry Gathering, December 13
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2023 Synod Assembly, April 28-29, 2023
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