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October 25, 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 the 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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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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BoundariesTraining for those with "a desk" at the church | |
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Rostered ministers in the Minneapolis Area Synod are required to attend a Boundaries Training once every three-to-five years. The synod's next training will be held Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Center.
This workshop will be led by LeaderWise and will include time with Bishop Svennungsen. It’s open to rostered ministers and also anyone who has a desk at a church! Registration closes on Thursday, October 27.
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Invest in your emotional health | Boost your emotional health this fall by joining a 30-minute webinar led by Learn to Live’s clinical team. Upcoming sessions focus on Managing Stress and Worry in Uncertain Times; Preserving Peace Throughout the School Year; and Building Stronger Social Connections. Learn more about the webinars, and use the code PORTICO to register. | | |
How to use Sundays and Seasons | |
Sundays and Seasons is a worship resource provided by AugsburgFortress. Are you looking for some inspiration as you head into Advent? Join other worship planners in a webinar that will tour the lectionary-based website, demonstrate how to turn "worship plans" into "worship templates," and get tips for setting up an account.
Wednesday, October 26
11:00 a.m., Central
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Announcing the theme of the 2024 Youth Gathering | |
The theme of the 2024 Youth Gathering in New Olreans will be "Created to Be," centered on Psalm 139:14 -- "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well."
During the Gathering, young people will explore how they are created to be brave, authentic, free, disruptive disciples. To incorporate the pre-events — the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble — into the overall Gathering more intentionally, those events will share the "Created to Be" theme. Additionally, the brand-new Young Adult Gathering, to take place concurrent with the ELCA Youth Gathering, will share the theme as well.
More information about Youth Gatherings
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Can talking politics be healthy? | |
Anxiety and passions that run high in election season don’t stop when you 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.
Tuesday, October 25;
7:00 - 8:00 p.m., Central Time
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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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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ELCA World Hunger offers Advent Study | ELCA World Hunger's 2022 Advent study guide expands on the Advent readings for this year, includes information about ELCA World Hunger at work in the world, and is perfect for individual study or with a group. | | |
Rekindle the gift within you | |
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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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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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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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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The National Lutheran Choir's Christmas Festival | Join the National Lutheran Choir this holiday season for the 37th annual Christmas Festival, "Jesus Christ Yesterday, Today, Forever." Concerts will be held December 9 and 10 at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, and a livestream of the concert will be available during the 8:00 p.m. concert on the December 9. Visit NLCA.com for tickets and more details. | | |
Contributing to the legacy of the spirituals | The Religion News Service has published a recent article about congregations and organizations that are finding ways to honor financially the use of spirituals in concerts or worship services by supporting youth choirs and other groups in Historic Black communities. | | |
Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks? | |
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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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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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