Colleagues in ministry,

Check out these resources from the ELCA. They focus on financial wellness for clergy and congregations. By getting our own financial houses in order, we are able to be examples of good stewardship and more generously use the resources God has entrusted to us, to be part of God's mission in the world. If you have questions on the resources, or want a broader conversation on stewardship and financial wellbeing, you are welcome to reach out to me as a conversation partner. 

Sincerely,

The Rev. Peter Beeson

Associate to the Bishop for Generosity

To address individual financial wellness among rostered ministers and their preparedness to manage the finances of a congregation or organization, Resourceful Servants has launched the Emergency Savings/Congregational Financial Assessment Program.

Rostered ministers selected for the program will build up their own savings reserves and improve their skills in managing finances in a congregation or organization by participating in both aspects of this combined program.

Rostered ministers currently under call were sent an email from churchwide regarding this program on August 11. Click the button below to visit the Resourceful Servants website and to learn more. The deadline to apply is September 20.

Rostered ministers, interns, and CL students are invited to the 2023 Fall Summit: Building, Learning, Growing, to be held at St. Paul in Mayville and the Mayville Golf Course. The event will begin on the afternoon of Sunday, October 15 and conclude with supper together on Monday, October 16.

Previously known as the Bishops' Convocation, this fall event will serve as an opportunity for synod leaders to come together and begin the work of putting our 2022 and 2023 synod resolutions in action.

Click the button below for details and to register!

The Synod Office is still receiving mail addressed to the old Odana Road address.

The forwarding order has expired. Please update your address books to the following:

South-Central Synod of Wisconsin

PO Box 14496

Madison, WI 53708

If sending a PACKAGE, use the following:

South-Central Synod of Wisconsin

3902 Milwaukee St., #14496

Madison, WI 53708

The first SCSW Alive! night is Wednesday, October 11, 5:30pm to 7:30pm, at Central Lutheran Church in Edgerton. This event is open to middle and high school youth.

All congregations are invited to gather for an evening of dinner, games, icebreakers, fun, worship and music. The cost of the event is just a suggested donation of $5.00 to cover the cost of food (paid via cash/check onsite).

The theme "Alive in Grace” will invite our youth to discern how their lives are shaped by God’s unconditional gift of grace. Because of this our youth are called to be brave in their faith and ready to respond to the gift of grace. The imagery focuses on the fall season and a stone path that ultimately leads to the cross. We will be utilizing pieces of the ‘Getting Ready’ materials from the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, specifically session 1 and session 3.

We ask for an RSVP with an estimate of attendance prior to each event for planning purposes but know that everyone is welcome.

Click the button below for more information and to RSVP.

The SCSW WELCA Biennial Convention and Gathering will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at the Midvale Community Lutheran Church, 4329 Tokay Boulevard, Madison.

The business meeting/convention is 8:15 to 9:15 am. Each congregation in the Synod shall have one voting member present at the business meeting. The Gathering will begin at 9:30am with worship using liturgy celebrating bold women of faith!

For more information about the Biennial Convention and Gathering, including a complete schedule, and to register for the event, click the button below. Click here to view and download an information sheet about the event.

Questions? Contact Donna Peterson at dpeter8182@gmail.com.

The One Year to Live Retreat for men, a ministry of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) will be October 13-15, 2023 at the MacKenzie Center in Poynette, WI. This has been a life-changing retreat for many attendees! Join with men of all ages seeking to follow the guidance of Proverbs 27:17.

Click the button below for more information, to view participant testimonial videos, and to register. Space is limited so register today. Scholarships are available!

Questions? Call or text LMM synod leader, Jim Schieble at (920) 763-3433.

Registration for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering opens TODAY, September 15 at 12:00pm (CDT).

Please be sure to download the Registration Handbook which will give you everything you need to know to get your group registered.

The gLearn "e-learning portal" also has a course titled "Registration 101." Click here to access the course.

If you need assistance or have questions about registration please contact our Gathering Synod Champion, Pastor Jason Poole-Xiong:

E-Mail (best): jasonx@scsw-elca.org

Phone (voice): (608) 387-8560

You can find more information about the Gathering on the synod website and on the ELCA's Youth Gathering page.

Our intention was to be able to have information available for groups to book travel by air with the synod. However, we are still negotiating with our travel agent partner to find the best possible pricing for our congregations, so we are not able to offer travel arrangements quite yet.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this on your behalf. We will keep you updated through the synod e-newsletter.

Pastor Jason Poole-Xiong, Gathering Synod Champion

Jennifer Prinz, our regional representative from Portico has shared updates regarding health rates and plan changes as well as some reminders about the 2024 Annual Enrollment period.

Click the button below to read the updates.

If you have any questions, you can contact Jennifer at JPrinz@porticobenefits.org.

The ELCA Mission Support Team has resumed its monthly update, the "Mission Support Memo."

This month's edition is about the Seward Peninsula ministry of the Alaska Synod ~ these stories show how wonderfully interconnected we are across our church.  Click the button below to view and download the August 2023 Mission Support Memo to read and share.

You can view this and previous editions of the Mission Support memo on the Stories of Faith in Action page on the ELCA's website.

Below is a learning opportunity that the Office of the Bishop has been made aware of, which may be of interest to our rostered and lay leaders.

Tuesday, October 10, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Have you been wondering why some churches elect to rent a high school gym or area hotel for worship? Or why the front of the worship space is an electronic haven?

The world we live in changes continually as have attendance patterns and financial support of places of worship. Presenter Faith Roberts will explore with participants how the different generations approach and experience worship.

Sponsored by the Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association, the course is open to both nurses and non-nurses and anyone interested in this subject. Click the button below for an informational flyer and to register.