Enews: Do you believe in redemption?; workshops for congregational leaders; and more

January 17, 2023

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA Enews

Conference Assemblies upcoming in preparation of Synod Assembly

Clergy and lay leaders are invited to conference assemblies, especially voting members from each congregation. Find out when your conference assembly meets. If you don't know what conference your congregation is part of, go to this list of conferences by city.

Synod office update

Most synod staff members continue to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. On Fridays the office is closed to the public, so meeting space will not be available and general inquiries may not receive a response until the following week. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we will adhere to the Minnesota Church Center building protocols and messaging on the sixth floor: “Masks are not required. However, masking is strongly recommended for those with symptoms or exposure. Masks available upon request.”

Do you believe in redemption?

“I spent some time on MLK Day yesterday reading a speech by the Rev. Dr. King, seeking to learn more about his words on voting rights in particular. Nine years after he shared these insights, the Voting Rights Act was passed as a landmark legislative victory of the Civil Rights movement. The day it was passed, the Rev. Dr. King remarked that ‘voting is the foundation stone of political action.’”

Read Emilie's blog

Annual Tool Kit workshops for congregational leaders

Join us for the Tool Kit on the morning of Saturday, February 11, 2023! Congregational leaders (lay and rostered) will be gathering at First Lutheran in Columbia Heights to get practical tools to bring back to their congregations. Workshops include topics like church council 101, how to connect with Deaf and/or hard of hearing neighbors, greening your church, and more! Watch the e-news for the next several weeks to see descriptions of the workshops. Registration is now open!

Saturday, February 11, 2023

8:30 a.m., Check in

9:00 a.m., Event begins

First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights

Descriptions of two of the workshops for Tool Kit (new this week) are below:

From Needs to Assets: A Different Lens for Engaging Congregation and Community, presented by Rev. Kelly Chatman and staff of The Center for Leadership and Neighborhood Engagement (CLNE)

How do you see your congregation? What do you imagine about the community and people that surround your church building? Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) is a strategy that provides new insight into communities on both sides of your congregation’s doors. Join Pastor Kelly Chatman and CLNE staff and be invited to see neighbors as co-creators; rethink the ways we focus on need and deficit and orient toward abundance; and live into congregational vitality using ABCD concepts and tools.

Building Volunteerism, a panel including Kate Ford, Kristy Philips, and Norma Malfatti

As we emerge from the pandemic many congregations have faced challenges in re-engaging people to be at the ready to serve in ministry. Join us for a panel discussion with congregational leaders who have found some ways to effectively engage people in using their gifts to serve their neighbor and within the congregation too. While there will be time for Q&A that morning, if you have questions you'd like to see answered, email them to our panel's moderator, Pastor Norma Malfatti by February 6.

Check out the Tool Kit web page for updates.

Portico offers mental health support to benefit participants

Servant of Christ annual award: Nominations open

Utilize text support: It’s brave and smart to seek help if you’re living with stress, depression, anxiety, or mental health struggles – but accessing an in-person counselor isn't always easy or even possible. That’s one reason the ELCA-Primary health plan EAP benefit has expanded to include Talkspace, digital confidential online counseling with licensed therapists via text, video, or audio.

Read more on myPortico.

Each year, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota recognizes the many contributions of partnering congregations through the Servant of Christ Award. This award celebrates faith communities that are leaders in social ministry and social justice, have a connection to LSS services, and faithfully provide financial support for the service ministry of LSS. Nominate a single congregation – or congregations in partnership – that are working alongside LSS in service of their neighbors by Friday, January 27.

Latinx Ministry Competence Workshop

Is there a growing Latinx community in your area? How is your church preparing itself to be involved in cross-cultural ministry among Latinx people?

Join a group of learners and practitioners desiring to enhance their cultural competence to help start or strengthen their ministry with and among the Latinx communities. This workshop will explore socio-cultural and historical foundations that undergird the uniqueness and diversity within the Latinx comunities.

Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27; 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 28; 9:00 a.m. - Noon

Online only

Cost: $250 for individual; $600 for congregation

The Rev. Dr. Ruben Duran will be the primary presenter.

This initiative is part of an ELCA Churchwide effort to "activate ourselves so that more people may know the way of Jesus and experience community, justice, and love." It is hosted by Wartburg Theological Seminary and Centro Teologico Lutherano Multicultural.

To register

Synod to hire congregational organizer for racial justice

The Minneapolis Area Synod's Congregational Organizer for Racial Justice position draws on the tradition of professional community organizing methodology, facilitated through the institution of the Lutheran church. It is centered on building a network of relationships among congregational leaders that can be organized for effective and strategic change on issues of structural racism.

Review of applications will begin on January 17.

For the position description

Creating safe online

environments for youth

Join Cherish All Children on Saturday, January 21, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., for its sixth annual family learning event, “Supporting Youth Safety and Healthy Choices in the Virtual Playground” online or at the Lutheran Social Service, 2485 Como Ave, Saint Paul.

Director Alison Feigh from the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, a program of the Zero Abuse Project, and Director Joy Elroy from Cherish All Children will cover topics such as cyberbullying, texting, screen time, and toxic images.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can support youth develop healthy self-esteem and how to keep them away from online exploitation, you can find more information and register here.

If you have any questions, email info@cherishallchildren.org or contact Joy Elroy at (651) 207-3357.

Commission etablished to re-evaluate the structure of the ELCA

The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly directed “the Church Council to establish a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church comprised of leaders of diverse representation from all three expressions that, working in consultation with the Conference of Bishops and the Church Council, shall reconsider the statements of purpose for each of the expressions of this church, the principles of its organizational structure, and all matters pertaining thereunto, being particularly attentive to our shared commitment to dismantle racism, and will present its findings and recommendations to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in preparation for a possible reconstituting convention to be called under the rules for a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly.” At its November 2022 meeting, the Church Council authorized the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) to consist of no more than 35 voting members. It directed the Executive Committee of the Church Council to initiate the process of forming the commission.

The commission will be composed of three voting members from each region of this church, for a total of 27, and up to eight at-large voting members. The member's role will be to represent the interests of this whole church while also bringing the perspective of the member’s geographical area and being mindful of other considerations.

The open nomination process allows for self-nomination or the nomination of others. The deadline for nominations is March 9.

For more information

To nominate

Ministry with older adults

How do you go about starting or expanding a ministry for seniors? Join Rev. Mark Shultz and Deacon Tom Perry from Trinity Lutheran Church in Mission, Shawnee, Kansas, as they discuss their experiences in creating and enhancing ministry for, as well as with, the older adults in their congregation. They will share about the philosophy of their Older Adult Ministry and give specific ideas for starting and enhancing ministry in any congregation.

Thursday, January 26

11:00 a.m.

Online

To register

Children's Ministry Gathering for February

February 14; 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Utepils Brewing

225 Thomas Avenue North, #700

Minneapolis

Meet other youth ministry folks to share ideas, learn from one another, and be supported. Part-time, full-time, pastors, and volunteers are all welcome to join this month's discussion on "Let's Talk about Sex!"

Faith community response to addiction and substance abuse

Addiction is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Faith communities are critical to the care and prevention of substance use disorders. In response, the Mental Health and Addiction Team at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake, is offering “Making All Things New!,” a hope-filled seminar that explores the ways in which your faith community can make a difference in the lives of those living with substance use disorder, and those who love them.

Saturday, January 21

9:00 - 11:30 a.m., Central Time

Presenters include Dr. Carla Dahl, professor emeritus of congregational and community care at Luther Seminary, and Lexi Reed Holtum, co-founder of the Steve Rummler HOPE Network and director of the Minnesota Opioid Response Program.

If you can't attend in person, you can watch the live stream on YouTube

To register

Minneapolis to host the 2023 Festival of Homiletics

“Preaching Hope for a Weary World” is the Festival of Homiletics’ response to the hardships and heaviness that have been our reality the last few years.

Monday, May 15 - Wednesday, May 18

Minneapolis (Central Lutheran and Westminster Presbyterian)

From a pandemic, to protests, to politics, and polarization; from wars, to gun violence, and climate change catastrophes, what is our call to preach?

Hope.

Surprisingly, in looking back over Festival themes there has never been a focus on hope. Yet, who better to name hope into our world than preachers?

We believe in a hope that defies all odds. A hope that speaks of new life amid death. A hope that reaches for justice amid inequity. A hope that knows the promise of God’s righteousness amid fear and despair.

The Festival of Homiletics 2023 will inspire us to a renewed sense of our radical calling.

Our weary world needs us, preachers. Hope wins.

Come renew, refresh, and recharge your spirit!

Where is the synod staff in upcoming weeks?

Mr. Nicholas Tangen will be preaching at Our Saviour's Lutheran, East Bethel, on Sunday, January 22.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be attending a celebration of ministry for Pastor Tania Haber at Westwood Lutheran, St. Louis Park, on Sunday, January 22.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching and attending the farewell for Pastor Wondimu Sonessa at Our Redeemer Oromo Evangelical, Minneapolis, on Sunday, January 22.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be ordaining Per Halaas at Christ the King Lutheran, Bloomington, on Saturday, January 28.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be presiding at the Service of Holy Closure at St. Andrew Lutheran, East Bethel, on Sunday, January 29.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching at St. Andrew Lutheran, East Bethel, on Sunday, January 29.
Bishop Ann Svennungsen will be leading an adult forum at Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran, Minneapolis, on Sunday, February 12.
Pastor John Hulden will be leading a Ministry Site Profile review at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran, MInneapolis, on Sunday, February 12.
Pastor Norma Malfatti will be preaching and leading an adult forum at Zion Lutheran, Anoka, on Sunday, February 19.

Upcoming Events

Courageous Leadership Webinars , Wednesdays
Making All Things New: Addiction and Recovery Seminar, January 21
Supporting Youth Safety and Healthy Choices in the Virtual Playground, January 21
Conference Assemblies, Various dates in February
Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders, February 11
A Story of Hope from the Holy Land, February 11
Youth Ministry Gathering, February 14
Youth Ministry Gathering, March 14
Spring Ministerium, March 23
Youth Ministry Gathering, April 11
2023 Synod Assembly, April 28-29
Rostered Ministers Gathering, July 17-20
Bishop's Theological Conference, September 24-26

Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA www.mpls-synod.org