Keeping up with news and stories from around the synod...

Synod Celebrates 35th Annual Assembly

Congregations from across our synod gathered at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, June 3-5 for the 35th annual Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly. In addition to conducting synod business, our members volunteered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and donated 4,518 pounds of food to help feed hungry families! View photos from the event on our Facebook page.

Applications Now Being Taken for Education Debt Relief!

In 2016, with a generous grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc., the North Carolina Synod began the Faith+Finances+Freedom initiative to help leaders and congregations address economic challenges facing pastoral leaders. This initiative birthed The Lifeline Fund which provides grants for rostered ministers for education debt relief.

The Florida-Bahamas Synod is now participating in this program which is administered by the North Carolina Synod. Any rostered minister in the Florida-Bahamas Synod who has education debt can qualify. Applications for Lifeline grants are currently being received.

Go to www.nclutheran.org/leaders/lifeline-fund.

How does it work?

You fill out an application.
The NC program administrator, Rev John Mocko, will be in touch with all applicants. Information on the process which includes financial debt education, is then shared with participants.
When the applications are complete, the FB Synod grant distribution team will review the grant requests and determine grant amounts.
The approved grant info is transmitted to the NC Synod who will send out the actual grant checks.

Don’t wait. Get started today!

diakonia News: Decisions, Decisions!

I can't make up my mind! All the courses look really good. And to be honest, it's been over 10 years since my diakonia classes, and I have been thinking it would be a good idea to 'refresh' some of the traditional courses.

Decisions, decisions!

See for yourself! Which one(s) would you take first?????

Systematic Theology
Good God Questions - 1
Good God Questions - 2
Intro to the New Testament
Biblical Images
Intro to the Hebrew Scriptures
Visitation
Communicating Gospel
Creeds and Confessions
By What Authority (Early church history)
Christian Doctrine
Liturgical Worship
Meeting God in Prayer
Ethics
We Must Plant the Church (Lutherans in North America)
Equipping Households of Faith
Service and Learning: A Way of Life
Connecting Sunday to Monday

Florida-Bahamas Synod's School of Lay Ministry - Go to diakoniafl.org for more info or contact Michele Hilton at micheleahilton@aol.com.

Introducing the Young Adult Community Resource Grant

Young adults long for in-person connection, now more than ever after years of isolation. In response, ELCA Young Adult Ministry has launched a grant that will help jump-start programs that connect young adults from a defined region for in-person gatherings centered around community, justice, and love.

What can this look like? Get creative!

Evening worship services with childcare available
Dinner parties, potlucks, meals in the park
Mutual aid
A giving circle with accompanying advocacy, book club, or direct action
Pub/coffee theology & games
Biweekly discussion groups with music

Eligibility:

Partner with at least one other ministry organization that currently serves or hopes to serve young adults
Attend the ELCA Young Adult Ministry Partner Network quarterly gatherings
Attend the ELCA Young Adult Gather Network meetings twice a year to process experiences
Leadership of the group must be at least 50% young adults (18-35)

Funding amount: $1,000 - $5,000

Max number of awards: 25

Max applications accepted: 75

Grant opens: June 2, 2022

Grant closes: July 31, 2022

Find the application instructions here.

Questions about applying for the grant? Email grants@elca.org.

Questions about the grant itself? Email young.adults@elca.org.

Open Position: Part-Time Music Director at St. Michael Lutheran Church (Wellington)

St. Michael Lutheran Church is seeking a part-time music director to lead, model, direct, and accompany existing music groups within the congregation, and to implement vibrant new ways to inspire the congregation in both traditional and contemporary music. Click here for the job full description.

Prepare for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday with new resources

On Sunday, Sept. 11, congregations of the ELCA will join together for “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday, our dedicated day of service. As you explore opportunities to participate, visit ELCA.org/DayOfService for planning resources including a tool kit, worship material, videos, posters, social media graphics and a special hymn for the day. As we continue our tradition of service to our neighbor, we remember the words of Martin Luther: “Our faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing.” Plan your day of service.

Global Farm Challenge resources are now available from ELCA World Hunger to enrich the life of youth and your congregation this summer! As congregations across the ELCA creatively find new ways to engage youth in the ministries of our church, including ELCA World Hunger, we are eager to equip you with new and useful resources.

The goal is to raise $525,000 to equip communities around the world and in the United States with livestock, seeds, tools and training to turn a hungry season into a hopeful season through the Global Farm Challenge.

Click here to sign your youth group or whole congregation up to participate, and find fundraising and goal-setting ideas at ELCA.org/hunger/resources.