July 9, 2019
MDivX: Luther Seminary's Holy Experiment
from Esthel Kane, member at Atonement, Wesley Chapel and Seminary student

   Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN started June 2nd with a new program called MDivX. The program is a Master of Divinity program but accelerated. This program takes the regular 4-year MDiv and compresses it to 2 years. How is all this possible? Through a generous donor who gave $21 Million to the seminary. His intent was to make this program accessible for those who have a call to the ministry but can't afford it. Luther Seminary explains on their website: “This fully funded program, affectionately known as “MDivX,” is a holy experiment to help the church re-imagine theological education in a time of tremendous change. Our objective is to attract applicants who show the potential to be spiritually strong, theologically faithful, and entrepreneurially innovative to rethink how we cultivate Christian community in a secular age. Then we’ll cover the principal expenses incurred as part of their degree. Ideal candidates already are working or studying at the intersection of the church and society. They sense a call to public, pastoral ministry and are ready to be a student and church worker full time.”

Thanks to this program, 2 of the 27 seminarians participating in this Holy Experiment are from the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Esthel Marie Kane at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel and Lori Fuller at St Matthews Lutheran Church in Ocala are part of the first MDivX cohort at Luther Seminary. This program just began on June 2nd with intensive classes on Luther's campus in Minnesota. While in that week intensive, students got to know the team behind the scenes and also had time to bond with each other. At the end of the week, they were not strangers anymore--they were a family. They will continue to meet together through Distant Learning classes held online through Zoom. 

We want to make everyone in our Synod aware of this program--not just because it's awesome, but because it is an intensive program and all 27 participants need prayers for strength during the next 2 years. Also, please pray for the leadership team at Luther Seminary, as this is a new program that they are adjusting as it goes. This first cohort is carving the road for the next cohort. Please keep all seminarians and leaders at Luther Seminary in your prayers. 
Advent, Melbourne VBS Project
submitted by Pr. Jeremy Frey, Advent Lutheran, Melbourne

Vacation Bible School at Advent Lutheran Church in Melbourne invited children to learn about God's extravagant love for everyone through the theme "Athens: Paul's Dangerous Journey to Share the Faith." Advent hosts VBS at both campuses--Suntree and Melbourne Beach. This year's VBS outreach project collected funds for the Operation Kid-to-Kid project, focusing this year on providing support for women and babies in Zambia. Between the two campuses, VBS children raised $150 for this outreach project!

International Christian organizations and Group’s Vacation Bible School programs team up to get kids involved with helping other kids. Kids have the opportunity to help other children around the world by giving gifts like school supplies, Bibles, hygiene kits, Christmas gifts, Bible coloring books, and socks and shoes. Children have also funded extensive malaria prevention and clean water initiatives in Africa and India! 
If you have a story to share about how your congregation is connecting with God, connecting with each other, or connecting with your community, send it to michellec@fbsynod.org. Stories should be no more than 300 words, and include at least 1 picture.
Always Being Made New: the Campaign for the ELCA

This video gives an update on the impact of the Always Being Made New Campaign, as a witness of the impact of being church together. To participate in the Campaign and to learn more about its objectives, CLICK HERE.
We belong to the Truth

In her July column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton asks: “How do we live as people of Truth in a time of spin?” In deep humility, profound gratitude and real joy.  

Read her column in English
and in Spanish.
Mark your Calendar
Click on the calendar to go to the synod calendar to learn more about these events
For Your Information
MissionInsite: Resource to Understand the Changing Community
The following article contributed by Pr. Jefferson Cox, pastor at Grace, Clearwater and MissionInsite consultant for the synod. Pr. Cox is available to facilitate conversation about demographics and to use the Mission InSite resources to get to know your community better.

The article below was published recently in the Tampa Bay Times. For many congregations in our Synod, these stories will be painfully familiar, because our Lutheran congregations are even more vulnerable to the demographic shifts sited in it. However, we have resources to help us overcome these challenges. One of them is MissionInsite, which can serve as a blueprint for how to be relevant to the people living around our congregations. For instance, the Ministry Application Guide provides insight into the ministry preferences of those living around our churches – leadership styles, worship, hospitality, education, small groups, outreach (both what they need and how they like to help others), stewardship/financial management, property/technology, and communications. For more information about MissionInsite, please contact Pr. Jefferson Cox at revjcox@gmail.com.
Fewer parishioners, less money has Tampa Bay churches...

Church congregations strapped for cash and members or with too much space on their hands are taking radical measures to survive, including selling off all or part of their properties. A dearth of worshipers has also encouraged churches to share...

Read more
www.tampabay.com
Tours, Conferences and Other Events

Continuing Education and ongoing learning is an important part of lifelong learning. Did you know there is a page of the synod web site that lists a variety of faith formation, lifelong learning, continuing ed and discernment events? Although some of these events are for rostered ministers, many are available to anyone who wants to attend. Specifically of interest, there are several upcoming tours being offered for later in 2019 and into 2020 to places like Egypt, Germany and the Holy Land.

Some of the events that have been listed for earlier this year or last year are annual events, so could be happening again next year. Use past events as guides to find out what might be coming up next year as you think about your ongoing learning and formation. Please contact the event coordinators directly with questions.
Employment Opportunity

Executive Administrator, Plymouth Congregational Church, Miami
Below is the job description for the Plymouth Congregational Church Executive Administrator position. If anyone has an interest and want to first talk, they should feel free to contact Dr. John J. Scibilia Executive Director, Council of Church Advisors ( john@advisingchurches.org, 914-315-9172) directly.

>>> Job Description <<<
Bishop's Calendar
  • Vacation
  • Region 9 Bishops' Retreat
  • Tampa Office
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