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E-Spirit
Weekly Newsletter
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News, Stories, and More
from the
Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA
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2022 Rostered Minister Suggested Minimum Compensation Guidelines
Following the virtual Synod Assembly in October, a new Compensation Team was appointed by Bishop Suarez. This team is made up of Word & Sacrament ministers, Word & Services ministers, and Lay leaders. The team reviewed the current conditions regarding our rostered ministers, congregations, and the economy.
There were many factors debated in a healthy constructive manner. The team considered the market correction and cost of living increase recommended by the synod Compensation Team for rostered ministers last year (roughly 6.5%), the inflation rate this year (6+%), the increase in Portico (3.5%), the impact of COVID on our churches and the giving they receive, and the outlook for 2022.
After some hard conversations, the Compensation Team recommends the following two changes to the Compensation Guidelines for 2022:
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Compensation - At the very minimum, rostered ministers be given at least a 3% increase in their base pay. We encourage congregations to start at the 3% and be as generous as possible.
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Bonus - It is also the recommendation that, given the past two years, rostered ministers be given a gift of grace in the form of a paid week off (including a Sunday) for Health & Wellness. This week would have the following suggestions:
- It is in addition to all paid time off a rostered minister already has;
- It is only good for the calendar year of 2022;
- It is a one-time gift of grace and appreciation for the year of 2022;
- It is non-redeemable for cash payout, carry over to another year, or exchange for any other benefit;
- It is used in any manner the rostered minister would like to use it; and
- Appropriate coverage is to be in place during the leader's absence.
Click here for the 2022 Compensation Narrative. Click here for the 2022 Compensation Worksheet.
The Synod Compensation Team
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News, Stories, and More... | |
Anger Workshop for Rostered Ministers
Many bishops and rostered ministers have reported an increase in anger in our faith communities. Certainly, COVID-related issues over the past two years have made ministry more complicated: new ministry plans delayed, organizing virtual worship and meetings, complications with pastoral care, financial support declining, and many other things. These problems can create anxiety and anger. Barbara Keller has developed a 1-hour zoom workshop for rostered ministers. It focuses on understanding the origins of anger and ways to help rostered ministers and congregations deal more effectively with anger.
The workshop will be held at 11:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. Central time) on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 over Zoom. Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtdu2pqTMiG9YOU004MnfENeFCLVAymaMG
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Save the Date!
Sunday Assembly for Word and Sacrament: Recovering it and practicing it in late pandemic time.
A conversation led by the Rev. Dr. Gordon Lathrop.
Pastors and assembly leaders have had a very hard time living out their call for nearly two years. Are there resources in the Bible and in the Lutheran liturgical tradition that can refresh us in assembly practice? What from our tradition do we maintain and strengthen? What do we drop? What new practices should we adopt? And how should we teach the importance of the assembly in this time? On December 9, Pastor Gordon Lathrop will present ideas in response to these and related questions and will engage with us in conversation.
When: Thursday, December 9 at 2pm over Zoom.
CLICK HERE to register.
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About Dr. Lathrop
Gordon W. Lathrop has been an ELCA pastor for 52 years. He is professor emeritus of liturgy at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia/United Lutheran Seminary. He has also both taught and served as Chaplain at Pacific Lutheran University, Wartburg Seminary, and Yale Divinity School. Among many other books, he has written Holy People: A Liturgical Ecclesiology (Fortress, 1999), The Pastor: A Spirituality (Fortress, 2006), and the forthcoming volume The Assembly: A Spirituality (Fortress, 2022).
Together with Timothy Wengert, he wrote Christian Assembly: Marks of the Church in a Pluralistic Age (Fortress: 2004), and, together with Lorraine Brugh, The Sunday Assembly (Augsburg Fortress, 2008; the first volume of the handbook to using the ELW). He has served as president of both the North American Academy of Liturgy and the international Societas Liturgica. He lives in Arlington, VA, and is a member of Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church there.
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Announcing the 2022
Ignite the Church Conference
February 8-10, 2022, Seismic Shifts: Where do we go from here?
A new Hybrid version of the grassroots Ignite the Church Conference will gather next February…In-Person in sunny Orlando AND Online…to reflect on the theme: SEISMIC SHIFTS: Where Do We Go From Here? The theme is grounded in the witness of Psalm 46: 1-2 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and the mountains shake."
Four large group sessions will focus on the following shifts: Public Church (Robin Steinke and Winston Persaud), Hybrid Church (Joe and Jess Liles), Adaptive Church (Tod Bolsinger), Thriving Church (Stephanie Spellers). Ten 90-minute workshops will dig deeper into these shifts to offer encouragement, inspiration, and challenge for church leaders.
To register and learn more about the presenters, workshop options, and other details go to www.IgniteTheChurch.net. Register by November 30 to access the lowest $99 In-Person rate. The Online option will provide live and recorded access to each large group session and the post-conference Resource Page. The Online option is FREE…with a suggested donation $30 to the ELCA Fund for Leaders invited. All proceeds continue to benefit the ELCA Fund for Leaders which has received $13,000 from the Conference in just the past two years.
Google Docs Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-5c5rH3M5Qpb17aFowKtUue8fmg6Osg-
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diakonia Graduation and Worship Service public livestream!
Join us this Saturday, November 20, at 4 p.m. for the diakonia Graduation and Worship Service. Bishop Pedro Suarez will preside and Rev Rob Rose will preach at the service being held at St John Lutheran Church in Winter Park.
The service will be streamed from the St. John Lutheran Church Winter Park YouTube channel, under the diakonia graduation title. Click here to access the YouTube channel.
See you there!
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A Reminder to be still in God's Presence
From Pr. J David Bryant, JOY Lutheran Church
Each first November weekend, JOY’s WELCA organization hosts a holiday craft bazaar that raises funds to support local ministry and global ministry. It’s boisterous, super busy, fun.
This year, our cub scout pack, #484, was present to sell candy. Scouts and pack leaders were with us in the boisterous thick of things. That’s when my eyes saw a particular scout who, much like the pastor, had stepped into JOY’s sanctuary for a moment of stillness.
The scout quietly knelt at the communion rail, a silent figure breathing in the calm and the peace to be had in silence. The scout is a reminder of our need to be still in God’s presence, to step away from life’s boisterousness. It’s a reminder for which this pastor is both thankful and grateful.
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Thanksgiving meals for community families
From Sondra Lee, Trinity Lutheran Church
Trinity Lutheran Church in Bradenton, collected food and funding to provide 155 Thanksgiving meals to families in the community. The food was collected in collaboration with our ministry partners: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manatee County, PACE Center for Girls, and Parenting Matters.
The baskets include a traditional Thanksgiving meal “sides” plus a $15 gift card for the family to choose the protein they wish to have – turkey, ham, tofu, or any other turkey alternative.
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Upcoming Installations and
Ordinations
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November 19, 6:30 PM - Ordination of Luke Delasin at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Tarpon Springs. Bishop Suarez will be presiding.
November 21, 3:30 PM - Installation of Luke Delasin as Pastor of Apostles Lutheran Church in Brandon, Deacon Connie Schmucker will officiate.
Updated information for Joshua "Josh" Pontious:
Josh Pontious will be ordained on Sunday, December 5, 3:00 p.m., at Christ Lutheran Church, Coral Springs.
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Don't forget to send in your congregation's Thanksgiving Moment!
Click here to fill out the form. Send questions to kennedyh@fbsynod.org.
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Job Opportunity:
Intentional Interim CEO NovusWay, Inc.
NovusWay, Inc. is a progressive and growing outdoor ministry in the southeastern United States that includes the ecologically diverse camps and retreat centers of Lutheridge (North Carolina), Lutherock (North Carolina), Luther Springs (Florida), and Lutheranch (Georgia).
NovusWay, Inc. is looking for an Intentional Interim CEO to ensure the overall operations and ministries of the four NovusWay camps.
Click here for more information.
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Stories of Faith in Action
The publication Stories of Faith in Action and the resources that go along with it are designed to share how important your weekly offering in your congregation is in sustaining and growing God’s mission. The portion of your offerings that support the ELCA’s synodical and churchwide ministries is called Mission Support. The publication and resources found here help explain and answer questions about Mission Support and tell the story of those gifts in action.
CLICK HERE to access this resource on the ELCA website.
For more Stories of Faith in Action, you can CLICK HERE.
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