Discerning and Electing a New Bishop in 2024

Electing a bishop is one of the most important responsibilities in the life of a synod and a key responsibility of the Synod Assembly (April 27-30, 2024). As an election, it is a process governed by the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the synod; however, it is also a call process. As such, it involves discernment, from the perspective both of individual potential nominees and of the synod as a whole.

This summer the Synod Council began the process which will lead to the election of a new Bishop at the Synod Assembly in April 2024. The first step in that process has been the appointment of a Bishop Election Committee, comprised of rostered leaders and lay people from around the synod. This committee has the responsibility of assuring that a fair and competent election is held, and also assuring that opportunities for feedback, discernment, and reflection are widely available prior to the 2024 Assembly. Along with the leadership of Conference Deans, the committee will organize gatherings for rostered leaders and laypeople this fall. Input from rostered leaders will also be invited at the fall Theological Gatherings.

Watch this publication (eConnection) and the Synod website for more information regarding the logistics of the election and the dates and locations of Conference Gatherings.

You can read the full responsibilities of the committee HERE

The Committee members are:

Pr. Ann Hultquist, Chair

Christian Mogren, Utah Conference

Elizabeth Mullins, Border Conference

Pam McClune, Metro West Conference

Pr. Carrie Baylis, Southeast Colorado Conference

Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, North New Mexico Conference

Pr. John Knutson, Northern Colorado Conference

CHECK FRAUD - PLEASE HELP

ENROLL IN RMS ACH DIRECT DEPOSIT!

As you may be aware, the Office of the Bishop has been the victim of mail fraud. In the last six months over $180,000 in checks have been stolen and many of these checks have been fraudulently deposited. As soon as this crime was discovered, Office of Bishop Staff filed a report with the United States Post Office which lead to an open investigation with the Postal Services Division of the FBI. This week we learned from the FBI investigator assigned to our case that we are one of many non-profits in multiple states that are victims of this mail fraud ring. Due to the scope and magnitude of this case, resolution will take months and possibly years.

In response to this serious situation, the synod has launched an ACH Direct Deposit system. Modeled after the process by which money is transferred to Portico, Clergy Financial, and ELCA Churchwide, congregations may enroll in our ACH Direct Deposit system. Once banking information is received and verified, the congregation will be set-up in our bank's secure ACH system and can start initiating electronic payments. 

Mission Support Remittance forms will be received via email. You will receive a Mission Support Remittance template to be completed according to your billing timeline in order to make a monthly mission support payment. Each congregation will continue to receive monthly contribution statements by email to verify that the correct funds have been withdrawn and distributed as instructed. It is extremely important to reconcile your monthly contribution statement with your bank account to ensure that all transactions are recorded correctly. Any questions or discrepancies should be reported immediately.

ENROLL in the ACH Direct Deposit system by clicking the link below. To report missing contributions or if you have any questions, please contact Jon Johnson, Finance Director at finance@rmselca.org or Yvonne Wilken, Administrator at office@rmselca.org.

It is our hope that this system will provide a secure and efficient process for congregations to remit mission support payments. These contributions are vital to the ministry and work of the Rocky Mountain Synod as well as our many partners and programs. We are so very grateful for you, our partners in ministry, as we endeavor in this work that God has called us all to do.

Click here to download more information and instructions.

Theological Conference 2023 will be held Monday, September 18 beginning at 4:00pm through Thursday, September 21 finishing by noon

Held in four locations participants are invited to attend a location of choice:

Ascension L.C. - Cheyenne, WY

Zion L.C. - Salt Lake City, UT

First L.C. - Colorado Springs, CO

St. Paul L.C. - Albuquerque, NM

Programming will include boundary training, bishop election preparations, inspiring Bible study, and focused time together. Registration and more information coming soon! Mark your calendars - spread the word!

Questions? contact Deacon Sarah Bjornebo HERE



Bishop Gonia's call to action!

from Bishop Jim Gonia --

"Our Synod Assembly in El Paso – Cruzando Fronteras, Crossing Borders – was an embodied reminder of the critical need for new ways of thinking and acting in our country with respect to immigration. Those of us who participated in the Assembly immersion experiences heard firsthand the depth of human suffering as well as the resiliency of the human spirit that accompanies those who leave their homeland due to fear, violence and persecution, in hopes of finding peace and a new life. 

As a church called to public witness for the sake of the neighbor, we respond to Christ’s call to serve and to seek justice when we engage our elected legislators on matters of the common good. We advocate for the building of not walls but a fair and humane immigration system. My stated commitment in El Paso was to invite you to join me in reaching out to our elected officials for that precise purpose. In the material below, you will find specific information and an invitation to engage in this advocacy effort as Church, Better Together. Thank you in advance for your commitment to caring for God’s beloved people as we live out our baptismal promises."

Follow this link and learn how to contact your U.S. Senators and Representative by July 15. Follow the easy steps to share your story and ask your congregation members to join you in committing to bipartisan reform!

Telling the stories of the Rocky Mountain Synod

Bishop and Vice President’s Presentation

"Every time we cross a border, we take a risk, leaving behind that which is familiar, stepping into a new landscape where we don't yet know the ways, where we don't yet know how to :ind our way.

Crossing a border is an exercise in vulnerability, an exercise in letting go of assumptions and control, an opportunity to learn and grow, an opportunity to gain new perspective and understanding. For people of faith, crossing borders is an opportunity to trust the God who goes before us, behind us, and by our side every step of the way."

Telling the stories of

Cruzando Fronteras

Pastor Nate Preisinger interviews voting member Matthew Kirsten-Grey regarding his excitement and reflections as part of the Bethany "Together 4Good" podcast

Listen to the podcast HERE



Don't forget the merch!

Cruzando Fronteras t-shirts are an excellent conversation starters.

Order Assembly t-shirts HERE

Assembly Lost & Found

A yellow jump-drive labeled "ELCA Hunger" was found while unpacking from El Paso

Please contact Deacon Sarah Bjornebo HERE

Join Excellence in Leadership!

Registration is now open for 18-month cohorts beginning in September 2023 and a 13-month cohort beginning January 2024!

Excellence in Leadership is an experiential journey for any who wish to become more resilient, healthy, and creative in their lives and in their leadership. It is meant for people of all ages and in all stages of life: lay or rostered, council member or back pew sitter. As we navigate what the future may hold as people of faith, Excellence in Leadership provides opportunities and community to think adaptively and meet that future boldly.

Become the more resilient, courageous, and faithful leader God has made you to be!

Need a GWOH Project?

Growing Home, a Denver Metro Area nonprofit, has a long history with the Rocky Mountain Synod. These projects are intended to meet the basic needs of people anywhere. They start at ~$40 and scale upward. They are designed to work with the Growing Home food pantry which serves individuals and families throughout the Denver Metro Area. Providing food basics is healthy and economical and enables people to cook their own cultural dishes. And these projects can easily be adapted by non-Denver Metro locations. 

Contact Joy Concepcion (joy@growinghome.org) or Lynn Smith (lrsmith9646@gmail.com) for more information and detailed instructions.

VETERANS SERVANT CORPS PROJECT

Build Day - with Daniel Kuhlman & Friends

Longmont, CO - Saturday, August 5

NO skills necessary. But, some skills are helpful. Details are on the sign up page below. You might be asked to frame, put on sheathing insulation and siding, put on roof decking and roof material, or work on the interior. But, if the weather is nice be prepared to paint. At the end of the day, you'll have helped build a home for someone's future. Please JOIN ME from 8-3. Chick-fil-A has graciously donated lunch.

- Daniel Kuhlman

Prior construction experience is NOT necessary. Bringing your own tool belt or tools is optional (VCP will have tools on-site and cannot reimburse you for damaged or broken tools you bring to the site.) Construction tasks will vary each day.

More info and sign up here>

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT -

First Meeting of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church

The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) met for the first time July 13-15, 2023, and opened with worship, Holy Communion, and a blessing of the commission’s work.

To learn more about the CRLC members, click here.

What can Faith Communities Do to Welcome Asylum Seekers?

Many faith organizations are celebrating the lifting of Title 42 after years of it being misused to rapidly expel asylum seekers at the southern border. However, there are grave concerns that the policies being implementing in its place will have severe, life-threatening consequences for asylum seekers and migrants.

Continued advocacy from people of faith is needed to restore protections for all people seeking safety. We are sharing one possible action a week for the next several weeks. Here is a third action you and your faith community can take today:

Tell Congress and President Biden to Welcome Asylum Seekers

• Church World Service Action Alert
• American Friends Service Committee's Petition to President Biden

Information provided by: Interfaith Immigration Coalition - @interfaithimm • Facebook • interfaithimmigration.org

Emma Alpern to serve as Young Adult in Global Mission (YAGM) in the United Kingdom

Greetings from Centennial, CO! My name is Emma Alpern, and in just a few short weeks, I will board a plane to London to start my year as part of the Young Adults in Global Mission program. I am thrilled to be placed in the United Kingdom for a year of service, learning, and growth.

I recently graduated from Wartburg College with degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology. After my YAGM year, I hope to earn my Ph.D. in clinical psychology and work with children and adolescents in a medical setting. The ELCA has played a central role in my faith journey. From my home congregation to Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, the ELCA youth gathering to Wartburg College, I am excited to continue on my journey with the ELCA through my YAGM year.

During my year in London, I will work with St. Augustine’s Church in the Highbury neighborhood and be in accompaniment with the diverse community. I look forward to being involved in their youth and family ministries and organizing young adult ministries. I am very excited to live with a host family for the year and be immersed in the North London culture.

This summer has been filled with preparations! I am busy getting logistics together, and eventually packing for the year. My heart and mind are also hard at work preparing me for a whole year in a new place, with an ocean between me and my family and friends. There are many emotions to process, but the support of my loved ones makes all the difference.

If you feel called to support me too, through prayers or financial gifts, it would be much appreciated. Donations can be made by following this link, support.elca.org/goto/Emma-Alpern, or by sending a check to the ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009 or through the Rocky Mountain Synod office. To ensure that your gift is attributed to my fundraising page, please include this personal giving code GCS2124. You can make your check payable to “ELCA Global Mission” with “YAGM GCS2124” in the memo line.

I am excited to continue to share my experience in London, and to accompany my new church family while being God’s hands, feet, and heart in the world!

Jazz Vespers - CANCELLED!

Saturday, August 12, 6:00pm

JAZZ VESPERS AT 6 P.M. on Saturday, August 12, has been cancelled because Pastor Barbara will be out of town for some well deserved and much needed vacation time.

Please plan to join us again on Saturday, September 9th at 6:00pm for this wonderful worship experience through a different idiom.

Help us connect students to the Bread+Belonging Campus Ministry. Whether your student is graduating, a graduate student, or just starting, we want to be in touch with them. Please use this form at tinyurl.com/BuffBNB to help us get in touch with those you know on campus. Bread+Belonging is a free, weekly Tuesday night meal for students from 6pm to 7:30pm at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church (across from the Engineering Center). Always a veggie option. LGBTQ+ affirming. No religious demands. Just food and people.

Bread+Belonging is a partnership of St. Aidan's Episcopal Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry (ELCA)

Faith-based Suicide Prevention Upcoming Trainings

It’s estimated that in a congregation of 200 adults that 12 of them are likely to be considering suicide on any given Sunday. In a youth group of 20 high school students, 3 of them are likely to be thinking about suicide…this is perspective changing information. Who are they?

Faith communities are critical sources of support during difficult times. That being said, faith communities are truly a natural setting for suicide prevention and have an important role to play. They can play an important role in identifying individuals in distress and helping them seek help.

As a leader & member of the faith community, you can play an active role in suicide prevention. By doing this, you create a sense of connection among individuals and a feeling of belonging. In addition, you and your communities can also support members who have lost a loved ones to suicide.

Documentation and Legal Aspects of Faith Community Nurse Practice

presented by Denise Viker, RN BSN

Thursday, August 17, 5:00-7:00pm MT

This workshop will provide information on documentation for Faith Community Nursing and Health Leaders. Denise will present information regarding Legal Aspects of Practice for Health and Wellness programs. Key points include:

• How documentation follows legal guidelines and standards
• Importance of record keeping and data collection for programs
• Advantages and disadvantages of a documentation options
• Establishing and maintaining professional boundaries
• Limiting liability for faith community nurses and congregations

Interim Ministry Training Using a Group Coaching Model

First and Third Fridays of the Month beginning August 18, 9:00-10:00am

The Interim Ministry Training is based in the real-time real life work of an Intentional Interim Pastor, and will focus on interpersonal conversations, conducted online, as well as digital and print media. It will use a “coach-approach,” which believes that the participants are “creative, resourceful, and whole,” and is directed by a trained coach. Three-quarters of participants’ time together will center around the process and issues facing the participants, with the remainder assigned to the mastery of knowledge essential to providing successful interim pastoral leadership. Participants will meet for one hour twice monthly over six months.

This training was initially designed by Fresh Thinking Coaching and Consulting and has been developed in cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Synod Office of the Bishop.

Cost is $585. Visit purposefulpastor.com/interim-ministry for more information.

ZOOM EVENT

The Great Displacement Book Discussion

Saturday, August 12, 10:00am

The Great Displacement, by Jake Bittle, 2023

Climate change is reshaping the U.S. in another way, "Each passing year brings disasters that disfigure new parts of the United States, and these disasters alter the course of human lives, pushing people from one place to another, destroying old communities and forcing new ones to emerge." His book takes a look at several communities that have been affected by climate change, and how the lives of their residents — the ones who have survived — have been altered by extreme weather. Twenty million Americans have been displaced by extreme events, to date. The Great Displacement is a fascinating look at how America has changed, and will continue to change, as climate change wreaks havoc on the nation and the people who live there.

For information: rmscreationcareteam@gmail.com

Try a Zero Waste Potluck in August!

Holy Cross Lutheran in Wheat Ridge, CO, hosted a Zero Waste Sunday morning. There were no bulletins printed for worship and following the service the Environmental Stewardship Team hosted zero waste potluck. What is a zero-waste potluck? Well, in this case it meant that everyone brought what they needed in order to partake of the tasty, potluck dishes everyone brought so that there was zero waste. Participants brought a dish to share that was cold or at room temperature. They brought their own plates and utensils. The stove was not turned on nor the microwave not used. No paper napkins, plates, or cups. No dishes or silverware from the church kitchen. No trash, so no trash cans. The coffee and lemonade were provided. Participants brought drinking cups, plates, bowls, silverware, cloth napkins, and some a kitchen towel to wipe the table and wrap up the dirty dishes. Everything was taken home and used again.

The creation care team encourages you to always carry a reusable water bottle with you. Try reducing your trash to one bag a week. Keeping materials out of landfills is one critical way to battle climate change. True zero waste encompasses a whole different approach that requires massive change. It focuses on restructuring production and distribution systems to reduce waste. Just think - RE-USE! It's a start.

Visit the Creation Care Team on Facebook!

"The West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod includes the congregations located in all West Virginia except for Bluefield, and Maryland (Westernport and Sharpsburg, and Garrett County except for Granstville), and Virginia (Gore).

The Rt. Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel, S.T.M. serves as Bishop of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod. He was elected 6 June 2015 by the Synod Assembly and assumed office on 1 September 2015 as the third bishop of the WV-WMD Synod."

Visit wv-wmd.org and on Facebook.

Click here to view a Bishops and Synods map of our 65 ELCA synods and 9 regions.