E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | April 25, 2023 | |
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Nominations, Memorials & Resolutions
Deadline to Submit is Monday, May 1
Nominations
At the 2023 Synod Assembly in Orlando (June 8-10), voting members will elect a bishop. Voting members will also elect people to serve on the Synod Council and the Consultation Committee. Additional information will be provided by the Synod Council relating to the election of the bishop as we move closer to the period leading up to the assembly.
Nominations for bishop are not accepted in advance of the assembly. During the first plenary meeting of the assembly, ecclesiastical ballots for the election of a bishop are cast by each assembly voting member present. These nominations are tallied to create the second ballot.
We strongly encourage nominations for Council and committee positions to be submitted prior to the Synod Assembly so they may be included in the Nomination Packet for Voting Members. This will also facilitate a smoother and more efficient voting process for the open positions.
Click here to view a list of open positions and descriptions. Deadline for nominations is May 1, 2023. You can complete the nominations form here.
Memorials & Resolutions
From the ELCA.org website: “Memorials and resolutions enable this church to address broad policy issues or issues important to God’s mission in the world. Memorials address broad policy issues; resolutions have a narrower focus, requesting consideration or action by individual offices or units, or the Church Council. (A resolution can be the preferred method when an issue requires a timely response.)
The churchwide organization and synods of the ELCA use a process to bring forth memorials and resolutions. Memorials and resolutions are one way this church addresses broad policy issues or important issues for God’s mission in the world.”
All Memorials and Resolutions must be summited by May 1, 2023 in order to be reviewed and prepared to be brought the assembly floor.
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Save the Date: Transition Training
Are you a First Call Pastor, interested in Interim Ministry, or are serving a congregation that is in transition of some sort? If so, you might want to make note of the following:
Transition/Interim Ministry Training
Online, 9 a.m. to noon, July 24-28, 2023
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Boundaries Workshop - May 11
Are you due for your triennial Boundaries workshop required for all rostered ministers? Join Rev. Ken Blythe and Rev. Kari Niedermaier for a fun day exploring the gift of boundaries, a gift that offers blessings to rostered ministers, their families, their congregations and the church. Substantial time will be given for group discussion, and open and honest conversation. The registration fee covers lunch, and all the resources that will be shared with participants. Click here for details and registration.
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Weekly Prayer
Almighty God, you have enriched your church with Mark's proclamation of the gospel. Give us grace to believe firmly in the good news of salvation and to walk daily in accord with it, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Just Love Ambassador Training
The Just Love team is passionate about building lay and rostered leaders who practice love publicly that creates justice for all. If you are interested in learning how to grow Just Love in your congregation, conference or community, please join us for two upcoming Just Love Ambassador Trainings.
“Embracing God’s Call for Justice”
Saturday, May 20th, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Zoom
Practices include exploring the justice lens of scriptures and understanding the power of testimony.
“Justice & Power”
Wednesday, May 31st, 6-8 p.m. on Zoom
Practices include exploring tension and comfort from a biblical lens, understanding people power, and heart listening at the margins.
Zoom details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82755033514?pwd=UHZpcDNxTW13OFV3bVU3RTRpSFQ2dz09
Meeting ID: 827 5503 3514
Passcode: 643842
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2023 Rostered Leaders Retreat
We have a gift for you! Through a generous grant from Lutheran Disaster Relief-US, the Florida-Bahamas Synod is offering a free healing and renewal retreat for rostered leaders. We recognize how difficult it has been these past two years to lead a congregation through the pandemic and hurricanes while trying to care for our own wellbeing. Many of us are tired and hurting.
We are offering our second retreat on Monday, June 26 - Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The cost of all activities, meals, and housing (single room) and optional healing modalities are covered. The only thing you need to cover is your transportation to the event.
We will be housed at Sheraton Sand Key Resort. Events and sessions will take place at the hotel and surrounding areas.
Our goal is to provide a safe and healing space for you to learn and experience spiritual practices and receive emotional and spiritual support both in individual and small group settings. All of this will be framed by the beauty of water, sun, and sand.
There are different activities will be throughout the event such as dolphin tour and much more.
"Come to the Well” with an open heart, ready to receive the grace of God’s healing and unconditional love.
Spouses are welcome and the cost is $200 to cover meals and activities for the three days.
Please note that even though the event is free, a cancelation fee of $428.00 will be required if canceled after May 26, 2023 to cover the hotel room fee. Registration closes Thursday, May 25, 2023. Click here to register.
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Kaylee Vance Awarded ELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarship | |
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The Candidacy Committee of the Florida-Bahamas Synod is pleased to announce that Kaylee Vance, first year student at Luther Seminary has been awarded a full tuition scholarship from the ELCA Fund for Leaders. The ELCA Fund for Leaders scholarship program supports students attending ELCA seminaries. By making seminary more affordable, the ELCA Fund for Leaders enables more future ministers to go to seminary and helps them graduate with less debt, empowering those whom God calls into ministry to go and serve as the church needs and the Holy Spirit leads.
To be eligible for this scholarship applicants must be planning to enroll at an ELCA seminary as first-year students (juniors) with no more than one semester’s worth of coursework already completed. Applicants must also have begun the ELCA candidacy process with the intent of becoming a rostered minister of either word and sacrament or word and service.
Kaylee lives in Orlando and is currently serving as Lay Leader at Hearth Church (formerly Castle Church). Kaylee is a University of Florida and University of Central Florida graduate and works as a Mental Health and Marriage and Family Therapist in Orlando.
Congratulations Kaylee!
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What Is God Calling You To Do Now and Next? Which Way to Go?
Maybe it’s not clear to you. Maybe it is clear and something is blocking you or you can’t seem to be able to make things happen. Engaging a trained ELCA Coach would mean you find a partner who is totally dedicated to helping you and walking alongside you so that you get traction to be and do your calling!
Coaching doesn’t focus on what’s wrong...it focuses on what’s next. Go to fbsynod.com/coaching and elcacoaching.org, or contact our Synod Coaching Coordinator Dr. Johan Bergh at johan@beinganddoingmatters.com for more information.
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Mission Partners 100 Spring Appeal: Messiah Lutheran, Panama City
From Pastor Nicole Martin:
In 2018, Messiah Lutheran stepped relevantly into a more perfect story. A Perfect Storm. You might call it Michael, Hurricane Michael, but we call it Hope. It is hard to imagine a perfect storm as a period of transition, but it is our truth, and we have learned to embrace who we are because of it.
Our playground, as necessary evangelism tool, was damaged by Michael. Therefore, an important part of our congregation’s infrastructure of hospitality to young people and families was wounded. We are hoping that, with your help, the MP100 Grant can help us heal it, not just to replace what was there, but to make what seems to be “just a playground” become an even more significant space for community hospitality and spiritual renewal. What do we envision? “Play and Pray Adventures.” Click here to read more.
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ZOOM for Rostered Ministers, "How to Work with Sex Offenders in Your Congregation"
Barbara Keller is leading a one hour Zoom seminar on “How to Work with Sex Offenders in Your Congregation” for rostered ministers Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 11 a.m. CST/12 noon EST. Participants who have additional questions can remain on Zoom to ask questions. Register by emailing kate.schnaath@elca.org. Participants will receive handouts and Zoom information and the call will be recorded for future use.
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Photo of the Week: Broward Bahamas Conference | |
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On Saturday, April 8, the Broward Bahamas Conference held a joint Easter vigil service at St. Stephen, Pompano Beach. The ceremony included the lighting of the Paschal Candle, beautiful music, Bible readings, and the celebration of the Eucharist. The celebration was a time of great joy, hope, and communion with God and each other. Watch a short video recap here. (Photo courtesy of Rev. Keith Spencer).
To feature your church in E-Spirit, email a photo and caption to comms@fbsynod.org.
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Open Position: Holy Cross in Spring Hill Seeks Ministry Administrative Manager
The mission of Holy Cross Lutheran Church is to know, live, and share the love of Christ. After prayerful discernment, we are seeking a Ministry Administrative Manager (MAM) to assist us in our mission.
The MAM is called to support the mission of Holy Cross through efficient and effective management of the administrative tasks of the church. This position serves the church ministries and provides direct support to the Pastor. The MAM shall be creative, self-motivated, and passionate about ministry. A genuine love for the Lord and people is an expected intrinsic quality of all candidates. View the job description here.
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September 23: - diakonia graduation/retreat and conversation with the Bishop, St. Armands Key Lutheran Church - Retreat 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Graduation & Worship 5 p.m.
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October 16-18: Conference on Ministry featuring keynote speaker Tod Bolsinger. Location TBD.
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November 10-12: Save the date! Florida-Bahamas Women of the ELCA Fall Gathering
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