- Correction Date -

Room at the Table for Everyone Zoom Gathering is Thursday, March 14th.

Position Opening

Synod Minister for Equipping Congregation Leaders, Rostered Ministers, Youth, and Families

“And God’s gifts were given…. to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 2).

This has been a time of change in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod staff. Since the fall of 2023 we have grieved the passing of Synod Minister Pr. Naomi Mahler. Shortly after, Youth Ministry Coordinator Pr. Nikoli Falenschek moved to Iowa. We were blessed by their ministries. 

Recognizing the changes before us, a staffing model study team was formed to assess the current model and consider the shape of congregational needs in the future. The team included Roseann Nagel and Pr. Jon Dahl (Personnel Committee), Pr. Chris Richards (Synod Council), and Bp. Dee Pederson. The team met on Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Jan.4. They reviewed the position descriptions for the two open positions – Synod Minister for Engaging Congregation Leaders, and Youth Ministry Coordinator, discussed language changes for clarity, considered the synod’s financial ability to maintain positions, and how change could occur to better serve the present situation and synod needs. To meet those needs a new position has been created.

This position unites into one position many of the responsibilities of the Synod Minister and Synod Youth Ministry Coordinator and redistributes other duties. This reorganization ensures a focus on the synod connecting with congregations and leaders. It ensures that all congregations have support to work with youth and families. Current and anticipated congregational giving for Mission Support will not sustain staffing in the ways we were accustomed to pre-pandemic, and present needs have changed as well. But, there are new opportunities in this time when we read our current context authentically.

Development of the position:

1. There is an expressed need in congregations for greater support of youth & family ministries and the staff who lead them. The function of youth & family ministry needs to remain a high priority. This ministry is not done hands-on by a synod staff member; rather, the synod staff equips the people who do this ministry in the congregation.
2. Call process and relationships with 5 Conferences needs to be the responsibility of one pastoral Synod Minister. There are 10 Conferences; each Synod Minister will work with 5 Conferences.
3. The LYO Board continues to lift-up the need for greater time and resources given to youth & family ministry.
4. During the last 6 months, synod financial management responsibilities and related committee connections have shifted to the bishop and administrative staff, with excellent partnership with the Council Treasurer. This is an important shift that needed to take place.
5. Interim Minister support has shifted to Pr. Heather, who works with Equipping Leaders – a logical shift.
6. We can bring greater visibility to the importance of youth & family ministries in congregations through the presence of a Synod Minister who is preaching and present in congregations. By preaching and leading forums/discussions the Synod Minister will provide important support for the staff (paid & non-paid) who do the work of youth & family ministries in our churches.

Click here to reach the position description.

Rostered Ministers applying for this position must submit an updated RMP, cover letter, and resume to Tammy Schacher – tammy.schacher@swmnelca.org by February 29, 2024. Interviews with prospective candidates will take place during March, with the Synod Minister beginning to serve by mid-May.

Please prayerfully consider encouraging someone you know, or you yourself, to discern a match of gifts, strengths, passion, skills, faith, and call for this vital position. For questions or conversation, contact Bp. Dee Pederson, dee.pederson@swmnelca.org or Tammy Schacher, tammy.schacher@swmnelca.org.

Senior High Youth Gathering

March 8-9, 2024 at Best Western Convention Center in New Ulm, MN

Registration closes this Friday, Feb. 16th.

All 9th-12th students are invited to the Synod’s annual Senior High Youth Gathering!

This event is coordinated and planned by the SW MN Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO). The theme this year is “Forever Unbroken,” based on Romans 8:37-39.

Click here to visit the Sr. High Youth Gathering webpage for more information.

Previous Zoom Recordings

The past two months the synod has offered Zoom Gatherings for Rostered Ministers and Lay Leaders. Check out the links below if you missed either of these gatherings. Save the date for the next Zoom Gatherings – March 14th and April 9th.

• Safety and Security for Churches (Feb. Gathering) 
• Personnel Committees and Job Descriptions: Why? (Jan. Gathering)

Room at the Table for Everyone Zoom Gathering

Hospitality is part of our Christian call to discipleship. Come listen and consider what the Bible says about hospitality as well as how we live out Christian hospitality in the real-life situations we encounter in our congregations and personal lives.

Thursday, March 14th

• 2:00 p.m. – Session for Rostered Ministers
• 7:00 p.m. – Session for Lay Leaders

Please RSVP to receive the Zoom Link in your email. This Zoom Session will be recorded and shared for future use.

ELCA Foundation Partnership

+Rev. Keith Pearson, Regional Gift Planner Would an unexpected gift of $200,000 make an impact on your ministry? How about a gift of over $1 million? Would it help if you had an inexhaustible source of ministry funding that simply injected thousands or tens of thousands of dollars into your books every few months? If so, then you may want to learn more about endowments, legacy giving, and the ELCA Foundation.

Through a partnership with the Southwest Minnesota Synod, the ELCA Foundation is here for you. We provide expert services and resources to grow the funding that fuels your ministry through sources you may not have known existed. Click here to read Pr. Keith's full report to the assembly.

The Impact of Endowments in the SW MN Synod

Here are a few quick facts about endowments already at work around the Synod*:

• Number of existing endowments... 82
• Ministries with endowments... 46
• Collective value... $13,760,674
• Amount disbursed annually... $525,382
• Number of Synod endowments... 9
• Collective value (synod only)... $2,457,419
• Annual disbursements (synod only)... $93,824

Work accomplished in 2023 by ministries in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod with the help of the ELCA Foundation:

• Additions to existing endowments... $1,659,344
• Value of new endowments created... $542,300
• Accounts stewarded... 51
• New endowments created... 6
• Ministries contacted... 104
• Donors contacted... 93
• New planned gifts committed... $1,042,300

*Amounts as of 12-31-2024 – some figures estimated.

Pictured below: Endowment map of SWMN Synod. Each dot represents a separate endowment. The larger the spot, the larger the account value.

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church Survey 

The survey is designed to assist the work of the ELCA's Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. More information about the CRLC's work can be found here: www.elca.org/crlc.

Your participation in this survey is entirely voluntary. You are free to decline to participate or to discontinue your participation at any point without any adverse effects.

Your responses will be kept strictly confidential. Data collected through this survey will be stored securely and will only be accessed by the CRLC for analysis purposes.

This survey does not collect any personal identifying information, ensuring your anonymity. By proceeding with this survey, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this disclaimer and consent to participate under these conditions.

Questions can be directed to crlc@elca.org

Rostered Ministers’ Report to the Bishop

Rostered Ministers are asked to complete an annual ministry report to Bishop Dee Pederson. This report gives Bp. Dee a chance to better understand how you are doing in life and ministry, and also gives her glimpses into our synod’s life as a whole.

Online forms are open and available on the synod’s website. Click here to find the form that pertains to your ministry. 

Ethics and Boundaries for Ministers Training

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024 – 9:00am-3:00pm

In person at First Lutheran Church, 1114 Traverse Road, St. Peter, MN.

Presenter: Rev. Emily Carson

Registration Deadline: April 9th

Sexual misconduct by rostered and other religious leaders is one of the most serious challenges faced by the church today. Violation of the sacred trust between church members and their leaders brings deep pain to all who are affected: victims, offenders, family members, friends, and the congregation itself.

In response to this challenge, the Southwestern Minnesota Synod bylaws include the following provisions (S14.25.01. and S14.47.01.):

“Within twelve months of assuming office all rostered ministers of under call shall demonstrate completion of at least six contact hours of continuing education in the prevention of sexual boundary violations.”

A few years ago our synod council created a continuing resolution encouraging all of our rostered leaders to have continued work on appropriate boundaries of all kinds, but especially sexual boundaries, every three years.

Important Synod Assembly Dates:

• Registration is Open
• Early rate closes: April 5
• Resolution deadline: April 10
• Report deadline: April 15
• Compensation Guidelines Zoom Hearing: May 13 at 7pm
• Budget Zoom Hearing: May 20 at 7pm
• Orientation Zoom Hearing: May 21 at 7pm
• Registration closes: May 23
• Display deadline: May 23 or when full

Upcoming Synod Events:

• March 8-9, 2024 - Senior High Youth Gathering in New Ulm, MN
• March 14, 2024 - Synod Zoom Gathering - "Room at the Table for Everyone"
• April 9, 2024 - Zoom Gathering
• April 23, 2024 - Ethics and Boundaries for Ministers Training
• June 7-8, 2024 - Synod Assembly
• August 6-8, 2024 - Women in Ministry Gathering

2024 Conference Assembly Dates:

• Great River - Feb 4, 2:30pm, Zoom
• Lakeland - Feb 4, 4pm at Faith Lutheran, Spicer
• Minnesota Valley - Feb 4, 2pm at Peace Lutheran, Winthrop
• Prairie - Feb 18, 2pm at First Lutheran, Marshall
• Scenic Valley - Feb 18, 2pm, Gloria Dei Lutheran, Redwood Falls
• Shetek - Feb 18, 2pm at Christ Lutheran, Slayton  
• Lac Qui Parle - Feb 18, 2pm, Our Savior’s Lutheran, Montevideo
• Watonwan River - Feb 25, 2 pm at Trinity, Madelia
• Crow River - Feb 25, 2pm at Zion, Litchfield
• Glacial Ridge - March 10, 3pm at Trinity, Alberta