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E-Spirit Weekly Newsletter | January 20, 2026

Rostered Ministers Annual Reports to the Bishop

Rostered ministers should download the report which corresponds to their roster status and save it to their computer. Upon completion, save, and then attach it to an email to yulietg@fbsynod.org. Download the report here.

2025 Annual Congregation Report

In mid-January, congregations and worshiping communities will receive a letter from Secretary Mills containing information on how to access the online filing system. Find details on annual congregation reports here.

You can download the 2025 Congregational Annual Report Cover here.

Mission Support Covenants 2026

Covenants may be filed after the annual congregation meeting, or by January 31, 2026.
You may file your covenant online here, or by returning the PDF via U.S. mail. Please prayerfully consider an increase in your mission support to grow the work that we do together as synod and churchwide expressions.

Synod Events: Save the Dates

Synod Assembly: June 4-6, 2026 | Embassy Suites, Kissimmee
Conference on Ministry: October 5-7, 2026 | Mission Resort & Club, Howey-In-The-Hills

Vision to Action: Equipping Congregations to Launch Dinner Church

Last week launched a series of virtual training sessions for the 10 congregations awarded Vision to Action Dinner Church grants this year. Dinner Church is a rapidly growing expression of evangelism, centered around shared meals, fellowship and discipleship. Read more here .

Dinner Church is one of the pre-packaged grants offered through the Vision to Action program. Congregational leaders are being equipped to launch dinner churches in their communities by the leading experts from Fresh Expressions. Last year, two congregations in our Synod successfully launched dinner churches. This new cohort of congregations are building their teams and making plans to launch their expressions of dinner church. Stay tuned!

Synod Seeks Admin Assistant for Transition & Candidacy

The Florida-Bahamas Synod is seeking a full-time Administrative Assistant for Candidacy & Transition to support the Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy & Transition. This role anchors the synod’s call and candidacy processes across 164 congregations in Florida and the Bahamas. The position coordinates pastoral and rostered leader transitions, maintains synod and ELCA records, supports committee convening, and assists with synod-wide events. The work carries direct impact on how leaders are called, formed, and supported in ministry across a large and diverse territory.

Strong candidates show attention to detail, clear communication, and steady follow-through. The role requires a minimum of an associates degree, plus three years of administrative experience, proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and database systems, and the ability to manage multiple processes with accuracy. The synod seeks someone who values service excellence, collaboration, and respectful communication. This position works on-site in Tampa, reports to the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, and supports leadership work that shapes the future of the church. Interested candidates should send their resumes to ileanas@fbsynod.org.

DOWNLOAD JOB DESCRIPTION

Upcoming Installations

Sunday, January 25, 3:00 PM: Installation of Rev. Caroline Harthun-Wooldridge at Living Faith in Port St. Lucie, 12777 SW Tradition Parkway. Bishop Suarez and Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena, General Presbyter and Stated Clerk at the Presbytery of Tropical Florida, presiding.
Sunday, February 8, 2:00 PM: Installation of Kjell Bakken as Pastor of Salem in Orlando; Bishop Suarez presiding.
Sunday, February 15, 4:00 PM: Installation of Rev. Tony Setley as Pastor of Holy Trinity in Fort Walton Beach; Bishop Suarez presiding.
Saturday, February 21, 4:00 PM: Installation of Rev. Daniel Weichart as Associate Pastor of Emmanuel in Venice; Bishop Suarez presiding.

Global Mission News: Jamaica

2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of our companion, the United Theological College of the West Indies, or UTCWI. The institution was formed in 1966 by a consortium of Protestant denominations. Its mission was, and continues to be, to provide contextually relevant theological education for ministry leaders serving in the Caribbean Basin.

The Diamond Jubilee Celebration kicked off with a worship service in the UTCWI chapel on January 19. Under the heading "Honouring the Legacy, Charting the Future," people gathered in-person and online to worship, pray, sing, and hear God's word. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Jennings, a UTCWI graduate, delivered a powerful message about "Changing Paradigms" as the school forges its future amid the many challenges facing theological institutions.

Several members of the Global Mission Team joined the service which was live streamed via YouTube. It is available here. Additional online events and learning opportunities will be announced shortly, and all are invited to attend. We pray all God's blessings upon UTCWI as it moves forward in ministry.

For more information about Global Mission, contact Rev. Katie Carroll, Global Mission Chair, at revkhc@gmail.com.

Just Love Black History Month Resource

If Not for Us: Black Contributions to the Body of Christ & the American Story

The Just Love 2026 Black History Month devotional and worship resource invites congregations to reflect on a powerful truth: we are one body, and every part matters. This year’s theme, If Not for Us, asks a holy question—how would our church, our faith, and our country be different without the faith, leadership, creativity, and witness of African Americans?

More than a remembrance of the past, this resource connects Black history to Christian discipleship today, lifting up a legacy of resilience, justice-seeking, and deep trust in God’s liberating love. Designed for worship, formation, and action, these materials encourage congregations to learn, pray, tell the truth, and renew their commitment to justice as a Gospel calling.

DOWNLOAD RESOURCES

New 2026 Portico Health ID Card

If you’ve got ELCA-Primary Health benefits, you should have received a new health ID card. This year’s card now includes a Group ID number for easier reference. Note: if you received two sets of cards in the mail, be sure to use the second set and destroy the first. Not sure which is which? Double check that the coverage level and deductible amounts match what you have elected. Questions? Quantum Health Care Coordinators are here to help: 877.851.5656, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Central) Monday through Friday. You can also download the Quantum Health mobile app to access and use your card digitally.

Youth musicians from across the country are headed to St. Olaf College this year for the 2026 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM). Students in grades 8-12 will be immersed in a supportive community that nurtures their musical growth, and invites them to share their musical gifts in performance and in worship. The Standard Enrollment deadline is March 1, and spots are filling fast. Do you know young musicians who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate, or remind them to submit a free application by March 1 at LSMacademy.org/apply.

Hymnathon 2026: Celebrating 20 Years of ELW

Saturday, January 31, 2026

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Largo

In honor of the twentieth anniversary of our worship book and hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Dr. Shawn Thomas will host a sing-through of one stanza of all 654 hymns in the book!

Come when you can, leave when you must! We will take a ten-minute break each hour, with thirty minute breaks for lunch and dinner (noon and 5 p.m.). Coffee, water, and cookies will be available to enjoy outside the church doors.

It is estimated to take approximately twelve hours. If we haven't made it through the hymnal by 8 p.m., the remaining hymns will be sung following the postlude on Sunday, Feb. 1 (beginning at approximately 12:15 p.m.). A freewill offering will be collected.

VIEW THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK

The national bishops of Lutheran churches in the United States, Canada and Denmark sent the Greenlandic people their full support in an unusually difficult situation.

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