Bishop Kevin Jones

January 19, 2023

News and Events

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church

Open Nomination: Jan. 9 – March 9, 2023

At the 2022 Churchwide Assembly, a resolution was passed calling for a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). This commission is tasked with reviewing the current governance and structure of the ELCA The Churchwide Council approved convening a 35-member Commission from across the ELCA.

The nomination process allows for each Synod Council or Executive Committee to nominate two (2) people from the Synod to be considered.

There will also be an open nomination form for anyone to apply to be part of the Commission. For each region, the Church Council will appoint two people from among the synod nominations and one person from the open nominations.

If you are interested in participating in the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church or would like to nominate someone from Northeastern Iowa (with their permission), please forward your name, a brief resume, and a short (one-paragraph) reason for wanting to serve on the CRLC to Alison Pettit at the Synod office no later than February 19, 2023.

The Executive Committee will review the nominations and either choose two people to nominate or in the case of a large number of applicants, hold a special meeting with the Synod Council to determine the nominees from NEIA.

Those not nominated by the Synod are welcome to apply for the at-large position in Region 5 here.

More Information:

ELCA opens nominations on commission that could change church’s governance

Information About Commitment and Expectations for Commission Members

Nomination / Application Form for the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church

Iowa Bishops Ride Against Hunger

RAGBRAI

July 22-29, 2023

We, the three ELCA bishops in Iowa, have decided to ride RAGBRAI, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, July 22-29, 2023. We have committed to riding in the 50th Annual RAGBRAI, riding 50+ miles together each day, celebrating and highlighting 50+ anti-hunger ministries in our three synods, and raising $50K plus for ELCA World Hunger. JOIN US!

We celebrate being Iowa ELCA Lutherans and desire to celebrate with teamwork and fellowship across our state. And if we are peddling, we decided to peddle for a cause, so join us in raising money to fight hunger here in Iowa and throughout the world.

The route announcement is on January 28. What does this have to do with you? Or even better, how can you join us?

Are you on the route? When the route is announced on January 28, if you are a RAGBRAI community this year, would you consider hosting our ELCA Bishops Against Hunger team on your church property or even hosting bishops and spouses in a host home or in your church building?

Sharing along the route Fill out this form, if you will be serving a meal, snacks, serve as water stop, pie, etc. We will promote this along the way and plan to show up and participate at your location.

Highlight a hunger ministry please share information about how your congregation is involved in anti-hunger ministries at this form. We hope to highlight these before the ride and along the way.

Training rides Consider joining us on some training rides this spring – to be announced at a later date.

Ride the route with us Consider joining us for the whole ride or just a day or two – register at https://ragbrai.com/ and join team “ELCA BISHOPS AGAINST HUNGER”.

Share with your congregation Make a plan now for how to share this information with your congregation to support our peddling by giving a gift to fight hunger in Iowa and throughout the world through ELCA World Hunger.

Pray for our shared ministry together as One Iowa – Three Synods.

Cheer Consider cheering us on along the way.

Abdelkader Student Prize

Essay Contest for High School Students across the United States

Students attending high schools in the United States are invited to expand their global perspectives and compete for scholarship awards by entering the Abdelkader Global Citizenship Prize Essay Contest.

Prizes: 1st Place $1,000; 2nd Place $750; 3rd Place $500, plus Honorable Mention prizes.

Why participate? Students will be challenged to expand their worldviews and engage critical thinking skills while researching vibrant, relevant history with lessons for today. Learn about Emir Abdelkader, a 19th-century humanitarian, whose heroic legacy provides an important model for understanding Islamic culture, interfaith relations, ethical leadership, and multiple world views. His powerful example of Islamic leadership challenges stereotypes and inspires cultural literacy, civility, and open-mindedness.

Students will sign-up now, then read, research, and write the essay and submit it before or on April 1, 2023.

More Information

ELCA NEWS

Interactive Global Mission Directory

Right now, thanks to your generosity, over 130 ELCA missionaries are at work in 45 countries. These missionaries are meeting the needs of their neighbors as teachers, healthcare workers, communicators, pastors, and more. Most importantly, they are forming the deep relationships that connect us as a global community of faith.

The new, interactive Global Mission Personnel directory gives you the opportunity to get to know these missionaries a little better. It also allows you to see some of the ways they walk alongside our companions around the world.

Talks at the Desk Trailer

Season 2 (2023)

Black History Month video series

African Descent Ministries of the ELCA celebrates Black History Month with “Talks at the Desk,” a four-part video series that will explore diverse expressions of the church. A new video will premiere each Wednesday in February at 7:30 pm Central time.

Watch them live on Facebook, stream them on YouTube or download them at https://ELCA.org/ADM

For more information: https://ELCA.org/TalksAtTheDesk

More News:

January 2023 Portico Synod Communicator Update

Utilize text support: It’s brave and smart to seek help if you’re living with stress, depression, anxiety, or mental health struggles – but accessing an in-person counselor isn’t always easy or even possible. That’s one reason the ELCA-Primary health plan EAP benefit has expanded to include Talkspace, digital confidential online counseling with licensed therapists via text, video, or audio. Read more on myPortico.

Retirement on the horizon? Increase your confidence and peace of mind by learning more about developing a withdrawal strategy, utilize Social Security, plan for health care costs, and more. Participate in live virtual workshops later in January, or watch the recordings whenever it works for you. Learn more, or sign up to participate, on myPortico.

Getting started on your taxes early? The Richard R. Hammar Clergy Tax Guide and the Federal Reporting Guide for Churches are both available on myPortico at no cost to you.

Develop a ‘I can do this’ mindset: Deep breaths, time with loved ones, a good night’s sleep … what are your best practices for keeping yourself centered and healthy? If you’re looking to expand your toolbox, and you have ELCA-Primary health benefits, check out Learn to Live’s new course focusing on building resilience. Take the initial assessment and then enroll in the self-guided program at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

COVID 19 Information

CDC GUIDELINES

Update from CDC

In the midst of the holiday season, U.S. COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have increased in recent weeks. More than 44% of U.S. counties are experiencing medium to high COVID-19 Community Levels.

At the same time, this cold and flu season has been a severe one. The trio of COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is continuing to stress the healthcare system, resulting in decreased hospital capacity and staffing shortages.

Vaccination remains the best way to stay protected against severe infection from COVID-19 and flu, protect loved ones, and keep our communities safe

Updated Boosters Are Recommended

CDC recommends one updated (bivalent) booster dose:

For everyone aged 5 years and older if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose.
For children aged 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna primary series and if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose.

More Information

"Science and religion come from the same source, and we believe that that source is God. If you have not yet gotten the vaccine, don't consider it a test of faith. Go, get vaccinated." -Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Regarding the Question of Vaccination and of Individual Religious Objections to Required Vaccination

What does the Lutheran tradition say about vaccines? This new resource applies ELCA teaching to questions about public health, vaccination and religious exemptions to vaccines.

Download here

Get free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests this winter

The Federal Government is offering more free COVID-19 tests this winter beginning December 15. Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests.

Hot Spots in Iowa

This map shows a rolling average of daily cases for the past week. This is the best sign of hot spots. Our experts monitor this 7-day average instead of new cases, especially since local health departments have shifted their focus to vaccine reporting and no longer report case counts every 24 hours.

Check your county transmission level here:

Level of Community Transmission by Counties

ELCA Worship Resources

Worship Resources

Prayers of Intercession

Time After the Epiphany Readings

Care-filled Worship and Sacramental Life in a Lingering Pandemic

Subscribe to ELCA Worship News

Around the Synod

From Presiding Bishop Eaton

Follow Bishop Eaton on Social Media

Twitter: @ELCABishopEaton

Facebook: ELCABishopEaton

Recent Statements from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

ELCA presiding bishop issues message on death of Pope Benedict XVI

We receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God by grace for Christ’s sake through faith. Thanks be to God!

January 6, 2023

The Blurring of Law and Gospel

Sometimes the world just seems so solid. Reality is uncompromising and immutable. Literally, what you see is what you get, and our sight, our perception, is limited. So we forge on with all the obligations of daily life—family and work and taxes and deadlines. Our scope of existence becomes closed in, and our world gets smaller. Can this really be all there is?