Synod News - February 29, 2024 | |
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“One body in Christ”
Welcome to the 2024 Synod Assembly! I know – we’re not there yet! But I’m looking forward to introducing the focus for the assembly over the next 6 weeks.
When the Assembly Planning Team started thinking and dreaming and praying about the next Assembly, we recognized how much the past few years have taken a toll on relationships everywhere:
- physical distancing during the pandemic,
- the loss of those we love and never got the chance to say good-bye to,
- conflicts over pandemic practices,
- families divided over COVID or politics or you name it,
- divisiveness fomented by social media, and
- now-ramping-up political campaigns.
Some have said we’ve forgotten how to talk with each other. Many of us miss being with people we used to be connected to. All of us note how in some way, relationships are just hard these days. And this is no less a reality in the church.
Of course, we’re not the first Jesus followers to experience disconnect, debate, or division. Relationships were a challenge for the earliest followers, too. St. Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that God’s very self was given for them in a way they would never expect: in the death of the crucified Christ upon a cross. He wrote, “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4).
Those who are baptized into Christ are ushered into new life in community. And when we gather at the Holy Meal, Jesus gathers us together with all the other precious children of God.
“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
– Romans 12:5.
This means that followers of Jesus, and participants in our own faith communities, are freed from those expressions of being bound in our sin - holding grudges, speaking ill of another, judging others, ignoring our neighbors, hoarding salvation as my personal possession. We have been made members of one body. There is a unity amid our diversity, and that unity is forever and only in Christ.
Thought questions:
- How does living out our baptism as disciples of Jesus Christ free us from divisiveness in our communities of faith?
- How does unity amid our diversity move us to care for our neighbors?
+ grace and peace,
Bishop Dee Pederson
2024 Synod Assembly Theme Series - Reflection #1
Please feel free to share, print and use Bishop Dee’s reflections however it fits best in your congregation’s communications. Congregations can also use this for a devotion for any group, committee or council gathering. Her next reflection will be posted March 14th.
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Synod Staff: Who to Contact
Each synod staff person has specific areas of responsibility and knowledge. This list will help you to identify who can best assist you with your needs or questions. We are here for you.
Open position: Synod Minister for Equipping Congregation Leaders, Rostered Ministers, Youth, and Families description can be found by clicking here. Thank you for your prayers as we work to fill this position.
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Bishop Dee Pederson
Pastoral care of pastors and congregations, synod governance and policy, misconduct, concluding congregational ministry, preaching, congregational partnership work, synod financial matters, complex call process, conflict management
dee.pederson@swmnelca.org
507-627-9048
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Tammy Schacher
Roster related questions and changes, change of contact information, Synod Assembly, conference and synod nominations work, Synod Council and other committee support, Call Process Administration, human resources related matters, Executive Assistant to the Bishop
tammy.schacher@swmnelca.org
507-627-9041
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Pr. Heather Culuris
Synod Minister, Candidacy, Call Process, First Call Theological Education, Synod WELCA liaison, Interim Collaborative, congregational and pastoral care, planning and coordination of educational events, compensation guidelines and scholarship committees, worship and preaching in congregations
heather.culuris@swmnelca.org 507-627-9047
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Pr. Troy Pflibsen
Director for Evangelical Mission, generosity/stewardship, congregational partnerships, visioning and long-range planning, Anti-Racism team, Hunger team, Faithful Innovation, Creation Care, Mission Development/New starts, Words Words Words (reading groups), Lutheran Advocacy Minnesota
troy.pflibsen@swmnelca.org
507-627-9045
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Maggie Berggren
Congregational giving and financial matters, Congregational Report support, constitutions, Gifts of Grace administrative support, Companion Synod questions, general questions
maggie.berggren@
swmnelca.org
507-627-9040
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Kristin Bakeberg
Communications, e-news and website, events and registration, support to Candidacy, administrative support
kristin.bakeberg@
swmnelca.org
507-627-9043
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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.
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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
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In addition to sharing this survey with your congregation please save the date – April 9th for Zoom Gatherings (2pm and 7pm).
The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church invites the SW MN Synod to a one hour listening session. Leaders from the commission will offer a short presentation on the Commission's charge and current work followed by a period of question and answer and then open listening. Personal information and identifying details will be redacted, but specific suggestions of how the structure and governance of the ELCA in its three expressions can be more helpful and efficient are greatly welcome!
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ELCA Congregation Report / Form A Deadline - March 1st
Each year, every congregation and synod-authorized worshiping community (SAWC) is asked to provide information about its people, finances, and resources through the Annual Congregation Report (Form A). This provides the churchwide organization and synods with a picture of the congregations and worshiping communities that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This summary report also provides the congregation with important information about its ministries and programs and perspectives in planning for the future.
Please ensure that this form is given to the people in your congregation who, together, will provide the information needed to complete the report. This likely will include a pastor, administrative person, treasurer, or president. The report can also be used as a helpful conversation / planning resource for a Church Council.
The data from the Annual Congregation Report is shared on your congregation’s full trend report on the ELCA’s website. (To view a congregation’s trend report on the ELCA website, click Find a Congregation and type in the zip code, click on the congregation’s name.)
To fill out these forms you must have your congregation ID number and password. Your congregation should have received a packet in the mail mid-January 2024 from churchwide that includes the password. Passwords change from year to year.
Congregations can file electronically by clicking here.
Submission deadline: March 1st
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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.
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Important Synod Assembly Dates:
- Registration is Open
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Early rate closes: April 5
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Resolution deadline: April 10
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Report deadline: April 15
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Compensation Guidelines Zoom Hearing: May 13 at 7pm
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Budget Zoom Hearing: May 20 at 7pm
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Orientation Zoom Hearing: May 21 at 7pm
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Registration closes: May 23
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Display deadline: May 23 or when full
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Upcoming Synod Events:
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
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