Installation - At the Fall 2023 Synod Assembly at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, Ben Davidson was installed as the 2024 Moderator and Sharon Curry was installed as the 2024 Vice-Moderator of Synod of the Sun.

Synod of the Sun Newsletter

2024 November

The Assessment and Visioning Team in Mid-2023 met with almost all the Presbytery General Councils to evaluate how we are doing and hear concerns and needs that our Presbyteries have that the Synod could engage with. The following two items are the

• Synod Communications: Clear weakness on synod wide communications. Recommendation to have the next synod leader maintain active communication channels, including regular communications to share about synod activities, networks, committees, and priorities.
• Training, mentoring, supporting of Commissioned Pastors & Ministers of the Word and Sacraments.

What are identified strengths and assets of the Synod of the Sun?

• Recognize the strength and embrace of Synod Partnership for Disaster Response (SPDR). This has become quickly became a core element of the Synod.
• Synod resources Presbyteries and their leaders - versus the Synod reaching into congregations. 
• Synod needs to be able to scale its resources to what each presbytery needs. Smaller presbyteries may need more assistance, resources, training.

As the Search Team discerns who God is calling to lead the Synod for the next years, what goals will the Synod develop to achieve these aspirations and make a path forward?

It has been a joy leading and working with you through this phase of the liminal season we are in.

Taking the Steps Forward,

Steve Shive, Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk

by Kathy Lee-Cornell, Director

Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery

Do you have a gratitude practice? Many years ago, one of my Sunday School teachers taught me about gratitude journaling. I’ve never managed to keep a daily journal, but these days I like to keep running lists on the notes app on my phone, including a list of things for which I am grateful. 

I read an article about researchers who wanted to study the effects of gratitude writing on people who were at a low point in their mental and emotional wellbeing. The research results “suggests that gratitude writing can be beneficial not just for healthy, well-adjusted individuals, but also for those who struggle with mental health concerns. In fact, it seems, practicing gratitude on top of receiving psychological counseling carries greater benefits than counseling alone, even when that gratitude practice is brief.” 

In the latest Synod of the Sun Sunspots episode, I got to speak with my colleague, Thomas Riggs, about the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery (and how hard it is to remember the acronym SPDR). We talked about resiliency and discussed how our congregations and individuals are struggling this side of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of the chaos going on in our world. I may have made up the word bonkery to describe our global crisis.

Living in Liminal Space: A Conversation Seeking Wisdom on the Way

On the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month at 10:00 am (CT) via Zoom

Thursday, November 9

The conversation will be with Fran Hilton Shelton, founder of Faith & Grief Ministries. The focus of the conversation will be "How is the Diminishing Impact of our Churches and the Death of many Churches Affecting our Presbyteries and Churches Emotionally and Spiritually?" CLICK HERE to visit Fran's website.

The Zoom link for each event can be found on the appropriate day on the Synod Calendar at: https://www.synodsun.org/calendar

Synod of the Sun seeks an Administrative Assistant to serve as a member of Synod staff and assist the Synod Leader/Stated Clerk, Director of Communications, and the Synod Committee Moderators in fulfilling the mission goals of the Synod of the Sun.

This virtual position provides efficient, accurate and effective administrative and financial duties using current and standard software and formats used by the Synod. 

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Interested parties should e-mail their cover letter and resume to Rev. Jeff Cranton, Personnel Committee Chairman, at [email protected].

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Documentation needs to be submitted by December 1, 2023.

Four New Opportunities in 2024 for Boundaries Training Offered by Synod of the Sun and Leaderwise

January 17-18, 2024

9:00am-Noon CT

May 7-8, 2024

1:00-4:00pm CT

August 27-28, 2024

9:00am-Noon CT

November 18-19, 2024

5:00pm-8:00pm

It’s our experience that pastors, church staff, and other leaders who transgress boundaries by-and-large are not predators. In fact, not even close. Most people in ministry who violate boundaries are individuals who know and follow the rules most of the time but whose judgment may be impaired due to an unusually stressful time in their lives.

With that in mind, Not-Your-Average Boundaries Training, offered by Synod of the Sun and Leaderwise, is tailored to focus on strategies to foster mental health, emotional resiliency, and well-being. While this training still covers the requirements—“Don’t sleep with a parishioner unless you’re married to them” and the like —the best prevention is to encourage clergy to take steps to manage their stress in order to maintain balance and perspective when temptation arises. The program teaches a 3-step strategy to help stop the participant in their tracks before they commit a boundary violation; and participants leave with their own personal prevention plan.

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This training is lively and interactive, full of reflection and conversation—and even laughter. Attendees have given us feedback that our boundaries training was a great experience, AND caused them to re-evaluate some of their own practices.

Participants MUST take part in ALL six hours of training in order to receive the certificate of completion.