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Southeastern Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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E-News Weekly

Issue: #307

February 15, 2012

In This Issue
Ten Impressions
Bio Forms Due
2% Discount
E-News News
Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church
Create in Me
Around the Synod
Quick Links

Synod Blog 

Synod Website 

Synod Staff 

ELCA News Service 

ELCA Website

Ten Impressions of the Holyland

by the Rev. Darrel Peterson

Assistant to the Bishop 

 

In January I was privileged to accompany Dr. Monte Luker of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and 27 others on a study trip to Israel and Palestine. Over the years I have heard others say that visiting the Biblical sites was life-changing. I do know that when I read and hear the Biblical stories from now on, I will experience a new "high definition" of geographical awareness. Here are ten quick impressions.

  1. Seeing Biblical history involves a lot of walking, descending and climbing, even some wading in water. One woman described it as "Today we ran where Jesus walked."  I'm glad I had my good hiking shoes... 

Read the rest on the synod blog.

Bio Forms Due March 15 for Assembly Elections

 

Nominations are currently being accepted for several positions to be elected at the 2012 Synod Assembly. Positions to be elected include:

 

Clergy member of the Discipline Committee:

 1 Clergy (either male or female), to fill a 5-year unexpired term to 2017

 

 2013 Churchwide Assembly Voting Members:

3 Clergy (both males and females)

1 Lay male person of color or primary language other than English

1 Youth (under age 18)

1 Young adult lay person (ages 18-30)

3 Other lay persons, (so that the total is half male and half female)

 

Synod Council:

1 Young adult, 2-year term (male or female, ages 18-30)

2 At-large lay persons, 2-year term (Gender designation to be determined)

 

The Nominating Committee intends to nominate two to four persons for each position. Individual skills and qualifications, as well as the synod's inclusivity goals, will be considered. The inclusivity goals address the balance between lay persons and pastors, gender, status as a youth or young adult, and racial/ethnic background. Achieving some geographical diversity of nominees will also be a factor in the Nominating Committee's decisions.

 

Click here for more information about these positions.

 

DEADLINE for submission of biographical forms to be considered by the Nominating Committee: March 15, 2012.

Earn a 2% Discount

Here is an opportunity to earn a 2% discount on ELCA health contributions in 2012.

Each congregation and organization in our synod will receive a 2% discount on contributions for all of 2012 if 65% of the eligible ELCA-primary plan members and spouses in our synod complete the online Mayo Clinic Health Assessment by April 30, 2012.

 

The 2012 health assessment opened January 1. If you have ELCA-primary health benefits, click the "Take It Now" button between January 1-April 30 to complete the assessment. It only takes about 30 minutes. Completing the assessment earns you a $150 credit in your personal wellness account to offset out-of-pocket medical expenses.

 

Completing the assessment is an act of stewardship for you and this church. Click here to read more!

Some E-News News

  

Are you a new subscriber to the Synod E-News? Did you miss a recent E-News?  Or would you simply like to check details from a past issue without having to go to your e-mail inbox? Problem solved!

 

Just go to the synod website, www.elca-ses.org, click the Resources tab, and choose the link for "Archive E-News Network."  All issues of the Synod E-News are archived there the day after being sent out.  And each archive comes up as its own webpage so it's easy to share with a friend, just copy and paste the URL! 

 

On the synod website you can also find the synod calendar, details about upcoming events like the Synod Assembly, helpful resources for rostered leaders and much more. Check it out today

Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church

 

Pastor Eric Luedtke of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church shared the following:

 

Where are the 20-somethings in the church? What does ministry look like with those who are disengaged from the local congregation? Where will our next generation of church leaders come from? These and other questions are fresh in the minds of many leaders and congregations.

 

These questions have piqued the interest of the Barna Group and prompted their research on the "Mosaic Generation." Barna Group president David Kinnaman records the findings in "You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church." 

 

YOU are invited to an online conversation of the book and its implications for ministry as a Lutheran Christian in the Southeastern Synod.  Pick up a copy of the book from Amazon.com (http://tiny.cc/yywzw) and join the conversation at  https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/294023470640696/ .

Create in Me at Lutheridge

April 12-15, 2012 (Thursday-Sunday)


Come and Explore!


Stained glass, clay, icons, origami, woodworking, yoga, watercolor, healing touch, blogging, paper-making, bee-keeping... and more!


2012 THEME:Jesus' Miracles ~ Art & Invitation

Catch a vision of God's creative energy moving in miraculous ways! Enter a wonderful exchange of ideas encouraging creativity as central to the life of faith!


Come to be inspired, encouraged, and re-created! Enjoy whole group presentations and bible study. Participate in creative worship and enriching fellowship. Workshops and drop-in stations offer hands-on opportunities to explore different media in a safe place where you cannot fail. Process over product is stressed - everyone is a beginner at something! Meet others striving to give God's creativity larger space in their lives. Those who think they are NOT creative are especially encouraged to attend!

 

Bible Study Leader: 

Bishop Julian Gordy, Southeastern Synod, ELCA

 

Worship Leader and Storyteller: Pastor Mary Canniff-Kuhn, Lutheridge Program Director

 

FREE Create-in-Me T-Shirt for those who register by March 19! Visit http://www.llmi.net/leap/CreateinMe.aspx for more information, pricing, and to register online.

Around the Synod 

 

Please be on the lookout:

Pastor Tom Quickel is searching for a leaders guide to "Word Witness", a study from the LCA in the 1980's.  If you have one you are willing to share, please contact Pastor Quickel at (423) 878-4831 or [email protected].

 

 

 

Dual Celebration

 

 On Sunday February 12, St. Paul, Vonore, TN had a dual celebration: the tenth anniversary of Pastor William McDonald's service as their pastor and his installation as their Full Communion Partner pastor.  Assistant to the Bishop, the Rev. Dr. Delmer Chilton officiated at the service.  

Chilton & McDonald

Dr. McDonald is the head of the Religion Department at nearby Tennessee Wesleyan University and a United Methodist minister.  A graduate of the ELCA's Lenoir-Rhyne University, he began serving St. Paul ten years ago as a Synodically Authorized Minister under appointment of the bishop.  Because of our new Full Communion Agreement with the United Methodist Church, St. Paul has now issued him an "Invitation to Extended Service," the equivalent to a call which ELCA congregations issue to the ministers of our Full Communion Partners.  So congratulations Pr. Bill and St. Paul on 10 good years and best wishes for many more! 

 

 

 

Prayer request:

 

Esther Castillo, wife of Padre Horatio Castillo, Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala, as she recovers from gall bladder surgery.

 

View the entire Synod Calendar

 

February 20

Synod Office Closed, Presidents Day

 

February 24-26

SESLYO Assembly

Hargis Retreat Center, Chelsea, AL 

 

February 25

Consecration of Mary Houck, Diaconal Minister

Cross of Life, Roswell, GA

 

March 1

Audit Committee Conference Call

 

March 11

Hunger Walk

www.hwr2012.org

 

March 15

Deadline for Nominations for the 2012 Synod Assembly

Click here to learn more and for a link to the biographical form

 

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