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 Issue #437                                                             March 3, 2015
            WE ARE CHURCH                  
Subtle shift to works righteousness
Jesus didn't die to change behaviors, political systems, institutions
By Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop 

We are in the middle of Lent-the season of spiritual warfare, or at least really good intentions. Many of us now engage in some form of Lenten discipline. We give up something: chocolate or coffee or FreeCell. Or we add something: Scripture reading, midweek worship or service projects. This seems normal and familiar to us just as the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday or crossing ourselves has become normal and familiar in many of our congregations. (Continue)
Originally published in The Lutheran's March 2015 issue, this column is reprinted with permission.
Ashes to Go

On Ash Wednesday, the Revs. John Barichivich, pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warner Robins, GA and David Parr, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Long Beach, MS, found a way to extend their ministries to their respective communities. Click here and here for more information.
                              
June 5 - 7, 2015 
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex
2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N
Birmingham, AL 35203 

Hotel accommodations at the 
Sheraton Birmingham

Information and links to Assembly Registration and Hotel Reservations may be found through Guidebook
You may download/reuse the App on your 
smart phones and tablets,
 or access the web based format.



Dr. Mark Allen Powell 
Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH
Bible Study Leader 



The Rev. Ronald T. Glusenkamp 
Director of The Campaign for the ELCA, Chicago, IL 
Churchwide Representative

A GLOCAL Event will be part of the Assembly.

New this year...

You will have the opportunity to register to participate in Thank God I'm Fedan Assembly
community service project which will be done on-site and will benefit those served by 

Online registration extends through May 1st; however, there is a cost savings for registrations made prior to April 1st.

Nominations Sought for 2015 Assembly Elections

Bio Forms Due March 31

 

The Southeastern Synod Nominating Committee is currently seeking potential nominees for several positions to be elected at the 2015 Synod Assembly. Positions for which nominees are needed include:

 

2016 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)

2 Lay males

                    2 Lay females

       

Members of the Consultation Committee. This committee functions primarily in an advisory role to the synod bishop, assisting the bishop in investigating situations that are potentially matters for formal discipline. Terms are for 6 years. Nominees are needed in the following categories:

 

1 Clergy female

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

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

 

Members of the Discipline Committee. This committee consists of 12 members who function as a pool of individuals available for potential participation in disciplinary hearings. Terms are 6 years in length. Nominees are needed in the following categories:

 

3 Clergy (both males and females)

1 Lay male

 

Synod Council Members. The Synod Council is the synod's board of directors, functioning as the interim legislative authority between meetings of the Synod Assembly. Nominees should have the ability to attend week-day meetings three times a year. Terms are for two years unless otherwise noted. Nominees are being sought in the following categories:

 

1 Youth (lay male or female, under age 18 and able to complete      

   term before graduating from high school

1 At-large clergy representative (1-year unexpired term to 2016)

2 At-large lay representatives, gender to be determined at a later 

   date

 

The Nominating Committee's goal is to nominate two to four persons for each position. The Committee will consider individual skills and qualifications, as well as the Synod's inclusivity goals. These 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.


DEADLINE for submission of biographical forms to be considered by the Nominating Committee: March 31, 2015.

Click the logo for more information.
                              WE ARE LUTHERAN                   
 ELCA National Youth Gathering

Click here to read a message from Vickie Davis, 
Southeastern Synod Coordinator for the Gathering.

To order Southeastern Synod T-Shirts for the Gathering, click here.

Visit the Gathering website.

Under Construction  

 

During the past two years, professionals have helped ELCA leaders assess The Lutheran and other communication vehicles at the churchwide offices. The results are in, resulting in some restructuring and rebuilding.

 

In his March column in The Lutheran, Daniel Lehmann explains: "After some months of planning, in February the magazine and the ELCA's Marketing Communications team merged. The new Strategic Communications team has two groups: "Publications" and "Communications and Marketing." The Publications group, led by the magazine's editor, includes The Lutheran, Seeds for the Parish, Stories of Faith in Action, Living Lutheran (the story and blog microsite of http://www.elca.org), as well as public and media relations."

 

Forrest Meyer is head of Strategic Communications. Lehmann leads the "Publications" group, and Laury Rinker leads "Communications and Marketing." They've asked for assistance is spreading the word about open positions on the team. You can view the job postings at http://www.elca.org/careers(click on "ELCA Job Board"). Most of these positions have a close date of March 16.

 

We ask for your patience as duties are reshuffled and vacant positions are filled. If you have any questions, contact Andrea ([email protected]).

     Help Lutheran Services of Georgia 
Win $1000!

 Click here for information.
     The Passion Collective

The Passion Collective, a brand new Lutheran Campus Ministry sponsored program in Atlanta, seeks grads and post grads interested in working through a calling in life. It's a "gap year" style program based in intentional community, structured to uplift and hone natural gifts.  In return for housing in Midtown Atlanta, the participant will work 10-15 hours per week in the Grace House campus ministry serving Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory and Agnes Scott College.  Click here for application and information. To subscribe to "Grace Life" the Lutheran Campus Ministry newsletter, click here.


Participate in a Reformation Resource survey:
The year 2017 will mark 500 years since the start of the Protestant Reformation.
Please let us know whether your congregation will be observing this anniversary and, if so, what types of resources would be most helpful to you.

Click here.  

 

Learn about Pre-Teen Ministry:


 

Connect With Jim No. 4 -
Connect With Jim No. 4 - "Why Pre-Teen Ministry?"
Click here for more information.

Discover a Reformation Anniversary Resource:


 

One Hope: Re-Membering the Body of Christ is a rich ecumenical resource designed to help Catholic and Lutheran communities mark the approaching 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Click here for more information.

 

 

 

 

Preview Collaborate - a Lutheran Confirmation Program:

 

Martin Luther Session Video
Martin Luther Session Video
Click here for more information.

 


What's the story you're telling through your Children's Ministry?  Begins March 5. Click here to register for free webinars.

News from LTSS...

 

Lecture by Scott Bader-Saye

"Guns, Violence, and Fear: A Theological Response to the Idolatry of Security"

Thursday, March 26, 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 

Columbia, SC

 

Dr. Bader-Saye is a professor of Christian ethics and moral theology at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. His publications include Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear and Church and Israel After Christendom, and his professional interests include politics, economics, sex, culture, and interfaith dialogue.

This lecture is free and open to the public; however, seating is limited.  Please register in advance by clicking here in order to receive a guaranteed seat.  If any seats remain available on the day of the event guests may register at the door.

Lutheranch Round Up Plans

Plans are set for the upcoming Lutheranch Round-Up on March 14, 2015.  Registration begins at 11:00.  A hot dog and hamburger lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  A brand new t-shirt of all sizes will be on sale.  A silent and live auction has many great items again this year.  Some of the items include quilts, a wooden bench, stained glass pieces, wooden toys, and many other items.  The popular jumping activity for children will also be part of the day's activities.  Riding tours of the site will begin at 11:30 a.m.  A band will be on site for the day's activities. It is going to be a great day!  Come join everyone to get the latest updates on Lutheranch and the Standing on the Promise Campaign.  For questions, contact Libby Bedenbaugh at 803-940-6523 or by email at [email protected]Click here for a flyer.

                         WE ARE CHURCH TOGETHER                  
Your Voice Makes a Difference
 By Hilton Austin,
 
member of All Saints Lutheran  Church, Lilburn, GA and Conference 4 Representative to the Southeastern Synod Council  

Just last month, fifteen people gathered at the synod office for the first meeting of what we hope will soon be officially known as the ELCA Southeastern Synod Advocacy Team. We wanted to start out by addressing public policy on three key issues: Human Trafficking, Immigration, and Criminal Justice.    

 

The first outing for our Human Trafficking ready bench was to participate in Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) Lobby Day 2015, which was held on Thursday, February 12, at the historic Georgia Railroad Freight Depot, across the street from the Georgia State Capitol. Continue.

St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Hendersonville, TN
Education and Arts Series

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine will be the featured speaker at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 650 East Main Street, Hendersonville,TN 37075 for the second event in the 2014-15 Education & Arts Series on Sunday, March 22 at 4:00 p.m.

 

Join Dr. Levine as she presents "This Widow Keeps Bothering Me: Parables, Presuppositions & Provocations," based on a chapter from her latest book, Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi. 

Visit St. Timothy's website for more information.
January 2015,Year-End Mission Support

Mission support results are now in for January 2015, which marks the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year. Pending the final close of the current year, and aided by mission support contributions from the We Are Church Together Appeal, the Southeastern Synod finished the year with mission support contributions of $2,154,796. This is $18,238 (1%) more than last year, but $18,825 (1%) less than two years ago. Our total received for 2014-15 is about $62,500 (2.8%) under the Level 1 budget for the year.
Caring for the Caregiver
A Clergy Wellness Workshop

March 19, 2015
9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Johns Creek United Methodist Church
Gathering Room 
11180 Medlock Bridge Road
                  Johns Creek, GA 30097

Special Guest Speaker: Dr. Ron King
Former Executive Director of Pastoral Institute

Click here for information and registration.
Click here to learn about The Summit Counseling Center.
Click here for a fresh insight on timing and church year rhythms 
for the annual response program.
It's That Time of Year Again!
Portico Health Assessment: Not only does this program remind us of the need to be good stewards of our health for the sake of our ministries, but ELCA employers (congregations, seminaries, other organizations) earn a 2% discount on their health contribution payments if 65% (112 for the Southeastern Synod) or more of the ELCA-primary plan members and eligible spouses take the online Mayo Clinic Health Assessment between January 1 and April 30, 2015.  

The first month's status report is in.  As of January 31st, 28 members (16.67%) have completed their assessments.  We need 84 more to meet our goal of 65%.

If you have already completed your assessment, THANK YOU!  If not, it only takes 10-20 minutes. You will receive $150 in wellness dollars just for taking the assessment!  Plus, if you complete the follow-up activities, you can earn an additional $350 more in wellness dollars!  Click "Take It Now."
          WE ARE CHURCH FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD

The March edition of Global Links is available here.
Hunger Walk/Run 2015
Turner Field, Atlanta, GA
March 15, 2015
Register here today!

Go Global this Lent!

 

Journey with Lutheran World Relief

                                     SYNOD CALENDAR                
                                 
March 4, 2015:  Concordia Choir, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta, GA
March 14, 2015:  Lutheranch Round-Up, Tallapoosa, GA                             
March 15, 2015:  2015 Hunger Walk/Run, Atlanta, GA
June 5 - 7, 2015:  2015 Southeastern Synod Assembly, Birmingham, AL
June 14 - 19, 2015:  AFFIRM, Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA 
July 15 - 19, 2015:  ELCA Youth Gathering, Detroit, MI
July 19 - 23, 2015: Called to be a Living Voice, Worship Jubilee of the ELCA & the Biennial Conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Atlanta, GA

July 30 - August 2, 2015: Association of Liberian Lutherans in America (ALLIA) and African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA) Joint Conference, Baltimore, MD

September 13, 2015:  "God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday

September 15 - 17, 2015:  Southeastern Synod Leadership Convocation, Lutheridge, Arden, NC

September 18 - 20, 2015: Southeastern Synod Women of the ELCA annual convention, St. Simons Island, GA

July 13 - 17, 2017:  Tenth Triennial for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Minneapolis, MN

                        SYNOD VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES                    
Volunteers are crucial to the mission of the Southeastern Synod. Click here to find ways you can serve.  Thank you for your generosity!
                   EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES                      
Descriptions and application instructions for the following open positions and others are listed on our website:  

Full-Time Development Director
NovusWay Ministries, Arden NC

Part-Time Music Director/Accompanist
Nativity Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, GA

Part-Time Social Media/Publications Specialist
NovusWay Ministries, Arden, NC 

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         ELCA-Southeastern Synod - explore and see what's new!

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ELCA Southeastern Synod
100 Edgewood Ave. NE, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-589-1977