Bishop's Convocation Nov. 18-20

This year's Bishop's Convocation will be held November 18 - 20, 2015 (Wednesday through Friday) at Bear Creek Mountain and Resort Conference Center, 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie, PA 18062. (Not to be confused with the Camp in Northeastern PA Synod.)

"Thinking outside the walls: Surprising spaces to be the church" will feature Bryan Berghoef (pastor, pub theologian and author of Pub Theology: Beer, Conversation and God and Pub Theology 101: A Guide to Cultivating Meaningful Conversations at the Pub) and renowned preacher Barbara Lundblad. 

Come join us as we explore surprising spaces!

Please share this info with your treasurer and council leaders.

Rising health care costs around the country have led the Portico trustees to adjust the cost of ELCA benefits for 2016. If you are enrolled in a Portico plan you should have received an email with details last week. Here are two ways to educate yourself and your congregation leaders about the impending changes:

• Join Portico for a webinar on August 28 from 11:30 am to noon to learn what drives ELCA health contribution rates, such as market trends and our collective use of care. Learn more or register.
• Read Portico's detailed summary of changes.  

If you are not already gathering a congregational and/or community group to view Bishop Eaton's webcast "Confronting Racism" tomorrow, Aug. 6, at 9 pm at http://www.elca.org/webcast, consider using the recorded version, which will be available after the event at the same website.

If your congregation and members of the wider community plan to view the webcast together, consider having a conversation afterward about what you have heard. Here are some questions to help you get started:

• What seems to be the role of racism in our faith life and/or our life together? 
• What did you learn from the webcast conversation?
• What is the value of sharing and hearing one another's stories of faith and cultural background? Can differences cause tension or division? How might they bring joy?
• What next steps could we take?