The Upstate Update for Wednesday, October 7, 2015

 
LTSP Emblem
Bishop's Appeal

Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia


Rev. Amanda Nesvold
"Where do pastors come from?"

It's a fair question, and one you might not have thought about recently, or at all. We're not grown on farms, or kept in incubators until we're experienced, slightly gray-haired, kindly pastors who know everything and can handle every situation. But we also aren't recruited right from colleges with no experience or training whatsoever.
Seminary is where all the education happens. Or rather, seminary is where as much education can happen in three years.

There are three types of courses at seminary, though you won't find them listed as such. There are your purely academic classes, with lectures, books to read, discussions, and papers to write. These are classes about bible, history, and theology. Then there are courses and experiences that fall under the category of "contextual education." These are experiences like field education sites, internships, and clinical pastoral education (hospital chaplaincy internship). Finally, there are the classes that combine academics and practice. Courses such as homiletics, pastoral care, liturgy, and Christian education bring together lectures, books, and papers, with actually preaching, practicing counseling, doing liturgy, and teaching. These three types of educational settings combine together to create the Master of Divinity degree.
But that's not all that seminary is. It's also about community coming together around worship, meals, and laughter. We support each other in prayer, in conversation, and in debate.

I am currently a student at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, working on my Master of Sacred Theology, or STM. I attended LTSP for my MDiv, was ordained, served in Upstate New York, and have returned for this course of study. I live on campus, and it's not uncommon, even at strange hours, to hear folks in the hallway discussing and wrestling with everything from the latest theological concept in class to the pope's visit to politics to the sermon in chapel.
All of these experiences are part of seminary, and part of learning to be a leader in the Church today. Through classes we learn the academics, through field education the practice, and through community we learn to how to be colleagues, how to work together for the sake of God's work in the world.
 
But there is a cost to all this. A seminary is a graduate school, and there are costs involved. From faculty, staff, and administrators to pay, to buildings to maintain, to all the other expenses of being an institute of higher learning. Support comes from congregations, synods, alumni, and grants, but there is always more cost. Students end up accruing quite a bit of debt in order to graduate in a timely fashion. This year's bishop's appeal is dedicated to supporting the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Let me tell you, every bit helps, and is appreciated.
One of the projects that the seminary has been working on is increasing the handicapped accessibility of some of the older buildings. Right now on campus, there is work being done to connect the main academic building with the historic library, including an elevator, which will make the library accessible. I have spent the first part of this semester navigating our campus on crutches, and I can tell you that it has not been an easy task. I am excited about the work being done to make LTSP more accessible.

I am also excited that Bishop Macholz has chosen LTSP to be the focus of the bishop's appeal this year. Seminaries may seem removed from the "real world" of congregational life. But they are not. Many conversations happen here about what is happening in the Church today, and what the Church of tomorrow will look like. Your support, in prayer, in donations, and in conversation, is essential to life here on campus.

From myself and my classmates, thank you for your support.

Pastor Amanda Nesvold
Education to Eradicate Hunger
by Marsha Brown
Marcia Brown
Marcia Brown
It seems a simple fact that higher education can provide a job with good income which will allow for the necessities of life, including food and shelter. But the flip side of the coin is that when a child grows up with poverty and hunger, education is often out of the question, because everyone in the family, children included, must work for whatever small income they can find, and schooling goes by the wayside.  It is a vicious cycle. Here is one example of a boy who broke that cycle with the help of ELCA World Hunger: Ahmed and his family fled Ethiopia and became refugees in Egypt. His goal of becoming a doctor seemed insurmountable until St Andrew's Refugee Service got him into an educational program for non-Arabic speakers. Gifts to ELCA World Hunger have given Ahmed and his family hope. He says, "Now that my education has restarted, I feel my whole life has restarted, and now I am recovering my lost years." Prayers and financial donations are essential to making this work possible. The mission support your congregation sends to the synod helps this effort. Thank you for your partnership!
 
We are church together for the sake of the world. God's Work. Our Hands.

Time to Make 2016 Health Benefits Decisions
By Patsy Glista, AIM, Assistant to Bishop for Operations

Between October 5
th and October 30
th Sponsoring Employers (congregations) need to make their 2016 health benefit option selection on Portico EmployerLink.  
This applies to all congregations who plan to participate in Portico health plans and offer Portico health coverage to their pastor and/or employees in 2016.  Congregations should have all received an email communication in September letting them know that your organization's 2016 Custom Comparison Report is available on EmployerLink.  Employers need to review this material and go on EmployerLink and indicate the health plan option your organizations will offer for 2016.  Your organization's customized report will help the congregation's decision-makers understand how:
  • The 2016 health benefit options compare to the health benefit option you offer now;
  • Each health benefit option would affect your plan members; and
  • Your organization's contribution amounts will change.
Basic group life insurance and disability support contributions will also see some adjustments in 2016.  The basic group life insurance rate is decreasing by 0.5% to 0.5% while the disability support rate is increasing 1%, from 2.5% up to 3.5% in 2016.  The upstate New York Synod's recommended rate of 12% of Total Defined Compensation for pension retirement remains the same as does the Portico retiree support rate 0.7%.  There is a 7% increase in the Gold+ plan health rate which is considered reasonable in comparison to many other plan rates including Marketplace Exchange anticipated increases for 2016.
 
There are tools available on EmployerLink to help you in your decision-making.  You will find information to help you and others select your option including:
  • The Portico 2016 30-minute 2016 Health Plan Changes webinar
  • Our estimated 2016 benefit costs in the Custom Comparison Report
  • Details about your options.
Remember, your selection is required on EmployerLink by October 30.  Your plan members will enter their 2016 benefit decisions online between November 2 - 30.  If you need assistance Portico Customer Service Representatives are available at 800-352-2876.

 
We Did It! 
The ELCA Malaria Campaign has reached its $15 million goal!

 
Friends, we did it! 

The ELCA Malaria Campaign has exceeded its fundraising goal of $15 million dollars! That means 15 million reasons to say THANK YOU!

Your generosity and dedication made this moment possible. As a result of your support, malaria programs in 13 African countries have been fully funded. Together we have had great success - millions of community members were educated about the disease, nearly 10,000 local volunteers were trained on disease prevention and treatment methods, 50,000 nets were distributed, 32,000 pregnant women received prevention medication and more. 

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton also thanks you for your hard work: "We began the Malaria Campaign in the depths of the Great Recession and at a time of considerable turmoil in this church. The goal of raising $15 million might have sounded improbable at the time, but our people responded generously. We are honored to accompany our global companions in the Lutheran churches in Africa in their work to make malaria history."  Although the campaign's financial goal has been met, the ELCA will continue its anti-malaria work post 2015 through ELCA World Hunger.


Congregation-Based Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) teaches pastoral leadership and pastoral care for clergy and lay ministers in the church from a Bowen Family Systems Theory perspective.  It is designed for experienced pastors, lay workers, and ministers and seminarians new to pastoral work.  Ministers strengthen their pastoral and leadership skills, address tension and conflict in the church, and work on their personal growth in ministry.  The program focuses on in depth systemic change and leadership development that reduces congregational anxiety and addresses long-term issues in the church.
 
CPE in Greater Buffalo/Rochester NY Area - February-June 2016: one day/week
For more information and the application visit the CPE Website
or contact 
The Rev. Robert C. Spilman
363 Darwin Drive, Amherst, NY  14226
(Tel.) 716-479-7933 (cell); 716-743-9117 (Samaritan Center office)
LTSP Emblem

Register today for Preaching Days!
October 19-21 
Preaching Days returns to LTSP with lectures, workshops, and worship opportunities, and with ample time for conversation, fellowship, and reflection. Five outstanding preachers will be the presenters, including Thomas Long (inaugural St. Paul's Lutheran Church Doylestown Lecturer), Audrey West, and Paul Scott Wilson, along with LTSP's own Karyn Wiseman and Wayne Croft.
 
The cost is $175, which includes all programming, lunch all three days (last day is a departing box lunch), and coffee/tea plus healthy snacks for breaks. A la carte breakfast offered Tuesday and Wednesday at an additional cost. Register using the online form through the link below, and invite a colleague to join you!  Learn more and register today  at http://ltsp.edu/PreachingDays2015.

Samaritan Counseling Center
Presents
A study on LEADERSHIP, FAMILY SYSTEMS, AND FAITH 
A Failure of Nerve will develop an approach to leadership that takes a non- traditional  direction. It will encourage leaders to focus first on their own integrity and on the nature of their own presence rather than through techniques for manipulating or motivating others.
Friedman explains that in order for terrorists to have power, whether in a family or in the family of nations, three conditions must be fulfilled: (1) the absence of well-defined leadership; (2) a hostage situation to which leaders are particularly vulnerable; and (3) an unreasonable faith in reasonableness.A major criterion for judging the anxiety level of any society is the loss of its capacity to be playful.
Join the SCC (Samaritan Counseling Center) team in a group study on the problem of leadership and how to avoid many of the pitfalls of being a leader.

We will begin  each session with devotions by looking at scripture "through the lens" of Family Systems Theory.
 
Clergy, counselors, church leaders, family leaders, Stephen ministers, and all people seeking connections between personal, family, and public roles in faith and life can become better equipped for their role by learning how to deal with difficult people that block growth.

COST: Free will offering, or if you wish to receive Continuing Education Credit from Samaritan Center, you may register for a certificate at the cost of $100.00

RESERVATIONS:  phone 716-743-9117 to let SCC reserve a place or use our easy on-line registration 
 
Congregational Resiliency
This CRTC workshop led by Rev. Sherri Meyer-Veen and Rev. Carl Shepard, on October 29 (register by the 13th), attempts to condense much of what I have learned through many leadership roles, especially in the aftermath of Irene, and make it accessible and applicable to resiliency
As a workshop, it is designed with segments of interactive presentation, offering a wide variety of information and resources, and then allowing you some time to translate the material into your own context, individually and as a team, as you begin to make your own goals for follow up. 

The main topics include adaptive leadership, capacity building, resource development, preparedness planning, best practices in volunteerism, and community engagement.  While not all topics will be detailed during the day, a binder of material and resources will be given to all participants.   Carl and I will offer ourselves for advisory and resourcing follow up as well.  Learn more and register at learn more and register.

IN OUR PRAYERS

Prayers of Healing 
for Pr. Dave Preisinger
for Erna Wedemeyer

Prayers of Comfort 
for Pr. Anita Mohr and Family at the death of her mother, Dorothy

Prayers of Thanksgiving 
for Patsy Glista, AIM presented with The Parkway Center's Lifetime Achievement Award
for Pr. Judith VanOsdol as she begins her call as DEM in the Rocky Mountain Synod

Prayers of Hope and Renewal 
for all those affected by flooding from Hurricane Joaquin
TIDBITS


Lutheran Disaster Response Train the Trainer
Saturday, October 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visit Train the Trainer Brochure

If God is enough
We can be free from attachments to our plans, self-will, success
By Elizabeth A. Eaton
From time to time I am invited to celebrate congregational anniversaries. It's wonderful to see the church in action and to meet members from all across the country. Read more

Congregational ResiliencyThis CRTC workshop led by Rev. Sherri Meyer-Veen and Rev. Carl Shepard, on October 29 (register by the 13th), attempts to condense much of what I have learned through many leadership roles, especially in the aftermath of Irene, and make it accessible and applicable to resiliency
As a workshop, it is designed with segments of interactive presentation, offering a wide variety of information and resources, and then allowing you some time to translate the material into your own context, individually and as a team, as you begin to make your own goals for follow up. 

The main topics include adaptive leadership, capacity building, resource development, preparedness planning, best practices in volunteerism, and community engagement.  While not all topics will be detailed during the day, a binder of material and resources will be given to all participants.   Carl and I will offer ourselves for advisory and resourcing follow up as well.  Learn more and register at 
https://crtc.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=543.

Karen Brundige
REMINDER*****
Samuel Trexler Grant applications will be accepted until October 31,   2015 for 2016 grants.  If you wish to apply for this grant, please visit Trexler Brochure and Application. Questions should be directed to Karen Brundige at the synod office.


Churches' Week of Action on Food
What is it?
Churches' Week of Action on Food is an opportunity for Christians all over the world to act and speak out together on food-justice issues. Together, we can raise awareness about food production and distribution systems, examine our own food consumption, call for policy changes that will ensure the right to food for everyone and raise money to support programs that help fight hunger. Our faith calls us to action, and through ELCA World Hunger, we commit to pursuing a world of justice where all are fed. Learn more by reading the ELCA World Hunger eNews.

The Fall 2015 Congregational Assembly Report is now available at 2015 Fall Conference Assembly Report

Synod Website Update
Please make note that Document Center on the synod website is now labeled as "RESOURCES" and appear in the top bar separately - hopefully this makes it easier for folks to find things.  It previously was under "About Us."  Visit the Synod Website and look around.

The synod office will be closed on Monday, October 12th in observance of Columbus Day.


Please visit our website upstatenysynod.org
 
Thank you for spending some time reading this edition of the Upstate Update. We hope, and pray, that you found it useful. If you know someone who could benefit from the Upstate Update, please forward it to them and ask them to sign up directly.
 
Kathy Neugent
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Upstate New York Synod of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
Phone: 315-299-4955 Fax: 315-299-4981 
 
 Resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives.