The Upstate Update for Wednesday, June 29, 2016




WORDS OF THANKS FROM OUR BISHOP


Bishop John Macholz
Somewhere toward the end of the Synod Assembly a pastor approached me and said, "Thanks, Bishop, this is the best assembly I've ever been to!" I thanked him and then suggested that I had little to do with it, there were so many others who had done so much more than I, they should be thanked. And as I began to think that through I realized that I had probably underestimated that number.
 
Synod Assembly is something that is worked on almost year round in order to make it most effective and efficient. There are rooms to be reserved, workshops created and staffed, sub committees to form for everything from Worship to Mission Expo and beyond. There are individuals who work with World Hunger and keep that in front of us during our time together. Some load and unpack trucks transporting needed items to Rochester. Still others work with Communication, Face Book, Twitter and the like while still others act as pages, make sure coffee is ready to go and shuttle between the registration desk and the podium. Some act as taxis, driving people to and from the airport.  You see where this is going, don't you? There a lot of people to thank. And, in fear of omitting some I'm only going to mention a few that work upfront, during the entire year, to get us to where we need to be.
 
Patsy Glista, AIM is one of those people. She has been on staff holding this position of staff liaison for about seven years. I am most thankful to her for all of her good work with the Synod Assembly Planning Team, the Communications Strategy Team and all the other teams that comprise the totality of people involved. I am also thankful for Synod Staff Kathy Neugent and Karen Brundige who work tirelessly to bring this together all through the year.   Gary Roller deserves a word of appreciation as well as he Chaired the SAPT the past two years. And to all the members on the team, Well done, thou good and faithful servants.
 
We are the church together, working behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, on the side of the scenes and finding our way forward to teach, equip and enlighten all who join in the community. Thanks to each and every one of you who made this happen, you have been a gift and grace!
 
In Christ's Love,
John S. Macholz, Bishop




Bishop's Annual Golf Tournament 2016

Come!     
    Have Fun!     
Support the 2016 Bishop's Appeal!!


July 11, 2016
Shadow Lake Golf and Racquet Club
Shotgun Start at 12:00 Noon




Bishop John Macholz invites all golfers (the best and the rest) to tee off with him at the Shadow Lake Golf and Racquet Club, 1850 Five Mile Line Rd., Penfield, NY.


Funds raised during the event will support the 2016 Bishop's Appeal that is focused on the creation of a fund to offer education debt assistance to new pastors rostered in the Upstate New York Synod. Tee-off will follow a Best Ball format. Contests, prizes, gifts and more! Cost information is available in the bulletin


Dinner will immediately follow play at 6:00 p.m. Dinner only guests are most welcome. Registration will remain open until the tournament.  Click here to register.


Volunteers and sponsors are welcome! 


Please email or call Keith Nickoloff at 585-749-4847 or [email protected] for sponsorship availability.  
 
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR LAITY AND CLERGY
Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY
July 24-29, 2016


The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!  The Hartwick Seminary Institute of Theology was established in 1991 by the Foothills Conference, a group of Lutheran congregations in five counties of upstate New York, for two primary purposes:
  • To provide training for Deacon candidates in a variety of ministries within congregations, for the support of pastors and to build up the Body of Christ;
  • To provide continuing education and growth in faith for clergy, other rostered leaders, and commission deacons and to offer personal enrichment for anyone in an environment of worship and fellowship.
The costs of the Institute are underwritten by parishes of the Foothills Conference through a congregational subsidy. See the registration form and brochure for the fee schedule and information regarding required texts.
 
2017 Synod Minimum Compensation Document for Rostered Leaders Now Available
by Patsy Glista, AIM, Assistant to the Bishop for Operations


Patsy Glista
Mrs. Patsy Glista, AIM
The 2017 Synod Minimum Compensation Document for Rostered Leaders has been developed with the input of the conference deans, synod pastoral staff and Synod Council.  It was adopted by the Synod Council at their June 24, 2016 meeting and is available for congregations and rostered leaders on the synod website.  There are a number of changes and additions in the 2017 document with the most obvious being that the document combines information for both clergy and lay rostered leaders (Associates in Ministry, Diaconal Ministers and Deaconesses) into one document.  We have added a table of contents for ease of navigation.  Some of the important things to note include:
  • Recommended increase in total defined compensation for clergy and general compensation for lay rostered leaders is based on a 1.8% increase over the 2016 amount based on a 1.8% CPI increase for period January 2015 compared to January 2016.  The clergy MINIMUM Total Defined Compensation for 2017 is $55,236 and gross salary for lay rostered is $43,058.
  • Document is significantly expanded in information in order to provide congregations with better clarification of compensation benefits;
  • Changes in increases above Synod Minimums for years of experience;
  • Hi-lighted information about short term disability;
  • Increases the days off/week minimum from 1 day to 1.5 days/week;
  • Includes information about Moving Expenses.
Please take time to review the 2017 Synod Minimum Compensation Document and plan to use it as you consider your 2017 budgets.


 
Young Adults Opportunity

Activities Related to the 500th Anniversary of the 
Protestant Reformation



ELCA Young Adults is excited to announce an opportunity for young adults who are interested in being a part of activities related to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. In conjunction with LWF Youth (The Lutheran World Federation), we are seeking 30 young adults from around the country who are connected to the ELCA in various forms. This includes congregations, synods, campus ministries, outdoor ministries, service year organizations and other partner networks.
 
This opportunity will invite young adults to consider their faith and the role of the church as we look forward to where God is calling us. Selected participants will be required to do the following:
 
+ Attend the 2016 Grace Gathering;

+ Participate in regular conference calls;

+ Engage in learning webinars;

+ Create opportunities for young adult engagement in their local context;

+ Participate in the Global Reformers Network;

+ Create learning experiences for 2017 Synod Assemblies.
 
Click to complete this application. The deadline to complete this form is July 1, 2016 and selected participants will be notified by July 8, 2016. For more information about this opportunity, please email globalyoungreformers@gmail.com.


IN OUR PRAYERS


We hold in prayer:
Retired Rostered Leaders
ELCA Region 7 Synods and Bishops
2016 Churchwide Voting Members


The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and Rev. Michael Cooper White
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and Rev.  David Lose


Prayers of Comfort
for Pr. Chuck Schwartz and family at the death of grandson, Brandon Patterson


Prayers of Healing
for Pr. Jim Hulihan

for Pr. Paul Herpich
for Pr. John Klatt


 
TIDBITS
The synod office will be closed on Monday, July 4th 


Rev. David Lose
Upstate New York Synod
Annual Ministerium Retreat
September 12-14, 2016
Preaching Jesus Today
Rev.  David Lose




Remember registrations are being accepted on a first come/first serve basis due to facility spacing requirements.  Please register soon.


Bishop's Appeal 2016
Donations received will help to create a fund to offer assistance to those in need who become rostered in our synod.  We are creating the account, putting in place requirements for receiving disbursements and solidifying a base.  The fund will be an ongoing giving opportunity continuing to help new pastors in need and show our support for the larger church in the process. You may make checks payable to the Upstate New York Synod and write "Pay Down" in the memo or donate on-line. We will keep you informed as to process as we move forward.  In advance, thanks for your generosity and willingness to participate.


For anyone and everyone interested in learning and growing in faith
Registration is open for the Niagara Frontier Conference 2016 Summer Institute of Theology.
August 7-12, 2016 at Christ the King Seminary, Aurora, NY. 
For more information visit the brochure,


Augsburg Fortress 
announces a new family of Lutheran-oriented learning resources, support for the ongoing revitalization of worship, an improved web presence, and a new expression of our mission.  Read more



For Leaders of ELCA Congregations and Synods
Read Seeds Monthly and learn more about the opening of the ELCA Federal Credit Union, Living Lutheran magazine and more.


Post Synod Assembly Information -
Several people asked if it was possible for the Rev. Dr. Cheryl Stewart Pero to share the empathy exercise that she had us participate in during her keynote address.  Dr. Pero has obtained permission from the author, Ms. Dody S. Matthias, to use the exercise, What It Feels Like: Empathy which is from a section on Awareness in Ms. Matthias' anti-racism book, Working for Life: Dismantling Racism, published by Fairway Press in 1990.  The exercise is now posted on the synod website along with Rev. Pero's keynote address and her sermon, which she has shared with us for this purpose.  The synod's Congregational Racial Justice Resource Tool Kit is also still available on the website as well as Birmingham, Privilege & Possibilities and Privilege, Process, Transformation.
 
Our ELCA Representative, Molly Beck Dean, has shared her notes from her workshop and agreed to have them posted on the website.  Called Forward Together in Christ Notes are available here


Synod Assembly Plenary Videos Available - If you didn't catch the Synod Assembly live stream or maybe you want to share an Assembly action or celebration with your congregation, the Assembly Plenary videos are now available on YouTube.  You can also view the Bishop's Town Hall, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Stewart Pero's Keynote address and the Monday evening Eucharist Worship.  


Independence Day
On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States. Each year on July 4th, also known as Independence Day, Americans celebrate this historic event.




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.   


Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | 5811 Heritage Landing Drive | First Floor | E. Syracuse | NY | 13057