The Upstate Update for Wednesday, September 7, 2016

God's Work Our Hands

In Our Congregations

Holy Spirit, Albany

Fourth Annual Neighborhood International Picnic


Rev. David Preisinger

The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit (LCHS), in Albany, New York is located in a residential area of the city's south side. It is a diverse neighborhood. The local elementary school, across the street from the church, is a bi-lingual school. All classes are taught in Spanish and English, but the diversity of languages spoken at the school goes well beyond that.

The neighborhood within a mile radius of LCHS is home to many refugees and recent immigrants to the United States. As a congregation we have wrestled and prayed about how to be a good neighbor, how to connect with community, how to better reflect the place where we have been planted. Our prayers have begun to be answered in interesting ways.

First, the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants contacted the church and asked if we might provide space for English as a New Language (ENL) classes. Of course we would at no charge, and the classes started. The first year there were close to 30 students from all over the world. The majority of the first class was from Myanmar (Burma) and spoke the Karen language. There were also people from Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Ecuador, literally from all over the world. All were folks in walking distance of the church.


	Some of the women from the class and contributors of the food

The ENL classes have now been held at LCHS for over 4 years, with 6 teachers, and have varied in size from 7 to 25. The current classes have more people from Iraq and Afghanistan. We've been told that during the months of August and September there will be over 100 refugees from Syria coming into the Albany area. It is likely that some of these folks will be in the fall classes.

The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit has provided free space for the classes, but as a congregation we wanted to do more to bring the whole neighborhood together to get to know each other. We proposed and have hosted four Delaware Neighborhood International Picnics (Potlucks). The initial vision was to bring people together in an informal atmosphere to share food and customs from all over the world and enjoy an afternoon together with our neighbors.

The first year we had maybe 50 people and not a lot of variety of food. Most of the folks were members of LCHS. How could we get the diversity together? We talked to the teachers and students of the ENL classes but did not get a huge response. In 2015 and again this year we applied for and received Thrivent Grants. With the money from the grants we took folks from the classes shopping at their local Hallel and Asian market. The grant paid for the food the people needed to prepare dishes from their home countries. That proved to be a great way to get a truly internationally diverse gathering of people and unique and delicious food.


The Drum Circle

In addition to the food there has also been entertainment. One year a gentleman from Burma played his mandolin and sang Karen songs. We've had a drama group, and some of the women have dressed in their native clothing. For the last three years we have had a drum circle which invites folks at the picnic to learn to drum as a group and community. The local fire department has come with a truck, the local mounted police come on their horses, the mayor has been to two of the events, and there have been between 70 and 100 people at the picnic.

It's God's work our hands. The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit continues to pray for our neighborhood, and we are open to learning how to better connect and reflect the community where we are located. We have gained the reputation as the church that cares about the neighborhood and is willing to help and make a difference. We still have a lot to learn and God continues to push us and open doors for ministry.

SIGN UP TODAY!

Portico Health Forums 2016

September 19, 20, 21


	Patsy Glista, AIM

Rev. Cathy Schibler, Regional Portico Representative will be on our territory to facilitate forums on the latest information on 2017 Portico benefits. Bring your questions and be better prepared to make decisions during the annual fall health insurance selection process. Pre-register by September 15 - email Patsy Glista, pglista@upstatenysynod.org

Monday, September 19, 2016, 7:00 - 9:00pm in eastern NY at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 510 Albany Shaker Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211. [518-458-1562].
Tuesday, September 20, 2016, 7:00 - 9:00pm in central NY at Luther Memorial Church, 435 S. Main Street, North Syracuse, NY 13212. Please come on Route 11 and park in the parking area in the front of the church and enter into the sanctuary. If parking is full then you can park in the rear, come in the rear entrance and up the stairway located near the entrance to the sanctuary. There will be signs directing you. [315-458-1481]
Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 7:00 - 9:00pm in western NY at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1925 Borden Road, Depew, NY 14043-4221. [716-668-8000].

Portico Key Dates:

Oct. 3 - Oct. 28: Sponsoring Employers review options and enter 2017 health benefit option online.

November 2 - 30 (tentative): Employee enrollment period. During this time pastors and any other participating employees at the congregation/organization will need to go on MyPortico to sign up for coverage.

"Live in harmony with one another." - Romans 12:16


	Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton

Dear partner in ministry,

On Oct. 31, 2017, we will make history. Lutherans and Catholics from around the world will come together for the anniversary of the Reformation. The Lutheran-Catholic commemoration will take place in Lund, Sweden, with a Common Prayer service led by Pope Francis, The Lutheran World Federation President Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan and its general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Martin Junge.

After 500 years, both Lutherans and Catholics share the joy for the positive elements of the Reformation, rejoicing together in the gospel and acknowledging that we are sent together as the body of Christ to serve the world. The joint commemoration witnesses to the reality that what unites us is more powerful than what divides us. This event is an opportunity to open doors to new possibilities, strengthen relationships, work together to promote peace, reconciliation and joint diaconal work around the world. As a sign of unity, Lutheran World Service and the Catholic agency, Caritas Internationalis, will commit to a Declaration of Intent, promising to work together in programs world-wide.

You can be a part of this exciting moment in history.

Pray for Christian unity, and commend and encourage continued local Lutheran-Catholic dialogue and engagement.
Consider ways you or your congregation could support the joint ecumenical commemoration. Gifts are needed to help support this unprecedented event.
Attend the event, register for updates and get notified when tickets become available at lund2016.net.
View the recorded service in the Lund Cathedral with a group in your congregation and consider inviting Catholic parishes to join. You can download a template of the liturgy, Common Prayer, to follow along.
Find resources to use in your congregation. The 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly commended these resources to the church: "From Conflict to Communion," which is the basis for the joint commemoration and has a helpful study guide for local use; "Declaration on the Way: Church, Ministry, Eucharist," a pioneering ecumenical document whose statement of agreements was overwhelmingly received by the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly; and the 1999 "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification."
Discover other events and resources the ELCA is lifting up at ELCA500.org. as we prepare to observe the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Our faith calls us to see the world as interdependent, and in preparation for this anniversary, we are given the opportunity to witness to God's healing work toward reconciliation. At a time when violence and fragmentation seem to be the way, this joint commemoration offers something different. Dialogue is possible and produces good fruits: Conflict can be left behind, and the common hope we all have in Christ is celebrated. The transformative power of our shared faith can lead us to compassionate common service and joyful witness.

Thanks be to God,

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Pre-retirement Webinars: Info-packed and Portable

Whether retirement's just around the corner or you're still quite a few years out, it's likely that you've got some questions. Will I have enough money to retire? How do Medicare and Social Security work? What can I do today to make sure that I'm on track?

Let's make retirement planning easier by doing it together. Bring your questions to our pre-retirement webinar series - an online version of our popular daylong pre-retirement seminar. The three webinar sessions will cover a variety of topics, from investing to health care, featuring live presenters from Portico and Ernst & Young, as well as live Q&A, all at no cost to you. Sign up for the series and join us for as many sessions as you can. As this is a series, you will receive the most benefit from participating in all three sessions.

Session 1: Investments and Accumulation, Sept. 27, 2 to 3 p.m. (Central) Explore these investment questions and more: * What should I know about investing to help me achieve my goals? * What investment options are available through the ELCA Retirement Plan? * What resources are available to help me determine which investments are right for me? * What can I do if I started saving late?

Session 2: Transition to Retirement, Oct. 4, 2 to 3 p.m. (Central) Explore these retirement planning questions and more: * How much money do I need to retire? * What might my budget look like in retirement? * Will I be eligible for housing allowance in retirement? * What health care options do I have in retirement?

Session 3: Income in Retirement, Oct. 11, 2 to 3 p.m. (Central) Explore these retirement income questions and more: * What options do I have to withdraw money from my ELCA retirement account? * How does the ELCA Participating Annuity work? * What strategies could I use to make the most of my Social Security payment? * Considering all of my different income sources, what income can I plan for in

retirement?

Register for the series!

Can't participate in one or more of the sessions? You can find the recordings of the preretirement webinar series on the Portico Events page. We also plan to offer this series again next year.

Grace Pomroy

Financial Education Specialist

Portico Benefit Services

Higher Ground Moral Declaration

On behalf of the New York State Council of Churches, I invite you to join clergy and lay leaders from across the state of New York for a moral revival on September 12 from 10:00 to 12:30 in our state capital. On that day, we will highlight a Moral Declaration and call on the Governor and our legislators for action on policies which will alleviate suffering and offer hope.You can read more about the Higher Ground Moral Declaration and add your name here. Similar gatherings will be held in 24 other state capitals at the same time. Will you join us in Albany on September 12th to deliver the Moral Declaration to Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders? Click here to RSVP and get more information. Here is a flyer for the event which you can distribute along with the above sign up link.

As we embrace an ecumenical approach to our justice ministries, I offer a reminder about our Faith for Fair New York Conference September 25 to 27 at Liverpool United Methodist Church near Syracuse. The New York State Council is an active co-sponsor. The Conference offers a place we can collaborate and think together while helping local churches with their social justice ministries. There is still time to register here. Scholarships are available.

I wish you well as you begin your work this Fall. I look forward to sharing with you more thoughts on the Council's work. Please do not hesitate to call me to explore ways the Council can be supportive of your ministry.

In faith,

Peter Cook, Executive Director

Summer Kamp is over, and winter is just around the corner. There is so much to do and we need your help!

Regardless of your skill level or ability there is something you can do to help!

Projects include:

Continuing to finish Frank roof
Pressure washing and staining picnic tables
Staining Frank stairs/fire escape
Pressure washing and staining Resurrection, Robert and Oscar stairs/fire escape
Tree branch clean up both from logging and recent storm damage
Splitting and stacking fire wood
Housekeeping and other general maintenance projects

We meet for service and fellowship from 1:00-5:00 pm on the Second Saturday of each month. We simply ask that you let us know by Thursday that you are joining us so we may plan accordingly (call us at 315-675-3651 or emailvkcenter@vk.org). Please prayerfully consider joining us this Saturday, September 10. If you are unable to make it this Saturday, we will be meeting again on October 8th.

Uniting Pennsylvania Seminaries Choose Name,

Launch Presidential Search

The Launch of a New Seminary

At the recent August 18-19 meetings of the Gettysburg and Philadelphia Seminary boards, which included the jointly appointed 12-member Transition Team, the group received positive news regarding fundraising for the fiscal year just completed and encouraging enrollment projections for the coming academic year as they prepared to make decisions regarding the New Venture. At the conclusion of their meetings, they had selected a name for the newly formed seminary, determined a formal pathway forward to unify the two schools, and launched a presidential search process.

New Name

United Lutheran Seminary was the unanimously chosen name for the unified school. "United Lutheran Seminary sums up our vision of the future into which we believe God is calling us," declared Bishop James Dunlop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. The name was selected from a list of many suggested by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and board members.

A Pathway Forward to Unify the Seminaries

Original plans to consolidate the two existing schools by closing both and creating a new entity were modified based upon the counsel of Pennsylvania's Department of Education. In order to preserve licensure and full accreditation, the Department advised that the new school adopt and adapt the existing corporate structure of one of the two schools and have the other join the new venture by closing and transferring its assets.

The boards reviewed multiple factors in adopting a plan forward including the schools' current accreditation status, the complexity of the corporate structures at each school, the transferability of restricted endowments, and the desire to preserve the historical legacy of both schools by retaining the oldest charter. In order to strengthen the mission of the existing schools by creating a new venture in theological education hosted on two distinct campuses, the boards decided to adopt the corporate entity of the seminary in Gettysburg.

The Gettysburg school will therefore modify and rename its corporate entity to create United Lutheran Seminary and to transfer the assets of LTSP to this new school. Through the revision of Gettysburg's bylaws a new board will be created from the synods of both Regions 7 and 8 of the ELCA and additional members appointed by the ELCA's Church Council. It will also change its name to United Lutheran Seminary and call a new president to lead the new school hosted on two campuses.

Presidential Search to be Launched

Both boards also affirmed the Transition Team's recommendation to launch a search in early fall for the individual who will serve as the first president of the united school. Both current presidents, the Revs. David Lose of Philadelphia and Michael Cooper-White of Gettysburg, have said they will not be candidates.

The Rev. Elise Brown of New York City, who serves as the Transition Team's vice chair, stated, "The quest now begins for a leader who will join us in launching a premier seminary serving the church and the world of the twenty-first century." Dunlop and Brown also announced that heading the presidential search committee will be the Rev. Charles Miller of New York City. A graduate of Gettysburg Seminary, Miller has served in recent years as a key leader among trustees on the Philadelphia board. Prior to his retirement, Miller was the ELCA's Executive for Administration, responsible for overseeing daily operations of the church's national and international work. The ELCA Church Council needs to approve bylaw changes and ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will consult in the presidential search process.

Curriculum, Faculty, and Staff

The governing groups of both existing schools also affirmed broad parameters of curricular design efforts conducted over the summer by a faculty work group. This new curricular structure is not a hybrid of the existing schools but establishes a creative competency-based program that will integrate academic disciplines to yield outcomes needed for twenty-first century church leaders, rostered and lay. Classes will continue to be taught on both campuses, all degrees currently offered by both schools are expected to be retained, and all current and new students enrolling this year are guaranteed a pathway to complete their degrees without interruption.

In addition, the boards gave significant attention to measures of transition support for existing faculty and staff members of the two schools. It is expected the workforce of the combined school will be approximately two-thirds that of the current seminaries' employees. Board chairs Dr. James Lakso of LTSG and the Rev. John Richter of LTSP stated, "We want to do the best we can in supporting all our valued employees, including those whom the emerging unified school will be unable to retain."

"Our goal all along has been to create a new venture in theological education that enabled us to better prepare leaders responsive to the challenges of the day in a way that is more affordable for students and more sustainable to the larger church," declared Richter, "and we believe the decisions of the boards accomplish this goal." Lakso added, "We are seeking the best possible launch for United Lutheran Seminary and both boards affirmed strong support for the use of both campuses and programs distinct to each school including the Urban Theological Institute and the Town and Country Church Institute."

A full news release about the decisions coming from this recent set of meetings, including the full text on the structural pathway forward and a new set of FAQ's, is posted on the websitenewschooloftheology.info.

IN OUR PRAYERS

Prayers of Comfort

for the family and friends of Rev. Robert W. Busch

Prayers of Thanksgiving

for Mary Osgood, SA Coordinator and Joanne Lembech, SA Chair who have agreed to be part of the planning for the 2017 Synod Assembly

TIDBITS

PORTICO WEBINAR

"A Closer Look at 2017 Health Benefits and Rates" will be broadcast on Thursday, September 8, 12:00 - 12:30pm EDT. Plan members and organization decision-makers interested in learning more about Portico's new approach to health care are invited to attend this short webinar hosted by Stacy Kruse, Portico's Chief Operating and Financial Officer. Attendees will be able to ask questions during the webinar. A recording will be available for replay afterwards. Sign-up today!

God's Work Our Hands Sunday is on September 11, 2016. Our congregations will again have the opportunity to participate and celebrate who we are as the ELCA - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Visit Day of Service for the 2016 tool kit and more.

Send your stories to Kathy Neugent so we can share them with other congregations through the Upstate Update.

Bishop's Appeal 2016 Please remember to make your donation. It will help create a fund to offer assistance with educational debt to those in need who become rostered in our synod. Donate on-line

BE PREPARED TO PUT AN ANTI-BULLYING PLAN INTO ACTION

Your organization may have an anti-bullying policy in place, but is it ready to be enforced? Does it spell out specific details on how to:

Build a safe environment?
Identify a bully?
Engage people and get them to act?

Bullying is a serious problem for many churches, schools and youth ministries around the country. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce its effects. To begin with, make sure your organization has an anti-bullying policy and that it covers the three critical areas.

View the three keys to prevent bullying

Keith T. Hampton appointed Cantor to the Seminary Community

Keith T. Hampton has been appointed Cantor to the Seminary Community at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). He started on August 16. Dr. Hampton has been director of the LSTC Gospel Choir since 1997. As Cantor to the Seminary Community, Hampton will serve as the principal musician for two weekly liturgies, serve as the music specialist on the LSTC worship team, and conduct the two LSTC choirs, the Cantorei and the LSTC Gospel Choir. He also will oversee the Manz Organ Recital Series, and maintenance of the Manz Organ. For more information visit Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

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

kneugent@upstatenysynod.org

Phone: 315-299-4955 Fax: 315-299-4981

Resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives.