News from the Northwest Conference

Registration details available for Bill Henson Posture Shift workshop

Nov. 14, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Maple Grove Covenant Church

Bill Henson is the founder of Lead Them Home, an organization that consults church leaders on building a biblically orthodox, missiological framework for church mission and ministry with LGBTQ persons, with a specialization in sharing Christ with non-heterosexual persons.

Henson has developed a framework for conversation and learning called Posture Shift, a national model reaching over 5,000 church leaders in recent years. His work has been featured in Leadership Journal and it has been incorporated as teaching curricula at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Gordon College. The board of trustees of Lead Them Home is chaired by Dr. Raymond Pendleton, professor of pastoral psychology, at Gordon-Conwell.

This is part of our ongoing effort to resource our pastors and churches in living faithfully and graciously into our Covenant position on human sexuality. Henson presented to 140 of our pastors in May and his presentation was well-received by those attending the event. Henson is now coming back for training of pastors, staff members and vetted and elected church leaders.

Registration

To register for this event, please email Jessa Anderson at jessa@northwestconference.org or call the Northwest Conference office at 612-721-4893. The registration deadline is Nov. 7, 2015. Lunch will be provided with a suggested donation of $10.

NWC leaders to attend upcoming district pastors meetings to discuss ECC human sexuality papers

On Oct. 2, new documents were distributed to our pastors by the Evangelical Covenant Church to provide more clarity on the topic of human sexuality. The primary documents are an updated "Guidelines for Covenant Pastors and Congregations Regarding Human Sexuality," and a new resource paper, "Freedom and Responsibility: Dissent and Covenant Clergy."

As a follow-up to these documents, Mark Stromberg, Superintendent, and Jeff Burton, Director of Pastoral Care & Development, are intending to visit each of our 15 district pastors meetings in November to hear comments and questions, and provide clarity on both the process followed in creating the documents and the content of the documents.

Pastors are invited to attend their upcoming district meetings for conversation on the topic.

Children, Youth & Family workers in Red River Valley area invited to regional Connection event

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2015 TIME: 7-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hope Covenant Church
1601 17th Ave S., Grand Forks, ND 58201
gfhope.org / (701) 772-1884

Hosted by Ginny Olson, Director of Youth Ministry, and Kara Stromberg, Director of Children & Family Ministry

All who work with children, youth and families are invited to connect with others for fellowship, encouragement, and a guided discussion about trends in child and adolescent ministry.

Email jessa@northwestconference.org to let us know if you're coming so we can plan for you.

Mini-Retreat for Pastors and Ministry Staff

"Practical Tools for Learning, Leading and Liberating"

Jan. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Christos Center for Spiritual Formation in Lino Lakes, MN

This one-day retreat will explore how to know and understand your natural voice in a way that will help you learn, lead and liberate in your ministry environment.

Our facilitator: Jeffrey S. Dorman served as an ELCA pastor in various Minnesota locations for over 20 years. A mediator in private practice, he also works as a leadership consultant with GiANT Worldwide. His D-Min studies were at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Registration details coming soon.

To enhance connections among those serving in NWC churches and other types of ministry, we are initiating this Life Events feature. Pastors and ministry staff are encouraged to send news of births, adoptions, weddings, and deaths (immediate family only) to Judy Swanberg, Associate Director of Pastoral Care & Development.

Births

Gregory Kirk Berge

We celebrate with Dave and Amy Berge (City of Lakes Covenant Church) on the birth of their 3rd child, Gregory Kirk Berge on Friday, Oct. 23. While we celebrate this new life, the Berges are requesting our prayers as Gregory was born prematurely at just 23 ½ weeks, weighing just over 1 pound, and is receiving care in the NICU at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. The caring bridge site for Gregory is: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gregoryberge

Weddings

Steve and Michelle Grosz

Steve and Michelle Grosz were married on June 27, 2015. Steve is the pastor of the Teien Covenant Church in Drayton, ND, and the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church in Kennedy, MN.

November 4, 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

NWC leaders to attend upcoming district pastors meetings to discuss ECC human sexuality papers

Children, Youth & Family workers in Red River Valley area invited to regional Connection event

Mini-Retreat for Pastors and Ministry Staff

Life Events

Nov. 6, 2015

Chaplains Connection

- Restoration Ministries, Chanhassen, MN

Nov. 14, 2015

Postureshift workshop w/Bill Henson - Maple Grove, MN

Dec. 2. 2015

CY&F Red River Valley Connection - Hope Covenant Church, Grand Forks, ND

Jan. 5, 2016

PC&D Mini-Retreat: "Practical Tools for Learning, Leading, and Liberating" - Christos Center for Spiritual Formation, Lino Lakes, MN

Jan. 9, 2016

Recharge - Twin Cities, MN

Jan. 16, 2016

Recharge - Duluth, MN

Jan. 23, 2016

Recharge - Fargo, ND

Feb. 27, 2016

Dr. Mark Yarhouse workshop - Location TBD

March 11-12, 2016

Women Ministries Renewal Conference - Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park, MN

April 28-29, 2016

Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN

April 29-30, 2016

Northwest Conference Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN

NWC Job Postings Page

Pastors and ministry leaders, if you have people in your congregation who are exploring ministry, on a part- or full-time basis, please refer them to our job postings page.