December 2, 2015

Mini-Retreats offer convenient continuing education option for Covenant ministers
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.

Part of remaining in good standing as a credentialed Covenant minister is continuing education. Our Annual Vocational Growth Tool says, "Four vocational growth experiences are required each year for active ministers. Two of the four should take place at a conference or denominational activity." The Mini-Retreats offer a convenient way to grow and accomplish one of your required experiences.

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: Confirm your reservation with Jeff Burton - jeff@northwestconference.org.

Fee: $15 per participant - includes lunch
Checks: Payable to the Northwest Conference Ministerial Association.

Recharge 2016 taking place in multiple locations in January

Sign up your team for this one-day youth ministry and children's ministry leadership training event. It is expanding to several cities in our area: Minneapolis/St. Paul is Jan. 9, Duluth is Jan. 16, and Fargo is Jan. 23. Covenant churches will meet for lunch at the Twin Cities Recharge.

For more info on Recharge, visit www.ministryrecharge.com or visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/ministryrecharge

Human Sexuality workshop with Dr. Mark Yarhouse set for Feb. 27

It continues to be our desire to provide helpful resources to better equip our pastors and congregations to be effective witnesses for the Lord and faithful to His Word. A reminder that the Northwest Conference will also be sponsoring a workshop with Dr. Mark Yarhouse on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Yarhouse was a primary presenter at a daylong event at the University of Northwestern (St. Paul) sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals and attended by ECC President Gary Walter and NWC Superintendent Mark Stromberg. His presentation was entitled, "Pastoral Care of LGBT Persons & Families."

Yarhouse is the Hughes Endowed Chair and Professor of Psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, where he directs the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity. He has spent several years promoting dialogue between people who view the topic of sexual identity differently.

In 2000, Yarhouse chaired a groundbreaking symposium at the American Psychological Association's annual convention that brought together gay psychologists and religious psychologists to discuss common ground for people sorting out sexual and religious identity conflicts.

Yarhouse has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and is author or co-author of several books, including "Homosexuality and the Christian: A Guide for Parents, Pastors, and Friends," "Understanding Sexual Identity: A Resource for Youth Ministers," and the forthcoming book, "Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture" (InterVarsity Press, June 2015).

Details on location for this event will be forthcoming in the near future.

Church Resources
Best practices resources for churches and church leaders
 
In recent months, a number of NWC churches and pastors have been requesting resources pertaining to best practices and guidelines on a variety of topics facing churches and church leaders in the face of a rapidly changing culture.

GuideOne Insurance 
Recent Supreme Court rulings are causing churches and ministries across the country to question how they can adequately protect themselves from claims of discrimination while practicing their religious beliefs. GuideOne Insurance offers Religious Expression Coverage, as well as a free e-book to help churches better understand the key elements to safeguard their ministry. Click here to explore these resources.
 
Brotherhood Mutual 
We want to alert you to one particular organization that has sought to compile a wide range of resources in order to be of service to local congregations. As a result, we would invite you to check out the website for Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company at brotherhoodmutual.com. We believe that you may find some of its materials to be helpful to you. 


To enhance connections among those serving in NWC churches and other types of ministry, we offer 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

Please continue to pray for little Gregory Kirk Berge, born Oct. 23, four months early.  Weighing 19 oz at birth, he had abdominal and heart surgeries during his first two weeks of life.

Gregory is now five weeks old (Nov. 30) and weighs 31 oz. He is receiving care in the NICU at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. Further information can be found on Caring Bridge here.
 
Parents: Amy and Dave Berge (Dave is the church planting pastor of City of Lakes Covenant Church in southwest Minneapolis.)
 
Brothers: Kyle (4) and Peter (2)


Download
2015 Superintendent's Letter to Churches Gathering in Annual Meetings Available
 
Click here for your copy of Superintendent Mark R. Stromberg's letter to churches gathering in annual meetings.
 
Feel free to include this letter in your annual meeting booklets or provide a copy to your church family via a bulletin insert!

Finance 
Year-end reminders for tax reporting
 
A reminder about year-end gifts to staff ...
Churches like to recognize and thank their staff for their dedicated service at this time of year.  These gifts are taxable income to staff members. If the gifts are made out through a special appeal for this purpose, the donations are NOT deductible since the donor is naming a beneficiary of their donation.
 
And to financial secretaries about year end contribution reporting ... 
Deductible 2015 contributions must be postmarked, in hand or electronically initiated by Dec. 31. The check date has no bearing on what year a gift is reported.
 
If you have questions, please contact Sandy Norris, NWC Director of Finance. 
 
To see the full NWC Calendar, visit northwestconference.org/events/

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 15-16, 2016
MOVE - Twin Cities
 
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

May 7, 2016
Go:Serve - First Covenant Church, St. Paul, MN
 
June 18-25, 2016
Adventures in Leadership - Adventurous Christians, Grand Marais, MN
 
August 4-6, 2016
MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

Northwest Conference, 3106 47th Ave. S.  |  612.721.4893  |  northwestconference.org