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Bring God's hope and healing
In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, your support will bring God's hope and healing to those who have been affected. The response from Lutheran Disaster Response already spans across several countries. Together, we will work with trusted partners and companion churches that know the communities well and are preparing recovery efforts. Learn more about how you can help here. Download our synod's own Disaster Plan here.
 Special Synod Assembly cancelled
In preparing for the Special Synod Assembly, the Executive Committee closely watched the number of people confirming their attendance and the open rates of emails sent. Although 300 people opened the first email, the same information was sent via regular post, and a second email sent with further available information (which was opened by 250 people). Even still, the confirmed registrations do not show that enough voting members would be present to have a quorum on October 15. As such, the Executive Committee has decided to cancel the special fall assembly. The appeals anticipated for this assembly will be on the agenda of our regularly scheduled annual assembly, May 11-13, 2017.
 Active partners in our church's mission
When you support your congregation through regular financial offering, your congregation sends a portion of this as mission support to your synod and churchwide organization. This simple act makes ministry possible beyond your congregation and actually returns to congregations in the form of services, programs, resources, or grants. Learn more about where your offering goes through Stories of Faith in Action, a free, annual publication that highlights how God is changing lives through ministries funded by mission support. Similarly, download bulletin inserts, Mission Support FAQs, and a poster to share in your congregation here.
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Synod Council Meeting
The Synod Council began their all-day meeting with a brief devotion and an opportunity to share a personal story by council member, something that will continue at each meeting. Our Synod Council then acted to extend calls to specialized and interim ministry as well as to grant on leave from call status and retirement status. Tom Massey, our strategic plan consultant, worked with the council to see where we've been with our strategic plan and where we are headed as we look to refresh the plan and its initiatives. Reports were given from staff, strategic plan committees, the Stewardship and Mission Support table, and follow up from previous assembly actions. The council also voted to create supporting organizations, a resolution that was referred back to the Synod Council by the 2016 Synod Assembly, and took action on pending property contracts. We spent longer time looking at the financial reports as many of the council members are new to the council. The minutes from this meeting will be available after they are approved at the October meeting.
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New Overtime Rules
The U.S. Department of Labor has adopted new overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which go into effect on December 1, 2016. Among other changes, these regulations increase the minimum salary for exempt employees from $23,000 to $47,476. Many congregations, synods, and other ministries of the church have questions about how this impacts their employees and ministries. Does it apply to churches? What about pastors? Youth workers? Sextons? How about schools? Or camps? Join the ELCA Churchwide Organization for a free webinar on how the new regulations will affect religious institutions where they will try to answer many of these questions. Learn more here.
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 Wider Church Fund grants availableDo you know of a 501(c)3 organization that could benefit from a Wider Church Fund grant? These grants are intended to help fund programs outside of our synod's regular operating budget. The application deadline for 2017 grants is November 30. Learn more and download the application here.
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 Wartburg 150th Anniversary
Join Wartburg in honoring their past, celebrating their present, and building their future. Rev. Dr. Robert Rimbo, Bishop of The Metropolitan New York Synod ELCA will be presiding and Rev. Derek G. Lecakes, Bishop/President of The Atlantic District LCMS will be preaching at this worship celebration on November 5. All members of the clergy are invited to vest. Color of the day is white. Learn more here.
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 Orientation for Diaconate
The Diaconate Council will be holding an orientation for those people who wish to enter the process of becoming a synodically rostered deacon of the Metropolitan New York Synod on October 29. This orientation is a required step in this process for candidates and their pastors. Before attending this orientation, an application should be filled out and either emailed to mnysdiaconate@aol.com or mailed to the synod office (attention: Diaconate Council). It is also highly recommended that you take the time before the orientation to read the Guidelines of the Diaconate. We ask that you RSVP by October 24 if you plan on attending. If you have any questions, or desire to enter the process but cannot be at the orientation on this date, please contact the Diaconate Council.
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Director of Faith Formation
Good Shepherd, Pearl River is looking for a full-time Director of Faith formation. Salary is negotiable and will commensurate with experience and capabilities. The Director of Faith Formation is a position whose objectives are to seek to foster a Christian community through building relationships with people of all ages, which strengthens their commitment to the church and grows their faith in Jesus Christ. They will provide leadership for our youth and adult faith formation ministries, create and develop youth and adult programming for all ages and promote fun, fellowship, and outreach involvement for all age levels at Good Shepherd. Contact personnel@gspr.org to learn more or submit a cover letter and resume.
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Rev. Ken Simurro has resigned from his call at St. Paul's, Flatlands, Brooklyn, effective October 31.
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- For those affected by Hurricane Matthew and those who come to their aid
- For the friends and family of Pr. Raymond Birkel, who died in Christ on September 22
- For refugees and those who come to their aid
- For those attending and planning anti-racism trainings throughout our synod
- For our partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land as they live amidst the continued Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- For health and healing for Ira Nebrasky, husband of Pastor ElizaBeth Nebrasky, who is undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma
- For ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission Jessica Roberts, serving in the United Kingdom
- For ELCA missionaries Sarah Habermahl and David Locke serving in Malaysia
- For Bishop Larry Wohlrabe, the staff and people of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod
- For the care of God's creation
- For the unity of this church and its mission
Download the synod prayer calendar here.
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