Synod News & Events 
August 22, 2014
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Synod Events 
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events.

AUGUST 
Region 3 Practice Discipleship Retreat
August 24-26, 2014
Lutheran Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria

SEPTEMBER 
September 16, 2014
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Redwood Falls
Fall Theological Conference
September 21-24, 2014
Mount Carmel & Luther Crest Ministries, Alexandria

OCTOBER 
Elderberry Retreat
October 23-24, 2014
Green Lake Lutheran Ministries, Spicer

NOVEMBER 
NW & SW MN Synod Clergy Spouse Retreat
November 7-9, 2014
Luther Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria
Jr High Youth Gathering
November 21-23, 2014
Willmar

SAVE THE DATE 
All Conference Assemblies
February 8, 2015
Progress toward our Landscape survey goal.
444 people have taken the Landscape!

 

We have made a lot of progress but we are not done yet. We still want to hear from you! To be honest, we don't know if you have completed the Landscape or not because each person's answers are anonymous. BUT, if you haven't already, please shed some light on your experiences in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod. It will only take 20-30 minutes.


If you are the pastor or president, we would ask that you forward this to your staff, council leadership, and other leaders who have participated in our synod's life.

Please make every effort to complete the assessment by September 5, 2014. If you have any questions or need a paper copy of the Landscape, please call your synod office at 507-637-3904.

Thank you for being part of this process. Your voice is needed and important as we walk together discerning the ways the Holy Spirit is calling us into God's preferred future for our lives, our congregations, and our synod. Through this process we hope to give a critical voice to every congregation in our synod. I'm grateful for each of you. Below is a breakdown of each conference. 

 

The number of people who have taken the Landscape
from each conference. 
Inviting and Showing Hospitality
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
"Leave them alone and they will come home, wagging their tails behind them." Kennon Calahan used to say that this was the way too many congregations think about their inactive or the people in their community who do not have a church home. You know the children's rhyme, "Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and doesn't know where to find them. Leave them alone and they will come home, wagging their tails behind them."

Inviting - I notice that when congregations talk about their life they will often talk about how friendly and welcoming they are. That is important, but we need to become more comfortable inviting people to come to worship with us, or learn with us, or serve with us or enjoy fellowship/fun together. Jesus invited his disciples and invited you and me into faith and calls us deeper. I want to encourage congregations and all the baptized to figure out ways to help their baptized ministers make invitations in the coming weeks.

Hospitality is one of the virtues of Christian life. In addition to inviting we need to be intentional about reaching out to new people or folks who have not been with us from our communities of faith. It is as simple as leaving your friends to go and greet a new or old face at worship. So when you see that new person across the room, go and introduce yourself and be curious about who they are and how God brought them.

Our Synod's Director for Evangelism, Larry Strenge, has learned the power of inviting people to share "How might I pray for you?" If you are nervous about making invitations, ask God to help you with that. Remember we are not inviting to make members for our congregation. We are inviting people to become followers and fellow disciples with us in the body and work of Christ. One of the practices of Christians is to invite people to learn more and follow Jesus.
Debt reduction for seminary student loans
ELCA rostered leaders in our synod are invited to apply online for the
Funds for Leadership Support debt reduction grants for seminary student loans. Application deadline: September 10, 2014

Qualifications:
1) ELCA rostered leaders serving in good standing in SW MN Synod as of July 1, 2014;
2) who served under call in this synod in 2013
3) with payments on seminary loans in the 2013 calendar year (documentation submitted to our office at the time of application);
4) with remaining seminary student loan balance of at least $500 as of June 30, 2014; and
5) application received by Sept. 10, 2014 (disbursement of funds directly to lending agencies in October 2014).

After completion of the application form, please send a scanned copy of your loan payment documentation (for the entire calendar year 2013) to carla.klawitter@swmnelca.org.

If sending hard copy, please mail to: Attn: Debt Reduction,
SW MN Synod-ELCA, PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283.
Remember, the application deadline is September 10, 2014.

2014 Fall Theological Conference
September 21-24, 2014
We are returning back to the beautiful settings of Luther Crest and Mount Carmel Ministries for this year's FTC!

Our theological focus will be on the theme, Diakonia, formed to serve with Dr. Marcia Bunge and Pr. Drew Genszler as our primary speakers.

Registration deadline is September 12, 2014.

The Fall Theological Conference is for SW MN Synod Pastors, Associates in Ministry, Interns, and Synodically Authorized Lay Ministers.
2014 Church Staff Workers Association Retreat
September 16, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

The annual CSWA retreat offers an opportunity for
congregational staff to come together for a day of inspiration,
learning and sharing hopes and concerns.

Join us for speakers, Rev. Dr. Anna Madsen from 
OMG: Center for Theological Conversation and 
Jodi Harpstead, CEO of Lutheran Social Service of MN.
As well as, free chair massages, lunch and time to gather with other church staff workers. 

Boundaries Refresher
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
Our synod council passed a continuing resolution a few years ago encouraging rostered leaders to attend a boundaries workshop every three years. 

To help people accomplish this goal we will be having a Boundaries Refresher Course built into our upcoming Church Staff Workers' Retreat. Beginning at 12:30 this group will engage in a participatory review of best practices and summary reminders about keeping healthy boundaries in our lives as rostered leaders. 

Boundaries Refresher (2.5 hours)
Tuesday, September 16 at 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Redwood Falls MN
Click here to register!

If you are attending the Church Staff Workers' Retreat that day, there will be no additional cost. If you are not, the cost will be $25 per person. Please arrive at noon to pick up a box lunch. The meeting will start promptly at 12:30. In addition to registering, we would ask that you share one question that you are bringing with you to help our presenters, Rick Loseth LICSW and Pr. Susan Enghom prepare for our event.

The refresher will conclude at 3.00 p.m. when the Church Staff Workers event concludes. This will mean those who participate will not be able to hear our second speaker, Jodi Harpstead from LSS of MN speak.

The next opportunity to refresh your boundaries awareness will be our full day Boundaries Workshop for pastors who have received a call in our synod for the first time. It is open to other rostered leaders and church program staff workers on Nov. 13. It is a full day workshop, more information coming soon.
LMM Golf Tournament
 
Lutheran Men in Mission Earned $1118.11 for rural scholarship fund for seminary students at their recent golf tournament. 54 golfers and 6 others that joined for the meal. The LMM Annual Golf Tournament is held every July.