SYNOD NEWS AND EVENTS - JANUARY 22, 2016
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Innovation Hunting
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson
I am gathering stories of innovations from congregations, pastors, formation staff and support staff.  It may be a success story or it might not have worked so well and would qualify you for the "Best Mistake of the Year Award."
As we seek to serve an ever changing mission field, we seek to be always reforming to better serve the Gospel.  I invite you to share a few sentences about your innovation and what you learned with me.  Please email me at jon.anderson@swmnelca.org.
Young Adult in Global Mission and Campaign Interpreter Sarah Brock Available Until May
+Bishop Jon Anderson
I want to share that Sarah Brock (Zion Lutheran, Litchfield) is available to share her story about serving as a Young Adult in Global Mission in Rwanda until May when she heads back to school. This is an extension of her work earlier this fall. We are excited to share her availability with you.

She is serving as an ELCA Churchwide Campaign Interpreter. Sarah is looking for individuals, congregations and groups to connect with in January, February, March, and April. She has spoken to congregations at worship, adult forums, and mission committees.

Her purpose in addition to sharing the story of our Global Mission is to invite people to become engaged in financially supporting these ministries through the ELCA Campaign.

I want to invite you to imagine how she could share the story of our larger work as a church body and her experience of that as a Young Adult in Global Mission.  She has time during the week to meet with interested people and groups of people who would like to learn more about our church body's work and the larger ELCA Campaign. She is available for conference meetings, Women of the ELCA gatherings, Men's Group gatherings, council meetings or other gatherings you might imagine.

When Sarah spoke to our pastors at our Fall Theological Conference, I was impressed.  She is an example of our church body's young leaders that give me hope as I think about our future.  We received strong positive feedback about her talk and presence.

Sarah has shared with me,"I've been surprised by how little people know about all the cool work the wider church is doing, such as YAGM and other ministries within the Campaign for the ELCA.  When we talk about "being church together," I think getting these stories out there and getting people engaged in these church-wide and global ministries is hugely important.  One of my favorite parts of my job (besides learning about all the ways people are being church in their own context) is seeing people get excited when they hear about the work of one of these larger ministries that connects them to something they are already passionate about."

She can help you interpret the larger church we support.  Here is her contact information. Email - Sarah.Brock@elca.org or Phone Number (773) 380-2758.
The Check List is Back!
Start checking off your to do list. At the beginning of every year we always ask you to share your congregation's information in many ways. These really important tasks help grow our ministry. Please take the time to fill out the following: 
Mission Support Intents
As your congregation prepares a budget for 2016, please share with us your Mission Support Intent amount for the Southwestern Minnesota Synod by clicking here.
Update Your Congregational Leadership Data
The synod office uses this information for the call process, giving statements, and getting helpful resources to the correct person. Click here to update now.
Forms A & C (Parochial Reports)
Please fill out your 2015 ELCA congregation report forms A & C by 
clicking here. If you do not know your congregation ID or password please call the synod office at 507-637-3904. Forms A & C should be completed by February 15, 2016. 
NEW THIS YEAR! - Parochial Report Discussion Guide
Click here to download the Parochial Report Discussion Guide. This document is to help your congregation complete Form A's questions TOGETHER. 
Health Assessment (HA)
Portico health plan members and eligible spouses, simply sign in to myPortico to access the new Mayo Clinic Healthy Living online and take your health assessment. ELCA-Primary members, start earning wellness dollars by taking the Health Assessment by clicking here. 
Islamophobia: An Exploration of the West's Fear of Islam and Why This Matters
+Bishop Jon Anderson  
We are seeing large numbers of people attend forums and adult learning opportunities in the St. Cloud area using Lutheran Social Services new resource, "My Neighbor is Muslim." It is clear that people both want to better understand their neighbors' faith and in the process become more clear about their own faith. If you are not aware of this resource, I want to lift it up.  I also want to lift up two lectures in the area by Dr. Todd Green who helped write this resource.   

Islamophobia: An Exploration of the West's Fear of Islam and Why This Matters
Todd Green, Ph.D., interviewed by Hans Gustafson, Ph.D
Wednesday, March 2, at 7:00 PM
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus 
Click here for more information. 

Todd Green, Ph.D., interviewed by Laura Taylor, Ph.D.
Thursday, March 3, at 4:15 PM
Quad 264, Saint John's University
Click here for more information. 

Event Introduction: 
American and European societies, particularly since the events of September 11, 2001, have struggled with the recurrent problem of Islamophobia, which continues to be expressed in waves of controversial legislative proposals, public anger over the construction of Muslim religious edifices, and outbreaks of violence. In his book The Fear of Islam: An Introduction to Islamophobia in the West (Fortress Press, 2015), Todd Green offers a sophisticated but accessible introduction to the historical roots and contemporary forms of anxiety regarding Islam within the Western world. Click here to read more.
Annual Meeting Resources 
These resources are to help you plan for your upcoming annual congregation meeting.
Pastor-2-Pastor - Winter Gathering 
February 18-19, 2016 
Meet with your colleague team members and other pastors for a 24-hour retreat from Thursday noon to Friday noon on campus at Gustavus Adolphus College. 

The theme for the winter gathering is "Celebrating a Whole Life of Worship: Loving God with Heart, Mind, and Strength." Featured speakers for this gathering are Siri Erickson, Katherine Rood, Steve Olson, Grady St. Dennis, and Peter Rogness. Click here for more information. 
Gustavus Youth Outreach - GYO
GYO is ready to serve your congregation!
Gustavus Youth Outreach is a student organization committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and providing an opportunity for Christian youth ministry. GYO Teams travel throughout the area leading youth events ("bookings" in GYO lingo). Bookings often include worship, songs, games, bible study, discussion groups, skits, and just about anything else teams creatively dream up, as we strive to be instruments of God's love to the kids we serve.

Two Booking Options
  • GYO youth ministry support: GYO student-led teams will help with congregation youth events by faith testimonies, leading games, songs and bible studies.
  • GYO service project: GYO student-led teams will organize and lead a youth service project event to pack school kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR).  We bring all materials and deliver kits to Lutheran World Relief.
Click here for the GYO Booking Request Form for details
 Book Now for Spring 2016!
Job Opening 
Living Waters Lutheran Church is actively seeking an enthusiastic and creative Music Director/Pianist to join our Living Waters Team. Click here for more information. 
Synod Events
Below is a list of all the upcoming synod events. Visit the synod events webpage for more information.
FEBRUARY
February 20, 2016
Willmar

ELCA Region 3 Hunger Retreat
February 5-6, 2016
Luther Crest, Alexandria

MARCH
March 4-5, 2016
Courtyard by Marriott, Mankato

Lutheran Men in Mission
March 11-12, 2016
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer
APRIL
First-Call Retreat
April 4-6, 2016

PSST Retreat
April 14-15, 2016
Green Lake Bible Camp, Spicer

SAVE THE DATE 
SW MN Synod Assembly
June 10-11, 2016
Gustavus, St Peter 
 
August 10-13, 216
New Orleans
 
ELCA Churchwide Assembly
August 8-13, 2016
New Orleans  

Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA 
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: 507-637-3904