February 4, 2016

 

The Lilly Endowment Inc. of Indianapolis, one of America's major private foundations, has awarded a grant of $500,000 to the Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA, under the Endowment's National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders.  As stated in the enclosed press release, the grant will allow us to address congregational and pastoral financial concerns, expand financial literacy, and work together in new ways, to more effectively carry out God's mission among us all.  More information concerning new program opportunities, funded by the grant, will be forthcoming in the months ahead.

 

The grant also makes possible the creation of a Ministerial Excellence Fund that will assist our pastors who struggle with educational debt following their seminary education, help them meet unexpected medical emergency costs, and better prepare them for retirement.  To make this Ministerial Excellence Fund operative, the people of our Synod are challenged by Lilly to raise $250,000 to be matched by the same amount from the overall grant.  We will be working closely with people throughout our synod to prepare the strategies to meet the Lilly challenge.

 

We will share more at our synod assembly.  If it is not on your radar, SAVE THE DATES of JUNE 10-11 for our synod assembly at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.  At that time we will announce the goals and details of a much larger synod-wide financial initiative to "EMBRACE GOD'S MISSION + EQUIP GOD'S PEOPLE."  This initiative will produce new and much-needed resources for lay people and clergy throughout our Synod to deepen congregational vitality, enhance our congregational and synod effectiveness, and develop servant leaders.

 

We are doing synod together in new ways.  God is blessing us in new ways to work together to make great things happen!   May God continue to bless all the members of your congregation in your daily ministry.

 

In Christ,