News and Events

News and Events

Saint Paul Area Synod
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 20, 2014

Did you know sixty percent of the people electing the next bishop will be lay voting members?

If your congregation has not yet elected voting members, now is the time to identify them and invite them to participate in the conference assemblies on Feb. 8 at St. Andrew's, Mahtomedi.

Print out this handout(PDF) to inform your voting members about the schedule for conference assemblies and the process of nominating potential candidates for bishop.

Please note: registration at conference assemblies will close at 9:30 a.m. If you have been elected a voting member and do not register by 9:30 a.m., you will be unable to vote.

More at www.spas-elca.org.

Welcoming the Rev. Peter Harrits!

Last week, the synod officially welcomed new Director of Bega Kwa Bega (BKB), the Rev. Peter Harrits. Harrits has been serving in Malaysia for last few years as the Country Coordinator for the Young Adults in Global Mission program of the ELCA. In the upcoming weeks, Harrits will be busy meeting with congregations and other partners before heading to Iringa, Tanzania at the beginning of February. We invite you to hold Peter and BKB in prayer as this vibrant global partnership transitions into a new era of ministry.

For more on Harrits and this synod's partnership with the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, please visit
www.spas-elca.org/tanzania.

Last chance to register for Multicultural Conversations

Send teams from your congregation to Luther Seminary this Saturday to be introduced to exercises designed to equip congregations to reach out and welcome persons whose race, culture, and class is different than their own.

Event includes opening comments from Bishop Peter Rogness and Bishop Ann Svennungsen followed by exercises and conversation led by ELCA Program Director for Racial Justice Ministries, Judith Roberts.

Event is free. Please register online to ensure adequate materials. Contact Paul Erickson for more information or visit www.spas-elca.org.

It's time to submit your reports!

It's that time of year when congregation and rostered leaders scurry to gather information to prepare annual ministry and congregational reports.

For links to Bishop Rogness' Annual Letter, Intent Forms for Mission Support, and Rostered Leaders' Annual Ministry Report, visit the synod website and select Forms and Reports under the Resources menu tab.

To complete your Congregational Reports (Forms A/C), have your congregation ID and password ready, then continue to elca.org/secretary/FormAAndC/Login

Finally, to download your Annual Report Covers containing a message from Presiding Bishop Eaton, visit www.elca.org.

Seeking nominations for Augsburg College Corporation Board

Augsburg College is incorporated by four synods--the Saint Paul Area Synod, the Minneapolis Area Synod, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, and the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. Representatives from these synods are elected to serve on the corporation board, which officially elects members of the Augsburg College Board of Regents. The corporation board meets once annually--on a Friday morning in mid-September (this year's date is September 13)--in order to elect new regents and occasionally to approve any changes to the by-laws. You need not be an Augsburg alum or parent to participate.

Serving in this capacity is a wonderful way to learn more about the unique programs and partnership Augsburg College provides to those of us in the Twin Cities and in the ELCA. If you are interested in being considered for nomination, please be in touch with Beth Helgen for more information.

Synod office closed for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

The synod office will be closed Monday, Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. Regular office hours (M-F 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Visit the synod website for more information.

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