MAKING CHRIST KNOWN
March 2015
Number 246
From the Bishop congregation members were feeling positive about their leadership and the church’s ministry, the trajectory was on an upswing. So I popped the question to the council, “What is your dream for your church?”
Rev. Roger Gustafson
“What if God’s dream for your church is bigger? You OK with that?” It was toward the end of a wonderful Saturday evening at the pastor’s house. Since I was in town to preach the next morning, the good reverend and his wife had invited me over for dinner following a tour of the city. Afterward the church council showed up for dessert and conversation so we could get better acquainted and see if we could rebuild some bridges that had suffered from neglect. All in all, the conversation had gone very well. Everything that I had been able to learn about the congregation indicated that the place was thriving. There weren’t as many people in worship as in the past, true, but that was to be expected following a time of conflict. The pastor had been in place for a number of years and was caring for the people very well, trust was growing,
Long pause for reflection, people studying their coffee cups and the leftover crumbs from brownies. Then, one of the council people said, “My dream is that this church be stable enough and have the resources to care for the needs of its members and then to address some of the needs of the larger community here. That would be great.” I had great respect and regard for that answer because I had great respect and regard for the council member. He had been part of that church in the early days, when sharp internal dissension had threatened to deep-six the place. He had been one of the ones who had seen it through, had offered the calm voice, the appeal to patience; had endured the late-night meetings and been the steadying force that helped the congregation emerge from anxiety over survival into confidence in the future. He had, as they say, earned his spurs, and then some. So I was almost surprised when I heard myself ask the question, “What if God’s dream for your church is bigger? What if God’s dream connects your church with far more than just this local community? You OK with that?”
He stared at me for a moment, his brow furrowed in uncertainty. Then a flicker of wonder lit his eyes, and he began to smile. “Well … yeah, I guess so. Yeah!” It takes a lot of faith and courage to turn that corner, to exchange the security of one’s own preferences and certainties for the wide-open frontier upon which God invites us. But turning that corner and stepping into God’s future – and influencing others to do the same – is what leadership is all about. By the way, an excellent opportunity to explore that kind of leadership is in our future. The Synod Assembly, coming up in June, will feature presentations by Dr. Rick Barger, president of Trinity Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, who will address the need for conversion within the church. You read that right – within the church. And the conversion that’s needed starts with the leadership of the church. So how about you? What are your dreams for your church? Take a moment and think that one over. Then, wonder this: What if God’s dream is bigger? You OK with that? Willing to help bring it about? As always, it is a great privilege to be in partnership with you in this church of Good News.
CENTRAL STATES SYNOD, ELCA 136 Main St., Suite 101 Kansas City, MO 64105 Voice: 913-948-9701 Toll-free: 866-915-3548 Fax: 913-948-9707 www.css-elca.org
Link of the month ...
Inside this issue: Synod Assembly ............. page 2 Bethany College, Health Care Assessments ............... page 3 Leadership Opportunities, 2015 Hunger Grants ............. page 4 Boundary Workshops, PMA Convo, Missional Church, Faith and Culture Conf. ........ page 5 Tomah Shinga, MIF, Festival of Homiletics..................page 6 Bethany Home, Stewardship Fusion, NA Catechumenate Conference .................. page 7 Around the Synod ........... page 8 Synod Calendar, Transitions ..........................................page 9 Global Links, Malaria, LIRS video ................. page 10 Inserts/Flyers: Bishop Eaton’s March Column; Intro to SA15 from Rev. Susan Candea; Festival of Homiletics Registration Form
MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015 In the Synod Office … Bishop Rev. Roger Gustafson rgustafson@css-elca.org Bishop’s Associates Rev. Susan Candea scandea@css-elca.org Rev. Len Dale ldale@css-elca.org Rev. Keith Hohly khohly@css-elca.org Assistant to the Bishop Mr. Dan Glamann dglamann@css-elca.org Support Staff Ms. Dawne Bockelman dbockelman@css-elca.org Ms. Sandy Van Tuyl svantuyl@css-elca.org Deployed Staff Mr. Stephen Phelps Lutheran Planned Giving Regional Gift Planner 314-703-6949 Stephen.Phelps@elca.org Ms. Paula Kitt Mission Investment Fund, ELCA 913-486-4801 paula.kitt@elca.org Employee Assistance Program (EAP) included with ELCA-Primary Health Benefits. Administered by ValueOptions, a partner of Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Most pre-assembly materials have been posted and registration is now open. Please visit www.css-elca.org/about/synod-assembly for information, registration and updates. Note that on-campus housing is handled by Bethany College and is a separate registration. To be better stewards of resources, we encourage congregations and voting members to download the assembly materials from the website. There will be two binders to share on each table at the assembly. Individuals may purchase a set of materials when registering if desired. Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the campus. DATES TO REMEMBER
REGISTRATION — early registration rates for assembly and housing are available through April 15, 2015. After that date fees will increase.
NOMINATIONS — due April 15, 2015 (see position openings on page 4)
REPORTS: COMMITTEE, TEAMS, BOARDS — due April 15, 2015
RESOLUTIONS — due April 15, 2015 (if pertaining to assembly business, no later than May 30, 2015)
DISPLAY TABLES — forms and payment due April 30, 2015
AT THE ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR …
FEATURED PRESENTER
Call EAP, 24/7, at 800-432-5155
For this year’s assembly we are pleased to welcome Rev. Dr. Rick Barger, president of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Barger will be bringing us three keynote presentations: The Church Birthed by the Spirit that Raised Jesus from the Dead; The Church with a Constantinian Hangover; and Spirit-led Leadership for a Church Being Re-Birthed.
Making Christ Known A publication of the Central States Synod
Published monthly by the Central States Synod, ELCA. Deadline for submission of materials is the 15th of the month for the subsequent issue. News may be directed to Dan Glamann, Email: dglamann@css-elca.org. Permission is granted to ELCA congregations and members to reproduce any portion of this newsletter.
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MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015
It's Here! 2015 Health Assessment Open BY TINA GOODWIN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Residence Hall Update Construction on the new residence hall continues with the recent additions of the third floor and roof (below). The new building is beginning to change the landscape of campus as well. The building is on target to open for students this fall. For more photos and information please go to our website.
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. Portico is again offering us the opportunity to earn a 2% discount on ELCA health contributions this year, if we as a synod get at least 65% participation in the health assessment. Our estimated collective savings this year is $46,000. We had great participation last year with over 75% of the eligible members taking the assessment, sharing a total of $41,000 in savings. Portico health plan primary (not retired) members and eligible spouses can take the health assessment by signing into their MyPortico. And this year, be sure to earn ALL your wellness dollars - $150 for taking the health assessment and $350 for doing follow-up activities. Visit https:// myportico.porticobenefits.org/ today to get started.
new hall features suite-style rooms, two class rooms, a cyber-coffee bar and several common areas throughout the building. “Supporting this enrollment growth can be challenging,” President Edward F. Leonard III, said. “However, Bethany College has risen to the challenge with the help of our dedicated alumni and friends who continue to support our successes.”
Enrollment trend continues Official headcount numbers for the spring semester show enrollment growth continuing at Bethany College. At 625, the college is recording the largest spring semester enrollment in 18 years. This follows the college’s largest fall enrollment in 20 years. Bethany’s student population is widely diverse with students representing 34 states, and 30 countries, which accounts for 8 percent of the total student population. The continued enrollment growth is providing momentum behind many exciting developments at Bethany. Last fall, Bethany College made local and national news for utilizing two Lindsborg hotels for overflow student housing. In response, the college is currently building a new residence hall that is scheduled to open in August. The
Nearly a year ago, Bethany College announced the success of Engage the Future; which raised $22 million in gifts and pledges. The campaign exceed its goal one year ahead of time and generated excitement for continued support. Had the campaign concluded as scheduled, it would have exceeded the $25 million stretch goal, according to President Leonard. Donor gifts have supported all aspects of Bethany’s growth: construction, endowment growth, and annual operations. He also noted a recent estate gift marks the fourth gift of $1 million or more in the college’s history, all of which have occurred in the past five years.
Professor selected for seminar Assistant Professor of Religion Adam Pryor has been selected to participate in the Teaching Interfaith Understanding 3
seminar. The seminar will be held at Boston College in June. The seminar is cosponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC).
Adam Pryor Pryor is one of only 25 faculty members selected for the seminar through competitive nomination. The seminar will teach faculty how to engage interfaith issues in the classroom and identify what students in interfaith programs should know and understand.
Click for more about Bethany College
MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015
Leadership Opportunities — Elections this Summer There are a number of ways in which you can get involved with and serve the larger church in a leadership position. The Synod Council acts as the board of directors of the synod and meets three times a year, including right before Synod Assembly in June. The Nominating Committee is seeking nominees for the following positions: Vice-President (4-year term) Layperson Area Ministry 2 (3-year term) Clergy Female Area Ministry 5 (3-year term) Clergy Male Area Ministry 8 (3-year term) Clergy Male Area Ministry 9 (3-year term) Lay Female Area Ministry 10 (3-year term) Lay Male At Large (3-year term) Lay Male At Large (3-year term) Lay Female (POC/LOE*) At Large (2-year term) Lay Female (Youth) The 2016 Churchwide Assembly will be held August 8-13 in New Orleans. The following voting members will be elected at the 2015 Synod Assembly to attend on behalf of the Central States Synod: Area Ministry 1 Lay Female Area Ministry 2 Lay Male Area Ministry 3 Lay Female Area Ministry 4 Clergy Female Area Ministry 5 Lay Female (Young adult) Area Ministry 6 Clergy Male (POC/LOE*) Area Ministry 7 Clergy Male Area Ministry 8 Lay Female Area Ministry 9 Lay Male Area Ministry 10 Clergy Male At Large Lay Female (POC/LOE*) At Large Clergy Female At Large (Vice-President) Lay Female or Male At Large Lay Male (Youth) * Indicates Person of Color or primary Language Other than Engllish
In addition the following members need to be elected to the Consultation Committee for a 6 year term. The purpose of this committee is to consider matters of disagreement and conflict that cannot be resolved in consultation with the Bishop and meet only as needed. One female and one male layperson The Discipline Committee only meets if needed to conduct hearings and recommend actions in regard to the discipline of congregations and rostered persons. The following members need to be elected for six year terms. Two clergy and two laypersons If you are interested in being nominated for any of these positions, please contact your area ministry dean or lay chair or you may contact Rev. Susan Candea, Bishop’s Associate at scandea@css-elca.org. Serving the larger church is an enriching experience that helps us see and participate in doing ministry together.
2015 Domestic Hunger Grants Allocations The Domestic Hunger Grants Screening and Allocation Committee met to review applications and allocate discretionary grants. The committee recommended funding for both 2014/2015. Congratulations to the agencies and ministries within Central States Synod which received grants:
Metro Lutheran Ministry, Kansas City MO
Springfield Victory Mission, Springfield MO
Doorstep, Inc., Topeka KS
St. Paul Lutheran, Wichita KS
Jefferson City Congregations Uniting, Jefferson City MO
Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Florissant MO
The ELCA World Hunger-funded Domestic Hunger Grants support ministries that offer hope and assistance to many thousands of people who experience poverty and hunger in the United States. These grants do more than just give food to people who are hungry — in addition to immediate relief programs, ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants fund projects in community development and communitybased organizing and advocacy that strengthen the foundations of communities impacted by hunger and poverty.
Applications for the next domestic hunger grant cycle will be accepted in May or June 2015. For more information, CLICK HERE.
A sign of the new life. In her March column for The Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton reflects on a subtle shift to works righteousness. This Lent she reminds us that Jesus didn’t die to change behaviors, political systems or institutions. He “died to end the fundamental brokenness and estrangement from God ….” Read her column at http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=12475. It is also included at the end of this newsletter.
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MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015
Boundary Workshops BY REV. SUSAN CANDEA
Every few years all rostered persons as well as those who are serving as Ministry Support Pastoral Leaders in congregations are required to attend boundary workshops. The workshops will be led by the synod staff and will be held on the dates listed below from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (lunch is included). The cost this year will be $15 per person. April 21 – Redeemer, Salina May 4 – Immanuel, Kansas City May 6 – Living Lord, Lake St. Louis Specifics on how to register will be sent at a later time. Please remember that while this workshop is open to all who are interested in attending, it is required for all rostered persons and for those serving as Ministry Support Pastoral Leaders. Please contact Susan Candea at scandea@css-elca.org with any questions.
Registration begins at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, with opening worship at 5:00 p.m. The Convo concludes on Saturday after lunch at 1:00 p.m. All Parish Ministry Associates as well as rostered leaders are urged to attend. As we seek to strengthen lay leadership, we need a strong partnership with rostered leaders. Convo registration is $50 — Rooms are $94 per night. Please go to the PMA Convo web page, www.css-elca.org/for-leaders/pma-convo to register and make reservations. Presenters: ● Bishop Roger Gustafson of the Central States Synod of the ELCA ● Dr. Tyler Atkinson – Professor of Religion at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan.: Dr. Atkinson received his Ph.D. (with distinction) from the University of Aberdeen and his Master’s of Divinity from the Divinity School, Duke University. His interests are in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, historical theology, theological ethics, Martin Luther, J.G. Hamann, theology and race, and sustainability. ●Rev. Dr. Don Compier – Dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry: Dr. Compier is an Episcopal priest who received his PhD in theological studies from Emory University and his Masters from Park College. Prior to serving as the Dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry (affiliated with the Episcopal church) he served as dean and professor of theology at Graceland University Seminary.
BY PR. ROGER LENANDER, FIRST LUTHERAN, ST. JOSEPH MO
Renowned theologian Walter Brueggemann is coming to speak at the Faith and Culture Conference in St. Joseph, MO April 13-15, 2015. He will present each day. The cost is $79. You can learn more and register by going to www.conference.wolc.com. Updated information is also on Facebook: Faith & Culture Conference. The Center for Parish Development MORE INFO
This is probably one of the last times to hear Walter Brueggemann in person. An outstanding continuing education event. And the afternoon is free time, so I would be happy to point out or guide you on some activities and things to see in St. Joseph. Will even host you for breakfast on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings! 5
MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015
News from CAMP TOMAH SHINGA ... Free Youth Gathering Planning Retreat — April 10-12 Thanks to a generous grant from the Central States Synod, Camp Tomah Shinga will be hosting a retreat to help folks get all of their National Youth Gathering pre-planning taken care of, and to have some of the synod youth get to know each other before the trip! There will be great food, great information, and lots of fun! Keep watching the monthly newsletter for upcoming details. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Ben or Jamie at any time. We are very excited to have all of these folks out at camp, building community and growing in their faith!
Summer Camp 2015 Schedule Family Camp - 5/29/15—5/31/15 Fri.-Sun. $135 Mini-Camp 1 - 5/31/15—6/3/15 Sun.-Wed. completed 1st through 6th grade $200 Confirmation Camp 1 - 5/31/15—6/5/15 Sun.-Fri. $350 Traditional Camp 1 - 6/7/15—6/12/15 Sun.-Fri. completed 4th through 12th grade $350 Confirmation Camp 2 - 6/14/15—6/19/15 Sun.-Fri. $350 Adventure Camp 1 - 6/14/15—6/19/15 Sun.-Fri. completed 9th grade $350
Going to the ELCA Youth Gathering this summer? How will you managing the Youth Funds? There is still time to simplify by opening a Mission Investment Fund Youth Ministry Account.
Earn competitive interest rates.
Easy online process to apply and deposit or transfer funds.
Easy access to funds during the Youth Gathering via the onsite MIF Service Center.
Your investment helps build and renovate other ELCA congregations.
For more information or to open an account, go to www.mif.elca.org/ youthministry. Questions: contact Paula Kitt, paula.kitt@elca.org or 773-682-2738. For current account holders, do you need to update authorized signers before you get to Detroit. Click here to get the form. Contact MIF Customer Service at 877-886-3522 if you need to verify current signers.
Confirmation Camp 3 - 6/21/15—6/26/15 Sun.-Fri. $350 Adventure Camp 2 - 6/28/15—7/3/15 Sun.-Fri. completed 9th grade $350 Mini-Camp 2 - 6/28/15—7/1/15 Sun.-Wed. completed 1st through 6th grade $200 Confirmation Camp 4 - 7/5/15—7/10/15 Sun.-Fri. $350 Traditional Camp 2 - 7/12/15—7/17/15 Sun.-Fri. $350 Horse Camp - 7/19/15—7/24/15 Sun.-Fri. $450 Traditional Camp 3 - 7/19/15—7/24/15 Sun.-Fri. completed 4th through 12th grade $350
Go to www.tomashinga.com to register. Please remember that we will not turn anyone away due to financial hardship! Please call or e-mail Jamie if you would like a scholarship.
Save the Date And join us May 11-15, 2015
23rd Festival of Homiletics Downtown—Denver, Colo. Preaching from the Mountain: Heralds of Good Tidings Be inspired by God’s Word proclaimed by some of the nation’s finest preachers and teachers. Experience the fellowship of more than a thousand preachers. Learn and worship in an atmosphere that’s dynamic, friendly, nurturing and prophetic. Come renew, refresh and recharge your spirit.
Camp Tomah Shinga | 785-238-3654 | http://tomahshinga.com | tomahshinga@gmail.com
For more info and registration:
Encountering Christ on the Prairie!
www.festivalofhomiletics.com 6
MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015
Never Stop Learning Residents take part in Continuing Education through the Osher Institute BY JENNIFER CANTRELL, BETHANY HOME
Bethany Home has partnered with the University of Kansas as an ambassador of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for the past two years as a part of KU’s Adult Continuing Education program. The program is committed to creating accessible and innovative learning environments throughout Kansas and the Greater Kansas City area, with special focus on participants age 50 and over. Learners from all backgrounds and levels of education are welcome to enjoy the benefits of Institute membership. The KU affiliation is among 115 sites nationwide and has offered several hundred courses to more than 3,000 registered participants at 25 venues throughout Kansas since its inception in 2004. Hundreds of instructors have shared their expertise, developing fascinating courses on a wide array of topics. The partnership with Bethany Home is one of more than a dozen residential retirement communities across Kansas and Missouri. Other agency affiliations include senior centers, museums, libraries, and community colleges.
For more information and registration CLICK HERE
North American Association for the Catechumenate Congregational leaders who envision their ministry to be “making disciples for the sake of the world” will want to attend the 2015 Annual Gathering in Baltimore to be held July 30—Aug. 1, 2015. Popular authors Jessicah Duckworth and Paul Hoffman will speak on the theme “Transforming Congregations Through Spiritual Practice: Creating a Discipleship Community.” This event is for pastors, seminarians, educators, musicians, and other parish leaders, and is sponsored by the North American Association for the Catechumenate, an ecumenical organization dedicated to serving pastors and congregations of all denominations in the US and Canada. For more information and to register online go to the website: www.catechumenate.org.
The mission of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is to provide ‘intellectually engaging and enriching classes and events solely for the joy of learning to diverse communities of lifelong learners, with a focus on those 50 years of age and older.’ The program operates under an endowment through the Osher Foundation and also relies on small grants and generous contributions of donors to keep course fees low and meet the needs of seasoned adults who want to learn for the joy of learning and personal fulfillment. While many community members and residents of Bethany Home have taken advantage of the Osher opportunities, one resident has taken a particular interest in ‘The Space Race: How it Changed America’. Gerald “Red” Everhart remembers any events over the past several decades, from the lunar landing in 1969 to the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986.
‘Red’ Everhart poses at the Kansas Cosmosphere on his most recent Osher Learning outing
This three week program encompasses the ever changing technology, milestones and the roles of scientists and engineers in the space program. “Some of it is awfully high-tech and hard to understand,” says Red, “but I think it is a really educational program. There is a big future for programs and technology and they need to keep children interested in it.” At one session, the participants built a bass-wood airplane and discussed what enabled a plane to take flight. “It was a lot of fun and we learned that there are a lot of things that make planes fly: lift, thrust, design.” Despite his fascination with the space programs and the advances in technology, Red has no desire to go to space, “God put me here on earth and I’d just as soon stay here!”
Upcoming programs this spring include Genealogical Research, The Kanza Indians and The Bible and Archaeology to be held at Hutch Community College and Prisoners of War in Kansas at Bethany Home. Contact Deb Farres at Bethany Home for information on attending classes or visit www.osher.ku.edu. 7
MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015 CLICK HERE FOR
Around the synod . . .
AROUND THE SYNOD
Sounds of a Sacred Land: the Music of Paul Mealor Sunday, June 21 at 2 p.m. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City The concert will be a performance of music by Paul Mealor, a young Welsh composer who the royal couple, Prince William and Lady Katherine Middleton, asked to prepare special pieces for their 2011 wedding. His work is for choirs, and reflects classically modern spirit for sacred music. SDWS is teaming up with the Te Deum Chamber Choir, to present a concert of Paul Mealor’s music. Under the direction of Matthew Shepard, Te Deum will perform some of Mealor’s pieces as a way to tell the story of “The Sounds of a Sacred Land.” Tickets are $10, available at www.brownpapertickets.com. Download poster: Mealor Concert
A “Peek from the Pulpit” — On his travels around the synod, Bishop Gustafson regularly posts to his Facebook page a picture (or a peek from the pulpit) from where he is preaching that week. The above “peek” is of some of our brothers and sisters in central Kansas — Falun Lutheran Church, Falun KS.
‘Four Things Tour’ comes to St. Louis Nearly 8 out of 10 churches in the US are struggling to grow, and most are in serious decline. It doesn’t have to be that way. On April 25th, 21st Century Strategies’ church growth experts from The Effective Church Group are coming to the St. Louis area to lead a one-day seminar on the four things that grow churches. You’ll leave the event with more than just a couple of good ideas, but with a basic strategic plan and some specific tools to help you launch a growth initiative in your congregation. Speakers include Bill Easum, Bill Tenny-Brittian, Scott Musselman, and Kris Tenny-Brittian. Learn more at FourThingsTour.com — Download promotional flyer: FourThingsSTL The Effective Church Group has been a leader in the church growth field for over twenty years. With over thirty books, hundreds of videos, and thousands of articles, they’re committed to helping churches become effective, faithful, and sustainable. In fact, they’re so committed every participant gets a $50 gift card to purchase church growth materials they can use in their congregations.
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ONLINE Pipe Organ Encounter 2015 On June 14-19, 2015, the Wichita Chapter of American Guild of Organists will host a camp for young people ages 13-18 who will have the opportunity to see, learn about and play pipe organs throughout Wichita and this area. Students should have piano or organ proficiency ranging from early intermediate to advanced. Early Registration (through 4/1/15) is $375. Send the complete application form to Carolyn Chambers, Wichita POE 2015 at 1430 Nottingham Circle, Wichita, KS 67204. Brochure and application forms are available at http://poe.agowichita.org/
POSITION OPENING Full-time Worship Director — Lenexa KS FT Worship Director for Kaw Prairie Community Church—an energetic, 10-year old ELCA/PCUSA church of 550-600/week in Lenexa, KS. Responsible for leading KP’s guitar-driven, modern eclectic worship services (CCM covers & Crowder-esque hymns, with topical teaching sermons and weekly Eucharist), building typical 4-7 person worship bands, overseeing tech and worship support teams (sound, lighting, projection, camera, media--as well as altar care, chair set-up & tear-down, etc. There is also collaborative worship & creative arts planning, occasional choral/ensemble work—and weekly support of youth ministry bands for Sunday night youth ministry, as well. Lead vocals/guitarist skills would be expectation. Full benefits, flexible schedule, creative & supportive teammates. Current gifted staff person is leaving FT ministry for a career in IT. Email resume, ideally with media-links or samples to hr@kawprairie.org. Start window: summer 2015
MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015 Parishes in the Call Process
(a) intentional interim/interim; (b) congregational profile developed; (c) interview phase; (d) call pending Area Ministry 2 Great Bend, Trinity (a) Hays, Trinity (a) Lucas, Gloria Dei and Wilson, Immanuel (c) Disciples of the Plains Parish (c) Kensington, St. John Phillipsburg, Zion Smith Center, American Stuttgart, Emmanuel Area Ministry 3 Abilene, Trinity and Junction City, Faith (a) Assaria, Assaria (c) Concordia, Concordia (a) Lindsborg, Bethany College — Campus Pastor (a) Windom, Andover (a) Area Ministry 4 Manhattan, First (a) Olsburg-Walsburg Parish (a) Leonardville, Walsburg Olsburg, Olsburg Area Ministry 5 Eureka, Christ — part-time (c) Wichita, Reformation (c) Area Ministry 6 Atchison, St. Mark (a) Emporia, St. Mark (a) Everest/Robinson, Everest-Robinson Parish (a) Lancaster/Bendena, St. John Parish (a) Topeka, First (a) Area Ministry 7 Kansas City, Gloria Dei (c) Kansas City, Immanuel (a) Lawrence, Trinity (c) Liberty, Hosanna! (a) Olathe, Advent — Assoc. (c) Overland Park, Atonement — Assoc. (d) Prairie Village, Faith (a) Shawnee Mission, First (c) Area Ministry 9 Cole Camp, Brauersville Immanuel (a) Russellville, Trinity (d) Stover, Prymont Trinity (a) Area Ministry 10 Manchester, Good Shepherd (c)
SYNOD CALENDAR March
2 7-8 13-14 21 24 28
April
3 6 10-12 18 21 23 24-25 27-29
Synod Staff Retreat Presbyterian Youth Event — Topeka KS Synod Council — Atonement, Overland Park KS Church in Society Team Conference Call SA15 Local Planning Team — Bethany College Companion Synod Team — Hollis Renewal Center Good Friday — Synod Office Closed Call Process Meeting — Synod Office NYG Planning at Camp Tomah Shinga Campus Ministry Mission Table — Synod Office Boundary Workshop — Redeemer, Salina KS Endowment Fund Committee — Synod Office PMA Convocation — Overland Park KS “Stewardship Fusion” — Leawood KS
New Co-Coodinators for YAGM Sara Erickson, former pastor of Hosanna! Lutheran Church, Liberty, has accepted a fouryear churchwide call with the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program. She and her husband, Adam (formerly on staff at Advent Lutheran in Olathe), will be co-coordinators of a new YAGM initiative in Cambodia, the ninth country in which the ministry operates. The Ericksons (pictured at right) will be responsible for seeing that the six to ten young adults who participate in the year-long program of service and study have housing, service sites, retreats, and spiritual care. Sara will also be doing some theological training for the young Lutheran Church in Cambodia. Her call with the ELCA began Feb. 1, 2015.
Transitions RETIREMENT Rev. Sandy Schlesselman – retired from non-stipendiary call through St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cole Camp MO 3/1/2015 Rev. Paul Kelly – retired from non-stipendiary call through St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, MO 3/1/2015 Rev. Susan Schubert – retired from St. Mark Lutheran Church, Emporia, KS 2/1/2015 Rev. Tom Hallowell – retired from Andover Lutheran Church, Windom, KS 4/1/2015 Rev. William McKay – from Stephen Ministries after 30+ years. April 1, 2015 DISABILITY STATUS Rev. Steven Little from Seeds of Faith Parish to disability status on 1/26/2015 ON LEAVE FROM CALL Kaileen Hogan-Brink from First Presbyterian in Sullivan, MO 12/14/2014 Christyn Koschmann, DM from St. Luke’s hospital effective 12/25/2014 — currently serving St. Mark’s, Atchison KS, as Ministry Support Patricia Reep from of Seeds of Faith Parish 2/14/2015 SYNOD COUNCIL CALLS Lesley Radius — interim minister at First Lutheran, Topeka, KS effective 2/1/2015 Anne Chida, DM — chaplain for Unity Hospice, St. Louis, MO 2/11/2014 Ann Rundquist — from Diaconal Minister to ordained Pastor to a congregation under redevelopment serving Children’s Memorial Lutheran Church, Kansas City, MO effective 3/14/2015 9
MAKING CHRIST KNOWN — March 2015
Our Malaria Moment: The Lutheran Magazine Feature ALLISON BEEBE, CAMPAIGN ASSIST., ELCA MALARIA CAMPAIGN
The ELCA Malaria Campaign is the cover story in this month's issue of The Lutheran magazine, and it is worth a read! This fabulous article covers the breadth of the ELCA Malaria Campaign, from the programming we support in Africa, to the congregational and individual efforts that make it possible.
MARCH 2015 Holy Land: ELCA presiding bishop visits companion church -- In mid-January, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton led a delegation to the Holy Land. She met with political and religious leaders in the region and with members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, an ELCA companion church. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/7721.
The article is truly a great summary of the work we have been doing together over the last several years. Thanks to generous Lutherans everywhere, we also celebrate that we have reached 90% of our fundraising goal! We encourage you to share this article with your friends and networks as we make the final push to finish this campaign in 2015.
Africa: ELCA response to Ebola totals $275,000 -With more aid planned the ELCA, working with partners including its companion churches in Liberia and Sierra Leone, has provided $275,000 in aid for those affected by Ebola. The disease has had a “devastating impact” on the lives of many people, particularly women and children, said Vitaly Vorana, program director for Lutheran Disaster Response. See www.ELCA.org/ News-and-Events/7720. Ukraine: Humanitarian assistance helps thousands fleeing conflict -- Working with ACT Alliance members Hungarian Interchurch Aid and the Russian Orthodox Church, Lutheran Disaster Response is providing food, water, blankets, diapers and hygiene kits to approximately 20,000 refugees and other people who have fled from the conflict in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine. See www.ELCA.org/News-andEvents/blogs/ELCALutheranDisasterResponse/287.
You can read the article here, or look for it in print if you subscribe to The Lutheran magazine. If you would like a print copy, be sure to check with you church first, because many congregations have a subscription. Thanks to our colleagues at The Lutheran for lifting up this work with this wonderfully inspiring article!
Central America: Aid helps work with unaccompanied child immigrants -- The ELCA has provided nearly $400,000 in humanitarian assistance to help support its partners who serve the thousands of unaccompanied minors coming to the United States from Central America. See www.ELCA.org/News-andEvents/7719. Preventing mosquito nets from being fishing nets - The distribution of mosquito nets through the ELCA Malaria Campaign includes education on their proper use, which helps prevent them from being used as a tool to gather food rather than as a barrier to disease. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/ ELCAMalariaCampaign/295. A thank-you and goodbye from Lanny Westphal -“It has been a joy to direct the Global Church Sponsorship program through a time of significant transformation and expansion,” said Lanny Westphal, who has resigned as director of ELCA Global Church Sponsorship. See www.ELCA.org/News-and-Events/blogs/ HandInHand/482.
From Lutheran Disaster Response "The Journey" is a video (click above) made by our partner, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, that provides information about the unaccompanied and migrant children situation that we are working on together. Watch to hear stories from people who have fled and to learn how Lutherans are responding to the border crisis.
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Presiding bishop
By Elizabeth A. Eaton
Subtle shift to works righteousness Jesus didn’t die to change behaviors, political systems, institutions
W
Michael D. Watson
e are in the middle depends largely on our place on the cultural spectrum. The of Lent—the season cultural right is preoccupied with private mores and behavof spiritual warfare, ior and the cultural left is preoccupied with political rights or at least really good inten- and the activities of government and business institutions. tions. Many of us now engage Here’s how that plays out. While driving through the in some form of Lenten disci- Smoky Mountains on a family road trip, I saw a billboard pline. We give up something: that declared: “No smoking, drinking, card playing, dancchocolate or coffee or FreeCell. ing, movie going, swearing ... there is no sin within 7 miles Or we add something: Scrip- of our church!” Wow. There must not have been any people ture reading, midweek worship within 7 miles of that church. That is the works righteousor service projects. This seems ness of the right. normal and familiar to us just as The works righteousness of the left plays out a little difthe imposition of ashes on Ash ferently. If there are enough sit-ins or protests, or boycotts or Wednesday or crossing ourselves has become normal and enough petitions, we could inaugurate the kingdom of God. familiar in many of our congregations. Then we could extricate ourselves from this bondage to sin. I remember a time when none of these practices would We could build a perfect world. be considered Lutheran by large segments of our church. There is a purveyor of high-end, organic, locally sourced Too works righteous, too showy, too … Roman Catholic! We groceries that is the temple of this persuasion. You can buy didn’t need to, nor could we make ourselves holy or righ- veal there without guilt because its source of veal is the little teous. That was the whole point of justification by grace calf that, after gamboling across the fields, turns itself in to through faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:21-28, the butcher and declares (quoting Charles Dickens): “It is Article IV of the Augsburg Confession). a far, far better thing that I do, We’re pointing in the We overcorrected. Fasting, prayer, than I have ever done.” No. SomeScripture study, acts of service, imposiwrong direction if our work thing has to die so we can live. tion of ashes and making the sign of the We are complicit in the world’s cross are classical spiritual disciplines becomes the new life instead brokenness. that not only have an ancient history We may work for justice or righof a sign of the new life. in Christian practice but also serve to teousness with the best intentions, engage our whole selves in devotion to God. These practices and God knows there is plenty of work to do. But Jesus didn’t serve to draw us closer to and make us more aware of the die to change behaviors or political systems or institutions. love of God shown through Jesus’ death and resurrection Jesus died to end the fundamental brokenness and estrangethat justifies sinners, but they aren’t what justifies us. ment from God that is the result of human sin, our rebellion As scrupulous as we have been in proclaiming grace and against God that infects every aspect of our lives. eschewing works in our faith practices, I’ve noticed the not Just as Jesus’ miracles in the Gospel of John are called so subtle shift to works righteousness in the work we do as signs that point to the new thing God is doing in Christ, so the church. This exists in all three expressions—congrega- should our work for justice be signs that point to the new life tions, synods and churchwide—and all across the cultural we have in Christ. We’re pointing in the wrong direction if spectrum. Jesus’ invitation to repentance and discipleship our work becomes the new life instead of a sign of the new have become a kind of transaction between us and God life. where we figure out what we have done wrong, promise to Lent can be a time to ponder this priceless gift. The death work really hard to be better people, and then God forgives and resurrection of Christ has changed everything, a change us. What we see as the moral wrongs that must be repented no human effort could ever bring about. M A monthly message from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Her email address: bishop@elca.org.
50 www.thelutheran.org
This column originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of The Lutheran. Reprinted with permission.
Synod Assembly June 4-6, 2015 Central States Synod, ELCA Bethany College — Lindsborg, Kansas March 10, 2015 Dear Member of the Central States Synod, The theme of a recent conference I attended was “Walking Together in a Changed and Changing World.” Dr. David Lose, president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, gave four presentations on the topic. In one of his lectures, he used the image of building an airplane while it was flying in the air to help us understand the task we were engaged in as the church in this changing culture. Get that picture in your mind – constructing an airplane while you are several miles above ground going at a tremendous speed! That is our work together in the church. That is work we cannot do alone, either as individual Christians or even as individual congregations. We need the wisdom, the energy, the gifts, the abilities, of all kinds of people to make this happen. It is difficult and even scary work but it is also incredibly exciting to do this work together. It is that exciting work which calls us together as the Central States Assembly to be held at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. on June 4-6, 2015 gathering under the theme of “Leading with Hope.” How might each of us be called to be part of this venture, leading with hope, by offering our gifts and time for the work of the church, including the ministry of the whole synod? The Nominating Committee is still seeking individuals who are willing to serve on the Synod Council, on the Discipline and Consultation Committees, as well as Voting Members to the 2016 Churchwide Assembly. You can find a list of those positions on the synod website along with a nomination form. Please contact the chair of the Nominating Committee, Pat Bjuland, pbjuland@sbcglobal.net or Susan Candea, Bishop’s Associate, scandea@css-elca.org with any questions. Now is the time to register for the assembly by going to the website, www.css-elca.org/about/synodassembly. Remember, if you plan to stay on campus you must arrange for your housing through Bethany College by April 15 to take advantage of the early registration rates. And please consider ways you can serve. See you at Bethany as together we lead with hope! Peace and joy, The Rev. Susan Candea Bishop’s Associate Central States Synod, ELCA
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Optional workshops • Tuesday-Thursday include simultaneous events throughout the day: workshops, lectures and worship services. • Space is limited for these workshops, so please sign up only for workshops you plan to attend. • Be sure to review the schedule before selecting workshops. q “The Transformational Word: Building a Sermon that Agitates”
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q “Our Stories Tell Us Who We Are...an experience in discovering our own stories and some ways of using them in
proclamation settings”
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q “Good News from difficult places: Genesis 38, pornography, sex tourism and Jesus”
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LL1031-13D
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