Here to Serve: Being Church in the Time of COVID-19

Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders

Wednesdays, 1:00 PM Central

You are invited to join this weekly meeting designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders in all realms. Participants will hear topical presentations related to how we are called to be Church in the time of COVID-19, as well as an opportunity to be in small group discussions with an ELCA group coach facilitating the conversation. All of this is designed to help us process our feelings in this strange and fearful time and to create a space where we can each name our next most faithful step forward in our unique context.

You are welcome to share this invitation with any other ELCA leader, rostered or lay. #ELCAChurchTogether #HereToServe

Grief and Hope: Societal Chaplaincy For and Beyond COVID-19

This session will explore the concept of “societal chaplaincy” in order to provide tools for responding to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis. This global crisis is producing layers of grief and trauma beyond what most people are anticipating. Religiously informed leaders have particular callings to respond not just to their defined communities, but to society as a whole, helping others name their grief while pointing to paths forward. The insights of social analysis, grief coaching, and chaplaincy each have contributions to make as we move forward together. In preparation for this week’s gathering, we highly recommend you read this article in advance: https://www.ntnl.org/societal-chaplaincy-preparing-for-the-storm-to-come/.

On April 22, our guest speaker will be Robert O. Smith (Citizen, Chickasaw Nation), an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament serving as Director of Briarwood Leadership Center and Associate to the Bishop in the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the ELCA. Previously, he served as Director of the Jerusalem Global Gateway of the University of Notre Dame and Area Program Director for the Middle East and North Africa in the Global Mission Unit of the ELCA. He holds a PhD in Religion, Politics & Society from Baylor University, along with an MDiv and an MA in Islamic Studies from Luther Seminary. He is the author of several academic articles on the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and several books on American Christian responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

ELCA Coaching is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Being Church in the Time of COVID-19 – Weekly Gathering for ELCA Leaders
Time: Apr 22, 2020 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/180439412?pwd=WlVwUUxyUE5mY2IxMktHQXFJdGNMdz09
Meeting ID: 180 439 412
Password: 648160

One tap mobile
+13462487799,,180439412#,,#,648160# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,180439412#,,#,648160# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 180 439 412
Password: 648160

You may have heard concerns around using Zoom as a meeting platform. Upon conferring with leadership in our office and experts in the field, it has been affirmed that we are adhering to all of the recommended protocols and guidance for “safer use of Zoom.” It is highly recommended that participants have the most current version of Zoom. If you have concerns, please email jill.beverlin@elca.org for more information.