Friends,

We are thrilled that Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss, PhD, Provost of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute (the seminary for Reform Rabbis) will be in Dallas and speaking at Temple Emanu-El, April 11-13. Dr. Weiss is the editor of the newly published book, American Values Religious Voices: 100 Days 100 Letters which include letters written to the President and members of the United States Senate and Congress over the first 100 days of the presidency in 2018. Each letter was written by a different scholar of sacred scripture, and each is more inspirational than the next. The letters are powerful statements about what we, people of many faiths, cultures and ethnicities believe about the values of our country and the dreams we have for ourselves, our families and our communities. Here is the link to the project which also has information about the new book. American Values Religious Voices | 100 Days. 100 Letters.

Dr. Weiss will be speaking about her book on Thursday April 11 at 7 p.m. in the Stern Chapel at Temple Emanu-El, and we hope you and members of your community will join us for this exciting presentation. Here is a pdf of the invitation for you to share widely. (For security reasons, please RSVP in advance.)

FOR LEADERS: We invite you to join us, as faith leaders and academics, for brunch with Rabbi Weiss on Friday April 12 from 10am-12noon at the Communities Foundation. She will speak with us about how to use this book as a tool for building interfaith relationships in a variety of different settings, and we will have the chance to practice that work together. If you have colleagues that would be interested, please share this invitation with them. There is no charge for the event, but reservations are necessary for planning purposes. (And your reservation will assure you a complimentary, signed copy of her book!) You can RSVP using this link: https://participate.tedallas.org/interfaithclergybrunch.

We are proud and excited to be collaborating together to make this possible and hope you will be with us.

With blessings to all,

Rabbi Debra Robbins, Temple Emanu-El
Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles Professor, Baptist House of Studies at Perkins School of Theology, SMU
Rabbi Nancy Kasten Chief Relationship Officer, Faith Commons
Rev. Dr. George A. Mason Senior Pastor, Wilshire Baptist Church; President, Faith Commons
Almas Muscatwalla Board of Directors, Faith Forward Dallas at Thanksgiving Square
Kyle Ogden President & CEO, The Thanks-Giving Foundation
Dr. Nils Roemer Director, The Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies, UT Dallas
Dr. Andrew C. Stoker Senior Minister, First United Methodist Church Dallas

Youth “Houston Gathering Reunion” at Synod Assembly

All NT-NL High School Youth are invited to come celebrate a year of BEING THE CHANGE!

We are excited to announce that as part of the 2019 NT-NL Synod Assembly we invite high school youth to gather in Fort Worth for a

NT-NL HOUSTON GATHERING REUNION
April 26-28, 2019

Worship,
Service Projects,
Dinner
Evening Out with the Bishop

Due to a grant, we are able to offer this event for only $50/person (based on quad hotel occupancy), plus a $2 fee per credit card charge. We encourage groups of 4 or more youth to please register with an adult designated to the youth part of the Assembly that is able to transport your teens to the service project and “evening out.” We can help provide chaperones/transportation for small groups.

Blessings,
The Planning Team
info@ntnlyouth.org

This event will happen concurrently with the NT-NL SYNOD ASSEMBLY.

Register online.

Click here for a registration packet with full details.

Tax Updates

Housing Allowance

The Seventh Circuit issued its decision in Gaylor v. Mnuchin on March 15 and upheld the constitutionality of the housing allowance under section 107(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

In a 3-0 decision, the panel found that section 107(2) was constitutional under both the traditional three-factor test set forth in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), as well as the “historical significance” test of Town of Greece v. Galloway, 572 U.S. 565 (2014).

Here is a copy of the decision.

Moving Expenses

The new tax law affects relocation expenses for churches.

“…Before the new rules, the pastor would give adequate receipts to document the expenses. All [moving expenses] would be tax-free to the employee. There would be no tax reporting by the church because it is an expense…. The rules changed. The entire [amount] is now taxable income. Essentially, the moving expenses become a bonus to the employee….”

Click here to read the full article in Church Law & Tax.

Portico Updates

News from your Portico Regional Representative, Deacon Terri Endres

ELCA Primary Health Plan Members Getting Jump Start on Earning 2019 Wellness Dollars

For those of you who are on the ELCA Primary Health Plan and have not started earning your wellness dollars you can start today and join the 29% of eligible plan members and 19% of eligible spouses who have already begun using the 2019 Live Well Tool. Get started.

Portico Recognized for Innovating to Improve Health, Rein in Costs

Portico Benefit Services recently received a 2018 Church Benefits Association (CBA) Innovation Award for adding initiatives that have delivered impressive member health improvements, higher member satisfaction scores, and notable health plan savings.

The CBA includes about 50 member organizations, like Portico, that manage retirement and health benefits for a total of 250,000 churchworkers of various denominations. Twenty-one CBA members vied for one of four inaugural Innovation Awards. Read the story.

Social Impact First Investment Continues to Deliver

Portico’s 2016 social impact first (SIF) investment made through Impax Asset Management continued to deliver valuable environmental impact in 2017.

Impax, a global stock investment manager, is making a world-wide difference by investing in companies that employ measurable positive environmental strategies, including wind farms, solar technology, and wastewater-reduction and -treatment techniques. The strategy for Portico’s Impax investment is long-term growth, achieved by investing in these cleaner, more energy-efficient markets. Get the details.