In This Issue
2019 Prayer Partners
Journal of Lutheran Ethics Seeking Editor
Fund for Leaders Scholarships
Opportunity for High School Students
LSTC / ACTS DMin Program
Christmas Break Young Adult Retreat
ConFESt: Confirmands’ Afternoon with the Bishop
Boundaries Training
Tri-Theological Conference
IGNITE: North Texas 2019 (ALDE)
ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering 2020
Upcoming Installation
Upcoming Events
2019 Prayer Partners
Our 2019 Prayer Partners list can now be found online.
Journal of Lutheran Ethics Seeking Editor
The Journal of Lutheran Ethics is seeking a General Editor. Click here for the job description and how to apply.
Fund for Leaders Scholarships
The ELCA Fund for Leaders is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that provides scholarships for future ELCA pastors and deacons who attend ELCA seminaries. In 2019, the Fund for Leaders is prepared to offer full-tuition scholarships to more students than ever before – and we need your help to get the word out!
The Fund for Leaders has an open application process that allows all eligible candidates to apply online directly to Fund for Leaders to be considered for a full-tuition scholarship. These scholarships will cover the full cost of seminary tuition for the duration of coursework. Eligible candidates must apply and receive an offer of admission from one or more ELCA seminaries, must be planning to enroll full-time in the fall of 2019, and must be in good standing in the ELCA candidacy process. Recipients of Fund for Leaders scholarships may apply their full-tuition scholarship at any ELCA seminary that has offered them admission.
If you know of promising and gifted people discerning a call to rostered ministry in the ELCA, please encourage them to visit ELCA.org/FundForLeaders today to learn more and to apply. The application period for this year is open now through February 11, 2019. Please click on this link to download the application poster. Print this poster and display it prominently at your institution. In doing so, you will help ensure that those God is calling to serve and to lead the church will be able to answer that call and serve as the church needs and the Holy Spirit leads.
Opportunity for High School Students
Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, has an exciting opportunity for high school students. Three years ago, they founded the Gustavus Academy for Faith, Science, and Ethics in order to encourage and develop youth who are passionate about addressing the world’s pressing problems by bringing faith and science together. Each summer, the Gustavus Academy brings together outstanding high school students for a weeklong experience in Christian community with peers, mentors, and scholars who share the belief that theological reflection and vocational discernment are enhanced by a deep engagement with science.
High school students from across the country and Canada have participated in past summers, and they are again hoping to recruit a geographically and racially diverse group of students to their program in 2019. Next summer’s program will center on the challenge of global climate change. Scientists, theologians, and climate justice activists will be in residence at the Gustavus Academy summer program to help high school students explore how to respond justly to the climate crisis facing our world.
The dates for next summer’s program are June 22-28, 2019. Applications opened on December 1. You may nominate students who are currently in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade: https://gustavus.edu/chaplain/academy/nominate.php
Due to generous support from the Lilly Endowment, they are able to offer tuition and travel scholarships to any student who needs financial assistance to participate in this program.
LSTC / ACTS DMin Program
Enhance your ministerial practice:
Consider the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (DMin) from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC).
- Three-week summer residency on LSTC’s campus; continued work within your own congregation
- Study with other preachers from across the country and beyond
- Learn from guest preacher-lecturers and faculty from the seminaries of ACTS (Association of Chicago Theological Schools)
Check out the ACTS DMin in Preaching website for detailed information; Deadline: January 31
For more information, contact LSTC Admissions Director Matthew James at matthew.james@lstc.edu, 773.256.0727, lstc.edu
“A concentrated residency was an asset for me. I was searching to further define and develop my voice as a preacher, and this program helped me do just that. Having my congregation engage with my learning deepened their understanding and appreciation for how a pastor prepares thoughtfully each week.” – Pastor Kelly Faulstich (DMin ’13), Resurrection Lutheran Church, Chicago
Christmas Break Young Adult Retreat
This Changes Everything | Esto Cambia Todo
December 27-28
Led by Bishop Gronberg and other NT-NL Leaders
Who: Young Adults 18-25 (post high school): Former LYLEs, Briarwood Camp Staff, College Students, Campus Ministry students, others interested in God’s call in their lives.
What: Conversation around scripture with other young people and leaders in NT-NL. Time to get away for a bit during Christmas break, enjoy fellowship, maybe take a ride on the zip line, worship around a campfire, and enjoy Briarwood’s beautiful campus.
Cost: Free to participants
Goal: Provide space for discernment and conversation around goals for future vocation for young people connected to NT-NL. Provide some time during Christmas break and a safe space for conversations about faith and life. Not specifically targeting church vocations, encouraging all to think about how God is working in their lives now.
Click here for full details and to apply. Limited to 25 participants.
ConFESt: Confirmands’ Afternoon with the Bishop
ConFESt: Confirmands’ Afternoon with the Bishop
Christ, Dallas
January 13, 2-4pm
Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good conFESsion in the presence of many witnesses. – 1 Timothy 6:12
Featuring:
- A short worship service with a message from the bishop.
- A photo for each confirmation class taken with the bishop.
- A ministry fair with information and involvement opportunities from synod and ELCA ministries.
- Food, of course!
The goals are for confirmation students to:
- get to know the bishop and youth from other congregations,
- learn about our wider church and how to get involved,
- worship, and
- have fun!
Congregations are invited to register your whole confirmation class, including teachers and adult advisers.
Click here for a Save the Date flyer. REGISTER HERE.
Boundaries Training
Boundaries Training
Briarwood
January 17, 9am-3pm (including lunch)
Facilitator: Joretta Marshall, Executive Vice President and Dean, and also Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care, at Brite Divinity School
$25/person
Tri-Theological Conference
January 28-30
Galveston, TX
IGNITE: North Texas 2019 (ALDE)
ALDE has been a leading community of faith-based fundraisers for 40 years, and their annual conference, IGNITE: North Texas 2019, is the best place to connect with faith-based colleagues; receive world-class training; learn about new and innovative resources and tools; and grow your skills and talents alongside fellow Christian leaders.
IGNITE 2019 will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, January 31-February 3, 2019. Early Bird Registration saves you $175 (ends January 3). There are $300 scholarships available to help make the conference more affordable. Scholarships are first come, first served, and a limited number are available. Get more info at ignitespark.org/scholarships. Local to the Dallas-Fort Worth area? They even have day rates at ignitespark.org/dayrate.
ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering 2020
Save the Date!
The next ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering will be July 20-23, 2020, at the Convention Center in downtown Phoenix, AZ.
We have reserved blocks of rooms at three local hotels with a room rate of $139.00 per night.
Early Registration will be $245 with a May 20, 2020, deadline. Regular Regular Registration after that until July 6, 2020, will be $295. Registration will open in early 2020.
For more information, stay tuned to the Facebook page (facebook.com/ELCARMG/) and to the website (elca.org/RMG).
For questions, please e-mail RosteredGathering@elca.org.
Upcoming Installation
Sunday, December 16, 3pm – Julio Cruz-Natal will be installed at Our Redeemer, Grand Prairie.
Upcoming Events
Here are leadership highlights:
Dec. 8: Public Witness Team meeting, Arlington, TX
Dec. 27-28: NT-NL 2018 Christmas Break Young Adult Retreat, Briarwood
Jan. 4-6: Women, Word, and Wine Retreat 2019, Briarwood
Jan. 13: ConFESt: Confirmands’ Afternoon with the Bishop, Dallas, TX
Jan. 17: Boundaries Training, Briarwood
Jan. 26-27: Men’s Lumberjack Retreat, Briarwood
Jan. 28-30: Tri-Theological Conference, Galveston, TX
Jan. 31 – Feb. 3: IGNITE: North Texas 2019 (ALDE), Grapevine, TX
Feb. 8-9: Synod Council meeting, Briarwood
Feb. 9: MEF Board meeting, Briarwood
Feb. 16-17: Junior High Gathering & Group Dynamix, Carrollton, TX
Feb. 23: Senior Fest 2019 (ALOA), Plano, TX
Mar. 1-3: Peer Ministry (9th-12th grades), Fort Worth, TX
Mar. 9: PLMA, Spring 2019, Course 1, Briarwood
Mar. 30: Dallas Area Metro North conference retreat, Carrollton, TX
For a complete list of upcoming events in, and important to, our Synod, you can access our Calendar of Events online.