In This Edition
Featured Blog Post
Annual Rostered / Authorized Leader Report
2022 Mission Support Report
Follow-up Webinar on Anger
Updates from Portico Benefit Services
LEAD Job Posting
Our Beautiful Brain: Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Resilience
Courageous Leadership Series with ELCA Coaching
New Standard Mileage Rates for 2022
Congratulations to Denise and Pr. Will Foster
Upcoming Events
Featured Blog Post
NT-NL Leaders:
Happy New Year! As we begin 2022 there are some significant events coming up to make sure you are aware of…
-January 8, 2022 at 1pm: Parish Lay Ministry Academy and Secondary School of Theological Education Graduation. Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Irving (2601 S MacArthur Blvd). Come celebrate our recent PLMA/SSTE graduates as we receive the hospitality of a re-unified Santa Maria.
-January 16, 2022 at 3pm: Final worship of Word and Sacrament in the sanctuary at Bethany, Dallas. Bethany members are joining in worship with Central, Dallas and will continue to operate their day school.
-February 5, 2022: Synod Council and Deans meet in-person at Briarwood for spring meeting.
-April 10, 2022 at 3pm: Church of the Damascus Road celebration of opening of new ministry “Jay’s Place.” 5207 East Hwy 199, Springtown, TX 76082
-April 29-30, 2022: NT-NL Synod Assembly. In person at King of Glory, Dallas. (Note location change due to change in Paul Quinn College academic calendar.) Registration links to open soon.
-July 24-28, 2022: ELCA Youth Gathering, Minneapolis, MN. Registration is ongoing. If you have youth interested in the Bishop’s group please connect with us asap.
If you have not had the chance to fill out or share the Briarwood survey with your congregations youth leadership please do so as soon as possible. It is essential information for Briarwood to make plans for summer 2022 and beyond.
We live in a time of continued uncertainty and challenges. Yet on this 12th day of Christmas we are again reminded that Joy has come. God is with us in Christ and we are blessed and challenged to proclaim that word to the world. Thank you for your leadership.
In Christ,
Bishop Gronberg
Annual Rostered / Authorized Leader Report
If you are a Rostered Minister or Synodically Authorized Worship Leader, please complete this report to the bishop as soon as you are able: https://www.ntnl.org/annual-rostered-authorized-leader-report/.
2022 Mission Support Report
Please have one leader from each congregation / worshiping community complete this report to the synod treasurer as soon as you are able: https://www.ntnl.org/mission-support/.
Follow-up Webinar on Anger
From Barbara Keller, Misconduct Prevention, ELCA | Barbara.Keller@ELCA.ORG | 610-308-3428:
Hundreds of rostered minsters attended Session I of Anger Issues in November. Since then, I received several requests for a second session. The topics will include: Passive aggressive behavior, Creative anger issues, Anger and depression, Perceived threats, Take it and stay silent, and others.
When: January 13, 2022 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMoc-irqTkqHNUUYZu2u88KfbmPW-OEvT0W. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Updates from Portico Benefit Services
Our Portico Regional Representative, Deacon Terri Endres, has a few important updates. Please reach out to her if you have any questions at tendres@porticobenefits.org.
Being Here Podcast – New Episodes
Being Here, a podcast that explores real world issues and topics important to professionals in the faith community, has added three new episodes. Join host the Rev. Melissa Pohlman, as she welcomes three new guests to share their experiences and points of view on navigating retirement; Christian conversations about racial justice; and creative approaches to innovative ministry. Being Here invites us to learn together, listen to each other, grow together, and move forward together — stronger, more resilient as a unique community. https://portico.thebigknow.com/home/audio-series/portico-being-here/overview
ELCA Medicare-Primary Transition to Humana Prescription Drug Program
Humana’s prescription drug coverage for members with ELCA Medicare-Primary coverage begins Jan. 1. Detailed information was sent from Humana and Portico earlier this month. Prepare for the transition by taking these steps now:
- Refill current prescriptions
- Watch the mail for a new Humana ID card
- Look up medication with Humana
- Set up Humana Pharmacy mail-delivery account by calling 1-800-379-0092
- Ensure local pharmacy is in network
Note: Humana Pharmacy’s customer service line will be open starting Jan. 3, 7am-8pm Central.
Important Self-Care after the Holidays
After the holidays when you have time to catch your breath also provides an opportunity for you to focus on your own self-care. Now is the time to block out some time on your calendar in January to schedule your wellness exam, review your retirement account, schedule an appointment with a Portico financial planner, and refamiliarize yourself with all that your benefits plan has available to you to help you be well in order that you can serve others. Get started with financial planning at https://myportico.porticobenefits.org/retirement-center/financial-planning.
LEAD Job Posting
From Peggy Hahn, Executive Director | peggy@waytolead.org | Cell: 832-594-5016:
As LEAD continues to innovate and create resources for deepening discipleship, we are building our staff for greater connectivity. We are looking for a part-time person, (20 hrs./wk.) to join our team. The work is to direct our communications, and support some administrative work. Please share this with anyone across the country you feel would be a good fit. We are not limited to geography, but have a preference for someone in the Central or Eastern Time Zones, someone who is bilingual, and someone with a proven record of following through on commitments as a life-long learner. The job description can be found here: https://waytolead.org/job-opening-director-of-communications-and-administration/.
In the last 9 years, LEAD has found staff through networking. Please introduce us to anyone you feel would be a good fit for our team.
Our Beautiful Brain: Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Resilience
Preparing leaders to build creative alliances between religion and science in order to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Our Beautiful Brain: Neuroscience, Mental Heath, and Resilience
June 18-24, 2022
Do you have high school students in your congregation who:
- want to use their own gifts and talents to make a positive difference in the world?
- wonder about how their faith fits with their interests in math or science?
- are looking for a community that shares these concerns and interests?
These are the kinds of questions that they can explore through the Gustavus Academy for Faith, Science, and Ethics. The Academy Fellows Program provides opportunities for high school students to explore their beliefs and to discover how scientists and people of faith are working together to address some of the world’s most pressing problems. As an Academy Fellow, they will join with other high school students to grow in knowledge, develop leadership skills, and clarify their sense of purpose.
As a pastor or ministry leader, we encourage you to identify and share with high school students you think would benefit from this program.
Who: Students who will have completed 9th, 10th, or 11th grade by June 2022.
Where: Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN (one hour south of Minneapolis and the MSP airport)
When: June 18-24, 2022 (Saturday to Friday)
How: Registration now open. Register here.
Cost: Participants pay a $500 enrollment fee. All other costs are paid through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment. Registration scholarships are available for participants based on need.
Scholarship Opportunity: Students who participate in the Gustavus Academy for Faith, Science, and Ethics and attend Gustavus Adolphus College will be eligible to receive a $500 annually renewable scholarship (up to $2000).
For more information about the program, or to apply, please visit gustavus.edu/chaplain/academy. Questions can be directed to faithandscience@gustavus.edu.
Courageous Leadership Series with ELCA Coaching
Dear ELCA Leaders,
We are mixing things up in 2022 as we continue to experiment and learn. You are invited to join us, starting January 5, WEEKLY on Wednesdays at 1pm Central to hear from various leaders across the Church. We will continue with our theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. We have invited various ministries to host these gatherings through this next year, so it will be different each week. There will usually be time for small groups in breakout rooms so that leaders across the church can continue to learn from each other and leave each gathering with at least one action step.
For January 2022:
Week One (January 5) – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (Topic)
Week Two (January 12) – Young Adults – TBD
Week Three (January 19) – African Descent Ministries – Preparing for Newness
Week Four (January 26) – Tentative – Homelessness and Justice / Economic Diversity
We are inviting you to bring a spirit of curiosity to these gatherings and to all aspects your life. What are you noticing? Where is Spirit moving? How might you be a part?
The login information can be found on the ELCA Coaching website: https://www.elcacoaching.org/events/courageous-leadership
Recordings from prior gatherings can be found here: https://www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media/series/courageous-leadership
New Standard Mileage Rates for 2022
For full details: https://www.clergyfinancial.com/new-standard-mileage-rates-for-2022/
Congratulations to Denise and Pr. Will Foster
Congratulations to Pastor Will and Denise Foster (Trinity, Fort Worth) on the birth of Hannah-Grace Noelle. Born 12/11/21. We rejoice and give thanks at God’s gifts of new life.
Upcoming Events
With the ever-changing guidelines and recommendations in our world right now, as we maintain physical distance in social solidarity, please keep in mind these events may be moved online, postponed, or cancelled:
- Jan. 6: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Jan. 8: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Jan. 8: PLMA / SSTE Graduation, Santa Maria, Irving
- Feb. 3: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Feb. 5: Synod Council and Deans meeting, Briarwood
- Feb. 11-14: ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza 2022, Minneapolis (MN) and Online
- Feb. 12: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Mar. 3: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Mar. 12: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 2022, Course 1
- Mar. 12: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events, you can access our Calendar of Events online.