In This Issue
2018 Mission Support Form
Congregational Remittance Form
Annual Report to the Bishop
ELCA Church Council Position
Request from Assembly Host Conference
Annual Congregational (Parochial) Reports
2018 Prayer Partners
The Role of the Church in Undoing Racism
Ecumenical Events
Upcoming Events
2018 Mission Support Form
The 2018 Mission Support Form is now available on our website as a printable document and as an online form. Please submit after your congregational meeting.
Congregational Remittance Form
Beginning February 1, please use the Congregational Remittance Form on our website and submit directly to the Synod office. Friendly reminder that we are transitioning from MIF processing back to internal processing to continue to be good stewards of our resources.
Annual Report to the Bishop
Bishop Gronberg made it a goal at our 2017 Synod Assembly, as part of our strategy of being “In Mission Together,” to increase the number of rostered ministers submitting their annual report to the bishop. In order to accomplish this, we have made a few changes:
1) The Annual Rostered / Authorized Leader Report for 2017-2018 is available online and does not require downloading any software.
2) The report has been significantly simplified from previous years. It should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete, depending on the reporter’s desires.
3) These reports go directly to the bishop, and each submission receives a response.
According to our Synodical Constitution (see S14.15.), rostered ministers are expected to complete this report at least 90 days prior to the Synod Assembly. As we have an early assembly this year, the deadline would be January 27. We recognize this request falls in the middle of annual meetings and then immediately into Lent. As such, to be sensitive to these needs, we ask that the report be filed no later than April 15. Thank you for participating in this important part of our life together.
ELCA Church Council Position
The NT-NL Synod is paired with the Arkansas Oklahoma (AOK) Synod in continuing resolution 19.02.C05. for the purpose of nominating two persons to the ELCA Church Council to be elected by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. The nominating committee has assigned the category of Minister of Word and Sacrament to our synod for nomination.
We are looking for people who would bring a commitment to the work of this church in all of its expressions. It is important that those nominated can work with the other members of the Church Council in assuming the governance role that has been assigned to the council.
This means that our 2018 Synod Assembly will select two persons who fit this category. These persons will then be nominated to the Churchwide Assembly, which will elect one to a six-year term on the Church Council, beginning upon the conclusion of the 2019 Assembly.
The process that our synod uses to identify and nominate these people is not described in the constitution. What is required is that the Synod Assembly nominates them. That means there will need to be a vote of the assembly to place these two people in nomination. Once these names are presented to the assembly in Milwaukee, there is not provision for nominations from the floor for this position. The two people we nominate from our 2018 Synod Assembly will be the only two on the ballot for the 2019 Churchwide Assembly.
Submit your vita form here to be considered for nomination.
Request from Assembly Host Conference
Our theme for our 2018 NT-NL Synod Assembly is “Under Construction: Transforming in Christ.” The Heart of Texas (HOT) Conference is pleased to host this event in Temple on April 27-28. As a conference, we are well aware that God continues to transform us into a new creation. God is transforming our families and our communities and our Synod.
As a way to mark this Assembly, the planning team would like to use the image and process of quilting to do something special. Quilting has a long history in many of our congregations, particularly in the HOT Conference. Lutheran World Relief quilts are known the world over as tangible signs of God’s love.
We need your help for this project. We would like to put together a quilt with a scrap of material from every NT-NL congregation and worshipping community! These scraps will be gathered to form two quilts, one of which will be displayed at the Synod offices, and the other will be auctioned at the assembly. The money will be given to transformational ministries in our synod.
This project will require a scrap from every congregation in our synod. So we need your help to do two things:
- Please send a 12 inch square piece of scrap material of 100% cotton quilting fabric. The color scheme will be earth tones… reds, browns, creams, forest greens, etc. Not neon colors.
- Encourage your friends in sister congregations in your conference to participate.
The material should be sent to Covenant Lutheran Church, 4202 Hickory Rd, Temple TX 76502. We are asking that they be sent in by January 31, 2018. For those who are able, we would also ask a donation of $7 to cover the cost of the remaining materials for this project (this will count as a gift to the synod).
It is our prayer that all our NT-NL congregations will participate in creating this unique symbol of our unity and diversity in Christ. We look forward to having you join us at the 2018 assembly.
Annual Congregational (Parochial) Reports
We encourage you to file online. In either case, completed forms must be submitted by February 15, 2018.
Electronic filing
If you have access to the Internet, you can file the Annual Congregational Report Forms online. To complete Forms A and C, go to ELCA.org/congregationreport and type in your Congregation ID number and Password (found on the top right of Form A). After you have finished entering your data, you should print a PDF copy of both forms for your records.
Paper filing
If you do not file electronically, complete the paper forms and mail them to your synod office (the address can be found on the bottom right of Form C). Since only one copy of each form is included in this packet, make a copy for use as a worksheet before you begin. Remember to copy the completed forms for your records before returning the originals to your synod office.
Click here for complete General Instructions.
2018 Prayer Partners
Click here to download the 2018 Prayer Partners list (updated December 21, 2017). It can also be found online here: ntnl.org/resources/prayer-partners/.
The Role of the Church in Undoing Racism
The Role of the Church in Undoing Racism
March 9-10
Shepherd of Life, Arlington
The NT-NL Public Witness for Peace and Justice team is offering a workshop that will address racism from a faith-based perspective.
This workshop is designed to provide participants in the NT-NL missional area with an analysis that specifically focuses on systemic rather than individual factors of racism. Through facilitated dialogue, the workshop will increase understanding of what racism is, how it is manifested in all systems and institutions, and the role of Church in dismantling racism in the community of faith and in society at large.
The facilitators, Mrs. Joyce James and The Rev. Joseph Barndt, are skilled in helping to create a liberated space for developing a common language and understanding that opens the door for new, bold, and courageous conversations on institutional and structural racism. These discussions are critical for discovering the deeply rooted issues that have become barriers to pursuing the mission that God has entrusted to the Church.
This safe place creates an atmosphere for all to engage in creative thinking, that hopefully will lead to ongoing training and organizing support of a movement toward becoming an anti-racist Church.
This event is part of an effort by the NT-NL Synod to fulfill the resolution passed at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly that synods offer anti-racism training events at least once every two years.
The $50 cost includes lunch on Saturday. This training is valued at $400 per person, not including any meals or facilities.
Some funding is available for those who may need assistance with registration and/or hotel fees. Please contact the Rev. Chuck Hubbard, cell 214-395-6978 (leave a message or send a text).
Registration is limited to 40 people. Click here for full details and to register.
Ecumenical Events
ELEA & ALDE joint conference
February 28 – March 3
Minneapolis, MN
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Pathways to Generosity: Signs of Hope
Ecumenical Conference on Stewardship
April 3-5
King of Glory, Dallas
Click here for a “Save the Date” flyer (PDF).
Offered in partnership by these organizations:
Ecumenical Stewardship Center * Center for Faith and Giving, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) * Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America * Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Episcopal Network for Stewardship * United Church of Christ Office of Philanthropy & Stewardship
Visit https://stewardshipresources.org/pathways for the latest updates. Online registration opens this month!
Upcoming Events
Here are leadership highlights:
Jan. 14: Celebrating the Life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jan. 14: Mikah Meyer’s Stories & Songs Recital
Jan. 19-21: Junior High Gathering
Jan. 20: Hearing on the ELCA Draft Social Statement on Women and Justice
Feb. 2-3: Synod Council Meeting
Feb. 10: MEF Board meeting
Feb. 11-13: Lutheran Legislative Event
Feb. 24: Senior Fest 2018 (AOLA)
Feb. 25-27: LSTC Seminary Sampler
Mar. 2-4: Spring Retreat for 4th, 5th, & 6th graders
Mar. 2-4: Peer Ministry (9th-12th graders)
Mar. 9-10: The Role of the Church in Undoing Racism
Mar. 17: PLMA Spring 2018, Course 1
For a complete list of upcoming events in, and important to, our Synod, you can access our Calendar of Events online.