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Featured Blog Post

Dear NT-NL Leaders:

We have just passed the halfway point of 2021. As I remarked in our Synod News on June 29th this makes for a good time to look back and look forward. As we look back on the first six months of 2021 the major themes I see are uncertainty and yet faithfulness. Uncertainty as we have continued to navigate the challenges of ministry in a pandemic. Faithfulness in leaders and congregations navigating the challenges of regathering and stewarding resources. At Briarwood the staff has found ways to welcome groups despite the challenges of managing inconsistent cash flow and making up for years of deferred maintenance magnified by the winter storm. We continue to bring the communities of Santa Maria in Exile and those worshipping at MacArthur road back together. And across our synod baptisms, funerals, confirmations, first communions are happening. The gospel is being proclaimed.

Looking forward I see great reasons to have hope. I see this hope in congregation’s welcoming new pastors and the ordination of Nicholaus Chove this coming Sunday (July 11). Congregations are worshipping in person and also online. This hybrid style of ministry will continue in 2021 and beyond opening us to the potentiality of reaching and connecting new people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As you look forward I also would invite you to put two dates on your calendar.

September 11, 2021 (11am-4pm): “Gathering Together” at Briarwood for food, fun, and worship. We will have activities for all ages. And close our time with worship at 3pm where we will remember the 20th Anniversary of 9/11/2001, recognize those ordained to serve NT-NL congregations in the last year, remember those who have been baptized and those who have died (please contribute names for the book of remembrance here), and enjoy the opportunity to be together again.

Monday-Wednesday October 18-20, 2021: Our Leadership Convo will be held at Briarwood Leadership Center. We will focus on living into our new hybrid future. Presenters will be announced soon but please save the date. This event is open to lay and rostered leaders.

As you look back and forward in this mid-term of 2021 know that I give thanks for your faithfulness and energy for mission. May God bless your work today and into the future.

In Christ,

Bishop Gronberg

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Congregations Lead Initiative

The world continues to change and grow more complex. What does this mean for ministry, today and into the future? The Congregations Lead Initiative is a new, two-year program that will gather a cohort of 50 congregations from across the ELCA to unleash and harness their collective genius and discover new and useful ministry innovations. If you’re excited about more new, young, diverse people knowing a life in Christ, then your congregation might be a great candidate to apply for this initiative. Learn more and apply beginning July 8 at ELCA.org/CongregationsLead.

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Courageous Leadership Series with ELCA Coaching

Dear ELCA Leaders,

You are invited to join ELCA Coaching at 1pm Central on the Third Wednesday of July and the First and Third Wednesday of August to learn some possibly surprising, and some definitely humorous, things about COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. We have a special guest confirmed for two of these dates, and we are inviting you to bring a spirit of curiosity and childlike play to discerning how and where Spirit might be calling you forward as a leader in your life, work, ministry, community, and the world. There will also 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.

The schedule (starting July 21) and login information can be found on the ELCA Coaching website: https://www.elcacoaching.org/events/courageous-leadership

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Best Practices for Helping Victims/Survivors

From ELCA’s Barbara Keller:

“I am planning an hour long zoom workshop Thurs 7/29 and Tues 8/3 both the same at 10AM Central. The workshop will be the best practices for helping victims/survivors of sexual abuse in our congregations. I will answer questions about other abusive issues as well as ways to help pastors when victims want to talk about past sexual abuse. If you would like to participate, contact Jenna Leazott: Jenna.leazott@elca.org. We will provide information about recording the session. If you plan to be on the zoom, please prepare some questions.”

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Book of Remembrance

It has been a tradition at NT-NL synod assemblies to have a book of remembrance in which congregations are invited to share the names of those who have died in the past year so they can be remembered in the prayers of the community. In recent years, Bishop Gronberg has also invited us to share the names of those who have been baptized into Christ in the past year as well. We invite you to share those names through this online form, and they will be incorporated into our worship on Saturday, September 11. – Romans 14:8

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Assistant VP for Mission, Church, and Ministry