In This Edition
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Three Common Church Payroll Mistakes
MYJ2 Multicultural Youth Gathering 2022
Courageous Leadership Series
ELCA Latinx Young Adults Gathering
Upcoming Installations
Upcoming Events
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear NT-NL Leaders,
We have reached the halfway point of 2022. On July 1st our synod council and deans began a new term year. Marking that time I sent them an update note that you can find here. I am grateful for all who are willing to serve our synod and our congregations in this time.
As we enter the second half of 2022 there are significant adaptive challenges before you as leaders. Covid-19 continues to be a reality in our communities as is its impact on ministry. Economic uncertainty, high gas prices, political and social division continue to take a toll. Talking with you I have heard clearly about these challenges particularly in gaining commitment and energy for leadership. We can doubt ourselves and our decisions. We can wonder if we really are called by God to lead in this time.
Questioning your call is not a new phenomenon for leaders. Yesterday, July 4th, was of course our national celebration of Independence Day, it also was the day in our lectionary we commemorate St. Thomas. Thomas who we of course refer to often as “Doubting Thomas.” The Hebrew Bible lectionary text for this day is Judges 6:36-40, the story of God affirming Gideon’s call to lead in the face of Gideon’s doubts. After all, as he says in verse 11, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Gideon’s question is an honest one that we as leaders may very well also ask. God’s response, time and again, is to remind us that God has been and will continue to be faithful just as God was in calling Gideon.
So as you go forward into the second half of 2022 know you do not do so alone. As the baptized people of God we move forward together, trusting in God’s promise to be faithful to us and provide us abundance. I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit we will continue to have faith to trust and eyes to see God’s presence and abundance in our lives as we move…
In Mission Together,
Bishop Gronberg
Three Common Church Payroll Mistakes
As shared by Clergy Financial Resources:
Payroll and taxes are usually a confusing topic for churches that can easily find themselves in trouble with the IRS if payroll taxes are not reported correctly. For churches, payroll taxes can be especially tricky due to the dual-tax status of their pastoral staff. There is a widespread misunderstanding among churches and pastors about how ministers and even non-clergy employees or contractors should be handled for income tax purposes. Below is a list of the three most common mistakes we find churches making in regard to payroll:
Clergy staff are treated as employees for social security/medicare taxes (FICA)
Churches include the minister’s housing allowance as wages on Form W-2 in box 1
Churches treat ministers and non-clergy staff as self-employed/1099 contractors to simplify payroll
For full details on each common mistake, you can find the article here: https://www.clergyfinancial.com/an-uncommon-benefit-student-loan-repayment/ (We know this link does not look correct, but it is.)
MYJ2 Multicultural Youth Gathering 2022
MYJ2 Multicultural Youth Gathering 2022
July 21-23
NT-NL Multicultural Youth will be gathering at Briarwood for 3 full days of fun, learning, and fellowship!
This is an event primarily for youth of color. Congregations whose youth group is made up of a majority of youth of color can register all interested youth, even if they are youth of European decent. Congregations that don’t meet this criteria can register individual members. The event is open to any youth who would have been eligible to attend the 2022 National Youth Gathering.
Each congregation must have at least 1 adult for every 8 youth attending. Adults do not need to be people of color.
Briarwood will host meals starting with lunch on Thursday through dinner on Saturday as well as overnight accommodations. Events will start around 10am on Thursday and run until 8:30pm on Saturday. If you need to arrive on Wednesday and/or stay through Sunday, Briarwood is happy to host you but no meals will be provided.
Cost per youth: $30.00
This event is subsidized by the NT-NL Youth and Young Adult Leadership Funds.
THIS EVENT IS CONFIRMED WITH ENOUGH PARTICIPANTS AND WILL BE OCCURRING.
Indicate your interest here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1Rug5AwxDzxEocL52qF1IowHWDZ6jPcii6M246bQyQ6A8IA/viewform
Courageous Leadership Series
Dear Faith Leaders,
ELCA Coaching is mixing things up in 2022 as we continue to experiment and learn. You are invited to join us 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 July 2022:
Week One (July 6) – Dianne Johnson – Organic Faith Communities
Week Two (July 13) – ELCA Young Adults – Topic TBA
Week Three (July 20) – Presenter and Topic TBA
Week Four (July 27) – Nathan Swenson-Reinhold – Team Facilitation
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
ELCA Latinx Young Adults Gathering
ELCA Latinx Young Adults Gathering
August 5-7
Briarwood Leadership Center, Argyle, TX
Upcoming Installations
The Rev. Erin Swenson-Reinhold, called to serve Preston Meadow, Plano, will be installed on Sunday, July 31.
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:
- Jul. 6: Courageous Leadership – Dianne Johnson – Organic Faith Communities
- Jul. 7: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Jul. 7-10: NT-NL Youth Gathering 2022 – CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST
- Jul. 9: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Jul. 13: Courageous Leadership – ELCA Young Adults – Topic TBA
- Jul. 20: Courageous Leadership – Presenter and Topic TBA
- Jul. 21-23: MYJ2 Multicultural Youth Gathering 2022, Briarwood
- Jul. 27: Courageous Leadership – Nathan Swenson-Reinhold – Team Facilitation
For a complete list of upcoming events, you can access our Calendar of Events online.