Ebola Situation in Sierra Leone
Please keep the people of Sierra Leone and Guinea in your prayers as they deal with the current Ebola Virus epidemic.
Healthcare staff working in the area are fighting not only against the virus but also against fear and misconceptions: up until recently, Ebola had been presented as a deadly disease with no cure. This has led people to view seeking treatment or going to the hospital as futile at best (in some areas, groups believe they are being infected with the virus at hospitals retaliate by stoning the health facilities and by trying to remove their sick relatives from treatment centers).
You may read first-hand experiences from Dr. Bill Fischer, a member of a team from Doctors without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières/MSF) working in Guinea. His descriptive email reports have been posted on UNC Health Care’s site under Dispatch from Guinea: Containing Ebola.
For more information on the situation, please see the World Health Organization’s update on the situation.
New Fillable PDF Forms Live for Mobility and Candidacy
The ELCA has gone live with the new PDF forms for call process and candidacy. The forms are web-based which means they are easier to access and work with all computers, tablets, and web browsers. Formatta forms will no longer be accepted by the database.
If you are a rostered leader who has a Rostered Leader Profile active, you are encouraged to review your RLP to make sure your information transferred correctly when your form was converted to PDF format.
The following documents provide answers to some frequently asked questions regarding candidacy and assignment as we begin to use the new forms:
This link will take you to the call process page where you can get started with call process if you are a congregation or a pastor. The page will walk you through the steps.
If you have any questions about using the new forms, please email Pastor Jane Mar at jane@ntnl.org.
The Rev. Judith Spindt, Director of Evangelical Mission for the Southwestern Texas Synod, will present this seminar, Tuesday, August 19 from 10:00-4:00 at Briarwood Retreat Center. The seminar will address how to establish and maintain personal and professional boundaries when dealing with coworkers, with parishioners, and with youth.
Please email Pastor Jane at jane@ntnl.org to register, whether you will be attending in person or via live stream. Cost for the seminar is $12 for lunch.
Studying Luther in Wittenberg:
The Christian and the Government: Luther’s View of Temporal Authority
You are invited to send a pastor to the 10th seminar, Nov. 8-Nov. 22 in Wittenberg, Germany, led by Prof. Dr. Theodor Dieter and Prof. Dr. Sarah Hinlicky Wilson from the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg.
Read the letter of invitation here, and download the nomination form here. (Please note, you are encouraged to especially consider nominating women to attend this event, as female participation has been limited.)
Resources and Opportunities:
- National Youth Workers Convention 2014 Oct. 2-5 in Sacramento, CA or Nov. 20-23 in Atlanta, GA
- A New Preaching Resource from Sundays and Seasons (Augsburg Fortress)
- ChildrenSing Around the World (Augsburg Fortress)
- Prelude Music Planner
- Vibrant Faith Ministries 40% off Sale