In This Issue
Rostered / Authorized Leader Report to Bishop
Perspectives on the Border
Financial Assistance Resources
Church Mutual and The Insurance Board
Talleres en Español | Workshops in Spanish
Briarwood Maintenance Position
Speaking the Vernacular—From Lutheran to Lutheresque
Lutheran-Espicopalian Legislative Event and Interfaith Advocacy Day
LuMin-Austin Scholarships Available
Upcoming Events
Rostered / Authorized Leader Report to Bishop
Perspectives on the Border
“Perspectives on the Border” Immigration Webinars
March 7, 21, and 28
This “Perspectives on the Border” webinar series on immigration is a partnership project with Rev. Dr. Jay Alanis, the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest (LSPS), and the following ELCA synods: Grand Canyon, Gulf Coast, Pacifica, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana, Rocky Mountain, and Southwestern Texas.
There are three different sessions, usually at a minimum cost of $25 each per participant. We are offering all three for only $60 per person! Your synods are helping subsidize the cost of this invaluable training (valued at a significantly higher rate)!
Session I: Living in Third Spaces (March 7, 3pm Central)
Session II: Borderland Perspectives on Diverse Worldviews (March 21, 3pm Central)
Session III: Theological Perspectives from the U.S. – Mexico Borderlands (March 28, 3pm Central)
Click here for Session Descriptions.
The sessions will likely run over an hour, based on our prior experience, where much dialogue ensued, especially when talking about culture as a paradigm.
For additional context, you may read this lecture by Rev. Dr. Jay Alanis from February 22: “Borderland Ethics Sin Fronteras: Borderland Ethics Without Borders, Neighbor-Love in Liminal Spaces”
Note from Bishop Gronberg: This event is a partnership between the synods of the ELCA in Texas and on our southern border, the Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest, and Wartburg Seminary. While this is not an official Briarwood Leadership Center event, offerings like this, both in person and in webinar form, are part of the vision for the center. To provide our leaders and those of ecumenical, secular, and educational partners across the country with opportunities to learn from experts and deepen understanding on significant topics of the day.
Financial Assistance Resources
Portico has put together this document of resources for all plan members: Financial Assistance Resources.
Church Mutual and The Insurance Board
The Insurance Board, which is an outgrowth from the UCC, has been contacting congregations implying they are endorsed by the ELCA. This is not the case. While we have nothing against them, we do endorse Church Mutual.
Congregations, synods, and other ELCA ministries remain free to purchase insurance from whomever they choose. Neither the ELCA nor NT-NL endorse the Insurance Board’s products. We continue the endorsed program with Church Mutual, with which we remain very happy.
Church Mutual: The ELCA-Endorsed Property and Liability Insurance Program
Talleres en Español | Workshops in Spanish
March 16
Briarwood
Richard Bauer de Vanco presentará este taller.
Vea este comunicado de prensa de la ELCA del 19 de febrero para más detalles (inglés): Vanco offers new online giving option for ELCA congregations.
También puedes aprender más aquí (inglés): https://www.giveplus.com/elca.
March 30
Alvarado, TX
Jennifer DeLeon, La Directora de Justicia, Mujeres de la IELA, presentará.
Por favor confirme su asistencia a Pastor Jesus Escamilla: sangabriel.jesus@yahoo.com o celular 817-739-4588.
Briarwood Maintenance Position
Who do you know?
Hiring Facility Manager Position – The Facilities Manager oversees all facility maintenance and repair operations. This includes all buildings, grounds, equipment, and their related subsystems. The Facilities Manager will strive to ensure that the buildings, grounds, and equipment are in order for individuals and groups to have a productive, healthy, safe, and enjoyable time at Briarwood.
Click here for the Facility Manager complete description.
Submit applications and any questions to Matt Baumhardt at matt@briarwoodretreat.org.
Speaking the Vernacular—From Lutheran to Lutheresque
Did you see this article from the new Director for the Briarwood Leadership Center?
As a theologian and pastor, I am often roped into theological conversations around dinner tables filled with family and friends. That may be the fate of every person trained in religious studies — just about everybody has a question or, better yet, a theory they want to try out.
As a Lutheran theologian and pastor from a family that didn’t know something called Lutherans existed — I’m originally from Oklahoma and now living in Texas — places where Lutherans aren’t as thick as they are in the Midwest, my responses to theological questions often cut directly across the theological assumptions embedded within most of these questions. Invariably, I am asked to say something about what it means to be Lutheran.
What I offer is a crystal-clear presentation of God’s grace. Because these people are living within an ideological framework shaped by the Prosperity Gospel, they are already burdened by law. They are concerned about who will get into heaven and who won’t. They are living in fear, wondering if their questions alone have disqualified them from God’s love. With this awareness, my response is grace heaped upon grace.
Lutheran-Episcopalian Legislative Event and Interfaith Advocacy Day
Texas Lutheran-Episcopalian Legislative Event (formerly Lutheran Legislative Days) – March 17-19 (Register by TOMORROW, March 7)
You will not want to miss the first year of these two denominations coming together for this important conference. The Sunday-Tuesday event will include three days of legislative training, worship, policy presentations from state and national leaders, workshops, fellowship, and legislative advocacy at the Capitol. Featured speakers include Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar; Bishop Marc Andrus of the Episcopal Diocese of California; Energy Foundation Texas Director Doug Lewin; ACLU border expert Mike Seifert; and more. Find the complete event schedule here.
Interfaith Advocacy Day – March 28
Both events in Austin, TX
LuMin-Austin Scholarships Available
Know of a Lutheran student attending UT presently or in the fall? Lutheran Campus Ministry-Austin has scholarships available. Deadline to apply is Monday, April 29.
Visit LuMin-Austin’s website to learn more: http://www.luminaustin.org/lumin-austin-scholarships/.
Upcoming Events
Here are leadership highlights:
Mar. 7: Immigration Webinar, Session I: Living in Third Spaces, Virtual
Mar. 8: International Women’s Day #BalanceForBetter
Mar. 8-10: Upper Elementary (4th-6th grades) Spring Retreat, Briarwood
Mar. 9: Public Witness Team planning retreat, Arlington, TX
Mar. 9: PLMA, Spring 2019, Course 1, Briarwood
Mar. 14: Last day for Early Bird Pricing for Synod Assembly
Mar. 14-17: Via de Cristo, Briarwood
Mar. 16: Taller ofrenda por internet, Briarwood
Mar. 17-19: Texas Lutheran-Episcopalian Legislative Event, Austin, TX
Mar. 21: Immigration Webinar, Session II: Borderland Perspectives on Diverse Worldviews, Virtual
Mar. 28: Last day for Guaranteed Hotel Rates for Synod Assembly
Mar. 28: Interfaith Advocacy Day, Austin, TX
Mar. 28: Immigration Webinar, Session III: Theological Perspectives from the U.S. – Mexico Borderlands, Virtual
Mar. 30: Taller de Justicial Racial, Alvarado, TX
Mar. 30: WELCA Dallas Area Metro North conference retreat, Carrollton, TX
Apr. 5-8: Ecumenical Advocacy Days, Washington, DC
Apr. 5-14: Faith Climate Action Week
Apr. 9-11: Young at Heart Retreat, Briarwood
Apr. 13: PLMA, Spring 2019, Course 2, Briarwood
Apr. 13: Public Witness Team monthly meeting, Arlington, TX
Apr. 15: Last day to Register Online for Synod Assembly
Apr. 26-27: 2019 Synod Assembly, Richland Hills, TX
Apr. 26-28: Houston Gathering Reunion at Synod Assembly, Fort Worth, TX
For a complete list of upcoming events in, and important to, our Synod, you can access our Calendar of Events online.