Panhandle Fire Disaster Relief

The fires in the Texas Panhandle continue to burn. Creating a fluid situation and a number of needs. At this time the NT-NL Synod is forwarding $5,000 from our Synod disaster fund to the Panhandle Conference to give them funds to support local needs.

At this time if you desire to give funds you can do that to the NT-NL Disaster Fund. As we learn of more direct ways to serve we will share them. This will be a long term recovery effort and we will serve as we can best be useful.

Click here to donate to the NT-NL Disaster Fund. Select “Disaster Relief” in the first drop down menu.

Nominations Open for Churchwide Assembly Voting Members

The Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod is allotted the following voting members for Churchwide Assembly. To be considered for the slate of nominees for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly by the Synod’s Nominating Committee, please submit your vita ASAP.

Rostered Minister of Word and Sacrament – Female
Rostered Minister of Word and Sacrament – Male
Lay Female (preferably 35 or younger)
Lay Female (36 or older)
Lay Male (preferably 35 or younger)
Lay Male (36 or older) – Filled, Don Heller, Synod Vice President

Please note the Nominating Committee will be building a slate that will hopefully represent all areas, ethnicities, and genders of the Synod. If you do not make the slate, you have the right to have your name submitted by a registered voting member of the assembly to the assembly floor, and a vita and photo will be needed at that time.

The next ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be July 28-August 2, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Updated Church Mutual Email Addresses

The Churchwide office is aware of the difficulties currently facing the entire property insurance marketplace and the direct impact of insurers’ underwriting decisions. As you can imagine, Church Mutual is also directly impacted by these loss trends which influences their underwriting decisions regarding ELCA congregations and synods.

Church Mutual, like all property and casualty carriers, is reviewing the concentration of risk in high-hazard areas and adverse loss trends. This may result in some congregations not being offered renewal of their policies. It will likely also result in changes to premiums and deductibles. This current reality is being experienced nationwide in the property and casualty insurance industry, not only with Church Mutual.

Church Mutual, has recently introduced two new email addresses that may be useful to your congregation should you encounter servicing or non-renewal issues.

Customerservice@churchmutual.com – This email is for those congregations having questions or concerns regarding insurance policy endorsement requests, change requests, coverage questions or policy language questions.

ELCAprograms@churchmutual.com – This email is for congregations who have been non renewed by Church Mutual. Upon receipt a Church Mutual Account Manager will explain the non-renewal and put your congregation in touch with their Account Manager who will try to recommend options with other carriers.

NT-NL SWO Women’s Retreat

The Dallas Area Metroplex North Conference (DAMN) of the NTNL Synodical Women’s Organization is holding their annual Women’s Retreat on April 13 8:30am-4:00pm at Rejoice, Frisco, with guest speaker Jill Miller. Jill Miller will present a concert following the retreat, open to everyone.

Registration is open until March 31st, Early Bird registration ends on March 15th. Tickets will be available at the door. Scholarships are available if needed.

More information can be found on the WELCA website. 

Affirming Pastors Luncheon

On April 11th from 11:30am-1:00pm at Gloria Dei, Garland, affirming pastors will gather for mutual encouragement, networking, and discussion of pastors’ (and their congregation’s) needs when it comes to LGBTQ folks and their families. A box lunch will be provided.

The event is free, but only open to pastors, and an RSVP is required. Find more information and register here. 

Update from Laura Slezak

Laura Slezak is the current ELCA missionary to Japan, in partnership with the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church. Here is her update from February.