In This Edition
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Message from Rev. Kris Totzke
Clergy Ethics Online Course
Updated Model Constitution for Congregations
Celebration of Life: Bishop Philip L. Wahlberg
Memorial Service for Dailey Taylor
Update from Laura Slezak
Courageous Leadership Series
Draft of a Social Message on Climate Care – Open for Public Comment
Upcoming Events
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear NT-NL Leaders:
Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of All Saints which will likely be observed this coming weekend in your worship. Oftentimes we remember those who have died in the previous year. Some congregations give thanks for those who have been baptized also in the past year. A practice I have encouraged and we have modeled at Synod Assembly. A reminder that “the saints” are all those baptized into Christ living and dead who gather together at the feast of Christ.
All Saints is an opportunity for us as leaders to remind ourselves and the assembly that the church is not a building, or a particular gathering of worshippers, but is a body called together by the Holy Spirit and drawn together by the waters of baptism. Our role as the living saints then is to steward the abundance of God for the work of proclaiming and inviting others into this body.
During the fall and particularly in November many congregations will engage in stewardship programs. I pray that you will be intentional in your invitation to those in your community to make a commitment of their time, talent, and treasure to the work the saints are called to be about. Stewardship that is more than an offering commitment but a way of seeing God’s world not through the lens of secular political economy but with the eyes of the baptized who understand all that we “possess” is in fact God’s and is for the proclamation of the gospel.
This fall I have been a part of several conversations with leaders about the stewardship of property. Some are looking towards improvements, expansion, and/or long overdue maintenance. Others are considering or engaged in selling all or a portion of property. In all of these conversations my encouragement to them is that the primary purpose of the church, to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, should be the deciding factor in their decisions. How does this asset contribute to the work of the church as a whole, which includes but is not limited to one institution or congregation.
God has entrusted us both individually and collectively with resources for mission. This includes all that we “possess” including our very lives. As we remember the saints may we work together in mission to steward all that we are and have responsibility for to ensure that in the future the message of the gospel continues to be proclaimed. As synod we provide resources for these conversations and invite you to invite your synod staff to have these conversations. God has blessed us with abundance, may we wisely discern how best to steward that abundance.
In Mission Together,
Bishop Gronberg
Message from Rev. Kris Totzke
NT-NL Synod, as with many of our congregations, has a longstanding sabbatical policy for staff who have served more than 4 years. In September, the Synod Council approved a 3-month sabbatical for me for the months of December, January, and February. During that sabbatical time, I will be working on projects with a theme of discernment. My goal is to develop tools and resources to use for those in discernment for call to ordained ministry and for congregations in discernment about their future. The plan is for these tools to be used either in retreat settings or for individual discernment journeys.
While I am on sabbatical, Bishop Gronberg and the rest of the staff will be picking up various responsibilities and processes. Bishop and DEM Irma Bañales will be the primary contacts for congregations and pastors. I am deeply grateful to Bishop Gronberg, the staff, and the Synod Council for allowing me this opportunity to step away and be renewed for the years of ministry still ahead.
Clergy Ethics Online Course
Decisions made in ordinary moments can have long-term positive or negative consequences. Clergy and ministerial leaders are often expected to make all the right decisions AND have all the right answers. Is it time for you to renew your ethics training?
FOR NT-NL LEADERS, REMEMBER THAT BOUNDARIES TRAINING WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS IS EXPECTED, AND THIS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE AN RMP.
The 2-hour “Clergy Ethics and Congregational Boundaries” course from Safe Gatherings, which has just been updated, is just $29 per user and includes:
· Introduction and review of the definitions of ethics and boundaries, including the importance of a code of conduct
· Ethical challenges faced by church and ministry leaders today, including technology, addictive behaviors, sexual abuse and misconduct, boundary awareness and abuse prevention, dual relationships, confidentiality, plagiarism, use of resources, and abuse of power
· Reflection points and faith-based scenarios
· Consequences of unethical behavior
For full details and to register: https://safegatherings.com/learn-more/clergy-ethics/
Updated Model Constitution for Congregations
Updated in 2022: https://www.ntnl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Model_Constitution_for_Congregations_2022.docx (this link will download to your device)
For more details: https://www.elca.org/About/Churchwide/Office-of-the-Secretary/Constitutions
Celebration of Life: Bishop Philip L. Wahlberg
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
is scheduled for
Reverend Philip L. Wahlberg
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
2:00 p.m.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
200 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, Texas 78752
A reception with light snacks will be provided following the Celebration event.
Those unable to attend or who are unavailable are encouraged to live-stream the service.
Live-streaming information will be on the Gethsemane website the day of the service: http://gethsemaneaustin.org
The following email address is provided for two purposes:
1. To notify the family and Gethsemane Lutheran that you are planning to attend and how many will be with you.
(If your plans change, it would be appreciated if you would use the email address to notify the family and congregation.)
2. To share a special memory of Pastor/Bishop Wahlberg for the family’s understanding of your connection with him.
Email: PLWAHL2022@gmail.com
Memorial Service for Dailey Taylor
A memorial service for Dailey Taylor, husband of Rev. Vicki Taylor, will be on Saturday, November 12, at 2pm, at King of Glory Lutheran, Dallas, TX.
The family requests that donations in honor of Dailey may be made to the NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund that will provide ongoing and sustaining missional support. You may donate online (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/1183611 – select Mission Endowment Fund from the dropdown menu and notate “In honor of Dailey Taylor” in the Note/memo section) or by mailing a check, made out to “NT-NL Synod, ELCA” with “Mission Endowment Fund” in the memo line, to the synod office: NT-NL Synod, 680 Copper Canyon Rd, Argyle, TX 76226.
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 October.
Courageous Leadership Series
Dear Faith Leaders,
ELCA Coaching is experimenting and learning as we continue with our theme of COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP. Join us WEEKLY on Wednesdays at 1pm Central. There will be time for small groups in breakout rooms so that leaders across the church can learn from each other and leave each gathering with at least one action step.
For November 2022:
Week One (November 2) – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic)
Week Two (November 9) – Adam Stockton – PTSD and Companionship
Week Three (November 16) – Myron Herzberg – Communal Listening and Discernment
Week Four (November 23) – Christina Costa – The Importance of Gratitude
Week Five (November 30) – Danielle Groth and Vicky Lovell – Reiki and Faith
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
Draft of a Social Message on Climate Care – Open for Public Comment
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” —Psalm 24:1
What is a faithful Lutheran response to Earth’s changing climate and worsening natural disasters? How do we think about this crisis as people of faith, and what are we called to do?
After hearing requests from across the church for guidance, the ELCA Church Council in March 2022 authorized development of a social message on climate care. Social messages are ELCA social teaching documents on specific social topics; these documents shape ELCA policy and help members discern how to respond to an issue.
A draft of the social message “Earth’s Climate Crisis” is now posted for public comment! Feedback of this kind helps the drafters know how the document could be more clear, helpful, and faithfully Lutheran. Please read the social message draft here and use this survey to share your input by Friday, December 2. Questions or longer responses can be emailed to draftsocialmessage@elca.org.
The drafters and review team will study the public feedback to prepare a proposed social message. That proposed message will be reviewed by the Conference of Bishops and presented to the Church Council for consideration this coming spring.
This public comment period is your chance to contribute directly as our church considers how to address this crucial topic affecting God’s good creation. Please help improve this social message so it can be as effective as possible. And share the news with others, so they can participate too!
God’s peace,
Rev. Roger A. Willer, Ph.D.
Director for Theological Ethics
Office of the Presiding Bishop, ELCA
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:
- Nov. 2: Courageous Leadership – Coaching – Choose Your Own Adventure (breakout rooms by topic), Zoom
- Nov. 3: Transitional Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 5: Celebration of Life: Bishop Philip L. Wahlberg, Austin
- Nov. 9: Courageous Leadership – Adam Stockton – PTSD and Companionship, Zoom
- Nov. 12: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 16: Courageous Leadership – Myron Herzberg – Communal Listening and Discernment, Zoom
- Nov. 19: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2022, Course 3, Hybrid
- Nov. 23: Courageous Leadership – Christina Costa – The Importance of Gratitude, Zoom
- Nov. 30: Courageous Leadership – Danielle Groth and Vicky Lovell – Reiki and Faith, Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events, you can access our Calendar of Events online.