In This Edition
Featured Blog Post
Pastors, Here’s Why Everyone’s So Mad At You Right Now
Order a Stole to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women
How To Grow Year-End Giving
Weekly Online Gatherings for ELCA Leaders
Perkins Fall Convocation AND Conversation with Bishop Gronberg
MEF Grant Application Deadline Extended
2021 Theological Conference
Upcoming Events
Featured Blog Post
Dear NT-NL Leaders,
Election Day #2020 has come and gone. However, as was predicted, we still do not know the outcome of many close contests, including that of the office of President. In fact, as I write this early on November 4th, it is looking increasingly likely that the outcome will be contested and potentially wind up in the courts. We may not know who is declared winner for weeks to come.
What has been made known again to us are the deep divisions within our nation and our communities. Divisions that have long existed but once more are being revealed and deepened by this election season, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the continued growing of partisanship of our society. This impacts you as leaders in our church directly because the people who make up our NT-NL communities (including yourselves) are not immune from but in fact a part of this system. Recognizing that is critical; leading through it is even harder. To do so in this time, I offer three thoughts…
- To take seriously our sin, the reality of the self turned in on itself (Incurvatus in se), and to confess how often we seek our own way rather than listen to and focus on our neighbors’ needs.
- To pray for and actively support our civic officials and public servants. In conversation recently, a colleague related the intense stress their spouse, a county elections clerk, is experiencing in this time. 14-16 hour days have become the norm during this season, and all too often these officials are subject to verbal abuse and even threats of physical violence. We need to remember that good government is a gift from God and part of our “daily bread.” (see below)
- Finally, invite those in your community to see and listen to one another. Intentionally seek out those whose lived experiences are different from your own. Our 2020 Assembly Theme “Crossing Borders/Cruzando Fronteras” was about recognizing the unofficial and often unseen, yet all too real, barriers/borders in our communities. Barriers/Borders of race/economics/political ideology/geography/gender/sexuality that have been systemically erected and exploited to divide us from one another. Barriers/Borders that, as church, we are called to cross over when we come together and listen to different voices in our midst.
Doing these things is critical for our witness to our Christian faith in this time. If I rejoice in the result of an election, but my neighbor weeps, it is my Christian calling to listen to that neighbor with a heart open to understanding their real feelings, fears, and anxieties. A heart open to being changed, to seeing the world and potentially acting in a different way, all out of love for neighbor.
For two thousand years the church, the baptized people of God have born witness to power of what God has done in Jesus Christ. Nations/Empires have risen and fallen, but the proclamation of the good news has continued. As we move through these days in our nation’s life, know that you are in my prayers as you lead, that myself and my staff are here to assist you and your community, and that God, our refuge and strength, is with us.
Bishop Gronberg
Luther’s Small Catechism: The Lord’s Prayer, Fourth Petition
“Give us today our daily bread.”
What does this mean? In fact, God gives daily bread without our prayer, even to all evil people, but we ask in this prayer that God cause us to recognize what our daily bread is and to receive it with thanksgiving.
What then does “daily bread” mean? Everything included in the necessities and nourishment for our bodies, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, farm, fields, livestock, money, property, an upright spouse, upright children, upright members of the household, upright and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, decency, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
Pastors, Here’s Why Everyone’s So Mad At You Right Now
From our friend Carey Nieuwhof:
You might be asking yourself as a church leader, why does everyone seem so angry with me right now?
You’re not alone.
As pastor appreciation month fades into the rearview mirror, despite getting a few chocolates and a handful of thank you cards (or nothing…that’s happened before too), many church leaders I talk to are feeling more unappreciated, misunderstood and more criticized than ever.
Criticism stings, and in a prolonged crisis like this one, just when you feel like you need more encouragement than usual, it feels like you’re getting all-time-high levels of static.
What’s going on?
Continue reading: Pastors, Here’s Why Everyone’s So Mad At You Right Now (posted October 28)
Order a Stole to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women with a New Stole! Profits will support the ELCA’s International Women Leaders Fund!
This offer is open to anyone of any gender.
2 designs with a 50-year Logo (flower) or a 50-40-10 Logo (rainbow splash) in both pastor and deacon stoles:
Price: $85 each + $10 shipping = $95 total
(If you cannot afford this pricing, please contact The Rev. Linda Anderson-Little, landersonlittle@gmail.com, to request a scholarship.)
Sizes:
Pastor: Regular- 47″ each side (94″ total) or Short- 44″ (88″ total)
Deacon: One Size Only: 54″ each side
Details: Wrinkle-free light-weight 100% matte polyester fabric. Design is dyed into fabric with sublimation printing.
Order deadline is Saturday, November 14, at 11:55pm Central. Orders are print-on-demand. (To be good stewards of resources, we are only printing the orders we receive.) Delivery is estimated at 6-10 weeks, depending on the schedule at the printer when we submit our order (after November 14). Christmas delivery is hoped for but not guaranteed.
ORDER HERE: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/2256975 ***
*** FOR BEST RESULTS, ACCESS THIS SITE VIA A BROWSER ON A COMPUTER. Orders are being accepted via an event registration form for ease of processing, which we know may feel odd. Completing the form via this link is not registering you for an event; you are ordering a stole. ***
Offered by the NT-NL Synod 50th Anniversary Celebration Task Force
Stole designs by Chris Sherrod of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Richardson, TX
50 Years and 50-40-10 Logos designed for NTNL by Laura White
How To Grow Year-End Giving
Has your congregation begun planning for year-end giving? Many congregations receive over 40% of their giving in the last three months of the calendar year. Many households also make their designated or special gifts in the last week of the year. Now is the time to start planning!
On October 7, Tithe.ly hosted a special webinar for the ELCA on this subject. This included some interesting facts about giving patterns that Tithe.ly has discovered over the last three years:
· 72% of electronic giving is done via a mobile app
· 20% of electronic giving is done online and 7% via text
· 72% of contributions are made on days other than Sunday
· 50% of dollars contributed are by recurring gifts from 15% of households
· 85% higher giving is received by congregations that use the Tithe.ly subscription package.
This information highlights both opportunities and challenges for congregation. Here is a link to the webinar recording, and here is the resource kit offered by Tithe.ly. Here is the special link for ELCA congregations for negotiated pricing: https://get.tithe.ly/elca
Weekly Online Gatherings for ELCA Leaders
BEING CHURCH
Wednesdays, 1PM Central
This month’s schedule:
November 4 – The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 3: Finding the Courage to Do the Thing You Think You Cannot Do – Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin
November 11 – Improv (aka Adapative Leadership) Techniques to Face the Unknown – Rev. Mike Weaver
November 18 – Growing Young: Keychain Leadership – Rachel Alley and others
November 25 – (Topic TBA) – Jory Mickelson
You are invited to join this weekly online gathering designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders across the church. Participants will hear topical presentations related to how we are called to be Church, as well as have an opportunity to be in small group discussions with an ELCA group coach facilitating the conversation. This is where the magic happens. All of this is designed to help us process our emotions and thus create a space where we can each name our next most faithful step forward in our unique context. You are welcome to share this invitation with any other ELCA leader, rostered or lay. #ELCAChurchTogether
How have we been church, with individuals and with communities? How are we being church? How are we called to be church with all people, with creation, and in an ever-changing world?
We understand a number of folks are unable to make this day and time each week. We record the main session and the wrap-up time. We share each recording with supporting documents here by the following week: https://www.
You can find the login information and a list of upcoming topics and presenters on the home page of the ELCA Coaching website: https://www.
Perkins Fall Convocation AND Conversation with Bishop Gronberg
No need to hit the road this year to attend Perkins Fall Convocation! In less than twenty-four hours and in an online format —to enjoy in your favorite comfort space— you will be inspired and equipped for “Leading Into Change” today, tomorrow and beyond.
Through engaging plenaries with internationally-recognized change agents, Kirk Franklin and Tod Bolsinger, a workshop of your choice presented by a skilled leader, and in conversation with colleagues throughout the event, you will expand your repertoire for leading your church into this time of uncertainty and relentless change.
https://www.smu.edu/Perkins/PublicPrograms/Perkins-Fall-Convocation
November 15-16
Invite four others from your church to join you in this journey, and register all five together for a significantly discounted price. “Tod Bolsinger wrote Canoeing the Mountains for Christian leaders who find themselves in uncharted territory needing to improvise constantly. Our pastoral residents and I are reading ahead, preparing for his visit to Perkins for the fall convocation. We are eager to see you there, too.” — Rev. Dr. George A. Mason, Senior Pastor, Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas
Their website, smu.edu/perkinsfallconvo, has full details for the event, and if you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out at popelevison@smu.edu or 214-768-3445.
Bishop Gronberg will be leading a follow-up conversation to this event for NT-NL leaders interested in having further dialogue about the book Canoeing the Mountains and its implications for leadership in our context. That will take place Wednesday, November 18, from 1-2:30pm. Advance registration required: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAtfumhpj8rGdENlZS3XPBpCtwZsYi6rITJ. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
MEF Grant Application Deadline Extended
Due to the continuing uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the deadline for 2021 NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund grant applications has been extended to January 6, 2021. Email or call Linda Ness, Executive Director, with any questions you may have (mef@ntnl.org or 682-429-3446). Grants are determined by the MEF Board in February and awarded by early March each year. The guidelines and applications are available at this link: https://www.ntnl.org/ministries/mef/grant-application/.
2021 Theological Conference
Save the Date!
January 25-27, 2021
We are excited to host Michael DeJonge, Chair and Professor of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida. His scholarship has focused on the twentieth-century German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
This will be an online event. More details will be shared here closer to date: https://www.ntnl.org/event/2021-theological-conference/.
For some creative history on Bonhoeffer, check out this Lego short created 10 years ago by NT-NL young adult Tom Blaney! He has lived and regularly attended church services in all three Texas ELCA Synods (Frisco, Austin, and Houston). Tom was active in campus ministry at UTexas, a Briarwood summer camp counselor, and a 2019 ELCA Churchwide Voting Member representing NT-NL. (This video was done as a school project and won second place in the Texas Coalition for Holocaust Education’s Yom HaShoah “Upstanders in the Holocaust” Art, Writing, and Video contest.)
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. 4: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – The Sacred Work of Grief: Finding the Courage to Do the Thing You Think You Cannot Do with Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin, Zoom
- Nov. 5: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Nov. 5: Interim Pastors monthly meeting, Zoom
- Nov. 11: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Improv (aka Adaptive Leadership) Techniques to Face the Unknown with Rev. Mike Weaver, Zoom
- Nov. 12: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Nov. 14: PLMA, Fall 2020, Course 3, Online
- Nov. 14: Public Witness Team monthly meeting, Online
- Nov. 18: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Growing Young: Keychain Leadership with Rachel Alley and others, Zoom
- Nov. 19: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Nov. 25: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – TBA with Jory Mickelson, Zoom
- Nov. 26: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events in, and important to, our Synod, you can access our Calendar of Events online.