In This Edition
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Lutheran Ethicists Gathering
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest is Hiring
NT-NL SWO’s Continuing Education Scholarship Application Due November 15
NT-NL Synodical Women’s Organization’s October Newsletter
Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-gram
Trinity, Sherman Fundraising Challenge to support Lutheran Disaster Response
Understanding Who “Guadalupe” Is- CTLM Webinar
Latine Ministry Competency Workshop 202
LuMin Campus Ministry 2023-2024 Impact Report
Zion, Dallas Choir Tour of the United Kingdom
Upcoming Installations
Upcoming Events
Prayer Requests
Message from Bishop Gronberg
Dear Partners in Mission:
Yesterday was Election Day in our nation. Although I doubt you need my reminder of this. We have been the subject of messaging, advertisements, speeches, and more in what seems to have become a constant election news cycle. Given all this it is deeply tempting to tune it out. And yet, the decisions we collectively make in this election will have real consequences for our lives, and as disciples of Jesus we know more importantly, the lives of our neighbors.
One of the most troubling aspects of our political state continues to be the willingness to demonize opponents and twist the truth in so doing normalizing deceit. This is a violation of the 8th commandment’s admonition not to lie as well as Luther’s explanation of the commandment charging us to speak well of our neighbor and explain their actions in the kindest manner. As a member of the conference of bishops I signed on to our recent statement about the need to speak truth and reject the rhetoric of violence and hate.
Regardless of the outcome of the elections we as followers of Jesus have real work to do. Our nation is deeply divided, families are divided, by the politics of winning at all costs. As disciples of the crucified Christ we know true power is found in self giving love. And this should inspire our response to our neighbor and our community. In the coming days and weeks I pray that our NT-NL communities can and well model that self-giving service. To be people of peace and justice in the midst of fear and confusion. To seek and serve those marginalized and excluded. To live into our baptismal identity over any political identity.
In explaining the petition of the Lord’s prayer “Give us this day our daily bread” Luther includes in what is “daily bread” good government. So we pray today for peace, justice, and daily bread for all.
Together In Mission,
Bishop Gronberg
Lutheran Ethicists Gathering
The 2025 theme is Polarization: Discerning a Path Forward. At the global, national, and local levels, the forces that divide us from one another seem stronger than ever. Rising political polarization challenges our ability to dialogue, compromise, and collaborate toward the common good, even within faith communities. What does it mean for the church to live out its vocation as a community of moral deliberation amid this stark polarization? How might the theological, ethical, liturgical, or pastoral resources of the Lutheran church point a way forward? At the 2025 Lutheran Ethicists’ Gathering, we will explore these and other questions related to polarization, in hopes of discerning theo-ethical approaches that help us understand and mitigate deep divides in communities.
Presenters Include:
- Dr. Amy Carr, professor of religious studies, Western Illinois University
- Rev. Benjamin Dueholm, pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Dallas
- Dr. Christine Helmer, Peter B. Ritzma Professor of the Humanities, Professor of German and Religious Studies, Northwestern University.
- Silas Kulkarni, Director of Strategy and Advocacy, ELCA Witness in Society, Washington, D.C.
There are options to attend in person or virtually. You can register or find more information here.
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest is Hiring
Morgan Schmidlin, gift planner for the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod with Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest, concluded her service as a gift planner effective Sept. 30. Schmidlin, a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Flower Mound, joined the foundation staff in 2020. During her tenure, she has enjoyed productive relationships with congregations and their members that have led to furthering ministry capacity and sustainability in the synod.
Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest now has a full-time position opening for a gift planner for the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod. The gift planner will be responsible for cultivating legacy gifts and presenting opportunities for long-term ministry investments in the LFSW Multi Asset Fund and ELCA Ministry Growth Fund.
The gift planner will report to Deacon John Dellis, director of legacy planning, and will be expected to reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. For more information contact Deacon Dellis at (830) 305-2758 or jdellis@lfsw.org.
NT-NL SWO’s Continuing Education Scholarship Application Due November 15
The NT-NL Synodical Women’s Organization is offering $500 scholarships to women in their organization who want to further their education and need some financial assistance. Applicants must be a participant in a WELCA unit and a voting member of the ELCA. Course of study may have a ministry job component, or it may be for continuing education in job training or updating vocational training. Deadlines for application are November 15 and May 15.
Apply here: https://ntnllutheranwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Application.pdf
NT-NL Synodical Women’s Organization’s October Newsletter
You can read about the happenings of our Synodical Women’s Organization here.
Lutheran Men in Mission Ambassador-gram
Find updates about Lutheran Men in Mission and upcoming events here.
Trinity, Sherman Fundraising Challenge to support Lutheran Disaster Response
Trinity, Sherman is challenging the NT-NL synod to raise $1,000,000 from congregations and individuals for Lutheran Disaster Response’s hurricane relief efforts on the east coast.
If you would like to show your support, please send donations to the NT-NL synod office. Checks should be made out to NT-NL synod with “LDR-Hurricane” in the memo line.
You can find more on Lutheran Disaster Relief and their work here. As always we are #TogetherInMission & #JuntosEnMision
Understanding Who “Guadalupe” Is
Join Centro Teológico Luterano Multicultural (CTLM) for a webinar facilitated by The Rev. Jesus Escamilla (San Gabriel, Alvarado) to learn about the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Lutheran Church from a Latine perspective on Saturday, November, 16th from 9:00am-12:00pm.
More information and registration can be found here.
Latine Ministry Competency Workshop 202
Find more information and register here.
LuMin Campus Ministry 2023-2024 Impact Report
Click here to read the Campus Ministry Impact Report. This report shares facts and figures about their work, narrative stories about their impact, and network goals for the 2024-2025 school year.
Ministry Highlights:
- Last year, ELCA Campus Ministry reached more than 11,000 undergraduates
- Over one quarter of ministry sites host a food pantry
- 60% of campus ministries have identified student leaders / peer ministers, and 2/3 of these offer special training for them
- 25% of campus ministries reported at least one student baptism last year
View the full impact report here.
Zion, Dallas Choir Tour of the United Kingdom
Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas is putting together a choir trip to the United Kingdom in the summer of 2025. They have extended an invitation to members of the NT-NL synod to join the choir to sing with them on this trip or simply to travel with them. You can find more information here.
If you have any questions please reach out to Dr. Scott Hyslop, Minister of Music at shyslop@ziondallas.org.
Upcoming Installations
The Rev. Kyle Symanski has been called to Calvary, Richland Hills. The Rev. Symanski will be installed on December 1st during morning worship services.
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:
- November 9: Public Witness Team Meeting
- November 9: Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Fall 2024
- November 9: Upper Elementary Retreat, Resurrection, Plano
- November 26: First Call Pastors Check-in, Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events, you can access our Calendar of Events online.