In This Edition
Featured Blog Post
Important Portico Updates
CHANGE OF DATES | Celebrate & Meditate: Biblical Women, Art, and Archetypes of Power!
Resourceful Servants Savings Matching Programs
Young Adults Pumpkin Party
Gather in Thankfulness Worship Service
Leadership Convocation
LCM Denton Presents: Socially Distant Oktoberfest
Weekly Online Gatherings for ELCA Leaders
Perkins Online Fall Convocation
Job Postings
Upcoming Ordinations
Upcoming Events
Featured Blog Post
Religious freedom is a tenet that has come to mean a great many things throughout our nations history. Often claimed as a defining American principle, most struggle to articulate or agree on what it actual means. The Supreme Court has ruled numerous times about the 1st Amendment and the “Establishment Clause” and many speak of a wall separating church and state. Yet, the reality is the church is made up of people, people who live within this nation, and whose faith certainly impacts their political lives (political as understood as being part of the “polis,” the city/community; not as political party). Living in community, in the polis, we participate in life together and in the life Christ’s command to love our neighbor means that our faith is and always has been public.
So what really is religious freedom and how do we understand it in this most polarized time? To assist you, leaders in our congregations, our fall leadership conference (Oct. 19-20) will focus on this topic. Use Promo Code “special25” (case-sensitive) for $25 off before 11:55pm on Monday, October 12. This will be an online event open to anyone who desires to participate and learn more about the varied and nuanced history of religious freedom in America. Additionally, Briarwood Leadership Center is planning to offer conversations in the weeks before the election aimed at trying to help us listen better to each other. Another resource is offered to you through our partnership with ELCA Coaching. Wednesday September 30th the Rev. Dr. George Mason, our 2017 Assembly keynote speaker, took time to gather with leaders from across our church to discuss our polarized world and how we as faith leaders can respond as “Custodians of the Gospel.” His message is inspiring and informative. I am grateful for Rev. Mason’s consistent leadership in the Dallas area and beyond.
As your bishop I am well aware of the heightened and increasing anxiety you as leaders are facing as we get ever closer to the Nov. 3rd election. Our nation is polarized and divided and your congregations do not escape that division. However, we have theological, historical, and leadership resources to bring to these challenging times. 500 years ago in 1620 Martin Luther wrote his treatise “On the Freedom of a Christian” in which he outlined his vision of Christian liberty based in Christ’s commands. “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all.”
Important Portico Updates
Portico’s Board of Trustees has approved health plan and benefit changes for 2021, featuring the continuing expansion of personalized and online programs for ELCA-Primary members, and a new hearing benefit for members with ELCA Medicare-Primary health benefits. You can read more at PorticoBenefits.org.
Portico is inviting sponsoring organizations to visit the 2021 Enrollment Center on EmployerLink, where a Decision Guide and the Custom Comparison Report and Spreadsheet will be available to registered users. Once they’re available, please download these resources and share them with decision-makers in your organization. The Decision Guide was specifically created as a visual overview of the two ELCA-recommended options. These documents have been formatted to be easily shared during any online meetings as your congregation reviews your options. (Plan members will complete their individual Annual Enrollment after their sponsoring organizations have completed their selection process.)
Click here for the Portico Letter to Church Council Leaders on 2021 AE Changes.
Change of Dates | Celebrate & Meditate: Biblical Women, Art, and Archetypes of Power!
Join us as we celebrate the 50-40-10 ordination anniversaries of women, women of color, and LGBTQ people in the ELCA, with these online, inspirational, educational events featuring the paintings of Biblical artist, Sara Novenson (novenson.com), and spiritual director and pastor, the Rev. Linda Anderson-Little (soulstorywriter.net). With Sara’s paintings of Biblical women, learn the spiritual depths behind their stories as Sara shares her Torah (Old Testament) study and spiritual experiences in the creative process. As we meditate, study, and embody one woman each week, their sacred paths will be revealed, igniting our own Source of power and wisdom to help guide ourselves and others through these challenging times. You may want to use a journal/notebook. Classes will be recorded. Please register to receive the Zoom link and the replay recordings for weeks missed. Generously provided to all lay and clergy members of our Synod through an NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund grant!
Session II: Mondays, 7:30pm, October 12-November 16: Deborah, Hannah, Ruth, Naomi & Ruth, Esther, Judith
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEscOCorTMsG9eVX44ea4ieC54MMEUnMP_Q
Resourceful Servants Savings Matching Programs
We all want rostered ministers to be satisfied and effective in their ministry. This helps serve God’s mission in the world. For many rostered ministers, financial stress stands in the way. Frequently, this stress is due to a lack of emergency savings, a lack of retirement savings, or both.
To address these challenges, Resourceful Servants offers two Savings Matching programs, one for emergency savings and one for retirement savings. These programs partner with rostered ministers to encourage a habit of saving by providing matching funding to more rapidly grow savings and retirement accounts.
The first step to qualify and apply for the Resourceful Servants Savings Matching programs is to review the Savings Matching Programs Overview Booklet.
After you have read through the booklet, you can begin the online qualification and application process. To do so, complete the online Financial Wellness Assessment. If you qualify for either program, you will be directed to the application for that program as part of the assessment.
The due date to complete the process is October 15, 2020. Click here for full details.
Young Adults Pumpkin Party
Are you between the ages of 15 and 25? Do you love the spooky season? We have an event for you! Join NT-NL Young Adults for their first socially distanced Halloween Event! Dress up in your favorite costume, and come out to Briarwood on Saturday, October 17th from 9:30am-11:30am. We will be carving pumpkins, listening to spooky music, and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation!
This is a free event; pumpkins and tools will be provided! Donations are welcome and will go towards Briarwood’s continued ministry and programs for fun events just like this one! Registration required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pumpkin-party-for-young-adults-tickets-123517428955.
Join us if you have the guts!
Gather in Thankfulness Worship Service
GATHER IN THANKFULNESS – 2020 SEEDS THAT CHANGE
Seeds that Change: “… only God makes it grow.” I Cor. 3:7
An Online Worship Event premiering on Saturday, October 17, at 10:00am on the NT-NL Facebook page
The worship service will be available after that for watching at your convenience, as well as on the NT-NL YouTube and Vimeo pages.
Access a flyer with details here.
Leadership Convocation
Topic: “Religious Freedom in America: Past, Present, and Future”
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Stookey, Dean of the School of Religion and Philosophy at Wayland Baptist University (Plainview, TX)
An expert in American Church History and particularly concepts of religious freedom in American history, Dr. Stookey serves on the Board of Directors of the Baptist History and Heritage Society. He also has a deep passion for Luther studies and particularly Lutheran/Anabaptist relationships. Click here to learn more.
Event will be online in three sessions:
Monday, October 19, 2-4pm: Where We Are: The Climate Today
Tuesday, October 20, 10am-Noon: How Did We Get Here? History of Religious Freedom in America
Tuesday, October 20, 2-4pm: How Do We Respond? As the Body of Christ, How Do We Live and Engage This Climate
Regular Registration (September 21-October 18):
General: $75
Continuing Education: $100 (includes follow-up conversation and certificate of completion of 8 hours of CE)
Use Promo Code “special25” (case-sensitive) for $25 off before 11:55pm on Monday, October 12.
* For Continuing Education credit, attendance at all three sessions + follow-up conversation (details forthcoming) is expected. *
As an introduction to these sessions, we highly recommend you watch this recent presentation by Rev. George Mason:
Custodians of the Gospel: A Public Faith
https://www.elcacoaching.org/podcasts/media/2020-09-30-custodians-of-the-gospel-a-public-faith
LCM Denton Presents: Socially Distant Oktoberfest
The Board of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Denton has decided that our annual trivia challenge and silent auction this fall will be a virtual event. We typically gather at Briarwood for a festive dinner with themed table decorations, Lutheran-themed trivia, and tables of auction items.
Since caring for our neighbors is an integral part of putting our faith into action, we know that it is our duty to hold a virtual Trivia challenge and silent auction this year. We will have more details coming soon about how the trivia challenge and auction will work, but we can share with you that the trivia challenge will expand beyond the traditional Lutheran-themed questions to include other trivia questions and that our overall theme will be Oktoberfest. And if you have any items to donate for an online silent auction, please contact Brandon Parsons (brandonparsons@mac.com) or Pastor Jim Rowe (pastor@lcmdenton.org).
The date of the Trivia challenge will be Saturday, October 24, at 7:00 pm. Start organizing your teams and get ready for a night of fun!
Weekly Online Gatherings for ELCA Leaders
BEING CHURCH
Wednesdays, 1PM Central
The schedule this month:
October 7 – The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 2: Everything We Love, We Will Lose – Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin
October 14 – Leaning In: Subversion and Proximity – Shane Claiborne (Red Letter Christians)
October 21 – Growing Young: Be the Best Neighbor – Rachel Alley and others
October 28 – Preaching in a Polarized Space – Rev. Bridget Jones
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 Online Fall Convocation
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. Register before October 15 for reduced pricing.
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
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 conversation 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. A registration link will be provided in next month’s Leader News.
Job Postings
Abiding Love Lutheran Church is a welcoming, inclusive community of faith serving the southwest Austin, Texas, region since 1980. A member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), all we do is focused on one mission: Sharing God’s Love. To help fulfill this mission, Abiding Love is seeking a Director to lead our ministry with children and youth.
Triumphant Love Lutheran, Austin, is seeking a part time Adult Faith Formation Coordinator to design and facilitate adult education opportunities utilizing new and existing classes in order to grow the faith of members and those in our new online community. Interested applicants can view the job description and visit http://tllc.org/job-openings/ for the application form. The application, cover letter, resume, and references can be sent to tllcjobs@tllc.org by October 25, 2020.
Upcoming Ordinations
Joel Hicks, called to serve St. Stephen, Shreveport, LA, was ordained on October 4.
Remy Remmers, called to serve Our Saviour’s, Prineville, OR, will be ordained on October 10.
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:
- Oct. 7: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – The Sacred Work of Grief, Part 2: Everything We Love, We Will Lose with Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin, Zoom
- Oct. 8: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 9: Basta de violencia a la mujer, participa por zoom o en persona
- Oct. 10: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 10 (Día 2 de 5), Zoom
- Oct. 10: Public Witness Team meeting, Zoom
- Oct. 14: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Leaning In: Subversion and Proximity with Shane Claiborne (Red Letter Christians), Zoom
- Oct. 15: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 17: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 10 (Día 3 de 5), Zoom
- Oct. 17: PLMA, Fall 2020, Course 2, Zoom
- Oct. 17: Young Adults Pumpkin Party, Briarwood
- Oct. 17: Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) Campaign and Worship Service, Online
- Oct. 19-20: 2020 Leadership Convocation, Zoom
- Oct. 21: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Growing Young: Be the Best Neighbor with Rachel Alley and others, Zoom
- Oct. 22: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 24: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 10 (Día 4 de 5), Zoom
- Oct. 24: Living Connected: Creation’s Gift of Material Goods, Online
- Oct. 24: LCM Denton Presents: Social Distant Oktoberfest, Online
- Oct. 27: Living Connected: Creation’s Gift of Material Goods, Online
- Oct. 28: Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders – Preaching in a Polarized Space with Rev. Bridget Jones, Zoom
- Oct. 29: Weekly NT-NL Leadership Prayer, Check-in, Zoom
- Oct. 31: ESET (SSTE) Módulo 10 (Día 5 de 5), Zoom
For a complete list of upcoming events in, and important to, our Synod, you can access our Calendar of Events online.