Pulpit Supply
Please check the newly-updated Pulpit Supply list (ntnl.org/pulpit-supply) to see if your contact information is correct. Do we have your email address? Is that phone number still current?
Please send any changes to Pr. Jane Mar at jane@ntnl.org or 940-241-2099!
First Call Theological Education
Sept. 28-30
Briarwood Retreat Center
Participants are expected to have a copy of Healthy Churches, Faithful Pastors: Covenant Expectations for Thriving Together.
Register for FCTE here; registration deadline is Sept. 14. For more information, please contact Pr. Kathryn Cox at klynmc2000@yahoo.com.
A Message from Bishop Eaton
Sisters and Brothers,
The AME Council of Bishops met on July 1 in New Orleans, at which time they issued their first public statement and call to action since the massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church. You can find the statement and press release below, along with the statement of Senior Bishop Bryant.
As part of their call to action, they will invite ecumenical and inter-religious partners to declare Sunday, September 6 as a “Day of Confession, Repentance, Prayer, and Commitment to end Racism.” I felt it was important to respond immediately, offering my thanks for the gracious hospitality I received while participating in the funeral of The Rev. Pinckney, and indicating that ELCA will participate in the September 6 initiative, and encourage other partners to do so as well.
You will find attached my letter to Senior Bishop Bryant and other leaders, which will be sent later today. In the coming weeks, further information and resources will be shared for you to consider lifting up in your synods.
- AME Bishops Issue Statement & Call to Action
- Press Release on behalf of the Council of Bishops of the AME Church
- Statement of Senior Bishop John R. Bryant
- Bishop Eaton’s Letter to Bishop Bryant
If you are in the DFW Metroplex, please join us for the Service of Repentance and Mourning at King of Glory (Dallas) on September 26.
For additional resources on discussing racism, justice, and faith, including Bible studies and books, please visit ntnl.org/anti-racism-resources.
If you have additional resources (blog posts, articles, sermons, etc.) on this or other social justice issues, please email them to Criss Forshay at criss@ntnl.org.
A Training for All Rostered Leaders
The purpose of this workshop is to raise awareness concerning issues of sexual and emotional abuse, to provide tools for prevention that we can all use to protect ourselves and others from harm, as well as to promote safety and bring healing.
This training is offered by the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod. The training will be offered at three locations:
- Houston, TX – Oct. 20 or Oct. 29
- Brenham, TX – Oct. 22
- New Orleans, LA – Oct. 27
Visit gulfcoastsynod.org/boundaries-workshop/ for more information.
Learn more about how to transform your congregation from membership to discipleship using the ancient faith formation process known as the Catechumenate.
The North American Association for the Catechumenate (NAAC) is an ecumenical organization that partners with a variety of denominations in North America to provide faith formation resources and training for congregational leaders.
A Catechumenate Training Institute for congregational leaders will be offered Oct. 1-3, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Sacramento, California in collaboration with Trinity Cathedral and the Episcopal Church of St. Martins. Online registration available soon
Scholarships for seminarians and first-call pastors are available for both events. Contact registrar Devra Betts at devrabetts@gmail.com. For more information and online registration, check out the NAAC website at www.catechumenate.org.