MetroWord. Metropolitan Chicago Synod. March Registration, Nominations Available for 2019 Synod Assembly

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1 Metropolitan Chicago Synod March 2019 MetroWord Registration, Nominations Available for 2019 Synod Assembly Registration for this year s synod assembly is available at Also available are nomination forms for election to the synod council and consultation committee and discipline committee. Nominations close on May 1, The synod assembly will take place on June 7 and 8, 2019, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Convention Center Dr., Tinley Park, IL To take part in the pre-election canvass for individuals willing to be nominated for election to synod bishop, assembly voting members must be registered by April 1, More information about the assembly and pre-canvass is available at Attend Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism Workshop An Analyzing and Understanding Systemic Racism workshop will take place Thursday-Saturday, April 26-28, 2018, at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, IL An in-depth look at race and racism in the United States, this workshop is designed to reveal how systemic racism creates barriers to true multicultural diversity and racial justice. The workshop will help participants struggle with the tough questions and begin to equip them with the skills to dismantle racism and transform institutions. Registration includes workshop materials, snacks on Thursday evening, and continental breakfast and lunch on Friday and Saturday. ELCA members use promo code: MCSYNOD. Regular Registration is $125, after Thursday, March 28, 2019, and $95 before March 28. Register at Fund for Mission Applications Due April 1 In 1997, the Metropolitan Chicago Synod created a mission endowment fund to assist congregations to energize and extend the reach of their mission. In November 2018, grants totaling $13,000 were distributed. Grant applications are due in the synod office by Monday, April 1, Congregations that have previously received funding may apply for one follow-up grant for the same project. Visit for an application and more information.

2 MetroWord March 2019 Page 2 Attend or Watch ELCA Stewardship Webcast March 9 Resources for Congregational Renewal The Invitational Christian by Dave Daubert Have something to share but not sure how to do a better job of sharing it? Across America, congregations are finding their ministries entering uncharted territory. Some congregations are not making the adjustment and will struggle or close. But many congregations are doing good work and experiencing vibrant ministry. People who participate in these places are excited and spiritually renewed. Yet they still aren t sure how to invite new people in to be a part of it. This simple book (The Invitational Christian by Dave Daubert) walks people through how to become an invitational Christian in an invitational congregation. Based on years of experience as well as research into why people do and don t invite, this book is a great book for individuals, small groups and congregational studies. With reflection and discussion helps at the end of each chapter, this book will help ministries begin to share what they do with others and begin to bring new people in again (back cover of book). Purchase through Amazon or day8strategies.com. Employment Listings Employment listings are available online at congregation/admin/employment. The ELCA is presenting a webcast about stewardship on Saturday, March 9, 2019, beginning at 10 a.m. (doors open at 9:30 a.m.) at the Lutheran Center, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL Congregation members are invited to either watch online or attend the event in person. The online presentation will end at noon, but for those attending at the Lutheran Center, the event will continue until 2 p.m., with a complimentary lunch and an expanded introduction to Generosity 365, a new resource developed in collaboration with the ELCA s ecumenical partners, offering a year-long stewardship theme, educational materials for all age groups, a financial response method, and four online issues of Giving magazine. Workshop titles include: Stewardship for Small Congregations, Missional Hope for a New Generation, Engaging Disciples and Stewards with an App, Teaching Generosity in the Home, and Resourceful Servants. If interested in either opportunity, Neil.Bullock@elca.org by Monday, March 4, Update Parochial Reports Online Congregation record keepers can report congregational statistics (the Parochial Report) online at (Form A & C Update Now) at If you have any questions about completing the form, or do not know your congregation s ID number or 2018 password, please contact Sandie Schlauch at the synod office at sschlauch@mcselca.org or Thank you.

3 MetroWord March 2019 Page 3 Metropolitan Chicago Synod Directory Changes Name Change Effective Baurle-Kooi, Brittany Ordained, Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Blue Island 2/2/2019 Satran, Shelly A. Senior Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn 1/2/2019 Kopka, Paul Interim Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Burbank 11/15/2018 Swanson, Roseanne Pastor, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Glenwood 1/1/2019 Bouman, Stephen P. Retired 2/1/2019 McInnis, Joseph E. Retired 11/1/2018 Rajan, Frederick Retired 2/15/2019 Turnbull, Scot W. Retired 8/1/2018 West, Wende Retired 2/1/2019 Peterson, Brooke On Leave from Call 12/1/2018 Rabbe, Carl P. On Leave from Call 1/1/2019 Rindfleisch, Andrew On Leave from Call 2/1/2019 Shim, Hyuk Tae On Leave from Call 10/1/2018 Satran, Shelly A. Transferred from Florida-Bahamas Synod 1/2/2019 McInnis, Joseph E. Transferred to Oregon Synod 2/6/2019 Clark, Peter Removed from Roster 1/25/2019 United by Faith, Evergreen Park Closed 12/31/2018 Calvary (Spaulding), Chicago Closed 2/17/2018 Welcome to Rostered Leaders New to Our Synod Welcome to the Rev. Brittany Baurle-Kooi, who has been called to serve as Pastor at First Lutheran Church, Blue Island, Illinois. She received her BA in Secondary Education from Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota, and her MDiv at North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago. Her installation at First also took place on February 2, Pastor Baurle-Kooi is married to Matthew Kooi, and they live in Lockport. Welcome to the Rev. Shelly A. Satran, who has been called to serve as Senior Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Her installation at Faith took place on January 27, She received her BS from University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota; her MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey; and her Master of Sacred Theology at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Pastor Satran transferred to our synod from the Florida-Bahamas Synod, where she previously served Our Savior Lutheran Church, Vero Beach, Florida. Prior to that call, she served in Haiti under call from the ELCA Global Missions unit as Coordinator of Relations with the Federation of Evangelical Church of Haiti with Beyond Borders. Pastor Satran is married to Kent Annan, and they live with their two children, Simone, age 12, and Cormac, age 10, in Glen Ellyn. Join a Holy Land Tour with All Saints Lutheran, Palatine All Saints Lutheran Church in Palatine is hosting a Holy Land experience which will be both educational and faithbuilding. The trip is planned for November 2-12, 2019, (with an optional 3-day extension to November 15 which goes to Jordan). They would be glad for others to join with them. Pastors Seth and Jenn Moland-Kovash will be the spiritual and biblical guides as the group flies from Chicago to Tel Aviv with overnight stays in Galilee, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. The trip cost is $4299 per person, which includes airfare and double-occupancy accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily, ground transportation, all fees and gratuities. The Jordan extension is an additional $989 per person. You can see the whole brochure at and register for the tour at Contact Pastor Seth Moland-Kovash with any questions at or pastorseth@allsaintspalatine.org. A limited number of spots remain for this experience.

4 MetroWord March 2019 Page 4 Metropolitan Chicago Synod Calendar (For the most up-to-date calendar information, visit March 15 Synod Newsletter Articles Due 20 Deans Meeting Synod Office, 10AM 22 Deadline for June Supplement to Living Lutheran Rostered Leader Vacancies Congregations Actively Engaged in the Call Process KEY: (A) Self-study (B) Candidate search or interviewing (C) Call Extended (D) Call Accepted (PT) Part-time (*) Associate Position Central Northeast St. James, Chicago on hold Edison Park, Chicago B St. Paul, Evanston B St. Stephen s, Chicago on hold Mission of Christ, Chicago on hold Northwest Windsor Park, Chicago on hold Norwegian Lutheran Memorial, Chicago on hold Good Shepherd, Prospect Heights B Southwest St. James, Chicago on hold Lord of Life, Schaumburg D Our Savior s, Burbank A St. Timothy (Kildare), Chicago on hold Lutheran Church of the Cross, Arlington Heights on hold Our Saviour, Lansing A Near West Martha and Mary, Mt Prospect B (PT) Redeemer s, Oak Forest on hold Gloria Dei, Downers Grove B* St. Matthew, Itsaca A Trinity, Oak Lawn B Grace, La Grange A Trinity, Des Plaines on hold West St. Michael s, La Grange Park A Trinity, Rolling Meadows A Bethlehem, St. Charles B North South Good Shepherd, Naperville B Lutheran Church of the Master, Carol Christ, Vernon Hills on hold Bethany, Chicago on hold Stream on hold St. Andrew, Mundelein A Bethel-Imani, Chicago on hold Naperville Yuhlin Church, Naperville A St. Mark, Waukegan A First Trinity, Chicago B Our Savior, Aurora A Trinity, Ingleside on hold The Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America publishes MetroWord monthly. The deadline for submitting information is the 15 th of the current month for the next month s issue. Articles will be edited for space and clarity. Contact the synod office at: 1420 W. Dickens Ave., Chicago, IL Ph: Fax: Webpage: - MetroWord jdrake@mcselca.org.

5 Public Church Keynote Lecture Borderland Ethics Sin Fronteras : Neighbor Love in Liminal Spaces Rev. Dr. Javier Jay Alanis Executive Director, Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest Respondent: Mary Campbell Director, AMMPARO, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Friday, February 22, 11:30 a.m. Jay Alanis joined LSTC s faculty in 2000, teaching at its extension program in Austin, Texas, the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest. He has given numerous lectures and presentations nationally and internationally on contextual borderland theology, Latinx spirituality, and the ethics of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King Jr. He grew up and later practiced law in Edinburg, Texas, in the borderlands. He received the 2013 LSTC Witness to the World Distinguished Alumni Award. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago 1100 East 55 th Street, Chicago, Room 201, Free lunchtime lecture and discussion Dr. Alanis will speak about how the human face can play a pivotal role in borderland ethics. As Christians we understand that the human face is the reflected splendor of the divine that we recognize in the other (Genesis 1:26-27). Seen through this lens, de-humanizing practices at the border are a test of our ethical integrity. Alanis will present current border realities in the form of pictures and narratives from his recent periods of residence at the border. He asks, How might ministers who speak in the public arena help restore the splendor of the divine in their human siblings in light of the de-humanizing system of the border control? For more information contact event coordinator Elle Dowd at Danielle.dowd@lstc.edu

6 Public Church Lecture 2019 In Search of Our Better Angels: A Brief History of American Civil Religion Dr. Philip Gorski Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies, Yale University LSTC Faculty Respondents: Dr. Eunyung Lim, Dr. José David Rodríguez, Dr. Marvin Wickware Jr. February 28, 4 p.m. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Third Floor East Conference Room 1100 East 55 th Street, Chicago Free and open to the public. A reception follows the lecture. Philip Gorski is professor of sociology and the director of graduate studies at Yale University. He is a comparative historical sociologist whose work focuses on topics such as state-formation, nationalism, revolution, economic development and secularization with particular attention to the interaction of religion and politics. His latest book is American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present. This lecture is funded through The Rev. John R. Albright and Salome Shettel Albright Lectureship Fund Our present polarization has many causes. One is the long-running battle between those who believe that the United States was founded as a secular democracy and those who believe it was established as a Christian nation. In his talk, Philip Gorski argues that our founding tradition was a synthesis of both sacred and secular sources. He traces the history of this civil religious tradition from Puritan times through to the present day, reflects on how it might help heal our political division and concludes with some immodest proposals for repairing our torn social fabric. For more information, contact Dr. Esther Menn, dean of academic affairs, emenn@lstc.edu or

7 Risking Connection: A Trauma-Informed Curriculum for Faith Communities About the Workshop: Risking Connection in Faith Communities is a 2-day workshop developed by the Sidran Institute to equip faith leaders (clergy and lay) to build trauma responsive congregations. This is an interfaith approach that draws from multiple religious traditions. Participants must attend both days. By the end of the workshop you will: Understand the basic dynamics of trauma and how these experiences impact people's behavior, health, and well-being; Understand the spiritual impact of trauma and the ways in which spirituality supports resilience; Be able to use the RICH approach in your relationships in your home, congregation and community; Attend to your own vicarious trauma and the impact on your own well-being and leadership; Be prepared to take practical steps to create a RICH, trauma- responsive environment in the congregation. Who should attend: Faith Leaders (clergy and lay), religious educators, youth leaders, care and support committees, day care staff, health and wellness councils, faith community nurses and anyone who is concerned about how faith and spirituality can help bring healing and hope and foster resilience in our communities. Sponsored by: Friday, March 1st and Saturday, March 2 nd 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Villa Guadalupe Senior Center 3201 E 91st St, Chicago, IL Registration is $50 which covers breakfast, lunch and materials for both days. Register and find more information at Or contact Rev. Barbara Wilson at bwilson@chicagopresbytery.org or The Chicagoland Trauma Informed Congregations Network

8 IN D R OO W I N TE R... FARMERS MARKET... United in Faith Lutheran Church 6525 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL Saturday, March 23 9:00am to 1:00pm Support Local Farmers! Enjoy a wide range of seasonal, sustainably produced goods from local farmers & vendors at this indoor market. Available items may include winter produce, honey, meat, eggs, baked goods, bread, salsas, and more! Link Match Link Accepted at All Markets All Link/SNAP customers can double their purchases of fruits and vegetables up to $25! For more info: liam@faithinplace.org and karen@faithinplace.org Call: x 117 /125 or visit faithinplace.org. Link Match generously sponsored by Link Up Illinois

9 Bring Your 3rd-6th Grade Youth! This is a retreat designed to build and strengthen the relationships in your youth group. The idea is to keep your youth group strong and growing by laying a foundation for future members. Bring your third through sixth graders to this fun community building experience! When: March 22 & 23, Friday-Saturday (2019) Times: Arrive Friday at 7:00 pm, Depart Saturday at 4:00 pm Where: Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center, Oregon, IL Cost: activities $65/*person includes lodging, snack, 2 meals (on Saturday), and *Bring 10 youth, one adult is free! Bring 20 youth, two adults are free!! Activities include: Bible study, worship, games, campfire, teambuilding, hiking, and the prayer labyrinth. *weather permitting on outdoor activities Register with Audrey by March 1st, 2019 at: or by registrations@lomc.org Contact Michelle for more info: michelle@lomc.org Our BYG Theme for the Weekend is:

10 Junior High Spring Retreat April Who: 6th-9th Graders Cost: $130.00/*person *For every 10 youth the adult leader is free Includes: Lodging, 5 meals, 2 snacks, and camp activities Times: Arrive Friday evening at 7:00 pm Depart Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm Registration: Call Audrey at or registrations@lomc.org Register by: Questions: April 1st Contact Michelle at michelle@lomc.org Activities include: Bible study, worship, teambuilding, hiking, games, prayer labyrinth, archery and campfires (weather permitting) Theme: It Only Takes A Spark.to pass on God s love for others! It only takes a spark to ignite our passions to serve others! It only takes a spark to start changing the world! It only takes a spark to get the fire burning! Don t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ~1 Timothy 4:12