Ms. Jennifer Scott Michael ROSTERED MINISTER PROFILE Completed: 11/19/2016

Transcription

1 Completed: 11/19/2016 This Rostered Minister Profile (RMP) allows ordained and lay rostered ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America a way to share information about their faith, skills and passions for ministry. It provides basic introductory information to set a stage for conversations with Call and Search Committees. The RMP is complete once the synodical bishop reviews and approves it for use and once the person selected as the outside reference has submitted the Reference Recommendation form. PERSONAL MINISTRY STATEMENT With a very personal witness to a theology of the cross, God has called me as a leader for this church in proclamation, testimony and daily living. I am committed to living out that call in every possible way that it might illuminate the power of the Gospel for others. Part I: PERSONAL INFORMATION Preferred Contact Information 1955 Pulpit Rock Ln Apt 202 ADDRESS LINE ADDRESS LINE2 Dubuque IA CITY STATE ZIP United States FOREIGN COUNTRY (850) (850) ojennymichael@gmail.com PREFERRED PHONE OTHER PHONE ADDRESS Candidate for Minister of Word and Sacrament Awaiting Assignment & Call Florida-Bahamas Synod ELCA ROSTER ROSTER STATUS DATE ROSTERED SYNOD OF ROSTER OR CANDIDACY Language Proficiencies English (FLUENT) 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 1 of 13

2 PRIMARY LANGUAGE SECOND LANGUAGE THIRD LANGUAGE Formal Education MASTER OF DIVINITY 2017 DEGREE FIELD OF STUDY YEAR Wartburg Theological Seminary SCHOOL Dubuque, IA BACHELOR OF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION 2011 DEGREE FIELD OF STUDY YEAR Kaplan University SCHOOL Davenport, IA ASSOCIATE BACHELOR OF ARTS GENERAL STUDIES 2008 DEGREE FIELD OF STUDY YEAR Hillsborough Community College SCHOOL Tampa, FL DEGREE FIELD OF STUDY YEAR SCHOOL Life Long Learning Experiences 2016 Boundaries and Professional Ethics Seminar 2 YEAR TOPIC OR TITLE OF CLASS CONTACT HOURS YEAR TOPIC OR TITLE OF CLASS CONTACT HOURS YEAR TOPIC OR TITLE OF CLASS CONTACT HOURS YEAR TOPIC OR TITLE OF CLASS CONTACT HOURS YEAR TOPIC OR TITLE OF CLASS CONTACT HOURS 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 2 of 13

3 Work History In chronological order and beginning with the most recent, list up to five significant work experiences. 1. TKR Technologies, Inc. Executive Assistant ORGANIZATION RECENT POSITION/TITLE YEAR Daphne AL FOREIGN COUNTRY 2. Alutiiq, LLC Personel Specialist ORGANIZATION RECENT POSITION/TITLE YEAR Pensacola FL FOREIGN COUNTRY 3. Chenega Technology Services Corporation Executive Assistant/HR Assistant ORGANIZATION RECENT POSITION/TITLE YEAR Ms. Jennifer Scott Michael Guantanamo Bay Cuba FOREIGN COUNTRY 4. Updegraff Vision Satellite Clinic Office Manager and Senior Ophthalmic Technician ORGANIZATION RECENT POSITION/TITLE YEAR Tampa FL FOREIGN COUNTRY 5. - ORGANIZATION RECENT POSITION/TITLE YEAR FOREIGN COUNTRY Current Ministry ORGANIZATION RECENT POSITION/TITLE FULL TIME/ PART TIME, SIZE TYPE CURRENT MINISTRY (A CONGREGATION or AN ORGANIZATION) 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 3 of 13

4 ELCA CONGREGATION ID AVG WEEKLY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE TOTAL CURRENT BUDGET MISSION SUPPORT TO THE LARGER CHURCH Describe your ministry site as to its characteristics (e.g. rural, ecumenical, multiple point, or agency), purpose and relationship to the larger church. Part II: COMPETENCIES OR SPECIALIZATIONS Areas of Expertise Administration Preaching / Worship Leadership Communications / Media Teaching Innovation / Creativity Areas of Strength Christian Education Participant in the Larger Church Stewardship Building a Sense of Community Children's Ministry Examples of Competencies 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 4 of 13

5 Administration While serving as churchwide president for Women of the ELCA from , I was responsible for an organization with a $2.4 million budget. As leader of the executive board it was my responsibility to assess budget proposals and ministry requests to present to the board with my recommendations for approval. In addition, it was my duty to nurture the gifts and talents of my fellow board members as they sought to fulfill the duties of their office. I currently serve on the Leadership Table for the ELCA Fund for Leaders where I work with 12 other board members to help vision for the Fund. Our responsibilities include coming up with innovative ideas to grow the Fund as well as working with current churchwide staff to provide support for donors. In my professional career, my role as executive assistant often called on detailed administrative skills to plan calendars, prepare for meetings, write operating manuals, and provide support to other office staff. Additionally, in my role as clinical manager I supervised multiple staff coordinating schedules, preparing and delivering evaluations as well as facilitating a smooth working office atmosphere. I am a collegial partner with other staff and seek a close working relationship with those in my professional environment. Preaching / Worship Leadership In all of my evaluations prior to my first call assignment, my faculty, call committee, previous professional partners, and close friends have all identified administration to be one of my greatest skills that I bring to ministry. I am a tenacious worker and strive for organization and order in all of my professional settings. Preaching is one of my greatest passions for ministry. In my previous role as a lay leader, I was never afraid to do any sort of public speaking. However, since coming to seminary and internalizing the real nature of what it means to proclaim the Gospel, my understanding of preaching has been transformed. This change began when I served as a synodically authorized lay leader of Word and Sacrament while living in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I preached and presided with a small Lutheran community while living there and it changed the trajectory of my life. Then moving on to seminary and taking homiletics courses where I became grounded in the Word--the living Word through proclamation--i have come to know the difference between a good speech and a life-giving sermon. In my homiletics courses and also while on internship, the quality of my preaching has been given high marks. My internship committee and my internship supervisor said that my sermons are strong and hold a promise of the Gospel within each proclamation. But more than that, I want you to know the visceral connection I have to preaching and leading worship. It is one of the most sacred parts of my call to ministry for me. I have served as sacristan for Loehe Chapel at Wartburg Theological Seminary for my 2nd and final year of seminary. The connection to worship--to planning and preparing what a worship experience might look like in the light of the Gospel--is a spiritual practice and one that has profound significance for me. 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 5 of 13

6 Communications / Media My undergraduate degree is in communications and this has always been a vital part of my leadership for the church. I have a rich cache of experiences in communications including significant experience with public speaking. I have had a variety of articles published in the last 6 years. Additionally, I am adept at creating and supporting social media through blog posts, online chatrooms and visual image applications. I also have extensive experience facilitating many types of complex meetings, small groups, and individual sessions. Teaching One of my newest passions for ministry is visioning how we can be church together in new and innovative ways using technology to expand the reach of ministry. Tools such as video conferencing, online chatrooms and social media are things that many of our congregation members are using every day in school or in business. In my final year of seminary, I have been pursuing training as an online teacher as a part of a new pilot program through Wartburg Theological Seminary. As a participant in this program, I receive specialized instruction on how to conceptualize courses, how to develop specific lesson plans suited to an online environment and how to work with the technology in new ways. Being part of this program also means that Wartburg has committed to provide technical support as well as an online teaching platform at no cost to my first call congregation during that first year. With over 20 years of lay leadership experience, I have led a multitude of bible studies, small discussion groups and also been a Stephen Ministries Leader. In all of my evaluations, my internship committee and supervisor identified my significant skills in teaching both adults and young people in Christian education and one-to-one experiences. In my theological studies, my professors have noted that I have keen insight into reaching the needs of the adult learner to better synthesize biblical knowledge and theological concepts. My experience as churchwide president for Women of the ELCA provided me the opportunity to give multiple workshops to a variety of audiences. The topics of these workshops included Spiritual Courage, Sparking Passion for Congregational Units, and the Face of Human Trafficking. Innovation / Creativity And as mentioned above, I am stretching my teaching skills as I seek to provide online learning for my congregation as well. Throughout my many years of life in leadership within the church, I have always sought ways to serve in new and innovative ways. As I mentioned earlier, there is a new horizon of cutting-edge thinking with regards to technology that I am eager to explore as a tool for ministry. In addition, I have sought ways to bring creativity and ingenuity to worship practices. During my internship I was instrumental in providing the congregation with new ways of looking at how they welcome those who are not already present among them. For example, a redesign of the sanctuary seating was changed to accommodate people with disabilities because of my input. Additionally, in my work with Women of the ELCA, I was able to suggest new ways of evaluating the executive director that would better implement a feeling of partnership with the churchwide board that had not previously been present. References Synodical Bishop Bishop Robert Schaefer NAME Florida-Bahamas Synod SYNOD 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 6 of 13

7 (813) DAY PHONE NUMBER EVENING PHONE NUMBER Ms. Jennifer Scott Michael An ELCA Clergy Person Mary Peterson NAME St. Christopher Episcopal Church, Pensacola, FL ORGANIZATION AND TITLE (850) DAY PHONE NUMBER EVENING PHONE NUMBER Lay Person (Current) Thom Edgar NAME Trinity Lutheran Church / Internship Committee Chair ORGANIZATION AND TITLE (307) tvedgar@uwyo.edu DAY PHONE NUMBER EVENING PHONE NUMBER Lay Person (Non-Current) Syd Brinkman NAME VP of Northeast Iowa Synod ORGANIZATION AND TITLE (319) fourbrnk@netins.net DAY PHONE NUMBER EVENING PHONE NUMBER Supervisor/Colleague Thomas Schattauer NAME Wartburg Seminary, Dean of the Chapel ORGANIZATION AND TITLE (563) tschattauer@wartburgseminar y.edu DAY PHONE NUMBER EVENING PHONE NUMBER Reference Recommendation Thom Edgar NAME (307) tvedgar@uwyo.edu DAY PHONE NUMBER Part III: REFLECTIONS ON MINISTRY 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 7 of 13

8 Calling: Convictions: You are called as a Child of God and into rostered service in this church. Reflect theologically on your sense of call and the way it shapes your life and work. My deepest sense of call comes from how God equips each of us for ministry no matter our circumstances. Earlier in my life, I thought I was only called to serve as a lay leader within the church. But when a growing sense of inner call was affirmed by an emphatic external call, I realized that what I had done before was preparing me for what is upon me now. Without my even knowing it, God had been carefully shepherding me through dark waters in order for me to come out on the other side transformed for new ministry. I do not believe that God made all this happen to me so I could be in rostered service. Instead I hold firm that through my experiences, God has transformed what was dark in my life into something that now might reveal God s glory. Identify the three most prominent themes that others would say are strongly evident in your speaking, teaching, leading and living. First, a sense of excitement and wonder at God s action in the world around us is one of the hallmarks I bring to leadership. There is an eagerness to the way I approach ministry and I have a keen interest in helping others to live out the fullness of their baptismal call. Second, collegiality and team-building are part of my life as a leader. I thrive in forging partnerships with others and I constantly seek out ways to make connections in community. The last theme likely the most prominent in my life is that of a theology of the cross. My circuitous (and sometimes painful) route into rostered service informs the way I see myself as a leader. I come from a place of brokenness, but I also stand in the light of the Gospel and I bring that self-awareness into every aspect of my life. Context: Describe the ministry setting(s) that would energize you and make the best use of your gifts, skills and passions. As I have mentioned previously, I am a person who likes to lean forward. Thus an ideal ministry setting would be in a community where there was an interest in exploring possibilities for new vision in ministry. I have strong organizational and planning skills, so I would like to create partnerships that would seek out social justice projects and other developments that would extend beyond the four walls of the church and reach out into the community. Additionally, I have a passion for technology, social media and online teaching. I hope to come into a community that would welcome stretching the way they have always operated. I would welcome the chance to rethink the way we do church in light of all the opportunities that are at our disposal now in this innovative age. Accomplishments: How has your current ministry setting developed in the last three years, and in what ways have you contributed to this growth or development? Referencing my internship experience, I was one of the key people to ignite the online and social media presence of my internship congregation. I resurrected their Facebook page and helped to make it a place people went regularly during the week. With my input, more content was added regularly to the church s website to include weekly postings of audio recordings of the sermons, a weekly blog post using congregation members as authors, and uploading pictures from congregational events. In addition to this, I also reenergized their adult Christian education by developing and leading small group studies multiple times during the week. The courses included a 6-week study on Lutheran Ethics and also a book study on the topic of Palestinian Christian voices. All of these efforts increased participation in the life of the church among the congregation as they interacted more often during times outside of regular worship. 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 8 of 13

9 Denominational Relationship: Public Ministry: What are your hopes for the ELCA? Describe how you help others understand their relationship to the synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. My experience with all expressions of the ELCA have provided me with a unique viewpoint that I hope to bring to any congregation. I have seen the interconnectedness between the expressions, but I am also keen to point out that one expression should not hold greater authority than the other. I see the relationship to a synod or to the churchwide expression as a full partnership where there is reciprocity of support. Just as the churchwide expression produces resources that can help grow the life of an individual congregation, that individual congregation should also provide financial support to churchwide to help support that endeavor. A synod staff that serves to shepherd congregations in transition also needs volunteers for committees and council to help vision for future ministry. My hope for the ELCA is to continue to circle back to the fact that we are church better together! In your public role as a minister within the congregation or organization, how would you describe your preferred approach, style and manner? My style and manner as a leader have been well developed over the course of more than 20 years of lay ministry. I consider myself to be direct, confident and enthusiastic while also bringing a collegial promise and seeking partnerships at all possible opportunities. I thrive best in situations where goals and expectations are clearly defined and I appreciate an equal measure of directness from my professional colleagues. But most importantly, I hold firm to the understanding that in the midst of our circumstances, we are a church built on the foundation of the Gospel. Grace and mercy are at the core of who we are as Lutherans. So, that leads me to hold compassion and thoughtfulness as deep convictions for me and I would never turn away from anyone seeking reconciliation or an open heart. Part IV: CANDIDATE COMMENTARY The Candidate Commentary is an optional component that allows you to expand your Rostered Minister Profile with information that reveals your passions for ministry, your expertise, your experience or your vision for ministry. You are invited to be creative as you add any commentary that you feel will support this RMP. 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 9 of 13

10 One of my newest passions for ministry is visioning how we can be church together in new and innovative ways using technology to expand the reach of ministry. Tools such as video conferencing, online chatrooms and social media are things that many of our congregation members are using every day in school or in business. Imagine what a council meeting or a small group bible study might look like if people were able to gain access through their computers at a distance, but still being part of a community. Imagine how the Gospel might be proclaimed from Instagram or SnapChat instead of the pulpit! No one is going to approach you to say, "Hey I'd like to serve on church council but only if you will change 100% the way you do things." It will take us as leaders to inspire changes that can make participation in ministry more accessible. As such, I have been selected to be part of a pilot program with Wartburg Theological Seminary where myself and a partner are being trained to be online co-teachers within our first call congregations. Wartburg Theological Seminary will provide us technical support as well as an online teaching platform for us to conceptualize how this can be a useful tool for ministry within the church. This comes at no cost to my first call congregation. So I am excited to bring this additional value to whatever congregation I might serve and see where it might lead ministry in the future. Several years ago, the ELCA Church Council authorized the creation of a task force called Living into the Future Together: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA (LIFT) to uncover how we might, as a church body, be better equipped to serve the needs of a changing world. In this report the task force indicates that Changing times present new opportunities. God is sending this church to speak the gospel particularly through vital local congregations. My involvement within congregational, synodical and churchwide expressions of the ELCA have informed my vision of leadership for the church. I know that the the future of the ELCA will be in local congregations where intentional effort is made to develop outreach and connection to people who may not have experience with a traditional congregational setting. But it is also in the continual mantra that "we are church better together" that we must also consider how to create healthy partnerships between the congregation and the synodical and churchwide expressions. My vision for my first call would be to establish, re-establish or strengthen those partnerships among these expressions which serve to sustain the life of the church. Community and cooperation are also key elements to successful leadership for our church. It is my firm belief that effective congregational ministry requires the empowering of others to help lead the church. Throughout my many years of lay leadership and now within the context of pastoral leadership, I have shown an innate ability to cultivate and nurture the gifts of those around me. Building relationships of trust and partnership rooted in the promise of the Gospel are foundational to my leadership style. I fervently believe that these skills will help me to strengthen the bonds of community and fellowship within a congregation, which will then serve to sustain and grow ministry within that community and for the church as a whole. Visioning for what my first call might or might not look like... I will say that I hope for a place where my gifts for administration, teaching, communication, preaching and collegiality will be welcomed and stretched. I am hopeful to be called to a community that is leaning forward rather than resting on their heels. Expectancy, anticipation, promise are all words that I hope would describe my first call congregation, for this is how I see my own feelings on the cusp of assignment. If a congregation is looking for a person to be a place-holder, a steady support for the status-quo, then perhaps I am not the best choice. But if a congregation wants to consider being more, to wonder about where God might lead them, to dream of the fullness of Christ's work in the world, then I am the person called to serve that congregation. I pray that the Holy Spirit might lead us to one another for the sake of the Gospel! Supporting Information If requested, are you able to supply the following items? Selected Answer * Video recording of a worship, preaching, teaching or speaking occasion? No * Audio recording of a worship, preaching, teaching or speaking occasion? Yes * Most recent Congregation/ Organization Annual Report? Yes 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 10 of 13

11 * Samples of writing or communication pieces from your ministry? Yes * Letters of Reference? Yes * Resume or curriculum vitae? Yes Comments or Explanations (Regarding this RMP) I do not currently have any video recordings of myself. However, if they become available, I would be happy to provide that to anyone who makes a request. Disclosure Information Out of care for the church, the following questions are asked of all rostered ministers and First Call candidates who are making themselves available for conversation with call committees. Have you ever engaged in, been accused of, charged with, or convicted of illegal conduct or a crime, including conduct resulting in suspension or revocation of your driver's license? Do you have any addictive behavior, including a history of drug, alcohol, or pornographic addictions that might interfere with your ability to serve or continue serving as a rostered minister? Have you ever engaged in, been accused of, investigated for, sued, or charged with sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, substance abuse, child or spousal neglect or abuse, or financial improprieties? While in candidacy or on the roster, have you ever engaged in, been accused of, investigated for, charged with, or disciplined for any conduct proscribed in Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline? Are you living in accord with Vision and Expectations and Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline for rostered ministers in the ELCA and do you intend to continue to live in compliance? Have you ever engaged in any behavior or been involved in any situations that, if they became known to the church, might seriously damage your ability to begin or continue in ministry? Selected Answer No No No No Yes No Comments or explanations to Disclosure questions: Certification I, Ms. Jennifer S. Michael, certify that the information contained in this Rostered Minister Profile which is dated 11/19/2016 2:03:08 PM is correct and accurate to the best of my knowledge. If there are any significant changes, I will update this form promptly. I further certify that I have agreed to, signed and forwarded the Authorization and Release of this Rostered Minister Profile. Agreed Ms. Jennifer S. Michael 11/19/2016 2:03:08 PM 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 11 of 13

12 AGREE/DISAGREE CERTIFY BY CERTIFY DATE Ms. Jennifer Scott Michael Reviewed This Rostered Minister Profile for Ms. Jennifer S. Michael was reviewed by Bishop Bishop Robert Schaefer of the Florida- Bahamas Synod and approved for posting to the ELCA's Mobility Database System on 11/19/2016 2:03:08 PM. 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 12 of 13

13 AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE ROSTERED MINISTERS: A signed copy of this page of the Rostered Minister Profile MUST be mailed, faxed or ed as a PDF attachment to your synodical bishop and to the person filling out your reference form. Your profile is not complete without this page being on file in your synod s office. CALL or SEARCH COMMITTEES: A signed copy of the Authorization and Release should be forwarded to those references and others who are being asked for a recommendation or comment. AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE I, Ms. Jennifer Scott Michael, authorize any references, supervisors, ELCA agencies, or any other person or organization to give the congregation, agency, institution or organization any information (including opinions) regarding my character and fitness for ministry. I also release any individual, employer, congregation, ELCA agency, institution, organization, or official, reference, or any other person or organization providing information, from any and all liability for damages of whatever kind or nature which may exist at any time on account of compliance or any attempts to comply with this authorization, excepting only the communication of knowingly false information. A facsimile, photocopy or electronic copy of this Authorization and Release shall be valid as the original. SIGNATURE DATE 3/6/2017 9:36:57 AM Page 13 of 13