28 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod Synod Assembly Report 2013 Joyce Piper, Synod Minister Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14: 27) Engaging Leaders We are entering the season following Pentecost, a time of receiving and witnessing to the power of the Holy Spirit into the troubled (and peaceful!) places of our lives and of our world. The comfort and hope of the Advocate is often all we and others have to cling to when disturbing news comes of sudden death or illness of loved ones, unspeakable violence, natural disasters and economic uncertainty. We are in deep need of healing and renewal in the Spirit as we open ourselves to God s future in our midst. Signing of Redwood Central parish agreement Parish agreements: Congregations and church leaders in Southwestern Minnesota are engaged in looking deeply at matters of good stewardship and God s call to sustainable mission beyond just surviving. Many congregations are considering possible new partners in ministry. The year of 2012 ended with a new beginning for the Redwood Central Parish. Pictured above is the December 30 th signing of the parish agreement for Sundown Lutheran (Springfield), St. Matthew (Wabasso), Our Savior s (Milroy) and Trinity (Lucan). The idea and readiness for this new partnership came from within the congregational leaders. Consultation and assistance in this future-oriented conversation was provided by Pr. Mark Yackel-Juleen and others. (Pr. Julie Anderson also serves in this role for many newly-forming multi-congregational parishes.) The new parish is being served by a full-time pastor (Pr. Nita Harberts installed on Pentecost Sunday) and a near full-time seminary intern (Lowell Krogstad currently at ¾-time parish service). The staff combination of experienced pastor with experienced seminarian has emerged as an excellent solution for many good reasons: the congregations are served by multiple staff members who carry both wisdom and innovation; the staff partners enjoy collegiality and the creative sharing of ministry with the complementary gifts of another. Isolation and concern for the future recede into the background when rural ministries are shared. God s promises for renewal in Christ s gospel come alive in prairie partnerships. Candidacy, Seminary Scholarships and Debt Reduction: Seminary education continues to evolve with distance learning options and ways to complete seminary studies concurrent with service in congregations. The candidacy process necessarily attends to more than one right way to complete the formation process towards ordination, diaconal ministry or becoming an Associate in Ministry. The church will be well-served by pastors and other leaders who have gained more congregational experience and incurred less debt during their seminary studies. Our synod candidacy committee itself experienced significant changes during this past year with the death of Courtney Tommeraasen (Slayton) and the new call for Pr. Jerry Lanes to NW MN Synod. Pr. Jerry was the chair of our committee for a dozen years or so. He is missed!
We give thanks for Rev. James Boyce, professor emeritus of New Testament at Luther Seminary, for serving as our new chair. Our committee received two new members in December: Lindy Kaden, who experienced the candidacy process through her clergy husband (Pr. Bryant) and Steve Friedlein, who is in active retirement back home in SW Minnesota after a career in Human Relations in Texas. Southwestern Minnesota Synod Fund for Leadership Support and Lutheran Men in Mission Rural Ministry Fund grants given May 1 st for 2013-2014 Qualifications included the following: SW MN Synod Candidacy Committee 1) Full-time seminarian w/ advanced standing in an ELCA seminary July 1, 2012, 2) Endorsement approved by the SW MN Synod Candidacy Team for rostered ministry 3) Internship or other significant ministry served in rural setting(s), 4) Openness and commitment to future service in rural setting(s); 250-word essay, 5) Academic excellence. LMM Scholarships: Name Award Seminary/year Lowell Krogstad $5600. Wartburg Seminary/senior Kent Krumwiede $5600. Luther Seminary/senior SW MN Fund for Leaders Scholarships: Name Award Seminary/year Bailey Landa $5000. Luther Seminary/senior Andrew Yackel $5000. Luther Seminary/senior An anonymous donor generously gave $25,000 for SW MN seminarians in fall 2012, after donations in previous years of $5000 and $15,000. What a beautiful progression in giving! Twelve seminarians received grants of $2083+ each in January 2013 following an application process to disburse this fund. Debt Reduction grants of $400 each were given in September 2012 to 26 SW MN pastors still repaying seminary student loans. These grants totaling $10,400 came from our Synod Fund for Leadership Support. We are grateful for the vision and generosity of donors who continue to support the cost of seminary education for our rostered leaders. January 6, 2013 marked the 9 th anniversary of my call to serve in the SW MN synod office. I am amazed by the passage of time and all that has been shared in these 25+ years in SW MN. I am deeply grateful for another year of serving together in this special place and time. It is indeed a privilege to serve together with you all in Jesus name. 29 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod
A Word or Two about My Work 2013 Assembly Report: Rev Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl ROOTS is my word for the year, 2013. I try to focus around a word each year. It challenges me to reflect, inwardly, on the meaning, and outwardly on some action steps in my life. Roots calls me to reflect on the basics of my faith, and basic faith practices like prayer and giving, or worship and learning. I like having the discipline of a word to remember to call me to that which I intend to do daily as a disciple of Jesus, but which can become routine and therefore lose some of its meaningfulness to me. ROOTS reminds me of faith practices that are at the root of my faith, and to be attentive to them.aware, and mindful of them. That is the inner meaning. The outer meaning of ROOTS for my year has implications for my call to serve in SW MN Synod. I am striving to deepen my roots among you, and to explore our shared roots together as people of God. This year I ve been able to grow deeper roots in helping cultivate networks within our synod. For example, a new group brought together pastors who serve in settings where there are other pastors on staff a multi-pastor network was formed. It s a small start for what could be a significant opportunity for pastors serving in larger settings to find fellowship, shared ideas, and encouragement by knowing each other, and gathering a few times in a year. Like the yet-to-be-planted yard flowers that I want to take ROOT in our yard, networks will take some extra care and attention as they get started until they have that strong foundation set, and are then able to continue growing as they gather. As I ve often told the folks who sell plantings at nurseries in the spring, I want the next best thing to plastic something very durable and resilient. I know I m not a gifted gardener, so I need plants that know how to do their thing without a lot of fuss. For different reasons, that s a good description of Networks, as well. They need to be resilient, and low-maintenance. Our goal is not to create numerous additional groups for people to participate in, but rather to link people together organically in ways that add life, like water to plants, not sap energy. Networks can provide just the right mix of support and responsibility that will help rooted relationships within our synod to grow. ROOTS could also be the word for the call process work the Synod does with Congregations. We partner together to bring pastors and calling congregations together so that their roots will deepen, their relationships blossom, and they will together bear fruit for God s kingdom. A pastoral call usually requires the transplanting of roots from one place to another, for both the candidate and the congregation, so there is a period of adjustment and realignment when the new call chapter begins. Call Process is part of my call to serve with the Prairie and Shetek Conferences, and I ve enjoyed working with a number of congregations in the process this year. FORMATION is our staff s word for the year, 2013. Formation references our synod s mission related to forming leaders for the future, and forming faith in all of God s people for today. In the text Bishop Jon has been having us use recently for Dwelling in the Word, Jesus tells the Disciples to go out in pairs, and to travel light, and not to stay too long anywhere. The disciples are charged with teaching the faith, or proclaiming Jesus, as they go. Don t stay long; don t bring a lot with you; and don t go alone. That s not the recipe most of our congregations have applied to faith formation 30 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod
over the years, is it? We think in terms of long-lasting, quality programs and efforts. We have accumulated books, videos, film strips, flannel boards, and a boat load of printed sermons along the way in our efforts to teach the faith, to provide FORMATION in faith for leaders and students and families, and everyone else. Formation has meaning in my work in the Synod as it involves the re-thinking of our Synod s Resource Center, which has many of these types of things in it. The Resource Center has a rich accumulation of the resources for faith formation. My work involves thinking through what resources we most need going forward, and collaborating with the Task Force and Synod Council on ways to equip our congregations for their formation ministry in these times. I am mindful of the Biblical call to travel light in this effort. Another aspect of FORMATION that I m involved with is about the formation of a legacy through financial giving to special efforts of the larger church, the synod, and the congregation. We may have an opportunity to engage with a special campaign across the ELCA, and within SW MN Synod, in the coming years. That will also provide us with the opportunity to formulate a legacy through the gifts that are given, a legacy that testifies to the faith of this era of disciples in this place and at this time. I ve had some experience with financial campaigns over the years, and I ve learned a lot from generous people who have been involved in them along the way. One of the lessons I ve learned is: don t be afraid to ask for a financial gift. Many people want to give in special and significant ways. Their faith has formed them in that way. We can help people live out that calling to give, while also forming a path for others to follow. I look forward to our conversations about the possibility of a campaign in our church, and our synod. These few words may help illustrate the diverse and challenging call you have given me as a Synod Minister for the SW Minnesota Synod. There are more words, as well. GRATITUDE should be the final word, however, because this opportunity to serve does inspire gratitude to God, and to the Synod, for letting me put some roots down in new territory, as well as opportunities to be formed by the faith evident in this place. Thank you for your partnership, Rev Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl 31 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Synod Council and Executive Committee Report Vice President Gwen Arneson As a Synod and as elected leaders of the Synod, we give thanks for all the ways God has made and is making things new including us, as individuals, and as a community of believers. We are grateful for the privilege and responsibilities of leadership in the past year, and ask for your ongoing prayers for our common work as we move into the future. In any organization there are routine tasks in the rhythm of the year s work. There are also particular items of business that bring surprise, demand reflection, discussion and appropriate responses to bring resolution, light, or health. We had much to celebrate and much to ponder in 2012. Highlights of the Synod Council s work include: - The beginning of Pr. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl s call as a Synod Minister - The nomination (which led to an appointment) of Pr. Joyce Graue to fill an unexpired term on the ELCA Church Council - The opportunity to discuss the findings and recommendations of the ELCA s LIFT Task Force (Living into the Future Together), and its implications for our Synod Council work - The creation of a Task Force to work on constitutional revisions for the Election Process for a Synod Bishop - The creation of a Task Force to look into the space usage and design of the Resource Center and office space - The invitation to interim Synod Ministers to assist with the ministry of the Synod as needed - The revision of the Synod s Employee Handbook - The participation in and reporting back from the Six Minnesota Synods Consultation in October, 2012 with regard to our shared ministries and common concerns and opportunities - The participation in learning opportunities such as the PIE (Prosper, Invest, and Endow) events, Mission Interpreters, and presentations by partner ministries - The start of deeper conversations about what it means to be a Synod Council member and the goals and expectations we may share collectively as a council - The approval of and celebration over new Parish Alignments - The sharing of Conference Reports at each Synod Council meeting to highlight God s work in our local contexts - The development of and recommendation of the annual Synod budget to the Synod Assembly - The stewarding and care of financial resources and the development of more detailed budget performance reports, and careful audits - The appointment of gifted leaders to our Synod s boards and committees as needed - The review of congregational constitutions and treasure hunting for potential Synod leaders - The annual review and conversation with our Synod bishop We give thanks for the members of the Council whose service concluded in the past year, and look forward to welcoming and working with our newly elected members who will bring their gifts and passions to the table. Thank you for your support of the work we do inside of God s mission for us. With gratitude and joy for our partnership in the Gospel, Gwen Arneson, Synod Vice President 32 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Report on the Disposition of 2012Synod Assembly Resolutions The following resolutions were all presented at the 2012 Southwestern Minnesota Synod Assembly The full text of these resolutions can be found on the synod website. Resolution 12.01 Regarding Synod Constitutional Changes This resolution was presented and adopted to amend six paragraphs of the synod s constitution to be in agreement with the changes to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA as voted at the 12 th Churchwide Assembly. These changes include language regarding the following: congregations under development having voting members at synod assemblies, consultation with the presiding bishop of the ELCA in the event of the loss or disability of the synod bishop, allowing the treasurer to be either elected by the synod assembly or appointed by the synod council, including at least one young adult to be elected by the synod assembly to serve on the synod council, including networks as another subdivision of our synod, and establishing an Audit Committee for our synod. Resolution 12.02 Expressing Grave Concern Regarding the Proposed Marriage Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution This resolution was presented to express concern regarding the proposed marriage amendment scheduled to be on the 2012 general-election ballot; to encourage respectful conversation with others, including gay and lesbian people, about why marriage matters to them; and to urge the bishop or designee to make the synod s concerns known throughout the synod and to the public at large. This resolution was postponed indefinitely. 33 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Youth Ministry Sarah Hausken Always Being Made New. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! 2 Corinthians 5:17, The Message As people of God we are constantly getting a fresh start. Why God made us to be such screw ups, I will only know when we get to heaven. Youth Ministry is no different. We do our best with the gifts God has given us. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail - all we do, we do in Christ. We are blessed with incredible youth and adults in our synod, all of them participating in this dance of being created new each day. Here are a few examples of how God is working in us throughout the synod. Youth Ministers in Congregations Young people need adults who reflect Jesus, the one who transforms us and makes us new. Our synod is full of these adults, both paid and volunteer. God is doing amazing things through you. Thank you. SW MN Synod 30 Hour Famine A group of youth ministers got together and planned a 30 Hour Famine experience for youth in our synod. This October, youth fasted, slept outside and participated in activities, discussion and worship that opened their eyes to hunger at home and around the world. Practice Discipleship: Faith Formation in a Missional Age The world is changing rapidly. 1 out of every 5 adults in the US claims no religious affiliation. Over the next year, we ll explore cultural shifts and introduce practical ways you and your congregation can engage people to share the love of Christ with all generations. Webinars and in-person trainings are available. Please contact Pastor Kathleen Ulland- Klinkner 507-375-4792. 34 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod
The Timothy Project The Timothy Project is an excellent way to equip adult volunteers and staff ministering alongside youth. The course, Foundations for Effective Youth Ministry comes to your congregation at the time of your choosing. For more info please visit www.swmnelca.org. Jr. and Sr. High Youth Gatherings God creates a new thing in our young people. The gatherings planned and coordinated by the SW MN Synod Lutheran Youth Organization are super events where the love of Christ is proclaimed with creativity and joy. Gathering participants particularly appreciate Faith Talks shared by youth, Christian music and service projects. Youth Worker Retreat Our annual retreat this fall was on Surviving the Roller Coaster of Ministry. Matt Karayan from New Beginnings Treatment Center in Waverly, MN gave us tools to effectively minister to families who deal with chemical dependency. These tools are also helpful in all aspects of ministry. Youth and Family Ministry E- Newsletter Please join our mailing list to receive short bursts of information on events, resources, education, and more regarding youth and family ministry. Go to www.swmnelca.org to join. Thank you for all the ways you respond to God s new creation in you! In Christ, Sarah Hausken, Synod Youth Ministry Coordinator 35 June 7-9, 2013 Southwestern Minnesota Synod