Connecting Youth Worker Dinners

A chance to get together to talk, share and support each other Watch for details by subscribing to The Weekly Wave www.ecsw.org.

ad+Minister gathering

Parish administrators, secretaries, and office professionals are invited to three gatherings at Imago Dei village to connect for mutual support, networking, and professional development.

November 12th, 2024 | 9:30-1:30
Imago Dei - Woodlands Entrance (W8098 Cloverleaf Lake Road, Clintonville, WI)

Let us know you’re coming - RSVP to ecsw@ecsw.org

Any church office staff are invited to join in a time of professional networking. We learned from our last gathering two hours was not enough time! We’ve added a potluck lunch and will engage in meaningful devotions, introductions, and learning. Our theme this month will focus on hospitality and use of space. Just in time for advent and Christmas, learn about seasons of the church year and consider how others are linking hospitality to the seasons we celebrate. Care to share? We’re having a potluck lunch. Bring what ever you’d like or there’s a Sign Up Genius here. Join other administrators in connecting through Slack.

Join others for a day of connection and learning to nourish, inspire, and strengthen your ministry! This event is for church people of all kinds: those interested in connection, rostered ministers, council leaders, parish staff, and those engaged in any kind of ministry in a congregation.

Registration caps at 120 participants. REGISTER HERE
$40/person includes lunch, materials, and learning.

Workshops & Keynote

Holy Conversations and Church Vitality with Pastor Dara Clifford
It’s no secret: the world is changing, and the church is changing right along with it! In this workshop, Pastor Dara will offer some background information to support the trends church folks are noticing and feeling, and will share language and framework for possible pathways forward for congregations who are finding themselves in a new era of life together.

Evangelism and Holy Experiments with Lynette Stoneburner and Pr. Karoline Schwantes

New ideas for ministry can be hard to get off the ground. When Lynette Stoneburner began to envision an inclusive community park that was a space where everyone could play, regardless of age and ability - she wasn’t sure how it would all happen. Through prayers, supportive leadership, the vision of Emanuel in Seymour, and generosity from the wider community the dream for ministry became an impactful reality. Hear from two leaders in our synod who have experience and understanding of resources, including the synod mission table, that can help turn prayers for new ministry into a reality.

Transitions, Trends, and Leaders with Pastor Asher O’Callaghan
Transitions are a time when God invites us to let go of what has been for the sake of what could yet be. It is often a time when both anxiety and expectations are high. Clarity can often bring peace of mind during times of uncertainty as the Holy Spirit calls and sends leaders in the Church. This workshop will provide attendees with current trends in church transitions and a detailed overview of both the process and resources available for your congregation during times of transition. While this workshop will not provide space to advise leaders on specific calls or congregations in transition, it will share the best way to be in touch when support is most needed.

Cultivating Community Partnerships with Pastor Jim Honig, Pastor Matt Sauer, and Deni Kuchler
In this panel discussion, hear from three leaders who developed impactful ministries with the help of partnerships in their communities. Learn how the inception of a ministry idea turned into a reality through partnerships that were established across denomination lines and the public sector. If you're wondering about making a difference through feeding and housing ministries and more, please join the conversation. 

Healthy Pastor/People Relationships: Why Pastors Stay with Pastor Libby Howe will share factors that make an impact for creating a sustaining, healthy relationship between pastor and people. This workshop would be great for council leaders, mutual ministry members, personnel committees and pastors alike.

Church Treasurers and Administrators Benefits Workshop, with Jennifer Prinz

As an ELCA ministry, Portico Benefit Services offers health, flexible spending, retirement, disability, and survivor plans to help rostered leaders and lay employees strengthen their well-being. As the benefits administrator for your organization, your pastors, deacons, and lay staff, rely on you to help them navigate their ELCA benefits. In this session, discover the resources available to help you effectively sponsor your employees in Portico Benefit Services.  Join Regional Representative, Jennifer Prinz, as she leads this interactive session.

Smooth Sailing: Becoming a Resilient Leader in Turbulent Times, with Jennifer Prinz

Resilience is not perfection, but the ability to move forward in imperfect realities. Whether it's leading the church, dealing with difficult situations, or navigating the inevitable bumps and setbacks of life, it is possible to not just survive, but thrive. Discover how to cultivate your God-given strengths and develop healthy practices that will give you the stamina, confidence, and inner peace you need to be a resilient leader.

Keynote

Self-care and the Care of Others: Ministry and Trauma in the Wake of the COVID Pandemic
Synod Learning Day is fast approaching and we’re shifting gears! We realized one of our workshops was just too impactful to not make it a keynote. Join others for this day of learning in November complete with workshops and time learning from our speaker, Sally Hudson, BSN, MS, MSW, LCSW, who will share the presentation, Self-care and the Care of Others: Ministry and Trauma in the Wake of the COVID Pandemic. With over 38 years of experience in the health sciences, with 20 years as a mental health therapist, Sally will provide a basic understanding of trauma for Pastors and Lay Leaders, so they will better understand the effects of the COVID pandemic in the Church community; to recognize the signs of trauma; and to find ways to promote spiritual care and healing.

Schedule

8:00 - 8:30 | Registration
8:30 - 8:45 | Welcome + Devotion
8:45 - 9:45 | Keynote 1
9:45  - 10:45 | Workshop 1
10:45 - 11:00 | Break/Transition
11:00  - 12:00 | Keynote 2
12:00 - 12:45 | Lunch
12:45 - 1:45 | Workshop 2
1:45 - 2:00 | Break
2:00 - 3:15 | Cohort connections
3:30 | Closing and Sending
4:00 | Depart

ELCA Region 5 (the synods of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Northern Great Lakes) will gather in satellite locations in our synod for a combined boundaries education day for actively serving rostered leaders.

We will be holding Boundary Education on November 7th, 2024 at two locations in our synod.  Please register to reserve your spot.  The link to register is HERE  The deadline to register is October 24th.  There are limited seats available, so register early.

This is part of a 3-year cycle for professional development.  The entire Region 5 will be holding this education the same day and utilizing a hybrid model for our presenter.  

Region 5 is committed to Boundary Education.   Our focus is on creating professional ministry leadership and for safety in our communities of faith.  

Region 5 | Boundary Education | Professional Development

November 7th, 2024

9:00am - 3:00pm

Choose between attending at either:

Saint Andrew, Wausau OR Christ the King, Combined Locks

Cost $100 includes lunch

Deadline to Register:  October 24th, 2024

Connecting Youth Worker Dinners

It's time to CONNECT! Our synod's Youth Worker Dinners will be starting up again on Thursday, October 17. All events this year will take place at Pine Lake Crossways Lutheran Camps in Waupaca from 6pm-9pm. These events are for all adults who work with Youth, Children, and Families in congregations, whether you are paid staff, volunteer, or pastor/rostered minister. All are welcome and encouraged to come and connect! The meal will be a Potluck and the main course will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert. Please RSVP to wendy.black@ecsw.org with a note on what you might bring for the Potluck. We know it's important to support each other in this hard work by conversation, a meal, sharing, connecting, laughing, and praying together. Please share this information with others! The dates for these CONNECT meals will be:

• Thursday, October 17

• Thursday, November 14

• Thursday, January 16

Synod Day at Little Farmer

Join with others from across the synod for a day of fall fun at Little Farmer (N9438 Hwy 151 Malone, WI) on Saturday, September 28th.

Meet at 11am in front of the farm by the parking lot. Look for the lady with the pink noodle! Each participant should bring money for hay rides and the corn maze, cost is $5/each. Caramel apples start at $4/each.

Each congregation is responsible for their own payments and supervision.

Groups please RSVP to Patty, pkoplitz@our-saviors.org

ad+Minister gathering

Parish administrators, secretaries, and office professionals are invited to three gatherings at Imago Dei village to connect for mutual support, networking, and professional development. Learn more from the letter below!

Gathering for rostered leaders to meet with the Bishop and synod staff.

Featuring Gaye Lindfors | Speaker and Author

With a unique blend of faith, encouragement, humor, and stories, Gaye invites women to experience a faith that is refreshed and a joy that is contagious! Learn more about her work at GayeLindfors.com

Visit https://www.ecsw.org/welca for more details.

This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life — flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.

More information HERE

ECSW Lay School of Ministry Student Orientation

Learn More about Lay School Courses

Meet fellow students

Q&A time

Orientation is hosted on Zoom, email layschool@ecsw.org for the link.

More details on Lay School here.

Synod Hearings on Draft Social Statement, "Civic Life and Faith," Scheduled

The ELCA is developing a social statement on civic life and faith, the relationship of church and state, and related matters, as called for by the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Social statements are the ELCA’s primary documents to address significant social issues. They are intended to aid reflection, shape conscience and set forth the ELCA’s teaching and policy on the major social issues and questions of contemporary life. Social statements are developed by task forces, using an established process of study and widespread participation across the church to guide theological and moral deliberation.

At this time the task force encourages you to study and give feedback on a draft version of the social statement. You can participate by filling out a survey, found here, or by participating in one of the hearings offered in our synod. Hearings are public gatherings where participants share their specific affirmations or concerns about a draft statement. The feedback period will be open until Sept. 30, 2024.