Everyday Reformers – Equipping Day 2017 – Handouts and Presentations by Bishop Jon Anderson

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Here is the link for a pdf of the large group presentation Bp. Jon Anderson made.  If you are interested in the PowerPoint let us know.

the-next-three-years

This was the handout from our conversation.  At the end it has articles, videos and research links.

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Here is the content.

Young Adult Roundtable: We’re Glad You’re Here!  

Bishop Jon Anderson and Young Adults from Your Synod– Equipping Day – February 24, 2017

  1. Young Adult Roundtable: We’re Glad You’re Here!
  2. How do we connect with our young adults in our community?”
  3. How do we invite, welcome and receive the gifts of young adults in our congregations and community?
    1. Inviting relationships,
    2. Welcoming young adults and
    3. Receive the gifts and insights of young adults in our congregations.
  4. Some Hunches
    1. Young adults are diverse as everyone else. Don’t clump everyone together in generational headings that objectify them.
    2. Separating generations or studying them has its limits
      1. Only place people gather and can cross generationally relate
    3. Token engagement will not work – nor will pushy persistent engagement..
      1. Don’t just ask on a committee. Young adults are not fresh meat.
      2. Remember how you treat children and your church kitchen is as important as the Gospels in terms of hearing the Gospel or Law.
    4. Spiritualties Come in Many Forms –
      1. Introverted
      2. Extroverted
  • Cognitive
  1. Emotional
  2. Embodied
  3. What would you add?
  1. “Nones” language is not helpful nor is denial of cultural shift
    1. Rodney Stark – The Triumph of Faith  –  Believing unbelongers
    2. More deeply faithful, but less happening in institutional or measurable forms.
  2. Consequential faith
    1. Terri Elton
    2. None’s not helpful.
  • Shift of church from Majority to minority culture – church to culture
  1. Relationships changing with social media
  2. Christian – What does it have to do with Monday to Sunday
  3. Members – not a club but body of Christ
  1. Wonder about what God is doing to reform and renew the church as you relate to young adults. Listening for the work and presence of God’s Spirit is a fruitful practice with everyone.
    1. Relationships not activity
    2. Address personal needs – people come to church looking for help with personal needs.
  2. Help people remember that the church is not the institution or building, it is the body of Christ.

 

  1. Remember the Four Marks of the Church
    1. Deep and Authentic Community
    2. Proclamation of Good News
    3. Practicing and Passing on the Faith
    4. Serving in Christ’s Name

 

  1. Conclusion – See me – understand me
    1. Proclaim the Good News in Jesus to help me see and understand God in deeds and words.
    2. Equip me for life and all its vocation – and my ministry

Web Resources

  1. Research
    1. http://www.faithcommunitiestoday.org/sites/default/files/Engaging-Young-Adults-Report.pdf
  2. Articles Recently Blogged
    1. https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/lessons-churches-reach-young-adults/
    2. http://faithit.com/12-reasons-millennials-over-church-sam-eaton/
    3. https://achurchforstarvingartists.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/when-churches-want-a-pastor-who-can-bring-in-young-families/
    4. https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/10-qualities-your-church-doesnt-need-to-grow-young/
    5. https://www.faithandleadership.com/dc-church-changes-worship-passive-participatory?utm_source=FL_newsletter&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=FL_topstory
  3. Video –
    1. https://www.churchleadership.com/videos/engaging-young-adults/
    2. On elders impact on       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOA1v4-2Fos
  4. On World Oriented Spirituality
    1. https://www.faithandleadership.com/content/emily-wirzba-young-people-seek-earth-restored?utm_source=albanweekly&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=faithleadership
    2. https://www.faithandleadership.com/samuel-wells-let-earth-and-heaven-agree?utm_source=albanweekly&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=faithleadership

 

 

GRACE-BASED EVANGELIZING

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EvangelizingIn April 2016 the SW MN Synod partnered with other synods in the ELCA’s Region 3 to bring four outstanding speakers to address the topic of “grace-based evangelizing.”  The four segments–each about 17-18 minutes in length–look at ways one may think about evangelizing from a “Lutheran” perspective. This link opens a folder containing the four videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnREOWIsGuHVEpSEEgpQpbyQf3YQhtbC0

Dr Mark Tranvik, professor at Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Mn begins with talk entitled, “The Art of Living Inside Out,” a look at what Martin Luther declared in his “On the freedom of a  Christian.”

The second talk is by Peggy Hahn, executive director of LEAD (Living Everyday as Disciples) in the ELCA’s Texas-Gulf Coast Synod, a talk Peggy entitled, “Be a Remarkable Church that flips the Story.”

Pastor Salim Kaderbhai, a pastor serving in Madelia and Lake Crystal, Mn, offers a story of his own conversion to Christianity after growing up as a Muslim. His talk is entitled, “The Power of Reclaiming Testimony.”

Pastor Tim Olson, Lead pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Ankeny, Ia, tells of how change takes place in a congregation in a talk entitled, “Climate Change: Tending the Environment.”

Play all

 

Annual Meeting Resources

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Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
2016_annual_cover
Annual Report Covers

The report covers include litany, hymn, reflections on giving and a message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.
Click here to download cover folder (11×17)
Click here to download cover (8.5×11)
Click here to order printed cover
Bishop Jon Anderson Annual Report

“Rural Minnesota is changing, not dying,”

– Kelly Asche Center for Small Towns at the University of Morris

Not everyone in our synod lives in rural Minnesota, but we all are part of God’s church which is facing new challenges and opportunities. “The church is changing.” Inside the challenges, we find opportunities that are a call from God for personal and communal renewal. Click here to download a PDF and read Bp. Jon’s Annual Report.

Mission Support Resources:
  • Stories of Faith in Action
    The publication Stories of Faith in Action and the resources that go along with it are designed to share how important your weekly offering in your congregation is in sustaining and growing God’s mission. The portion of your offerings that support the ELCA’s synodical and churchwide ministries is called Mission Support. This publication helps explain and answer questions about Mission Support and tell the story of those gifts in action.
    Click here to download Stories of Faith in Action.
    Click here to order FREE copies of Stories of Faith in Action.
    Need some ideas of how to use Stories of Faith in Action? Click here!
Meeting Resources 

Praise Band to play at Assembly

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The 2017 Synod Assembly Planning team invites you to nominate your praise band to play at our assembly! Here are the details:

  • Praise band should be 2-5 members (can be any age)
  • Must bring your own instruments (we cannot have an organ/piano)
  • Playing time would include: Sliding into Plenary, Get up & Stretch, Banquet
  • It works best if you attend as a voting member from your congregation
  • Details: June 9-10, 2017 at Gustavus Adolphus College

Please email your nomination to tammy.sather@swmnelca.org. Be sure to include a link so we can view your praise band! Nominations will be accepted until Feb 14, 2017. Contact Tammy with questions – 507.627.9041.

Book of the Month Facebook Group

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book_imageThis group is for anyone wanting to participate.
Book Reimbursement is only for members of the SW MN Synod.

Join us in our Facebook Book Club to discuss a book about financial stewardship – Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate by J. Clif Christopher. The book was recently revised with updated material in 2015. At 113 pages, it is a shorter book that will make good reading in February before the Lenten season begins. Please purchase the book now from a place you choose. Your cost can be reimbursed to you from our Lilly funds by emailing your receipt to Carla Klawitter at carla.klawitter@swmnelca.org.

Christopher outlines a new context which we find ourselves where people are giving as much as ever, but less is being given to religious organizations. He wants to help us operate better in a context where we compete for the dollars people are willing to give. Each chapter ends with questions which will make good fodder for our Facebook discussion. The book also pushes us toward acting differently in our role as leaders. Each chapter ends with a list of things to do and the last and longest chapter is entitled “The Top Eleven Things I Would Do Now.”

We desire to start the reading on Jan. 30. We will read through the book at a pace set by our facilitator Pastor Erik Karlson who will moderate the discussion. If you are new to our Facebook Book Club, you can join the group by clicking here.

Purchase your book and join the Facebook Group:
SW MN Synod Book of the Month 

Book Reimbursement: Please email your receipt to Carla Klawitter
at carla.klawitter@swmnelca.org.

Questions? Please call the synod office at 507-637-3904.

 

Engaging Current Health Care Decisions – A Work of Love

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ancient-cross-bwAttached you will find a eight page and two page condensed version of the document highlighting the resource of our Health Care Social Statement as we go deeper into discernment about the future of our health care system.   This is how the document opens.  Click on the links below to see some of the more helpful quotes I found in the statement and three supporting documents as well as the Catechisms of Martin Luther.  There is a longer and shorter version for different uses.

Bp. Jon Anderson

Engaging Current Health Care Decisions – A Work of Love

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.  – Matthew 4:23-25

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.  Amen

Reinhold Niebuhr

Jesus healed many people in his ministry.  We believe this is a sign that God also longs to bring healing to every dimension of our lives and world.  Jesus healed people who were outsiders in a culture that often judged illness as a form of divine punishment. Jesus cared about people, not just spiritually, but also cared for people’s bodies and health. The Christian Church and Lutheran movement within it has cared about the health of people throughout its history.

As our country moves further into debate and likely reform of our health care system, Lutheran Christians come from a lot of different places.  Some come from rural, urban, or suburban contexts. Some are Republicans, Independents, various other parties, or Democrats.  Some are excited about the election’s outcomes and support the Republicans and their efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Health Care Act.  Others are ambivalent or unaware.  Many are deeply concerned about what the coming changes to the health care system of our country will mean for others and themselves.   We are united in our hope for a better health care system in our future whether there is a stalemate with no legislative change, “repeal and delay” or “repeal and replace.”

We are united in our commitment to love our God and love all our neighbors as we follow Jesus our Lord.  As we engage and deepen our voice in the coming political conversations, discernment and decisions, this resource will highlight some assets to support our work. The ELCA’s historic Social Statement on health care, ”A Vision of Health Care and Healing as a Shared Endeavor” provides helpful groundwork for these conversations that we want to make more visible.  This statement and its resources lifts up Biblical resources and other resources to think more carefully about this vocation of individuals and communities of faith to care for the health of all people.  http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Health-Care

Click here to see the whole document.  It repeats some themes but gives you a quick look into the four documents.

healthcaredecisions-resourcesjan-2017

Here is a link to a two page document.

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Webinar for Congregations Discerning Closing PowerPoint

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Recorded Webinar from December 12, 2016

Click here to download Bp. Jon’s PowerPoint.1234

Audio Link on Dropbox…you should download and then play it. https://www.dropbox.com/s/8h7juphoafowkr4/audio_only.m4a?dl=0

Video Link for last night’s webinar.  You should download it and then play it. MP4Video

If you look down the page four or five articles you will find another article full of resources.

 

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs): How to use as a tool for generosity with tax benefits

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Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Letters to members, Tax information and bulletin announcements—

For most people end of the year giving is a SIGNIFICANT opportunity to encourage generosity. One way this can bring a “tax advantage” for people with an IRA is to give a gift directly from their IRA to the Church. When done in this way there is no tax on this distribution. (NOTE: You don’t get a deduction on your taxes but you do NOT claim it as “income” in 2016 which one has to do on a disbursement from an IRA)  This is ESPECIALLY advantageous to those over 70 who have a “required minimum distribution.” This is explained in the “IRA Rollover information for tax benefit” below.  See the other attachments for a “bulletin insert” and a “Sample template letter” that could be put on congregation letterhead and edited by a congregational rostered leader or a person from a Stewardship committee/table/board.

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IRA Rollover information for tax benefit

IRA-charitable-rollover-bulletin information-for-churches