The Bridge in Plain Text
Issue To Be Used Any Time After
Aug. 1, 2006
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The Bridge
A monthly publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
Connecting the congregational, synodical, and churchwide expressions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Why the Synod? - Part 4:
Office of the Synodical Bishop
What do you know about the
Southeastern Minnesota Synod? Do you know what it does or what the money
your congregation designates for it is used for? This issue is the fourth in
a series designed to help answer those questions for you.
What does this include?
Part of your congregation’s offering goes to the synod. From the
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, approximately 29% goes to support the office
of the synodical bishop. This includes pastoral care, ecumenical efforts,
word and sacrament ministry, call process, mobility, personnel, office
expenses, and contingency fund. In essence, this supports the day-to-day
efforts of the synod staff - everything from salaries to costs associated
with performing their jobs as well as emergency funds.
Call Process
Chances are, unless you just joined a church for the first time, you have
experienced the transition period between pastors. The process of getting a
new pastor in place is called the call process.
The ELCA understands that each
pastor and each congregation has a unique personality, so not all matches
work. That is why the Southeastern Minnesota Synod dedicates significant
time, staff, and resources to this process.
If you have been on a call
committee, you know the first step in the process is a self-study so the
congregation can learn what they need in a pastor. When that is complete,
the congregation can start interviewing potential candidates. When the call
committee agrees on a candidate, then the rest of the congregation gets
involved by voting on that candidate at a congregational meeting. Assuming
they vote to call that pastor (notice that you do not “hire” a pastor, being
a pastor is a vocation that is more than just a job), a letter of call is
sent to the candidate and he or she accepts or declines the call.
Another group of key players
in the process is a special set of pastors who serve as interim pastors.
These pastors excel at transitional ministry. They are not simply people to
stand in the pulpit while the congregation waits for a settled pastor, but
they are people who are called upon to provide support, encouragement, and
hope during the time of transition.
What does this mean?
This portion of the synod budget is just over a quarter of the total budget.
It is this portion of the budget that allows the synod office to function.
Without staff to make sure the operations go smoothly and without funds to
care for and assist the pastors, the synod would only be a matter of
geographical lines. Thanks to the support you give to your synod, we are all
able to support each other in our ministries. Thank you for your support!
Featured Resource
Visit the synod website to learn more.
• Southeastern Minnesota Synod -
www.semnsynod.org
Monthly Bible Verse
We are a synod joined in Bible study. This Bible verse was selected by
Harold Usgaard, bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, for everyone in
the synod to study.
“These things God has revealed
to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the
depths of God.” 1 Corinthians
2:10
About Our Synod
The Southeastern Minnesota Synod is a faith community of 130,000 baptized
people in 184 congregations as well as related institutions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Its geographic area includes
15 counties in the southeastern corner of Minnesota.
The Bridge is a monthly
publication of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA. For more information,
contact the synod office:
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
1001 14th St. NW, Suite 300
Rochester, MN 55901-2551
(507) 280-9457
www.semnsynod.org
This issue is designed to be
used any time after August 1, 2006.
Graphics from this issue
Right-click the link and choose "save to disk" to save the
graphic, and then insert it into your desktop publishing program. Graphics
are in high-resolution tiff format. If you require another format, please
call 507-280-9457.
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