ELCA Council Adopts Significant Revisions to Ministry Policies
(Full story)
The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a series of historic and sweeping revisions to ministry policy documents April 10, the result of months of extensive writing, comment and review by hundreds of leaders and members following the 2009 Churchwide Assembly.

The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the interim legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies.

The changes were called for by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which directed that policy documents be revised to make it possible for eligible Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders. The assembly directed that revised policies recognize the convictions of those who believe the ELCA should not allow such service. The assembly also adopted a social statement on human sexuality.

The council adopted revisions to two documents that spell out the church's behavioral expectations of ELCA professional leaders - "Vision and Expectations: Ordained Ministers in the ELCA" and "Vision and Expectations: Associates in Ministry, Deaconesses and Diaconal Ministers in the ELCA." The council also adopted revisions to a document that specifies grounds for discipline of professional leaders, "Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline," and it adopted revisions to the "ELCA Candidacy Manual," used by regional committees to help guide candidates seeking to become professional leaders in the ELCA.

The revised policies are effective immediately, said David D. Swartling, ELCA secretary.

Prior to voting, the Rev. A. Donald Main, Lancaster, Pa., chair of the ELCA Committee on Appeals, which led the effort to revise Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline, told the council that the document had not been revised since 1993. New sections address matters such as integrity, and substance abuse and addiction, he said.

The Committee on Appeals also "considered each and every word, constantly testing different language so as to be clear and concise as possible, and remain faithful to our charge and to the social statement and ministry policies recommended and adopted by our assembly," Main added.

The two Vision and Expectations documents and the Candidacy Manual are "tools in the service of God's mission through the ELCA, primarily to assist us in that work of calling forth and supporting faithful, wise and courageous leaders," said Rev. Stanley N. Olson, executive director, ELCA Vocation and Education. The Vision and Expectations documents were most recently revised in the early 1990s, and the Candidacy Manual was revised in the past few years, he said.

"We have not attempted to spell out every possible situation and to give definitive direction for every possible situation," he told the council. "There are broad principles in these documents, and there are guidelines with some details." Olson added the documents call for the ELCA to trust established processes and its leaders who have responsibility for oversight and decision-making.

Get it Online

• Final revised text of these documents are online at www.ELCA.org/ministrypolicies

ELCA Affirms 41 Congregational 'New Starts'
(Full story)
Starting new congregations is a top priority for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). For 2010 the denomination has affirmed 41 "new starts" across the United States.

"These new starts represent what America is becoming, as 23 (of the 41 new starts) are among immigrant populations," said the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, executive director, ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission (EOCM).

Bouman said the 41 new starts are a sign of "hope for our beloved church" in the Easter season. "In the Resurrection of Jesus, all things are possible," he said.

Of the 41 new starts 12 are "worshiping communities" authorized by the ELCA's 65 synods. These are communities with ministry potential, according to the Rev. Mary C. Frances, assistant director for new evangelizing congregations, EOCM.

Lay African immigrants initiated six of the 41 new starts. These leaders are seeking to become clergy, but "we are not waiting until they become ordained," said Rev. Gemechis D. Buba, director for African National ministries, EOCM.

Page 4 - LIFT - Living into the Future Together
Assembly panel to discuss the future of the ELCA

By Katie Livingood with information from www.ELCA.org/lift

What?
The ELCA Church Council has commissioned a task force - Living into the Future Together (LIFT) - to develop and recommend options for the future of the ELCA in light of its identity, changes in its environment and its call to God’s mission. It is important to note that this study covers all expressions of the church, not just the churchwide office.
The work of the task force is guided by two questions:
1. What is God calling this church to be and to do in the future?
2. What changes are in order to accomplish these tasks more faithfully?

Who?
The key component of the work of this task force is participation by members from throughout the ELCA. During the spring of 2010, the task force will seek input from groups such as ELCA college and university presidents, the ELCA Conference of Bishops, the ELCA Church Council, synod assemblies, and members and professional leaders throughout the church. A survey is available online for individual members. The survey is at www.liftelca.org/get-involved and can be completed online or submitted by e-mail, fax, or mail. On the same page is a survey for groups. Any group of ELCA members is encouraged to discuss the questions and submit their collective responses.

Why?
In the more than twenty years that the ELCA has been in existence, much has changed in our society. This study will evaluate the organization of and relationships in the church in light of those changes. The task force will produce a report and recommendations based on their findings to help position the ELCA to best participate in God’s mission in the years to come.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson told the task force, "You are here to deepen our process of being engaged in evangelical, missional imagination." He asked the task force to describe what "a vibrant, vital Evangelical Lutheran Church engaged in mission" should look like in today's global, digital world.

When?
Members and groups are invited to submit their responses any time during summer 2010, preferably by mid-June.

The 2010 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly will provide an opportunity to engage in a larger conversation on Friday, May 8, 6:45 p.m. Join Bishop Usgaard, ELCA Vice president Carlos Peña, Luther College president Dr. Richard Torgerson, and Louise Hemstead, an ELCA Church Council member in conversation about what the future ministry of the ELCA.

Get it Online

• www.ELCA.org/lift
  
• www.liftELCA.org
  
• www.facebook.com/liftelca
  
• www.twitter.com/liftelca

Page 5 - Synod Staff Challenged to Live Well
A four week journey through the GO! Challenge

Most of us fall somewhere between professional athlete and totally ignorant of the benefits of personal wellness. Some people exercise regularly and carefully watch their diet, others make regular efforts but frequently fall short, and yet others recognize the importance of healthy living but have roadblocks that prevent them from taking serious steps towards a more healthy lifestyle. You probably find yourself in one of these categories.

The Southeastern Minnesota Synod office staff stretch across the healthy living spectrum. On one day in February, however, we as a staff made the commitment to engage in the GO! Challenge together. Despite our differences, were were each able to participate in this singular activity to improve our wellness and encourage one another through our individual journeys.

The GO! Challenge is a program provided by the ELCA Board of Pensions (BOP), although anyone who can log on to www.elcabop.org and download the PDF of the tracking sheet can participate. The added benefit to BOP health insurance plan members is that completion of the challenge earns 200 of the 300 points towards $300 personal wellness dollars plan members are eligible to earn after taking the health assessment.

The GO! Challenge itself involves setting some healthy living goals and then tracking the listed healthy activities for four weeks. This can be done personally, or as a group. Goals are best achieved with accountability, and doing something like this challenge together creates such accountability. There is no “right” way to execute the challenge as a group activity, so there is room for creativity and flexibility.

The synod staff certainly enjoyed quickly earning a majority of their wellness points, but we also saw other challenges and benefits as we journeyed through our four week challenge. As we progressed, individuals found it easier or harder to focus on goals depending on external factors (ex. traveling), but the overall feel in the office was that thinking about the challenge infused our thought throughout the day.

To track our wellness activities, we each maintained our own tracking sheets and then recorded our totals on a poster in the breakroom. Looking at that poster every time we walked to a meeting, went to get supplies, or sat down to eat a meal or snack, we were reminded of our goals. Perhaps we would take another glass of water with us, maybe we would grab an orange out of the new fruit bowl, maybe we would choose to take a walk around the courtyard as long as we were up and about.

Physical wellness is not the only focus of the challenge. There are also categories for social, emotional, and intellectual healthy activities. Looking at these on a daily basis made us realize how much our busy schedules can impact our wellness as well.

If you’re ready to challenge yourself, visit www.elcabop.org and follow the link to the GO! Challenge. Good luck!

The Wholeness Wheel
(click here to see the Wholeness Wheel)
The Wholeness Wheel reflects our call to care for our whole self. By balancing the interconnected dimensions of well-being, we are able to live well in Christ and pass on our faith.

The Wholeness Wheel illustrates that wellness is multidimensional — made up of spiritual, vocational, intellectual, emotional, physical, social and financial elements of well-being. Spiritual well-being is intertwined with each aspect of wellness.

At the center of the wheel, we are a new creation through the waters of baptism. Christ lives in us and through us and calls us out to love and serve one another. What does it mean to be a new creation? We have received the gift of grace through Christ, who came that we might have abundant life. Abundant life is living as a new creation, being grounded and centered in Christ and loving our neighbor as ourselves. It is when we are living well in Christ that we are best equipped to pass on our faith.

Page 6 - Synod Assembly - "God's Work. Our Hands. Congregations Alive in Communities"
May 7-8, 2010
May Civic Center, Rochester, MN

Pre-Assembly Report
The Pre-Assembly Report is available online at www.semnsynod.org/assembly.html Each congregation is responsible for ensuring all voting members from their congregation have access to this report. If voting members are not able to access it at home, they should contact their congregation. If a congregation needs a CD or hard copy, contact Katie Livingood at the synod office at 507-280-9457 or
800-426-6376 in Minnesota.

Assembly News & Follow-Up
Can't make it to the Synod Assembly? Follow along online at www.semnsynod.org/assembly/news.html or on Facebook - www.facebook.com/semnsynod

Need to report to your congregation on Sunday after the assembly? A printable bulletin insert will be available at the above sites by 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening.

Read Philippians
This year's Bible study will focus on the book of Philippians. To prepare for this study, participants are encouraged to read the book prior to assembly.

Assembly Offering
This year's offering will go toward new ministry starts in the synod. The offering will be collected at Friday morning's opening worship service.

Materials to Bring With
Assembly participants should bring with them:

• Portions of the Pre-Assembly Report as indicated at www.semnsynod.org/assembly.html This includes information like resolutions, nominations, rules, maps, and more.
  
• A Bible.
  
• Coffee cup and/or water bottle to help reduce waste.
  
• Layered clothing and comfortable shoes.
  
• Money - there will be a few opportunities to purchase items with cash or check. An offering will also be taken at Friday's opening worship. If you have pre-registered and already paid, there is nothing that you are required to pay for at the assembly.
  

More Information
All the assembly details, including registration, are online at www.semnsynod.org/assembly.html

Page 7 - Bishop's Column

50 Days of Easter

We continue through these weeks immediately following Christ's resurrection. The message of the empty tomb is too wonderful to leave behind or to celebrate only on one day. Jaroslav Pelikan says it well: "If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. If Christ is not risen, nothing else matters." It is a time of life...of hope...of renewed strength. We recognize the Spirit of the Risen Lord in so much that surrounds us. It explodes out of that tomb and impacts everything in the surrounding world.

So I have seen Easter:

• In March, the six Minnesota ELCA synod bishops sent out letters to all of our congregations inviting them into conversation based on values we have as people of faith and the hard decisions those who serve us in state office are facing. We invited you to pray for our legislators and leaders on April 18. But before that day came, we received inquiries from the Roman Catholic bishops asking to join with us in this effort and soon after the Minnesota Council of Churches asked if they could be part. Interesting that we as a church pray for the day when we will all be one. In this Easter season, God has been at work doing just that, drawing us together.
  
• On the Tuesday after Easter, I was invited to lunch with some new friends...the Sudanese. One of the exciting mission activities that our synod has become involved in centers on the worshiping communities of Sudanese immigrants living throughout our synod. Each of these communities has identified one from their midst to be their spiritual leader...to lead worship, to minister to them...and in some cases, to attend seminary for theological training. The leaders join together regularly for lunch, this time a lunch of authentic Sudanese food. Anuak, Dinka, and Nuer...strangers to each other and to us, but it is Easter, and God provides a table for all through our common faith.
  
• It was a short e-mail with a great big message. Peace Lutheran in Eyota has received permission to pursue building plans. Mission congregations have to fulfill certain requirements before the ELCA is willing to support such an effort. After 12 years of meeting in a school, this congregation just outside of Rochester is ready. Many congregations in the synod have offered financial support throughout the years...prayer and financial. Peace already has the land...now come the I-beams. It's Easter!
  

So the resurrected Jesus tells us..."You are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24)

Shalom,

Harold Usgaard
Bishop

Page 8 - Connect Global & Local

On July 16-17, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Austin, Minn. will be host to one of the 2010 ELCA Glocal Mission Events. Yes, that says "glocal." The term comes from the event's purpose - to combine global and local mission.

The workshops include:

• Mission 101
  
• Short Term Mission
  
• Cross-Generated Engagement
  
• Stewardship
  
• Social Action
  
• New and Renewing Congregations
  
• Preaching, Worship, and Mission

What's different about this event?
The ELCA Glocal Mission Gathering brings together experts and resources on global and domestic ministry under one roof, for one weekend, in one convenient location so congregational leaders can build skills you need to be an effective part of God's mission no matter where you serve. Your input into this event will also help ELCA Global Mission serve more effectively.

Why Attend?
Mission takes place everywhere in the world — including North America, where it influences our ministry every day. By understanding how God's activity is changing the world around us, we can build and develop skills that help us engage, serve, support, learn, and travel more effectively, globally and domestically. These skills can help you be an effective part of God's mission.

More information and registration at www.ELCA.org/globalevents

Details:
Friday - Saturday, July 16-17
2:00 p.m. Friday - 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
1600 W Oakland Avenue
Austin, Minnesota
Cost: $35/person

Rev. Linda Gunderson's Column

Marks of a Missional Congregation: Worship
By Rev. Linda Gunderson
Synod Minister

Worship is the third mark of a missional congregation from the series by Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman, Executive Director for Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission, ELCA.

The central mark of a missional congregation remains constant - Resurrection: A missional congregation lives in the power of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In the Risen Christ all things are possible.

Worship is central to everything we do and a foundation for our faith. It is a special place and time where we boldly proclaim, “God is here.” The Word and Sacraments bring us into the presence of God. Worship also sends us out forgiven, renewed, and refreshed to shape our lives under God’s grace. Worship sends us to others in Jesus’ name and to look and see God acting in daily life.

A missional congregation understands that Word and Sacrament is its heart. It is the source of our evangelism.

Worship is by its’ nature public. It is the work of the gathered community of faith. Worship takes place locally and is global. The community of faith gathered in local communities shares its worship and witness with brothers and sisters around the globe. The gathered community of faith has as its call to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ beyond the doors of the sanctuary.

With all that worship is as gathering and witness, it is important to do it well. There are resources for congregations, pastors, and worship committees (www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship). A new support for missional congregations worship is the initiative called Partners in Evangelical Worship (PEW). It is an initiative that seeks to facilitate ongoing worship and preaching conversations and training. Thank you to Rev. Siri Strommen Campbell and Bob Tewes, AIM, for providing leadership for this initiative. Watch for more information in the months ahead.

Peace,
Pr. Linda

Page 9 - Shirley Gangstad's Column

The Power of Love and Forgiveness
Greetings!

Our church, like our government and our country, has been going through some difficult times in recent months. There seem to be lots of angry people who are venting their anger in a variety of ways, many of them less than helpful and less than healthy (sometimes downright mean and unjustified!) for the larger body—the church, the government, the country. If we operate from our “fight or flight” instinct when confronted by one of these people, most of us will choose flight. If we hear someone vehemently and angrily sounding off about something, we probably decide to walk in the other direction, but sometimes that is impossible. Sometimes we find ourselves right in the middle of the fray—intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes we find the angry words and feelings are directed straight at us!

As Christians we have two amazing gifts which we have been given during Jesus’ agony on the cross and which we can share at those times—gifts that are helpful to us and which may be especially helpful to the one who is angry. We have the gift of love. Jesus went to the cross in love, remembered his mother in love and forgave his crucifiers in love. What a gift we have to say to someone who is being angry and unlovable, “God loves you and so do I and there is nothing you can do about that!”

When Jesus forgave those who crucified him, we not only received forgiveness but were given the gift to forgive others. What a powerful witness to Christ we can make if/when we can respond to someone’s tirade against us or against someone we love by saying, “I forgive you. Whether you want my forgiveness or not, I forgive you.”

It is so difficult not to “give as good as we get”—so difficult in fact, that we cannot do that by ourselves, but we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit, given the gifts by Jesus, and with God’s help, we can love and forgive actions the world would deem unlovable and unforgivable. What an amazing gift! Thanks be to God!

Blessings in Christ,
Shirley

Other Ways to Study, Turn to Google
By Sharon Barnes
Synod Book of Faith Task Force

I hope that by this time you have heard a lot about Book of Faith, the initiative in the ELCA to encourage Lutherans to become more fluent in the first language of their faith. Much emphasis has been placed on being involved in a Bible study because we learn from and help each other interpret and understand scripture. And a wealth of materials has been and is being developed to assist us in understanding.

Not everyone can or wants to be in a study group though. Some are more interested in and better able to learn on their own. Some are more technologically astute and grasp thoughts from visual media or the internet.

I recently Googled Book of Faith and was pleasantly surprised at the resources available online. Maybe you are interested in reading the Bible each day but don’t know quite how to get started. There is a link to "Today’s Bible Reading" where one could read a short passage online or even subscribe to receive it each day via email. There is a link to "Read the Bible in One Year" which provides a schedule for reading the Bible in one year, starting anytime during the year. (I always have trouble getting through Leviticus!)

There are some written studies and a few on video. There is a link to a social networking site and a link for more resources. While it had been a quite a while since I had looked at the Book of Faith website, I intend to keep checking it more often because the links and resources seem to be increasing exponentially. I encourage you to check it out too.

Get it Online

• www.bookoffaith.org
  
• www.bookoffaith.ning.com
  
• Or simply type "Book of Faith" into your favorite search engine!

Page 10 - Call Update - click here to view call update

Roster Update

Disability:

• David Rossow, Christ, Byron, 1/17/10

On Leave from Call:

• Glen Bickford, Bear Creek, Grand Meadow, 5/1/10
• Joy Gonnerman, Wangen Prairie, Cannon Falls, 3/8/10

Retired:

• Steven Ronningen, Gloria Dei, Rochester, 7/1/10

Transfer In:

• Henry Mathre, retired from Southwestern Texas Synod, 3/12/10

Transfer Out:

• Larry Nelson, retired to the Northeastern Minnesota Synod, 4/1/10

Upcoming Events - click here for all upcoming events

Did you know...
More than half - 52.5% - of the synod’s budget goes to support the ELCA churchwide mission. In 2008, 93.2% of the churchwide budget remained in congregations to fund local ministries.

A budget accounts for the resources an organization uses to fulfill its vision. But for the ELCA, the budget does something more. It begins to tell the story of peoples' lives transformed, of God's boundless love shared with the world. It's the financial expression of our faith.

This and more at http://bit.ly/bkOhtg

Page 11 - Bridge

Sharing in God's Mission with the Global Network
Issue to be used anytime after June 1, 2010

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