Synod Strategic Plan: Introduction To Use With Questionnaires

Introduction for "Called Into God's Marvelous Light" Questionnaires
Questionnaires to be distributed in worship on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003. Read this document to the congregation just before they fill out the questionnaires. (If your congregation ordered a video, DVD, audio CD, or audio tape with the introduction, that should be used instead of reading this introduction. They say the same thing.)

Bishop Harold Usgaard of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod has invited us today to join with the members of the other 182 congregations in our synod in helping to give focus to our synod's ministry for these coming years.

For the process to work, it must begin in the congregations. It must begin with the people of God. It must begin with us. So today we have been invited to take 10 minutes of our worship time to answer three questions on a questionnaire. Your responses on these questionnaires are key in helping the synod – and our congregation – determine where God is calling us to be...in this time...in this place.

Please note that you are not expected to sign this piece of paper. However, if you would like to be part of the group on the synod level that reviews and prioritizes the responses, please do write your name and phone number. That process will take place on one, possibly two, Saturdays in January or February. The dates are still being determined.

The results of this effort will be presented at the synod assembly in April, and will be available on our synod's web site, www.semnsynod.org.

In I Peter we read, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light." This is the theme during this process..."Called into God's marvelous light." Our Bishop, Harold Usgaard, hopes you will sense the excitement of that calling for our synod as you fill out your questionnaire.

Thank you.