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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA
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SUMMARY:Study Session 1: Conscience and Conversation
DESCRIPTION:+Bishop Dee Pederson  \n\n\nDear friends in Christ –  \nRecently\, many of you received the ELCA study titled\, “Conscience and Conversation: A Study During the Reconsideration of the Social Statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.”   \nOn Thursday\, August 13 – 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Thursday\, August 20—1:00-3:00 p.m.\, Bishop Dee Pederson will host two opportunities to walk through the study\, which prepares individuals to respond to the survey. The study sessions will be held in person at the synod office\, 175 E Bridge St.\, Redwood Falls. Participants should attend both sessions; they will not be identical. Please RSVP to help the synod staff plan for each session. Click here for more information.  \n\n\nClick here to RSVP: Study sessions at the synod office\n\n\n\nEach session will follow the flow of the study: Welcome and Introductions\, Hymn\, Bible reading\, Prayer\, Group Expectations\, Activities and Discussion\, Prayer. \nDownload the study and learn more about the reconsideration process at ELCA.org/reconsiderations.
URL:https://swmnelca.org/event/study-session-1/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260820T150000
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CREATED:20260709T212400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T212400Z
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SUMMARY:Study Session 2: Conscience and Conversation
DESCRIPTION:+Bishop Dee Pederson  \n\nDear friends in Christ –  \nRecently\, many of you received the ELCA study titled\, “Conscience and Conversation: A Study During the Reconsideration of the Social Statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.”   \nOn Thursday\, August 13 – 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Thursday\, August 20—1:00-3:00 p.m.\, Bishop Dee Pederson will host two opportunities to walk through the study\, which prepares individuals to respond to the survey. The study sessions will be held in person at the synod office\, 175 E Bridge St.\, Redwood Falls. Participants should attend both sessions; they will not be identical. Please RSVP to help the synod staff plan for each session. Click here for more information.  \n\n\nClick here to RSVP: Study sessions at the synod office\n\n\n\nEach session will follow the flow of the study: Welcome and Introductions\, Hymn\, Bible reading\, Prayer\, Group Expectations\, Activities and Discussion\, Prayer. \nDownload the study and learn more about the reconsideration process at ELCA.org/reconsiderations.
URL:https://swmnelca.org/event/study-session-2/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260927
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260930
DTSTAMP:20260708T210654Z
CREATED:20260708T185202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T210654Z
UID:23954-1790467200-1790726399@swmnelca.org
SUMMARY:2026 Fall Theological Conference
DESCRIPTION:2026 Fall Theological Conference\nLocation: Little Crow Resort & Conference\, Spicer MN\nDates: Sept. 27\, Sunday Evening – Sept. 29\, Tuesday Afternoon \n\nWho are the People in Our Neighborhood?\nHow loving our neighbor and a prophetic witness both begin with knowing the people in our community.  \nIn this continuing season of unease\, the 2026 Fall Theological Conference will help us consider how the places and people to which God calls us shape our ministry and our witness.   \n\nHow do we come to know the unique context and the neighbors God has given us?  \nHow much do place and context shape us?  \nHow do we navigate a growing tension among people who seek to follow Jesus in our context? \nHow can we be faithful to God’s prophetic witness among the people entrusted to us?   \n\nWe will learn from:  \nBen Durheim\, assistant professor of theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University\, Collegeville. Teaching courses in liturgical and sacramental theology\, ethics\, and systematics\, Ben’s publishing has centered on the intersection between liturgy and ethics\, ecumenism\, liturgical and sacramental practice\, and social ethics. His recent book\, “Each in Our Own Language: Symbolization and Social Ethics in Rural America” (Fortress Press)\, explores the deep layers of meaning that contribute to an increasingly deep “rural-urban divide.” Through story\, theological reflection\, rural sociology\, and his fresh teaching style\, Durheim will help us consider how ministry might lean toward the social conditions where love flourishes for the sake of all.   \nJUSTmove—Joe Davis and David Scherer—will bring their music\, poetry\, and storytelling to help us imagine how to bridge the many kinds of cultural differences we experience today and to facilitate movement and healing.   \nJoe Davis is a spoken word artist and educator\, facilitating intercultural and racial justice training to help people stay connected with each other.   \nDavid Scherer\, also known as AGAPE\, engages people through music and teaching to bridge cultural anxiety and practice racial accompaniment.  \nTogether\, they will team up to equip us to move from discomfort and avoidance to leadership with courageous conversation and belonging. \nThe 2026 Fall Theological Conference is planned especially for Pastors\, Deacons\, TEEM Students\, Interns\, Synod Authorized Lay Ministers currently serving a congregation\, and paid staff youth coordinators. By action of the 1988 Synod Assembly\, this conference has been designated as an “official synodical event.” This means that all pastors and deacons under call or appointment are expected to attend. If you need to be absent\, please email Bishop Dee Pederson at dee.pederson@swmnelca.org and CC Kristin Bakeberg\, kristin.bakeberg@swmnelca.org in your email. \n\nRegistration Information\nThe registration fee is per person:\n$150 regular registration\n$100 per person reduced registration (only for grads awaiting first call\, interns\, on-leave-from-call\, and retired pastors not serving in an interim position) The registration fee includes the conference fee\, Monday lunch\, snacks\, and refreshments. \nFull conference schedule will be posted in mid-august.  \nClick here to register.\nRegistration Deadline: September 11th \nHousing arrangements and cost are separate from the FTC registration fee.\nAll attendees are responsible for their own housing arrangements. The synod office has reserved a block of rooms at the Little Crow Hotel & Conference\, Trademark by Wyndham where the conference will be held. The block of rooms is under the name: SWMNELCA Fall Conference (092726SWELCA). This block of rooms will be available until Friday\, Aug. 28\, 2026. Please call 320-347-1450 to make your room reservations. \nWater’s Edge Ministries (Green Lake Bible Camp and Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp) also have housing options. Please call 320-796-2181 to check lodging availability.
URL:https://swmnelca.org/event/2026-ftc/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261120
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261122
DTSTAMP:20260721T210342Z
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SUMMARY:Junior High Youth Gathering
DESCRIPTION:More information coming soon!
URL:https://swmnelca.org/event/jhyg-2026/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270628
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270703
DTSTAMP:20260722T183106Z
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UID:24005-1814140800-1814572799@swmnelca.org
SUMMARY:ELCA Youth Gathering
DESCRIPTION:The 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering will take place June 28–July 2\, 2027\, in Minneapolis\, Minn. MYLE (Multicultural Youth Leadership Event) and the tAble will take place June 26-28\, 2027\, also in Minneapolis. The Young Adult Gathering will take place concurrent with the Gathering\, June 28–July 2\, 2027. \n\nConnect and plan for the gathering!\n\nwww.elca.org/gathering \nEmail: gathering@elca.org \nSign up for the gNews. Stay in the loop for all things Gathering. The gNews is your go-to source for the latest updates\, tips and reminders\, straight from the Gathering team. Click here. \nELCA Regional Representative\, Shane Marcus is part of a refreshed leadership structure designed to strengthen collaboration and support across the church throughout the Gathering cycle. \n“This marks a shift from the Gathering Synod Champion (or Gathering Synod Coordinator) model of previous cycles. Moving to regional representation allows us to offer more consistent support\, deeper collaboration\, and a broader network of leaders across the church. As your Regional Rep\, I am here to walk with you and your synod through every phase of Gathering preparation—answering questions\, sharing timely updates\, connecting leaders\, and offering contextual guidance based on what’s happening in our region—while also ensuring that your synod retains full freedom to lead and organize your own Gathering related efforts. If your synod plans to host retreats\, lock-ins\, trainings\, or other Gathering focused events\, please continue those valuable efforts.” – Shane \nRegional Reps serve as partners alongside our synod’s work—not replacements. If you have any questions\, please connect with Synod Minister Pr. Seyward Ask or Shane Marcus. \nEmail: shane.michael.marcus@gmail.com\nPhone: 612.723.7899 \n\nVolunteers\n\nWould you like to volunteer at the Gathering and help our young people grow in faith and encounter Christ? Serving the youth of this church is a vocational calling that requires careful discernment. \nThere are several ways to volunteer. Responsibilities and commitments vary by category\, but every volunteer must agree to a volunteer code of conduct and submit to a background check run by the ELCA. \nServing as a volunteer requires no application fee\, but applicants who are offered a volunteer role will be asked to pay a $50 processing fee to ensure their attendance and cover the cost of a background check. If this fee prohibits you from serving\, reach out to the Gathering office. \nKey Dates\nJune 17\, 2026 Volunteer applications open (Gathering Volunteer Corps and local)\nAug. 19\, 2026 Gathering Volunteer Corps applications close\nOct. 30\, 2026 Gathering Volunteer Corps applicants notified\nDec. 1\, 2026 Servant Companion applications open\nJan. 15\, 2027 Servant Companion applications close \n\n\n\n\nClick here for more information and application
URL:https://swmnelca.org/event/elca-youth-gathering-2027/
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