“A Time to Move Forward” to “Walking Together into God’s Future”
We live in a world that is swiftly changing! Jesus invites us as followers to proclaim the eternal Good News into that changing world. Our synod is addressing that change! We are gathering resources. And we are investing them to equip all God’s people to serve this current mission field. Embraced by God’s vision and equipped to serve we live as our theme song says, “Walking Together.”
We want to invite your partnership as we are “walking together” to bring about positive change. In order to walk together we invite you to first learn “WHY” this Funding Initiative is important. You can do that by watching the videos on this page. We recommend that you start with Bishop Jon Anderson’s video at the top of this page. about your synod. In it he responds to the question he’s often asked, “What’s a Synod good for anyway?”
All videos can be downloaded from our synod's Vimeo page or call the synod office for a USB or DVD.
The synod invites you to think about, pray about, and consider contributing financially in a way that fits your capacity and passion.
Click here to make an online gift. Click here to make a pledge.
Deepen Congregation Vitality
Because of our Funding Initiative we have been able to invest in 14 congregations that have used the Missional Assessment Process (MAP) to think about the mission field God has placed them on and to think about what God is calling them to become.
Enhance Local and Global Mission
One of the ways we are investing in people is our work of sending young adults to South Africa to experience our companion synod. We are called to walk together as we follow Jesus, our Lord.
Develop Servant Leaders
We are investing in developing all the baptized gifts as ministers. We believe that in our baptism we are called to be ministers in our many
callings in life. We are looking for opportunities to help people develop their gifts so they can serve the Gospel in their particular way, whether they are called to ordained ministry or they are called to share their gifts in ministry another way.
Build a Ministerial Excellence Fund
One part of our Ministerial Excellence Fund has been used to address the educational debt of pastors. Another part of our Ministerial Excellence Fund is to address the financial literacy challenges of our pastors and to support our lay leaders that are managing congregations. It’s about both parts.
Helpful Resources
Looking for resources that collaborate with the Funding Initiative and the Lilly Project?
Visit our blog, the Lilly Project Category.
Bulletin Inserts:
A series of bulletin inserts about your synod's Funding Initiative:
• Overall Funding Initiative
• Deepen Congregation Vitality
• Enhance Local and Global Mission
• Develop Servant Leaders
• Build a Ministerial Excellence Fund
Walking Together Hymn:
FINANCIAL LITERACY, LIVE IT, TEACH IT
Lilly Project Director
Rev. Andrew Hermodson-Olsen
andrew.hermodson-olsen@swmnelca.org
Deb Hess, Administrative Assistant to the
Lilly Project and Funding Initiative
deb.hess@swmnelca.org
Lilly Implementation Team
- Adam Copeland
- Cherrish Holland
- Erik Karlson
- Kathryn Skoglund
- Larry Strenge
- Linda Lagergren
- Lindy Kaden
- Mark Yackel-Juleen
- Nathan Luong
- Susan Lange
- Terri Endres
Lilly Grant Research & Planning Team
- Joyce Piper, Former Synod Minister
- Marv Isder, Avoca MN
- Kirsten Rabbe, Truman MN
- Tim Wrenn, Windom MN
- Mark Yackel-Juleen, Windom MN
Lilly Program Summary: At the end of 2015, our Southwestern Minnesota Synod received a grant of $500,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. This important grant has two major purposes:
(1) The creation of a sustainable Ministerial Excellence Fund will help lessen financial burdens for pastors in our synod facing significant educational debt, medical emergencies, or inadequate pension equity for retirement. Of the Lilly grant, $250,000 must be matched by our synod, creating a fund of $500,000 to be used over a three-year period to provide this much-needed financial assistance to pastors.
(2) The remaining $250,000 from the Lilly grant is being used to plan and implement programs and events designed to improve financial literacy among clergy and lay people in congregations throughout our synod.
Lilly Project in Action
- Ministry and Money Events
- Financial Literacy Events
- FREE Books for the Book of the Month Facebook Group
- Energizing and Mobilizing your Congregation Workshops
- Debt Reduction Grants
Spring 2017 Newsletter
