It’s been said never to waste a crisis, and that moment is upon us. Congregation Councils carry the responsibility of being the congregation’s board of directors – fulfilling their duties with care, putting the best interests of the organization first, and following the church’s governing documents. As congregations think through how to do what they […]
Risks of Singing During a Pandemic
Singing: Who knew it was risky – until now? +Rev. Dr. Dee Pederson, Director for Evangelical Mission, ELCA I miss the singing! We all feel it: worshipers, choir members, worship leaders, and pastors. We haven’t been together to sing in a long time. Martin Luther said, Those who sing pray twice. Sitting at home, we […]
Staff Reports for Synod Council
Synod Council met April 25, 2020. Click on the links below to read how our staff is doing. Bishop Jon Anderson’s Report – We do not want to waste this crisis. Synod Minister, Pr. Kathryn Skoglund’s Report – Where do you see God in this? Synod Minister, Pr. Steve Cook’s Report – In a blink […]
Letter from the Minnesota Bishops
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. – Romans 12:15-16 To the Pastors, Deacons, Leaders and Congregations of Minnesota Since we learned of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Minnesota on March 6, through the first stay at home order and its extensions to the […]
Can End-of-Life Planning Breathe New Life into The Congregation?
Gift Planning Zoom Conversation We, in the church, are no strangers to talking about life and death. But why, then, are we so reluctant to talk with our people about planning for the inevitable? What opportunities are we missing? What lessons for life and faith are we failing to provide? How can a simple conversation […]
Financial Giving in Such a Time as This
+Pr. Dee Pederson, Director for Evangelical Mission During the past two months, nearly everything about how we function in ministry has changed. At the same time, your congregation’s ministries have never been more important. Your people and your communities need these ministries to remain strong; and ministry depends upon generosity. So how do we talk […]
That was the easy part: leadership and “reopening” congregations
Compared to closing down in the early days of COVID 19 the next phase of slowing returning to public gatherings is going to be complicated. A “stay at home order” is clear – it means stay at home. Reopening our public spaces and gatherings is presenting new, ambiguous challenges. Lack of clarity raises anxiety. Some […]
Bishop’s Report for Synod Council
+Bishop Jon Anderson Revised for an e-news article We do not want to waste this crisis. There has been, and will be terrible losses. There will also be amazing opportunities. We need to find ways to lament the damage. We also need to watch and open our imaginations so that we notice and engage the […]
Denial or Kenosis (Emptying Ourselves) in Love
+Bishop Jon V. Anderson The short answer is that we need to go slow moving forward. As we make decisions, personally and communally, we need to do what will protect and love our neighbors. That is how we love our neighbor in response to God’s love. I woke up this morning with this text in […]
Synod Assembly Cancellation
Your synod council made a decision to cancel our assembly on June 12-13, 2020, at Gustavus Adolphus College. This came after the recommendation of the Synod Assembly Planning Committee considered the situation and recommended a cancelation and not a postponement of our planned assembly. A second task force of people looked into the constitutional and […]
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