WHAT’S THE STRUGGLE? Congregational Change: Size, age of attendees, more funerals than baptisms. Divisive Politics: Are we purple now, or are we just red and blue dots floating near one another unable to have a civil conversation? Immigration: Rural and urban places have been impacted by the ICE crackdown in Minnesota. Neighbors have been mistreated […]
+Bishop Dee Pederson We believe that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) And yet, we know that life and ministry are filled with times of change. In each season, God continues to call, equip, and lead us. It is with deep gratitude for her ministry that we share Synod Minister
A Season of Change and Gratitude: Pr. Heather Culuris Read More »
50 years of ministry together! On Sunday, July 19, 2026 Zion Irving Lutheran Church, Irving, and Harrison Presbyterian Church, Spicer, celebrated 50 years of ministry together. This ecumenical relationship is a remarkable one that even predates the full-communion partnership our two church bodies established in 1997, which provided for the sharing of ministries, sacraments, and
Ecumenical Relationship Celebrated Read More »
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. Connect and plan for the gathering! www.elca.org/gathering Email:
ELCA Youth Gathering Read More »
+Bishop Dee Pederson Dear friends in Christ – Recently, 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.” On 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
Study Sessions: Conscience and Conversation Read More »
“so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” -Romans 12:5 June Synod Staff Recap “What do synod staff people do? Where do you go?” That’s a question we hear every so often, we’re not only going to tell you – we’re going to show you, in a bit
Synod Map – Pastoral Staff Read More »
Gifts of Grace 2026 Education Loan Reduction and Retirement Grants Now Open! The Gifts of Grace program offers grants to rostered ministers actively serving in the SW MN Synod to ease their financial burdens and help prepare them for their future in retirement. If you are a rostered minister in the SW MN Synod, check
Gift of Grace Grants Now Open! Read More »
This summer 2026, Bishop Dee and the pastoral staff will be providing video sermons that can be used by congregations during worship. The sermons will be on the 2nd lessons from Romans and can be used on any Sunday for the summer. The theme, Ground in Hope, comes from the 2026 Synod Assembly where we
Summer Sermon Series: 2026 Read More »
Jesus said, “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest.” +Bishop Dee Pederson Friends, we have been praying, and the Lord has answered. On June 6, the Southwestern Minnesota Synod in Assembly commissioned Synod-Authorized Ministers at beautiful Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter. And God’s people rejoiced! What
Commissioning Synod-Authorized Ministers Read More »
Presentation by Benjamin Winchester Recording Notes: Ben’s PowerPoint Our “Brain Gain” landing page which contains articles, podcasts, and research papers. http://z.umn.edu/braingain Rural Rebound Initiative overview video https://youtu.be/eC6BPMjKWIM Economic Impact of Rural Housing webinar https://extension.umn.edu/cd-exchange/economic-impact-rural-house-private-benefit-public-action report https://conservancy.umn.edu/items/1c1e341c-4017-4211-ac49-02a851a3c461 Cory Hepola – My Town episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIfukaV3yuM Building Community Prosperity for the Next Generation https://extension.umn.edu/cd-exchange/building-community-prosperity-next-generation It seems the
Rewriting the Rural Narrative: Zoom Recording Read More »
