Synod Hearings (external link) provide an opportunity for participants to share with the task force their concerns, appreciation, and suggestions about the draft of a social statement. A record of comments from each hearing is shared with the task force, who will consider this feedback while developing a revised document called a “proposed” social statement. The proposed statement is scheduled to be finished in February of 2011, which will be considered by the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly (external link).
Hearings are a very important step in the social statement process because the goal is broad participation in the development of social teaching and policy documents. Please encourage farmers and other interested folks to attend. We often complain about “not being heard”; hearings give us a chance to offer the task force a North Dakota perspective! Continue reading…
LIFT: Living Into the Future Together
Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA Task Force
Living into the Future Together (LIFT) (external link) is a task force of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) (external link) commissioned by the ELCA Church Council to develop and recommend options for the future of the ELCA in light of its identity, changes in its environment and its call to God’s mission.
Understanding the path this church has journeyed on will serve as a platform to embrace new opportunities for God’s mission.
What is God calling this church to be and to do in the future?
What changes are in order to help us respond most faithfully? Continue reading…
Two free DVDs have been designed for use in congregations containing some of the wonderful videos submitted this summer in the “God’s work. Our hands.” video contest (external link). For ease of use, they have been organized in two ways: categorized by theme and organized by state. The specific videos shown at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly have been identified and the two ELCA TV spots, “Hope (external link)” and “Dignity (external link)” have also been included. Continue reading…
In an effort to get information that you may need in a timely accessible form, I have recorded some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) from our conference assemblies regarding rostering changes within the ELCA. They are not highly polished, but hopefully they will be of some help as you seek to be faithful. Bear in mind that the following video clips are not meant to be theological dissertations but rather pastoral reflections to assist you with processing difficult questions.
Bill Rindy
Serving as Bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod
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EaND Synod’s Nov/Dec highlights for church bulletins
In this issue:
- Update from the Bishop
- Letter from Central African Republic Missionaries
» Download and share: November News Snippet Bulletin Insert (download .pdf file)
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