Five Things you should know about the synod this week:
- Our Fall Leadership Event on Saturday kicked off a new year in the work of our Networks: groups of interested leaders who work in the area of Care of Creation, Companion Synods of Hungary and Namibia, Disaster Response, Global Mission, Home Life, Hunger, Life Long Learning for Lutherans, LYO Leadership, SAFE Ministry Team, Stewardship and the Compensation Committee. The day of formal committees with members who travel several miles for once-a-month meetings (whether they need to or not) are over. Now, networks rise up from the grassroots-based on passions and gifts and work together in ways work for the people involved, depending upon the projects, utilizing telephone conferences, email, and social media. Our role as the synod is to bless the work and provide resources and guidance when needed. Mostly, we just get out of the way and let the Spirit fly!
- 17 members of our synod were voting members at the 2013 Churchwide Assembly, which met in Pittsburg, PA. Many came to the Synod Council meeting on Saturday to give a report and share their enthusiasm about what the church is up to in the world.
- The Tri-Synod Theological Conference is coming up Sept. 22-24. The theme is Gospel Ethics Rooted in the Lutheran Confessions Lutheran ethicists and theologians Dr. Per Anderson of Concordia College and Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda of Seattle University, along with colleagues from all three Iowa Synods, will consider the relationship between the unconditional good news of the gospel and morally directed principals that guide our choices. In addition to Dr. Anderson and Dr. Moe-Lobeda, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson will preach for one of our worship services, as well as lead a presentation.
- Pastor Mark Anderson represented our synod at an Ecumenical Prayer Service for Peace in Syria and Egypt at Saint Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines, sponsored by the Diocese of Des Moines.
- Sunday, Sept 29, is our GLOBAL MISSION FESTIVAL at Nazareth Lutheran, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1:30-5 p.m. Learn about ELCA, synod, and other mission projects from around the world. To learn more about this event or to pre-register youth groups, contact the Northeastern Iowa Synod at 319-352-1414.
