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Leadership Net

May 2024

Inspiring creative ways for lay and rostered leaders to carry God's love into the world

Please share this newsletter with congregational council members and key lay leaders of your congregation. The meditation can be used in small groups or as an individual

Listen to the Rock from Which you are Hewn

Congratulations to Bishop Sue Briner and her re-election to the office of the Bishop for the Southwestern Texas Synod.

In the election process, we do have to acknowledge that some were angry and hurt, others were not. That is no surprise because God created us to have different expressions of thought. So now what? How do we move forward in our Synod?

Isaiah offers this vision.

Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,

you that seek the Lord.

Look to the rock from which you were hewn,

and to the quarry from which you were dug.

Look to Abraham your father,

and to Sarah who bore you:

For he was but one when I called him,

but I blessed him and made him many.

(Isa. 51: 1-2)

Walter Bruggeman, a faithful theologian, interpreted these words in this way.

“The focus should not be on our busy chronicle that records everything that has happened in our past. Rather, we are invited to focus on the pure model of the faithfulness of Abraham and Sarah. These long, time-tested people of faith, were fearful, anxious and hurt. And yet because they risked, dared, and obeyed, God worked through them.”

In the church, the threat of change or the lack of change scares us all. We become anxious because we don’t know where we are going. Our hurts also limit our vision.

So how are we to move forward? Our calling is to be faithful. It is in our faithfulness that God will bless each of us, so that many may experience God’s new vision of life for the world.

Damascus: Lifelong Learning

Opportunities for Lay and Rostered Leaders

The Southwestern Texas Synod invites you to join others in our synod on a transformative road of Damascus: Lifelong Learning.

Whether you are:

Discerning a call to rostered ministry,
Being invited to earn a certificate for Lay Ministry by serving as a SAM (Synod Authorized Minister), or
Curious to Learn or grow in your lifelong journey of faith and leadership

Damascus: Lifelong Learning may be for you regardless of your age, level of expertise, or learning style.

The courses, from a variety of ELCA approved learning institutions, cover a range of topics, including theology, theory, cultural context, ministerial leadership and personal/interpersonal leadership skills.
Many courses are led by seminary professors or experts in the field
The courses can be taken individually, at any time or with a cohort group at designated times
The courses are reasonably priced, however, financial assistance is available through the Tiemann Leadership Grants

For more information about the courses or FREE Courses with a cohort group offered in the Fall visit www.swtsynod.org or contact Deacon Darcy Mittelstaedt.

Register Now for May Webinar

Granting Rest: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals

May 23, 2024 from 2 - 3 pm CDT

Join LifeLong Learning from Virginia Theological Seminary for an enlightening panel discussion on sabbaticals featuring esteemed guests Bishop Mariann Budde, Rev. Randy Callender, and Jason Franklin, hosted by Wallace Benton, the Associate Director of Lifelong Learning.

Delving into the essence of sabbaticals, the panel will clarify what they are and are not, exploring the myriad of resources available such as grants to facilitate these vital periods or rest and renewal. Additionally, they will shed liht on how sabbaticals serve as transformative opportunities for both individuals and the communities they serve, fostering growth and rejuvenation.

The discussion will also contemplate the inclusion of lay ministers and associate pastors in the sabbatical process, ensuring equitable access to this enriching experience within the broader ministry landscape.