FROM BISHOP JIM GONIA

Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer submits resignation as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod

Read the most recent communication from the Sierra Pacific Synod vice president

On Monday afternoon, June 6, it was made public that the Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer had submitted a letter of resignation as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, effective June 4. Rohrer was elected bishop in May of 2021, the first transgender person elected to serve as a bishop in the ELCA.

The resignation follows Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calling for the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Rohrer.

For those needing some background, while addressing allegations of pastoral misconduct, then Bishop Megan Rohrer removed Rev. Nelson Rabell-González, the mission developer of Misión Latina Luterana, on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a day of deep significance for the congregation. That action, and how it was carried out, were criticized by the Asociación de Ministerios Latinos de la ELCA as showing a ‘lack of empathy and understanding toward their Latinx siblings.’ In a later action by Bishop Roher and the Sierra Pacific Synod Council, Rev. Rabell-González was not granted on leave from call status on the ELCA roster.

A listening team had been appointed by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to review the actions of then Bishop Megan Rohrer with regard to Misión Latina Luterana. The team's primary goal was to gather information and make recommendations to Presiding Bishop Eaton for next steps. The listening team report provides extensive background information, and it is available in both English and Spanish.

I will be convening a Zoom conversation with rostered ministers and ministry candidates who would like to join with me in conversation and concern over these matters.

Please join me in praying for our church and for the Sierra Pacific Synod, for all those whose pain is profound because of these events. I pledge to continue working with you in our synod as we face our own complicity in racism and injustice, and as we seek to more fully become the church the Spirit is calling us to be.

Yours in Faith,

Bishop Jim Gonia

March for Our Lives

Service of Lament and Prayer

Saturday, June 11, 9:00 a.m.

ELCA Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Methodists are joining together for prayer and gun control advocacy on Saturday, June 11, 9:00 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, 1600 Washington St, Denver. We will pray for those who have died in mass shootings in our country. Then, we will join others at the Capitol for the March for Our Lives rally, where we will join our voices and presence with others who are advocating for gun control.

During this season after Pentecost, we pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire our elected leaders to act for the sake of peace in our cities and towns.

ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS!

Assembly videos now online

2022 Synod Assembly

May 9-11, 2022

We gathered together and reveled in the joy of being together for the first time in three years for a live synod assembly! With beating drums and lively marimbas. With poignant stories and passionate sermons. With food and fellowship and fun. We were reminded that we are truly better together as the Rocky Mountain Synod!

Highlights:

• Adopted the resolution to encourage support for the ELCA World Hunger Fund. View the resolution.
• Adopted the budget. View the financial packet.
• Elected people to boards and committees. View election results.

Assembly videos:

• Opening Worship: Sermon - Rev. Stephanie Lord
• Bishop Gonia - Introductory Reflections
• Financial Report
• Plenary: "Church Becoming"
• Plenary: "Normalizing the Unexpected"
• Bishop's Report
• Plenary: "Vital Right-Shaped Ministry"
• Plenary: Generosity and a Mindset of Abundance"
• Plenary: Rhythm of the Saints
• Marshall Fire: Perspectives
• Marshall Fire: Chrysalis Initiative
• Closing Worship: Sermon, Rev. Brigette Weier

$725 scholarship means you pay just $150

Best Skills Best Churches Online Course: Enroll now!

Do you want to have effective discipleship that transforms lives?

3E is partnering with the Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation to offer Best Skills Best Churches. This course is offered online. It is a graduate/executive level certificate program designed to advance rostered ministers’ and lay leaders’ knowledge and skills for effective management of congregations and ministries.

View the Best Skills Best Churches Brochure.

Best Skills Best Churches course will cover:

Volunteers in Service

Legal Aspects of Governance

Effective Communication and Handling Conflict

Marketing and Community Presence

Financial Management for Effective Service

Fundraising Aspects of Stewardship.  

Best Skills Best Churches will meet from 6:30 – 9:30 pm (except in December from 5:30 – 8:30 pm) on the following dates. You are allowed only TWO absences. Do not register if you cannot fully commit.

July 12 & 14

August 2 & 4

September 6 & 8

October 4 & 6

November 1 & 3

December 6 & 8

While the cost for each participant is $875, Educate, Equip, Enact (3E) will provide each participant a $725 scholarship so that the total cost for the entire course for you is only $150. Both rostered ministers and lay leaders are eligible for the scholarship. Registration deadline is June 17!

To enroll in Best Skills Best Churches, click the button below. You will then be directed to a Rocky Mountain Synod Tithe.ly link for payment.

For further information, contact Pastor Michael Tassler, 3E Program Director, at mtassler@rmselca.org.

ATTN STEWARDSHIP TEAM:

Beginning a Culture of Generosity Now

“Learned so much about stewardship, generosity, inspiring the desire to give, asking, and thanking, thanking, thanking.”

Join Beginning a Culture of Generosity (BCG). This program was curated in response to the pandemic and gives your stewardship team confidence right now while everyone is working through a variety of very real financial stressors.

BCG is a program to help guide congregations and provide the necessary tools to run a successful fall appeal. It is delivered online in six virtual sessions and begins August 20 ending December 3. In this final year of the Lilly Endowment stewardship scholarship grants, 3E is offering free tuition to five congregations that sign up before July 1. Questions, contact Deb Elstad at deb.elstad@gmail.com

BCG Print brochure/mail-in registration (here)

Register online at rmselca.org/3e-bcg-registration-2022

September 11 is God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday

We are a church energized by lively engagement in faith and life. As we continue our tradition of service to our neighbor, we remember the words of Martin Luther: “Our faith is a living, busy, active, mighty thing.” With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in the name of Jesus Christ.

As you explore opportunities to participate in your community, ELCA.org/DayofService has everything you need to plan and promote your day:

• Planning toolkit.
• Worship resources
• Posters, postcards and social media graphics
• Spanish-language resources
• Promotional items
• Videos
• Special hymn text, sheet music and recording

Old Lutheran has T-shirts and other items available for purchase. The deadline for ordering your congregation’s personalized T-shirts is Aug. 19.

Don’t forget to share your congregation’s participation with us! Send stories and photos to LivingLutheran@elca.org so that together we can celebrate what God accomplishes through you. Participate on social media using #GodsWorkOurHands.

Wonderfully Made Youth Gathering rescheduled for February 17-19, 2023

We look forward to this event taking place in 2023! Mark your calendars for February 17-19.

For any questions, contact our RMS Faith Formation Coordinator - Kinna Nordstrom Kemp at 303-889-9844 (call/ text) or email misskinna.cyf@gmail.com.

FROM VICKY DAUB, VSCP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

" We Are All Here"

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

Acts16:25-28

“Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” Yesterday, I read these words as part of the reading for the 7^th Sunday of Easter during worship. In the past few days, I kept re-reading these words as I practiced for this reading.

In my role as the Executive Director of the Veteran Servant Corps Project (VSCP), a ministry of the Rocky Mountain Synod, I have been thinking about the phrase “we are all here”, especially in terms of the 18+ Veterans who complete suicide in our nation daily. Raising awareness around this issue is one our VSCP tenets.

Are you and your congregation interested in joining in conversation around this important issue? Contact me, Vicky Daub, at Director@veteranservantcorps.org.

Are you interested in being part of this “we are all here” initiative by donating? Click the button below to make a donation. Select the General Fund Gift option and enter "Veteran Servant Corps Project" in the note/memo line. If you prefer to mail your donation, send it to the Rocky Mountain Synod, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver, CO 80221, adding Veteran Servant Corps Project to the note portion of your check.

Lutheran Campus Ministry Regions 1 & 2

Staff Retreat June 26-29

We are excited to be gathering June 26-29 at the Dumas Bay Center in Federal Way, Washington. Staff, please fill out this form to register. Synod folks, encourage the staff in your part of the world to join us for this important and life-giving event!

The cost is only $150 per person for 3 nights in single dorm rooms with catered food and a lovely view of the bay. We'll start Sunday night with dinner and check-in. We'll have time to share about our ministries, experiences, and to have practical conversations about our work within our regional and historical context and we'll make sure we have time for prayer, rest, outdoor and urban exploring.

Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin) is a network of inclusive faith communities celebrating God’s love and grace on or near the campuses of over 230 colleges and universities across the United States.

Checks or paypal accepted. Checks should be mailed to: LCMNet, c/o Agape San Diego, 6556 Park Ridge Rd, San Diego, CA 92120-3236. To pay online go to paypal.me/LCMNet

AUGUSTANA ARTS PRESENTS:

Music of the Vine:

A Spanish Excursion

Friday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Bethany Lutheran Church

4500 E. Hampden Ave,Denver, CO

Savor four Wine & Cheese Samples

Enjoy Flamenco Music by Rene' Heredia

Learn Interesting Insights by Claude Robbins

Share Special Time with Family & Friends

Take your senses on a journey across the Atlantic Ocean as we share with you an evening filled with Spanish music, wine, and cheese in a romantic candlelit venue.

Experience the bold, energetic, percussive sounds of Flamenco music with one of the world's foremost solo Flamenco guitarists - René Heredia. During the performance, distinguished wine expert Claude Robbins will pair Spanish wines and cheeses for a spectacular fusion of toque and tannins that will introduce you to Spanish culture!

Event is 21+ only. ID's will be checked at the door at the ushers' discretion for those who look under 30 - bring it with you just in case!

FINAL OF THREE ONLINE ZOOM EVENTS

Feeling overwhelmed?

Join us for learning, conversation, and support

Saturday, June 11 from 9-11:30 a.m.

...from a recent participant: What I most appreciated is the understanding that we ALL have experienced trauma and that what we've lived through these past years has been traumatic! We need to practice gentleness and grace for ourselves and for others. We have to take care of ourselves to be of benefit to others."

For more than two years, many people have used the term "overwhelmed’ to describe how they're feeling. We've struggled with a pandemic, including deaths and severe illnesses in our families and communities, social division, economic disruption, and more. There's a clinical word that can be used to describe this feeling: trauma.

Join us as we find paths to understanding what we're coping with, and ways to support one another through these unusual times. The facilitator, Dr. Edward Mooney, an ELCA pastoral ministry candidate in Colorado, is a researcher and educator who has spent years studying the effects of trauma in schools.

New Wine Ministry performing Bright Star

Friday, June 17, 7:00pm

Grace Lutheran is hosting the New Wine Ministry youth group from Zion Lutheran Church from Cloquet, Minnesota. They are high school students grades 9-12 from area schools and area churches, with 39 members from 16 different congregations. This is the 31^st year of their ministry.

Inspired by a true story, Bright Star features a toe-tapping gospel/bluegrass score by comedian Steve Martin and singer/songwriter Edie Brickell. It tells the heartbreaking yet uplifting saga of literary editor Alice Murphy. When Alice meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past, leading to a transformative moment for both.

The performance is free, no tickets required. A free-will offering will be collected after the performance to help cover their costs of the tour.

The performance will also be zoomed at us02web.zoom.us/j/86014705281?pwd=YVEvTHZrTFl2ZzdhODBZY0Z2Vy9tdz09

Meeting ID: 860 1470 5281 Passcode: 4889083

Leadership Lab at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL

Monday, June 20 through Saturday, June 25

Who: All students 9th grade - Age 22

What?: At Lab students experiment and practice leadership for church and community. Many have an intense transformational faith experience. Students worship as a group two times a day and attend three small group "lab" sessions daily, enjoy meals and free time together. Most learning is small group based and designed to foster both friendship within the group as labbers explore and develop their own faith in Christ.

Cost: $275-$400 Per person (food/lodging/materials)

More info at: leadershiplab.net/about

FROM THE RMS CREATION CARE TEAM

5 Ways to Green your Congregation

Click on this graphic to download a PDF version that you can print and share with your congregations!

The Northwest Washington Synod is the congregations, people, and ministries of the Pacific Northwest - walking together. Within our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the synod is a missional geographic region. It is overseen by a bishop and a synod council who provide vision, support, and resources so that these ministries can carry out God's mission.

The NW WashingtonSynod is served by Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee.

Visit them at lutheransnw.org!