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2022 Mission Spending Annual Report

This report is intended to help you see, at a glance, the impact of your mission support from 2022 as you begin to prepare for 2023 and beyond. View the full report to see your financial impact and read stories of ministry.

See the Report

2023 Mission Intent Forms

There are two ways to submit your congregation’s mission support intent for 2022. A quick and easy fillable online form or download the form, print it, and mail it to the synod office. Submitting these forms helps the Office of the Bishop plan and make financial decisions for the year.

Rostered Minister Annual Reports

In an effort to learn more about our rostered ministers and congregations, the synod's rostered minister annual reports are different from the ELCA churchwide report. Please use the synod report linked in this email and on the synod website. The Office of the Bishop is trying to gather data and information to better plan, budget, and serve our rostered ministers and congregations. There are several new questions this year for both retired and active rostered ministers. Rostered Minister annual reports are due March 1, 2023. A more detailed email about these reports was sent directly to rostered ministers on Friday, January 6.

Congregational Reports (Pariochial Reports/ Forms A&C) Due March 1

Your congregation will receive a mailed packet from the ELCA churchwide office with information about filling out this report sometime in the next couple of weeks.
The forms for the 2022 report will open on the ELCA website in mid-January. Please make a plan for how and when this form will be completed.
These forms inform not only our synod's ministry but nationwide ELCA church ministries. The information in those reports impacts grants our synod receives for accompanying and equipping congregations and ministries.
The ELCA Office of the Secretary has created an excellent toolkit with instructions, FAQs, and more to help complete these forms. https://www.elca.org/About/Congregations/Annual-Congregation-Report
If you have questions about any information, your password, congregational ID, or more please contact Amy Van Dyke, Associate to the Bishop for Finance, at vandyke@seiasynod.org or call 319-338-1273 ext. 807

Year-end 2022 Tax Resources for Congregations

Associate to the Bishop for Finance, Amy Van Dyke has compiled a list of resources for treasurers and bookkeepers of congregations as they prepare W-2 information for employees and 1099-NEC information for non-employees.

See Resources

Upcoming Events

Save the Date: Rostered ministers, professional ministry staff, interns, and seminarians are invited to join Bishop Current for Lenten Renewal events. Choose the date and location that works best for you.

Tuesday, February 28 Zion, Davenport
Tuesday, March 7 Bethlehem, Lost Nation
Tuesday, March 21 Gloria Dei, Iowa City
Tuesday, March 28 St. Stephen, Urbandale
Thursday, March 30 St. Paul, State Center
Tuesday, April 4 St. Paul, Albia

More information and online RSVP coming soon.

Save the Date: Join Bishop Current and retired pastor deacons, spouses, widows, and widowers. This is the same event at both locations, please choose the date or location that best fits your schedule.

Tuesday, April 11
St. John, Ely

Tuesday, April 18
Resurrection, Ankeny

More information and RSVP coming soon.

Save the Date for Lutheran Day on the Hill

Churchwide News

ELCA Annual Reports Resources and Mission Support information for Annual Meetings
Each year the ELCA Churchwide organization puts out resources for your congregation to help understand where your weekly offering goes and how Mission Support benefits ministries around the world.

Annual Report Covers: This resource contains a message from Bishop Eaton and an opening liturgy and hymn for your congregation's annual meeting.

Stories of Faith in Action: This interactive resource has stories from across the ELCA and the world about where your offering goes and how it funds ministries in action.

Rostered Ministers Gathering
July 17-20, 2023
Phoenix, Ariz.

As a Rostered Minister in the ELCA, you are invited to join colleagues under the theme of "Rekindle the gift within you" (2 Timothy 1:6). Let this gathering be an opportunity for you to remember, reclaim, rekindle and revive yourself. Gathering with colleagues from across the church for fellowship, renewal, continuing education, worship, bible study and refreshment for your spirit.

Learn more and register

Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church
At the 2022 Churchwide Assembly last August, voting members adopted a memorial concerning restructuring the ELCA’s governance, and in November the Church Council responded to this by authorizing the establishment of a Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. Individuals who wish to be nominated for the commission or to nominate another person can learn more here. Nominations are open through March 9.
https://www.elca.org/crlc

Job Postings and Classifieds

Director of Music, Part-time, Cedar Rapids
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids is seeking a Director of Music. See more information and complete job description.

Finance Coordinator, Part-time, Iowa City
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City is seeking a Finance Coordinator. See more information and complete job description

Faith Life Director, 3/4 time, Cedar Rapids
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids is looking to fill a newly created position for Faith Life Director. See more information and complete job description

Organist, Part-time, Ames
St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Ames is seeking a part-time organist. See more information and full position description

You're Invited

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25

The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 is “Do Good; Seek Justice” (Isaiah 1:17). The theme was chosen, and the materials prepared, by the Minnesota Council of Churches. Resources including posters, bulletin covers and daily Scripture and prayer guides can be ordered from the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute. You can also access a detailed resource to aid preparations published jointly by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches.

Free Stewardship Resource Library
The Lake Institute, an arm of the Lilly Foundation School of Philanthropy, has introduced a new, digital stewardship resource library. Drawing from many years of Giving Magazine, as well as annual stewardship resources from the Ecumenical Stewardship Center, this is a great resource to add to your own congregational stewardship toolkits.
https://lakeinstitute.org/resources/resource-library/

Prayers

Give thanks that God calls us to light the world and bear the good news of Christ’s justice and compassion to our neighbors in need.

More Prayers

Announcements that appear in this newsletter may be copied and reproduced by congregations of the Southeastern Iowa Synod in whole or in part without permission. Please credit authors if they are credited within this newsletter.