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Our Synod Administrator, Jemae McCanna is out on medical leave for four weeks. Hannah Harrington is providing part-time office coverage to answer emails and phone calls.
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Introducing Hannah! Hannah is honored to be temporarily assisting the Synod Bishop’s Office. She was born in Bend, OR, raised equally by her loving family and the beautiful Cascade Mountains. When she transferred from Macalester College in Minnesota to Lewis & Clark in Portland, OR she found herself heartily embraced by the loving religious community here. In 2019 she began volunteering with the SE Portland Youth Collective and has since engaged with the work of IMIrJ and TogetherLab. Currently discerning a call to ministry, Hannah is inspired by God’s story, and the power of God's love to nurture and rewrite our own.
Reminder:
- If you are seeking to make an appointment with Bishop Laurie please email her directly.
- You can also email the Bishop or Treasurer Mark Dickman with questions about mission support or the budget.
- If you have mobility or transition questions or concerns, please reach out to your liaison. If you are not sure whose yours is, please contact Juan Carlos.
- If you have questions about our e-news or items you'd like to request be included, please connect with our Communications Specialist Sarah Strausbaugh.
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Are you looking for a powerful resource to accompany your congregation this Lent? A Grounded Faith: Reconnecting with Creator and Creation in the Season of Lent. is a devotional—created by leaders from EcoFaith Recovery along with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and others—that invites participants to reconnect with our Creator and with Creation as a core dimension of Christian practice. You can learn more and read an excerpt here. Come to one of two introductory sessions on Zoom, receive a free copy of the devotional, and learn more and ask questions about engaging this resource in your congregation. Please email Pastor Robyn Hartwig if you plan to attend.
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The Oregon Synod is partnering with friends from the SW Washington Synod and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon to pilot a “Resilient Communities” Cohort starting in February 2023. The Cohort will bring together a small group of leadership teams from congregations throughout the state to build imagination, capacity, and relationships towards greater community resilience in the face of disasters and climate change. If you think the Cohort might be a good fit for your community, please read more here and reach out to Disaster Preparedness & Response Coordinator, Sarah Loose, for a discernment conversation!
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Starting January 1, 2023, employers must start making payroll deductions from their employees in the amount of 0.6% of wages, up to a wage cap of $132,900. Employers with 25 or more employees are also required to contribute an additional 0.4%.
Curious about how this affects clergy housing allowances? Housing allowance dollars are not considered taxable income in regard to paid leave subject wages. But note that reduced contributions mean reduced benefits should you ever apply to receive Paid Leave Oregon funds.
Employers must display a Paid Leave Oregon poster at their workplace. The poster and additional information about the program can be found here.
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Do you have any red ELW hymnals you're looking to give away? Holy Trinity, Portland would love to take them off your hands. Email Kim Crawford.
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Queer Grace gathering. January's storyteller is David Stevens who will share his perspectives on how being queer has affected his relationship with faith, the Bible, church, God and himself. He will then be joined by a panel of other queer conversation partners, followed by time for full group questions, comments and conversation. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis. Refreshments will be provided. Sunday, January 15, 7:00-8:30 pm at Spirit of Grace, Beaverton. RSVPs to Pastor Robyn Hartwig are appreciated but not required.
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All are welcome to attend this interfaith service to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his wife and daughter, and Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, Ms. Rosa Parks. The service will feature the Pacific Youth Choir, inter-faith speakers, and public officials. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. W.J. Mark Knutson, Senior Pastor for nearly 30 years at Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland. Sunday, Jan. 15, 2 pm at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church: 3138 N. Vancouver Ave., Portland.
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Join Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon via Zoom on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm to hear from Oregon’s Senators and Representatives about session priorities, have an opportunity to ask them questions, and learn how to be effective in your advocacy efforts. The forum is free but reservations are required.
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The youth of Augustana Lutheran church in Portland invite you to their annual Sustainable Energy Education Conference. Come to listen and ask questions of speakers involved with climate justice, sustainable energy, and more, including Oregon Senator Michael Dembrow and US Senator Jeff Merkley. You can find more information here. Registration for the conference opens January 8.
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Attention MACG members! We encourage you to sign up for Wrestling With the Truth of Colonization, a five-part virtual training starting January 26. Developed and led by Indigenous leaders the training covers the history of colonialization, how we continue to be complicit in its legacy, and how we can act together with local Native tribes and organizations toward a more equitable future. Register here.
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Join Interfaith Power and Light on January 11 at 11 am PST to hear from a leader in electric vehicle consumer advocacy, Rosa Mitsumasu Scotti of Plug In America. Topics will include why EVs are better, charging infrastructure, battery technology, available financial incentives, and more. Register here to sign up for the webinar or to receive a recording after the event.
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Interfaith Earth Summit (hybrid) - Sunday, Feb. 5, 1:30-5:30 pm. Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s tenth annual Earth Summit will take place in faith communities all over Oregon. The first part of the event will be a plenary session on Zoom, with participants watching together from their regional locations across Oregon. Following the plenary, local hosts will facilitate in-person sessions focusing on relationship-building and learning with people of faith in their region. Each regional gathering will end with a climate vigil at 5 pm. $20 early registration (by Jan. 29); $10 student rate. Register here.
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Check out the Interim Ministry Networks upcoming webinars.
- January 10 - Nourishing attachment
- January 17 - Part-time pastorates
- February 2 - Awakening spiritual imagination
- February 16 - Utilizing organizational culture
- February 21 - Preaching and worship
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NEW NAME! Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association (LFCNA), formerly the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Nurse Association (ELPNA) offers two new resources
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Applications for ELCA Disability grants are being accepted now until February 15. The first thirty will be considered (this may happen before February 15). Of those 30, five will be approved for up to $10,000 for projects. Email Email to learn more.
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Registration is open for the ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering! All rostered ministers in the ELCA are invited to join colleagues under the theme of "Rekindle the Gift Within You."
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Check out current openings in the synod on our job board! Have an opening? Send us:
- a link to the job description
- a link to your church website
(We do not post job descriptions, just the links that point to the job description.)
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For the family of Pr. Jane Baker who died comfortably at home with her husband Barry by her side on December 26 after a battle with cancer, and for the two congregations where she served and that she was transitioning between when her cancer was discovered, Atonement in Newport and Faith in Roseburg. Memorial information to come. Cards of condolence for her husband and grown children may be sent to P.O. Box 974 Newport, Oregon 97365.
For the family of Pr. James Seiffert, (father of Pr. Sue Seiffert), who died December 26 at age 96. The memorial will be held at St. Mark's in Portland in late January (date to come). Letters of condolence may be sent to Pr. Sue Seiffert at 8040 SW Avery St. Apt. 230 Tualatin, Oregon 97062.
For Jemae McCanna, our synod administrator who is recovering from surgery.
For Kathy, Rev. Art Ellickson's wife, who suffered a serious hemorrhagic stroke in mid-October. She is making slow but steady progress.
For the family and friends of Pr. Gerald Jensen, who is in hospice with terminal cancer.
For all families, faith communities and peoples experiencing pain, grief or conflict.
For the people of Ukraine, and for all those who suffer during war.
For all the Ukrainian refugees and those sheltering them, including our sister synod The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland.
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