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In Our Synod
Juan Carlos La Puente interviews Pastor Andrew Langford of Emmaus Lutheran in Eugene.
May 20, 9:30 am-4:30 pm on Zoom

General registration is closed. 
 
Registration for retired ministers, ministers on leave from call, and ministers on disability is open.
To be eligible for registration the minister must have completed at least one of the following in the last year;
  • submitted a rostered leader report to the Bishop's Office in 2023 (before April 27) 
  • attended Bishop's Convocation in 2022. 
Retired ministers, ministers on leave from call, and ministers on disability register here. Registration will remain open for one week or until all spots are filled.
 
2024 Budget Review with Bishop Laurie and Synod Treasurer Mark Dickman, May 11, 6:00 pm. Register here.

Are your voting members comfortable with doing business on Zoom? If not, please let them know that there will be a Zoom orientation session on Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 pm

Questions about Assembly?  Contact our Assembly Manager Jennifer Trom at synodassembly@oregonsynod.org.
April 29: Congregational treasurers quarterly meeting, 9-10 am. Register here
May 2: Synod musicians meeting: 5-6 pm. Zoom link
April 29: Ordination and Installation of John Smithies at Atonement, Newport
June 3: Installation of Pastor Hallie Parkins to Luther House, Oregon State University
Pulpit Supply list - password: ministry
April call process update
ELCA
Highlights from the April 20 ELCA Church Council* meeting:
  • Appointed members to the Commission on a Renewed Lutheran Church, which will hold its first meeting in July.
  • Adopted “Earth’s Climate Crisis” as an official social message of the ELCA.
  • Authorized development of a social message on the epidemic of gun-related trauma in the U.S. in consideration of existing social teaching and in accordance with “Policies and Procedure of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for Addressing Social Concerns” (2018).
  • Received the report and recommendations from the Task Force on the ELCA Discipline Process for Rostered Ministers of Color; referred recommendations concerning the discipline process to the Office of the Secretary and the Conference of Bishops for a report in November 2023.
  • Formally received a proposal for exchangeability of the diaconate between The Episcopal Church and the ELCA.
  • Received a progress report on the “Salary Equity in the ELCA” resolution and affirmed commissioning of a survey concerning inequitable gaps in compensation for rostered ministers in the ELCA.
  • See more.
* The council serves as the ELCA churchwide organization’s board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of a churchwide assembly.
NEW webpage for ELCA Indigenous ministries. Check it out for resources and information to help your congregation get involved in the movement. You’ll find dates for webinars and other activities under the Truth and Healing Movement tab. 
A study on civic life and faith. The ELCA Task Force on Studies for Civic Life and Faith has released a six-session study about government, democracy and how Christians are called to participate in civic life. Participants are asked to give feedback on the content by Oct. 15 to help the task force write a draft social statement. Learn more.
OPPORTUNITIES
Funding the Mission: Grant Writing for the 21st Century Church. Join LCSNW for a free online webinar specifically for churches to learn how to find and write grants for your programs. You will learn where to look for grant opportunities, learn about resources, gain an understanding of the basics of proposal writing, and get your questions answered. May 18, 10 am-11:30 am. Register here for Zoom link.
The River's Lament is a ritual walk along the Willamette River telling the river's story. This event was created by leaders from EcoFaith Recovery and is now co-sponsored by EcoFaith, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the University of Portland and the Portland Harbor Collaborative Group (the group that holds the EPA accountable to cleaning up the Portland Harbor Superfund Site). Saturday, May 13. 10:00 am at the University of Portland Chiles Center, rain or shine, so dress for the weather! Along the walk, you'll learn about the history of the river, colonization, and the Superfund Site, and consider our responsibility in passing on a healthy river, soil, and air to our descendants. Learn more by emailing phcollaborative@triangleassociations.com.
May Queer Grace Gathering at Spirit of Grace, Beaverton. Sunday, May 7 from 7-8:30 pm. This month Amber, a local high school student, will share perspectives on how being queer has affected their relationship with faith, the Bible, church, God, and themselves. All are welcome whether you are queer or straight/cis! Refreshments will be provided. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. 
The Rainbow Faith Alliance is hosting an event May 21, 7-8:30 pm at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Beaverton. They invite you to join them on a journey of LGBTQIA+ allyship within the Christian community, involving storytelling, conversation, and education. They aim to uncover and examine biases, while becoming agents of healing from harm done by the Church. May's storyteller, David Thompson will share the journey his family has taken with their transgender son. For questions or RSVP’s reach out to Elizabeth Hofrichter or David Eppelsheimer.
Oregon Interfaith Advocacy Day on Wednesday, May 10 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem! Attend issue briefs and workshops on advocating for compassionate legislation followed by meetings with state legislators. Talking points and legislative appointments will be provided. Register by April 28. $20; Students - $10; Scholarships are available. Questions? Email emo@emoregon.org or call (503) 221-1054.
“Calm in the Chaos” event with Dr. Crystal Hall from May 11-13 on the Gettysburg campus. For women, femmes and female-identified folk who do church work. Learn more and register here. There is funding available for those who need it email here.
Partners for Sacred Places is offering a special seminar from June 22-24 on the Philadelphia campus for those church leaders who are shepherding their congregations through transitions of every sort: Learn more and register.
Lutheran Men in Mission Pacific Northwest Bold Gathering. Six guest speakers will be sharing their “Bold Stories from the Heart."  May 20, 11:00 am-2:00 pm. Trinity Lutheran Church, Parkland, WA. The event is free. Register by May 16. Lunch will be served with a free will offering.
Women Touched by Grace is an opportunity for women pastors to live in a Benedictine monastic setting and to form community through five ten-day retreats that will support and equip them to navigate and address the joys and challenges of ministry. Application deadline is May 31. All questions and correspondence should be directed to Sr. Mary Luke Jones, OSB (317) 787-3287 x3008. Learn more here.
May 2: Congregation musicians quarterly meeting, 5-6 pm
May 11: 2024 Synod Budget Q&A
May 17: Assembly orientation
May 20: Oregon Synod Assembly - online
July 17-20: ELCA rostered ministers gathering
Nov 6-8: Bishop's Convocation at the Best Western Agate Beach in Newport. 
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.)
PRAYERS
For the family and friends of the Rev. Robert Ward who died recently.

For the Rev. Myrin Bentz, who is on hospice.

For Sister Cora Rose and the folks of St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Brookings who have filed suit in federal court to continue their soup kitchen ministry.
 
For those who have lost loved ones to gun violence, particularly school shootings (there have been 13 school shootings so far in 2023). We pray for the victims of this year's deadliest school shooting in Nashville.

For the people of Turkey and Syria after devasting earthquakes with tremendous loss of life. You can give here

For the people of Ukraine, living with war for over a year and for all the Ukrainian refugees and those sheltering them, including our sister synod The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland.
Go and do God's work!
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Oregon Synod
2800 N. Vancouver Ave., Suite #101
Portland, OR 97227

(503) 413-4191
Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar- BishopLaurie@OregonSynod.org
Bishop's Associate Juan Carlos La Puente- juancarlos@OregonSynod.org
Bishop's Associate Rev. Melissa Reed- pastormelissa@OregonSynod.org
Synod Administrator Jemae McCanna- office@OregonSynod.org 
S.A.L.M. and Lay Education Coordinator Christie Bernklau Halvor - learningtogether@oregonsynod.org 
Director of Candidacy
Christie Bernklau Halvor - candidacy@oregonsynod.org
Disaster Response & Preparedness Team Coordinator Sarah Loose - sarahl@oregonsynod.org






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Oregon Synod, ELCA · 2800 N Vancouver Ave, Suite 101 · Portland, OR 97227 · USA