This last Saturday, September 27,
was a big day for both the Transition Team and for the whole
synod. The Synod Council received and endorsed the
team's recommendations and we are, as they say, "off to the
races". The entire power point presentation will be up
on the website for you to see within the week. I will,
over the next few weeks, be writing about some of the details
of the transition plan. But first, I'd like to remind
you of why we're in the midst of this transition in the first
place.
Now more than two years ago, Bishop
Mullen brought together a "Synod Profile Team". They
gathered information from a number of sources and then wrote a
document that was intended to be instrumental in the election
of a new bishop. One of the things discovered in that
process was that people desired a greater sense of connection
with the Office of the Bishop. It was that desire for
more connection that led us to the Transition Team: a group of
people charged with the responsibility of trying to find the
best ways to address that desire by way of deployed staff and
better use of available technology. Nine months later, a
plan has been "born" - and not without a bit of labor, I may
add.
As we started the process, there were 17
on the team and we owe a debt of gratitude to them all.
As we moved into these final weeks, the group narrowed.
With Pr. Jeff Thiemann available to advise and coordinate as
needed, two people really are the heart and soul of this
project: Art Fabsits and Jack Pease. The hours,
energy and expertise they voluntarily shared are truly
amazing. I hope many of us will find ways to thank them
as time goes on.
And so, having been reminded of how we
got to where we are, I am excited and pleased, on behalf of
the whole team, to announce two of the sites recommended and
approved:
- Gloria Dei Lutheran Church - Office of
the Bishop, Sacramento
- James R. Carr University Lutheran
Center, FSU Campus Ministries - Office of the Bishop,
Fresno
A third site, which
we expect to be somewhere along the 101/280 corridor,
has yet to be identified.
Over the course of these first months,
the team heard from and talked with a number of great people
from wonderful congregations which were not chosen. We
are grateful for your generous offers. As factors such
as accessibility, space available, and visibility were
weighed, these first two sites were seen to be the best
choices. Our current lease has been extended by
six months, time we will use wisely to make these new spaces
ready.
Watch for more details as this plan unfolds
and our transition continues ...
The Rev. Nancy Feniuk Nelson
Bishop's
Associate
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We remember in prayer . .
The ELCA Conference of Bishops, meeting in
Chicago
All who are suffering from the devastating effects
of the earthquakes and tsunami in Indonesia and the
Samoa Islands
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SPECIAL BIBLE STUDY
OPPORTUNITY
How Lutherans Read the Bible:
What's Law & Gospel Got to Do
with It?
November 13 and 14, 2009
Bethel Lutheran Church
10181 Finch Avenue
Cupertino, CA 95014
Presenter: Dr.
Hans Wiersma, Assistant Professor of Religion,
Augsburg College, Minneapolis
Dr. Hans Wiersma is an ELCA pastor who
has served three congregations, including St. Paul, Lodi,
CA. He earned his Ph.D. in 2005. He has writting a
number of books and has authored materials for the new People
of Faith Bible Study.
Dr. Wiersma will talk about Martin
Luther's "breakthrough" regarding how the Bible is to be
properly understood.
Friday, Nov. 13, 7:00 - 9:00
pm
Session 1 - "What to Look for When You Read the
Bible"
Saturday, Nov. 14, 9:00 am - 3:00
pm
including Lunch (Free Will Donation)
Session 2 - 9:00-10:15
"All Wet: What Does the Bible Say about
Baptism?"
Session 3 - 10:45-12:00
"Eat, Drink: What Does the Bible Say about the Lord's
Supper"
Session 4 - 1:30-3:00
"What Does the Bible Say about Getting Along with People Who
Don't Read the Bible the Same Way You
Do?"
Cost:
$25.00
Sponsored by Bethel Lutheran Church,
Cupertino, in cooperation with Lutheran Bible
Institute-California.
For information and enrollment,
contact:
Bethel Lutheran (408)
252-8500
Jim Wenzel (408) 741-1263
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TRANSFORMING CHURCH
TRANSFORMING
LEADERSHIP
C.L.A.D.
Christ Lutheran Academy for
Discipleship
Christ Lutheran
Church
3830 W. Tulare
Avenue
Visalia, CA
93277
Phone: 559-732-1851
November 7,
2009
9:00 am - 3:00
pm
Registration begins at 8:30
am
$15.00 per person if registered by Nov.
2nd
$20.00 per person after Nov. 2nd or at
the door
Speaker: Kevin Ford, Managing
Partner and Chief Visionary Officer for TAG, Fairfax,
Virginia. TAG's client list includes Merrill Lynch, the
Federal Aviation Association and the Salvation
Army. Kevin's father is Leighton Ford, and his
uncle is Billy Graham.
Designed for all church leaders and
members. Come to experience incredible music,
food, fellowship and a program with exciting growth
opportunities for all.
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DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS
The
first step toward being prepared for disaster is to be inform
about the types of disasters that could impact your
community. For example, here in Nothern California we
are most likely to experience earthquakes or fires. How
as individuals and congregations are we prepared to respond
and cope with such disasters in our communities?
September was National Preparedness
Month. Lutheran Disaster Response encouraged us to be
the ReadyChurch, and it takes all of us working together
by following three simple steps: 1) Be informed, 2) Make
a Plan, and 3) Get a Kit.
As a family, put an "in case of
emergency" in your cell phones. Set up a designated
meeting place outside of the house. Get started today by
visiting www.ldr.org/ready.
Lutheran
Disaster Response
Bringing Help
and Hope
Phone:
773-380-2748
Are you on
Facebook?
Join the cause
at
October 15, 2009 is the Great
California Shake Out. The newly formed TRI-LERT steering
committee for disaster response encourages all of us to
strongly consider taking part in this Statewide Public
Earthquake Drill. For more information, check out
www.ShakeOut.org.
TRI-LERT is a joint effort of
Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, the
Sierra Pacific Synod (ELCA) and the California, Nevada, Hawaii
District of the LCMS.
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Upcoming Events
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October 1-6 Conference of
Bishops - Chicago
October 10 10:00 - 4:00
District A Conferences
Assembly - Elim,
Petaluma
October 11 1:30 - 4:00
District C Conferences
Assembly - PLTS
October 15 Workshop on
Renewable Organization
St. Mark's, San Francisco
October 16-18 Synod High
School Youth Retreat -
Mt. Cross
October 19-20 Council of
Deans - Asilomar
October 19-20 Pre-
Conference Professional
Leaders Women's
Retreat - Asilomar
October
20-22 Professional
Leaders
Conference,
Asilomar Conference
Center
October 23-24 Word &
Sacrament Event - ELW
Freedom & Flexibility
Good Shepherd,
Fresno
October 24 12:00 - 2:00
District E Conferences
Assembly - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
October 24 Book of Faith
Conversation - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
November 1 Joint Lutheran /
Roman Catholic Service in
Stockton - 4:00 pm
November 7 10:00 - 3:00
District D Conferences
Assembly - Grace,
Palo Alto
November 7 Book of Faith
Conversation - Faith, Chico
November 7 Agents of
Change Hunger Network
Workshop
Incarnation, Davis
November 7 - Christ Lutheran
(Visalia) Academy for
Discipleship
9:00am - 3:00 pm
Christ Lutheran, Visalia
November 13-14 WELCA
Gathering - Peace,
Grass Valley
November 13-14 Bible
Study with Dr. Hans
Wiersma - Bethel,
Cupertino
November 13-15 Spouses of
Clergy, AiMs & Diaconal
Ministers Retreat - Eagles
Rest, Sonora, CA
November 13-15 Synod
Youth Middle School Event
Mt. Cross
November 14 - Book of Faith
Conversation - Christ the
King, Orangevale
November 15 - ELCA-UMC
Full Communion
Partnership Celebration
7:00 pm
First UMC Church,
Sacramento
2010
January 4-9 Bishops'
Academy, Itasca, IL
January 13-14 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights, CA
January 15-16 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
January 30 - Book of Faith
Conversation, Bethel,
Cupertino
March 1-2 Retired Clergy/
AIMs/Widows-Widowers/
Spouse Retreat - San
Damiano Retreat Center,
Danville, CA
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
April 22 Mt. Cross Shalom
Camp Meeting for Pastors/
Youth Directors
10:00 - 2:00 pm
Advemt. Citrus
Heights
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
July 11-16 Mt. Cross
Shalom Camp
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops -
Chicago
2011
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
May 12 - Synod Council
May 13-15 Synod Assembly
Hyatt Regency Airport
Burlingame, CA
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly - Orlando,
FL
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops
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SCHMALENBERGER CONTINUES TEACHING
ABROAD
Dr. Jerry Schmalenberger, retired
President of PLTS, has continued his teaching career as an
ELCA Global Mission Volunteer.
Last June he returned to the Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Hong Kong for the 12th time to teach a
D.Min. seminar on Collegiality for 15 students from eight
different Asian countries. This fall he has returned to
the South Sea Island of Sumatra, Indonesia, to teach Practical
Theology in two seminaries and a deaconess
school.
Since his retirement from PLTS, he has
worked in faculty development in Mainland China, Myanmar, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Laos and Thailand.
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PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE OCTOBER 20-22
The Professional Leadership Conference
will be held October 20-22 at
Asilomar. A link for registering for the conference
available on the Synod
website.
Please note that online registration is for
conference registration only.
Housing
registration must be handled directly with Asilomar using
the form available on the Synod
website.
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PRE-CONFERENCE PROFESSIONAL LEADERS WOMEN'S
RETREAT
Dates: Mon., Oct. 19
-Tues., Oct. 20
Cost: $40, exclusive of
housing & meals
Theme: The Enneagram
and Spirituality
Room
reservations for this event must be made directly with
Asilomar. To register or for more information,
please contact Katy Grindberg at Pastor Katy.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 