Save the dates — January 10-11, 2020 — for a can’t miss learning event. “Extravagant Generosity: A Stewardship Extravaganza” features keynotes by Clif Christopher, author of It’s Not Your Father’s Offering Plate, Whose Offering Plate Is It? and The Church Money Manual, and Aimee Laramore, author of Pathways to Generosity: Year-round Giving and Gratitude. Workshop leaders include: Scott Schantzenbach, Rob...
Category: Roster
June 4, 2019
Save the Date for ‘Extravagant Generosity’
Save the dates — January 10-11, 2020 — for a can’t miss learning event. “Extravagant Generosity: A Stewardship Extravaganza” features keynotes by Clif Christopher, author of It’s Not Your Father’s Offering Plate, Whose Offering Plate Is It? and The Church Money Manual, and Aimee Laramore, author of Pathways to Generosity: Year-round Giving and Gratitude. Workshop leaders include: Scott Schantzenbach, Rob...
March 20, 2019
Court Upholds Housing Allowance
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Friday upheld the tax-exempt housing allowance for ordained clergy against a constitutional challenge from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. From ChurchLawAndTax.com: The Seventh Circuit reversed a 2017 decision by a federal district judge in Wisconsin, which favored leaders of the tax-exempt atheist organization Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). The...
March 20, 2019
Chrism Service Tuesday in Holy Week
Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Ministers of Word and Service will gather for the annual Chrism Service on Tuesday of Holy Week, April 16, at 10 am at Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 700 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland. This traditional service of Word and Sacrament includes the blessing of oil for anointing, healing prayer, and...
March 4, 2019
Leadership in Uncharted Territory
“Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb.” Tod Bolsinger, PhD, used this quote from adaptive leadership guru Ronald Heifetz to summarize the balancing act of leading in uncharted territory for more than 200 clergy and lay leaders gathered for a learning day with the author of “Canoeing the Mountains.” As...
August 29, 2018
Portico rate increase lowest since 2013
On Aug. 3, Portico Benefit Services’ board of trustees voted to approve, on average, the lowest contribution rate increase in five years. This will include disability and survivor rate reductions, sizable reductions in the cost of ELCA Medicare-Primary health benefits, and a low baseline ELCA-Primary health rate increase. While these changes will impact individuals and...
June 19, 2018
Never Beyond God’s Compassion: Suicide Prevention Resources
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S., and suicide rates have increased in almost every state since 1999 (some by more than 30 percent), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide occurs among all demographics, including all religious groups. And behind these statistics are individuals–people who live in our families,...
January 31, 2018
Revised Compensation Guidelines for Rostered Ministers
A new, completely revised Rostered Ministry Compensation Guidelines has been approved by the Synod’s executive committee, and is now posted on ministrylink.org. This manual is a resource to assist congregations and rostered ministers in conducting an annual review and determining a compensation package; pension and other benefits; agreements relative to time off for continuing education, vacation, holidays,...
January 17, 2018
What is the Most Important Trait of a Leader?
The Rev. Amy Reumann, ELCA Director of Advocacy, answers this question and “What is the best leadership advice you have received?” In this new video, part of Bishop Eaton’s Leadership Initiative. Reumann was previously executive director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/h2bU-Y-v820 Learn more at http://www.elca.org/leaders
January 4, 2018
Download “Brave New Church” App
It’s a Christmas season gift from the Synod! Now you can carry the resources, videos, podcasts, blog posts and more from our innovative BraveNewChurch.org website in your pocket with the Brave New Church app. The app allows you to quickly access video training, podcasts, book and resource suggestions and more. Pastor Brad Burke introduces the...
January 4, 2018
IRS Increases 2018 Mileage Rates
The IRS mileage reimbursement rate for 2018 is 54.5 cents up from 53.5 cents in 2017. Here is a link to the IRS website for more information. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/standard-mileage-rates-for-2018-up-from-rates-for-2017
August 28, 2017
ELCA Launches ‘Resourceful Servants’
The ELCA introduces “Resourceful Servants,” an initiative to encourage habits that strengthen and sustain individual and congregational financial wellness and growth. The goal is to help rostered ministers move toward financial wellness early in and throughout their ministry developing the skills needed to manage household finances, assist congregations in the management of finances, teach stewardship...
August 28, 2017
Bishop Eaton’s Leadership Initiative
ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us, “It’s not only the job of our seminaries and universities to identify and raise up leaders in the church. This is something that belongs to all of us.” The Leadership Initiative encourages all of us to seek out and inspire gifted people in our congregations and communities to consider a call...
May 30, 2017
Call For Coaching In Times of Change
Have you considered coaching to navigate change in the church? Change is happening all around. Old models of ministry are being set aside, and some are experimenting with new ways of engaging in Christ’s mission in their context. How can we work through the swirl of information and emotion so that we can better lead...
August 9, 2016
2017 Health Cost Rise Lowest in 4 Years
Portico is taking its next wellness reformation step — introducing Care Coordinators to help ELCA-Primary health plan members navigate the complicated health care landscape and purchase care with an eye to both quality and cost. This innovation is helping Portico keep the 2017 ELCA-Primary baseline health contribution increase the lowest in four years. Over the...
March 22, 2016
‘Be Cross-Bearers, Not Bystanders’
Be cross-bearers, not bystanders, Bishop Claire Burkat encouraged congregation leaders at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Chrism Service today (March 22). At this annual service, held Tuesday in Holy Week, pastors, lay rostered leaders and congregation deacons reaffirm their ministry vows and the bishop blesses oils to be used in baptism, confirmation, and anointing rites over...
January 14, 2016
Upgrade Your Congregation’s Hospitality
As a visitor to a different congregation every week for over a decade, Beth Lewis (president and CEO of AugsburgFortress) has developed a strong sense of what helps congregations reach out to visitors. She’ll share that wisdom with us on Monday, Feb. 1, noon to 3 pm at the Seminary’s Brossman Center, co-sponsored by the...
June 15, 2015
Save Dates for Bishop’s Convocation
Save the dates! This year’s Bishop’s Convocation will be held November 18 – 20, 2015 (Wednesday through Friday) at Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center, 101 Doe Mountain Lane, Macungie, PA 18062. (Not to be confused with the Camp in Northeastern PA Synod.) “Thinking outside the walls: Surprising spaces to be the church” will feature Bryan Berghoef and...
May 12, 2015
Pastoral Transition Process Reviewed
The conversation on the floor of the 2015 Synod Assembly around the Report of the Resolution Task Force on Transitional Ministry was at times both encouraging and tense. A forum, attended by about 60 people later in the afternoon, offered the opportunity for people to discuss the transition process in more detail. While acknowledging that...
February 10, 2015
Churches Affected by Child Protection Laws
Pennsylvania recently passed new legislation regarding protection of children that affect all churches. Under state law clergy, paid staff and volunteers who work with children and youth in any capacity are now “mandated reporters” who must report suspected child abuse directly to authorities. The law also now requires all employees and volunteers who work with...
January 13, 2015
Preaching in a Digital Age
As we become used to 140-character “tweets” and ephemeral updates and chats, preachers will have to work harder to earn and keep the attention of their listeners, according to “Preaching in a digital age,” a Lutheran article by our own RevWriter Sue Lang. In the article, LTSP President Dr. David Lose explains that people are saturated with...
