Three Sides Podcast: Women Who Lead

In this episode of the Three Sides podcast we hear from three women from within the ELCA who hold leadership positions in three different fields – religion, business and the nonprofit world. 

In the three segments of Three Sides, we’ll introduce you to ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton; Dr. Sylvia Sloan Black, a retired professor and now an executive coach; and Wendy Davidson, president of US Specialty Channels at the Kellogg Co.

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Save the Date: Bishop’s Fall Convocation, Oct 21-22, 2019

Bishop Hutterer invites rostered leaders to the Bishop’s Fall Convocation, Monday, Oct 21-22, 2019, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chandler.

The guest speaker on Monday will be Dr. Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory. We are working on getting a copy of this book for each active rostered leader. More information to follow.

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Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry

The 2019 Theme is MOVEMENT: Mission, Body, and Justice.

Join other youth leaders, directors, and pastors April 23-26 on the campus of Princeton Theological Seminary for a 4-day youth ministry conference. We believe that lives and communities will be transformed when theological reflection meets practical application. More information at iymforum.ptsem.edu.

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Brian FlatgardComment
ELCA Webinar: Legal Checklist for Congregations

Congregations can be vulnerable to legal issues and liabilities related to corporate status, taxes, property, insurance and abuse prevention. Many of these problems can be avoided by using an ELCA-prepared checklist of key issues for congregations to address. 

In a free webinar at 11 a.m. (Mountain Time) on Thursday, Feb. 21, the ELCA legal staff will discuss this checklist and best legal practices for congregations. The webinar should be of particular interest to rostered ministers and lay congregational leaders and staff, including congregation council members and officers, church administrators, and pastors and deacons. Register by Feb. 15

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment
“Perspectives on the Border” webinar

This “Perspectives on the Border” webinar series on immigration is a partnership project with Rev. Dr. Jay Alanis, the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest (LSPS), and the following ELCA synods: Grand Canyon, Gulf Coast, Pacifica, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana, Rocky Mountain, and Southwestern Texas. Register here.

  • Session I: Living in Third Spaces (March 7, 3pm Central)

  • Session II: Borderland Perspectives on Diverse Worldviews (March 21, 3pm Central)

  • Session III: Theological Perspectives from the U.S. – Mexico Borderlands (March 28, 3pm Central)

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Brian Flatgard Comment
Bishop's Letter: Church and conflict

Back in 1994, before I attended seminary, I was working at a church in the Midwest as the parish life coordinator. In many ways, it was a dream job. I felt called to do this work.

Toward the end of my first year in the position, conflict began to brew. Some church leaders did not agree with how the pastor and staff (of which I was a part) were going about the work of the church and outreach efforts. It was ugly. It felt personal.

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Stories of Joy & Desert Cross, Tempe, at the movies

Stories of Joy and Desert Cross, Tempe, went to the movie last weekend, and it was an afternoon of pure JOY! Through a generous grant, SOJ was able to treat families from the Kyrene Resource Center to a private screening of The Grinch. We provided tickets, popcorn, and drinks. The movie provided the laughs, smiles, and joy!

The Kyrene Resource Center is an amazing non-profit that supports families in the Kyrene School District in Tempe, AZ with food, clothing, hygiene products, and schools supplies. You can check them out at Kyrene Resource Center.

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Brian FlatgardComment