Have you ever considered seminary? Have you ever felt like God might be calling you into ministry, but you’re not sure how or where to start? Join others in discernment at Signs Along the Way, a visit weekend at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, April 5th-7th, 2024. Learn more and register at plts.edu/signs.
Read MoreIn March 2022 the Candidacy Leadership Development Working Group (CLDWG) was appointed to examine and improve the candidacy process that equips rostered ministers for service in our church. View an executive summary of their findings here.
All members of the ELCA are invited to hearings hosted via Zoom to hear and respond to findings. You do not need to register for these sessions. Please mark your calendars and click a link for:
June 20, 2023, 4pm PDT/MST, 5pm MDT
June 22, 2023: 10am PDT/MST, 11am MDT
June 26, 2023: 11am PDT/MST, noon MDT
June 28, 2023: 7pm PDT/MST, 8pm MDT
Did you know that not everyone who goes seminary plans to be a pastor? Have you felt a call to seminary but wondered what vocational path there might be for you in ministry?
Join a Q&A discussion on Saturday, 3/25/2023, 9am PDT/MST, 10am MDT, with people who are serving in diverse forms of ministry and explore where God might be calling you. Learn more and register here.
Read MoreHave you ever considered seminary? Join others in discernment at Signs Along the Way, a visit weekend at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley. Learn more and register at Learn more and register by clicking here for this 2/25-2/27/2023 event. Many costs, including travel, are covered by PLTS.
Read MorePacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) is hosting three events for folks in discernment. Find info here or click a link below:
Exploring Your Call: An Online Discernment and Info Session. Via Zoom: 1/21/2023, 10am-12:30pm MST, 9-11:30am PST.
Queer and Called: A Conversation for LGBTQ Prospective Students and Allies. Via Zoom: 2/2/2023, 6-7:30pm PST, 5-6:30pm PST.
Signs Along the Way Discernment Weekend. In-Person: February 25th-27th 2023, 10:30 am Saturday - 12:30 pm Monday, Berkeley, CA
The ELCA is pleased to introduce Journi, a web-based tool designed to help people discern their call to leadership in the ELCA. Explore the site at Journi.faith.
"Journi encourages all of us to seek out and inspire gifted people in our congregations and communities to consider a call to ministry of the gospel," said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop.
Read MoreThe goals for the 2022 Fund for Leaders Golf Classic are to find 144 golfers and raise $20,000 in donations. If $20,000 is raised, a donor will match it!
Chairperson Kirk Anderson encourages congregations to spread the news, and has prepared a PDF flyer and brochure, a Powerpoint slide, and Word documents of a sample newsletter and a letter of appeal.
The event is at the Arrowhead Golf Course in Glendale is Monday, November 14, 2022, beginning at 7 am. Check out this registration form for more info.
Read MoreAs we begin this work of reforming the candidacy process, we invite you to answer a few survey questions. Your input is important, so please take a moment to share your thoughts. The Candidacy Leadership Development Working Group has established a webpage where you will find information about the working group, an anticipated timeline of events, and ongoing updates.
Read MoreThe 2022 Fund for Leaders Golf Classic at the Arrowhead Golf Course in Glendale is Monday, November 14, 2022, beginning at 7 am.
Friends of golfers and the fund can also come out and enjoy the lunch program. Check out this registration form for more info.
Read More133 golfers descended on Arrowhead Country Club this past November 15, both to enjoy a round of golf and to celebrate the Fund for Leaders.
$40,000 was raised for the 25+ candidates for ministry within the Grand Canyon Synod, after an inspired supporter of this Fund for Leaders program matched $20,000.
Read MoreDid you know we’ve increased the number of candidates in the Grand Canyon Synod nearly tenfold? With around 30 people in the candidacy process, we’re excited to build on this momentum.
If you or someone you know is interested in being a candidate, we’ve updated candidacy information on the synod site, with initial steps for candidates to follow, our candidacy committee roster, and news archive. Visit the updated page at gcsynod.org/candidacy.
You can also contact Pastor Jacqui Pagel, Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy at jpagel@gcsynod.or or (480) 678-4406.
Read MoreKirk Anderson, Chair of the 2021 Fund for Leaders Golf Classic, shares the great news of a donor’s willingness to match all donations up to $20,000. The event is 11/15/2021, view the brochure and registration form. Donate online here and be sure to put 2021 Fund for Leaders Golf Classic in the note/memo line.
Like all of us, the donor is excited that we now have thirty candidates in stages of seminary education, up from three candidates just a few years ago. In this post, read more of Kirk’s announcement and how your gift can activate this amazing matching grant in this post.
Read MorePlease join Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Pastor Jacqui Pagel for a First Call process update information session. Beginning 1/31/2021, new processes will take effect.
Click here to register in advance for the Zoom meeting on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 2-3pm MST, 1-2pm PST.
Read MoreProspective seminary students from across the metro Phoenix area gathered to learn first hand about our ELCA seminaries. We spent 2 hours with PLTS, LSTC, hearing about course options, community engagement, and scholarship availability. We hope the event expands across the GCS and eventually all 7 seminaries will be easily represented to prospective leaders for our church.
Check out Elcaseminaries.org for more info.
Read MoreJoin staff from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and Wartburg Theological Seminary for an evening reception and conversation: Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Monday March 9th from 6-8 pm.
This event will include food, fellowship, prayer, and an opportunity for candidates (anybody at any point in life discerning a call to ministry) and candidacy committee members to engage in conversation about faith, vocation, call, and the diverse seminary programs available today.
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