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03/20/2014

A note to the Synod from Bishop Dillahunt--March 2014

Welcome Lent, Welcome Spring!

I hope your Lenten journey is going along well. It’s been a long, cold and snowy winter but spring is here according to the calendar. Winter has played havoc with Sunday morning schedules and many of our congregations are “playing catch up” with offerings. February Mission Support is down, which is not a surprise knowing how snowy Sundays were in February.

If your congregation has not yet sent in the 2014 Statement of Intent, it’s not too late. Currently, we have received 60 Intents (out of 202 congregations) for an estimated $800,000. The synod council at the February meeting voted to send 40% of unrestricted Mission Support to the ELCA Churchwide Organization. And at the upcoming meeting the council will look at a 2015 Fiscal Proposal, which will come before the Synod Assembly in June.

The Visioning Team continues work on a process to have synod-wide input. It is a process. Several members of the team will attend the April Synod Council meeting to discuss the process of how information is gathered from congregations (lay and rostered) throughout the synod territory. There will be an opportunity to participate in other gatherings as well. Members of the team will attend clusters this spring, to engage in deep listening and report back to the team, the council and synod during the Assembly. As the team continues it’s work, reports will be sent out and feedback encouraged. This is just the beginning of the process and anyone who wants to participate will have an opportunity.

We join with Christians around the world praying for people in the Middle East and Ukraine. And we remember people in the synod who minister to refugees, the homeless and hungry that we may be Christ’s presence in this world.

Have a blessed Lent.

Bishop Suzanne Dillahunt Signature 

 


Bishop Suzanne D. Dillahunt

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