09/13/2019

A note from Bishop Dillahunt: Fall 2019 updates & happenings

Stronger and Better Together…Joining Jesus in the Restoration of the World

Dear Partners in the Gospel,

Grace and peace be with you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Welcome to fall and all that goes with it. I want to let you know about life in the synod office.

Over the past several months, many of you know that we had a major flood in the synod office basement yet again. We have cleaned up and dried out. This has given us an opportunity to sort out our files, shred what needs to be shred, send what needs to be sent to Archives and reassess how we store and share files with our various teams and each other. We encourage you to do the same. To access the ELCA guidelines for congregation record retention, please click the direct link to our website-- http://bit.ly/SOSRecordRetention.

Thrive! Equipping a Vibrant Church Together, the mission campaign, has begun with gatherings of rostered ministers across the territory. Weekly there are Thrive! e-blasts and if you’re receiving this note from me, you are also receiving the Thrive! e-blasts. If you think someone else in your congregation should also be receiving the e-blasts, please contact Susan Barton-Nonno (sbarton-nonno@southernohiosynod.org) to have them added to the distribution list.

If you have questions or want additional information, in general about Thrive!, please contact Pastor Larry Donner at thrive@southernohiosynod.org. There are videos to watch and share on the SOS website under the heading ‘Thrive!’ in the Quick Links box. Look for scheduled meetings happening this fall for lay leadership development, governance and mission campaign meetings.

We welcome officially, The Rev. Dr. C. Lynn Nakamura to serve the Synod as Director of Candidacy and Leadership Development. She has served as the Interim Director of Candidacy for the last 8 months. We also welcome Deacon Dr. Cory Driver as Director of the SOS Leadership Academy. We share Dr. Driver with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod. He will develop programing in both synods for lay education and rostered minister continuing education as we live into the goals of Thrive!

As we journey together these next months please keep in prayer our siblings in Christ in Dayton as they continue, with LDR-Ohio and Mr. John Pyron, cleaning up after the tornado and healing after the shootings.

One of our values of the vision is collaborate. Sharing ministry ideas with each other is one way we do this. I want you all to share your story of what’s happening in your congregation. This is an exciting and challenging time in the Church, but we have a calling to share, invite and tell about Jesus. Share pictures and share ministry events/stories with us. Contact Susan Barton-Nonno or tag us on your social media posts.

Finally, we in the synod office keep you in prayer and thank you for what you do in your neighborhoods and ministries.

In Christ,

Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt