03/03/2020

Thrive! eBlast for 3.3.20

Thrive Campaign Training

Are you still wondering about joining the Thrive campaign? Here is another no-obligation opportunity to learn more about what Thrive means for your congregation and our Synod:

THRIVE! CONGREGATION LEADER TRAINING

Tuesday, March 24^th
St. Paul’s, Newark
67 N 5th St, Newark
6:30-8:30 p.m.

The training is for appointed campaign Congregation Leaders, but also for pastors, Stewardship Teams and Council members who want to know more about Thrive in order to make an informed decision about participating.

To register, send an email to Thrive@SouthernOhioSynod.org and include:

• The name and address of your congregation
• The email address & preferred phone number of each person who will be attending

If the Newark event does not fit your schedule, please contact Thrive Campaign Manager, Pastor Larry Donner, at Thrive@SouthernOhioSynod.org to arrange for an alternate training opportunity.

And remember! A Thrive Campaign Manual, along with the knowledge you will gain on how to conduct special appeals campaign for your congregation’s own needs, will be yours to keep no matter what, so contact Larry about the training now!

Are You Running a Thrive Campaign?

If your congregation is currently running a Thrive campaign or has scheduled a campaign for later this year, please be sure to notify Pastor Larry Donner, the Thrive Campaign Manager, of the start and end dates for your campaign so that he may provide support. Please send the dates to him at Thrive@SouthernOhioSynod.com.

Please also be sure you have completed the following online fillable forms:

Congregation Leader Appointment Form

Congregation Acceptance Form

Thank you for your cooperation!

Campaign Update!

Seven congregations have now completed Thrive campaigns, all of which have surpassed their goals, and several more churches are in the midst of campaigns. Synod-wide commitments to Thrive as of March 1st (including non-binding goals, individual and other gifts, and designated gifts from other sources) now total over $580,000. Thanks to all those who are supporting the Thrive campaign so generously! Read further to see how your support is already making a difference.

Moving Forward

Thrive is already making a difference for our congregations! Here’s how:

• Over 70 people attended the Effective Congregation Council Training led by our campaign consultant, Pastor Mike Ward, at Epiphany Lutheran, Dayton, on February 18^th. Almost 200 pastors and lay church leaders have now received the training, which is being funded through Thrive. One participant said, “This was the most informative, inspiring church workshop I’ve ever attended!” This popular training will be repeated at other sites later this year. Watch for announcements.
• Additionally, Thrive is underwriting participation in Stewardship for All Seasons (SAS). The following congregations are currently enrolled: St. Paul, Westerville; Peace, Beavercreek; St John, Vandalia; St Peter, Lancaster; Resurrection, Lebanon; Lord of Life, West Chester; First English, Lancaster; Resurrection, Hilliard; St. Mark’s, Delaware; All Shepherds, Lewis Center; St. Paul, Reading; Augsburg, Cincinnati; Trinity, Brookville; and, Epiphany, Circleville.

The 2-year training program helps congregations develop their mission and ministries, as well as their stewardship. The training helped one congregation increase its income by over $100,000 and another by over $65,000. For more information, contact Pastor Katie Kerrigan, Director for Evangelical Mission, at the synod office.

• Furthermore, the Thrive! Worship Team has been formed under the leadership of Joshua Brodbeck, our Synod Administrator & Worship Director. This team will be developing programs and resources to help enhance the worship life of congregations all around the synod in fulfillment of Thrive Campaign Goal #5.

Be on the lookout for more information as we move forward on these and other goals of the Thrive Campaign, all propelled by your generosity.  

The Difference Between Thrive and Regular Mission Support

Regular Mission Support is money sent by congregations to the Southern Ohio Synod to support the Mission and Ministry Plan of the Synod and, by extension, the ELCA, which receives 40% of any unrestricted Regular Mission Support (RMS) the Synod receives. Synod budgets are based on anticipated RMS income during any one fiscal year. For example, the 2020-21 Mission and Ministry Plan budget, approved at the recent 2019 Assembly, is $1,850,000 and is based on anticipated receipts during the 2020-21 fiscal year.

RMS provides funding for:

• Compensation of Synod Staff
• Synod Office Operating Expenses
• Candidacy
• Current Missions and Redevelopments, and
• Support to Campus Ministries, Trinity Seminary, Capital University and Wittenberg

Additionally, RMS funds budgeted ministry programs of the Synod, such as:

• Youth & Family Ministries
• Congregational Development
• Lay Leadership Training, and
• Ministries to Rostered Leaders

Thrive! Equipping a Vibrant Church Together is a 3-year mission campaign running from January 2020 through December 2022. Income to Thrive will come through commitments made by individuals, congregations and/or other organizations that are over and above Regular Mission Support.

All donations to Thrive will be collected, maintained and accounted for separately from Regular Mission Support. Consequently, Thrive income will not be part of any year’s synod budget. Rather, it will be put toward the five goals of the Thrive campaign:

• Equipping Lay Leaders through new initiatives
• Raising Up Leaders for Smaller Congregations via TEEM & SAM programs
• Strengthening Rostered Ministers by way of mentoring and seminary debt reduction
• Launching New Congregations and Reaching New People by launching new satellite congregations, and
• Enhancing Worship Practice by providing resource musicians, training and mentoring networks

Thrive, therefore, helps fulfill the Synod’s vision by covering initiatives not funded through Regular Mission Support. Additionally, since participating in the Thrive campaign will both teach effective stewardship practices to congregations and develop planned giving programs, it is expected that offerings given to congregations will increase, which will in turn enable congregations to increase their RMS to the Synod. Thus, Thrive provides a sustainable model for the mission of the Synod in years to come, so that we will be Stronger and Better Together: Joining Jesus in the Restoration of the World.