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VOLUME 93 ISSUE 2 - MARCH AND APRIL 2015
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The
South
Carolina
Lutheran
Mission
Emphasis
March:
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
April:
Newberry College
The Agile Church
Bishop Yoos takes a look at
when failing is a good thing
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The Agile Church
When Failing is a Good Thing
By Bishop Herman R. Yoos
W
hen was the last time you attempted something new and
experienced disappointment?
The first time I went snow skiing, I fell so
many times that it seemed I had as much
snow on me as the slope did. Towards
the end of that day, however, I began to
learn how to shift my weight and turn
my skies into the slope which made skiing a lot more fun. Nobody likes to fail,
but when I look back over my life it occurs to me that I have learned and grown
far more from my mistakes than I have
from my successes.
When was the last time your congregation attempted a new outreach ministry and it didn’t turn out as well as you
hoped? Have you noticed how easy it
is to give up on a new way of reaching
our neighbors rather than to learn from
what didn’t go so well and to adjust one’s
efforts?
In his book, The Agile Church: Spirit
Led Innovations In An Uncertain Age,
Dwight Zscheile of Luther Seminary
devotes an entire chapter to the importance of failing well. The chapter is entitled “Failing Well, or What the Church
Can Learn from Silicon Valley.” He
writes, “The church has a great deal to
learn from Silicon Valley, where organizations have developed the capacity to
sustain massive levels of ongoing failure
in the service of creativity, innovation
and growth.” Essentially he explains
that these companies can teach the
church about the importance of many
small innovative experiments in building relationships and listening to our
unchurched neighbors in order to learn
where God is inviting us to connect
more deeply with those around us today
who aren’t likely to show up on a Sunday
morning.
He continues, “This work of discernment, or attending prayerfully and wondering about what God is up to in the
here and the now in the power of the
Spirit, is not easy for many church peo-
Dwight Zscheile teaches congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. His books are focused on helping the church participate more faithfully and fully in God’s mission in a
changing world.
they are about the importance of making disciples in Jesus name. But here
Dr. Zscheile offers another perspective
worth pondering . He asks the question
of what would happen if churches today
were willing to be as innovative today as
many businesses are. This is not primarily a matter of marketing the church better in our consumer oriented world, but
rather a willingness to follow the Holy
Spirit into new places and new relationships that share Christ’s love.
One ministry in the South Carolina
Synod where we have been practicing
and teaching this kind of daily discernment and openness to the Holy Spirit has
been in the Everyday Evangelism Training. I say “practicing” because every time
we offer this training,
“This work of discernment, or attending prayer- our team makes some
fully and wondering about what God is up to in innovative changes to
the here and the now in the power of the Spirit, is help those involved
experience
more
not easy for many church people today.”
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- Dwight Zscheile
ple today. We are more accustomed to
asking questions about what we want
our church to be, what our members
want in terms of programing and institutional life, or how we’re going to sustain the church the way we like it, than
we have been to interpreting what God is
doing in our midst and in our neighborhood. Discernment involves regular and
deep engagement with Scripture, not as a
source book of answers to our problems,
but as a story that reshapes our way of
seeing the world in light of a God active
in human affairs.”
Usually I am not very fond of comparing businesses to the mission of the
church, because often such comparisons
are more about dollars and cents than
March and April 2015
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deeply this openness to God’s involvement in and through the relationships in
our lives. In one exercise the group meets
at a mall where they are invited to notice moments where they are moved by
God’s Spirit to pray for someone they see
behind their backs. Later in reflecting on
this experience they share that a mall is
usually the last place they would expect
to encounter a need to pray, and yet they
agree that they are learning from this experience how God is at work in ordinary
everyday life arenas.
For the last several months, Ginny,
Mel, Eric and I have been sharing selected readings from this book, The
Agile Church with rostered leaders and
council leaders. It has been encouraging to hear afterwards from council
members comments like, “I am more
hopeful about the future, it is ok to fail,
God is opening up new possibilities, the
early church had to learn to reach different groups, innovation is a good thing,
we are not alone. Many of these council presidents have requested a copy of
this book to read and use with different
groups in their congregations.
What I have appreciated most about
this book is that it doesn’t offer any quick
fixes. It doesn’t say if you do these three
things your church will be successful. Instead it says just the opposite that it is ok
and even necessary to fail if we are serious about sharing the good news of Jesus
in our world. But even more than this,
it reminds us how the Holy Spirit sows
countless seeds of renewal and growth
in and through the very things we think
of as failures. May we never grow weary
of our need for prayerful discernment
and openness to being Spirit led in these
challenging times. ☐
Peace,
Bishop Herman
Periodicals Postage paid at 1003 Richland Street,
Columbia, SC 29201 and additional mailing offices.
Editorial/Business/Circulation
South Carolina Synod, ELCA
1003 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201-2407
Telephone: 803-765-0590 Fax: 803-252-5558
Website: www.scsynod.com
Bishop
The Rev. Dr. Herman R. Yoos III
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The Agile Church
10 Faith5 in Our Home
5
March Mission Emphasis: Lutheran
Theological Southern Seminary
11 Good Ideas from Our Congregations
14 Parish Paper
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April Mission Emphasis:
Newberry College
18 Synod Updates
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19 Synod Assembly Information
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In Our Own Words:
What Stewardship Means To Me
20 Calendar & Publication Schedule
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The South Carolina Lutheran
(ISSN 161-9748) is published 6 times per year at
1003 Richland St., Columbia, SC 29201.
Copyright © 2015 South Carolina Synod, ELCA.
All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in
any form is prohibited without permission from the
publishers. Printed in the U.S.A.
Copyright information about THE PARISH PAPER, found in this issue: Our synod’s purchase
of a subscription to The Parish Paper INCLUDES (1) permission to provide copies to our staff and
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matter how small, whether for free distribution or for sale).
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is a publication of the South Carolina Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Subscription rates are $8.50 for congregational plan
and $10.00 for individual subscriptions.
Contents
©
The South Carolina Lutheran
Assistants to the Bishop
The Rev. Melvin E. Amundson
The Rev. Virginia S. Aebischer
The Rev. Eric G. Wolf
Vice-President
Lexanne K. Graves, Associate in Ministry
Secretary
The Rev. W. Osborne Herlong
Treasurer
Raymond L. Hendrix
Editor
Neal F. Fischer [email protected]
Subscriptions
Julie A. Koon [email protected]
Publication deadlines are listed on the back page of
each issue.
March Emphasis
Lutheran Theological
Southern Seminary
Dr. Susan W. McArver is Professor of Church History and Educational Ministry and Director of the
Center on Religion in the South.
By The Rev. Jennifer Casey
I
t is an exciting time at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS)! We
are in the midst of the spring semester
meaning students, faculty, and staff are
hard at work. Students are engaged both
in the classroom, their teaching parishes,
and in the community. It is a privilege
to see God at work in the formation of
those discerning their vocational call.
We give thanks for the partnership we all
share on campus as well as with candidacy committees and congregations!
The Academy of Faith and Leadership
has had a great year hosting programs
on campus. We have had lectures and
events featuring Dr. Charles Sigel, The
Rev. Bill Stanfield, The Rev. Jay Gamelin, The Rev. Dr. Mark Allan Powell, Dr.
Rolf Jacobson, and The Rev. Nadia Bolz-
Weber. It is our goal to provide continuing education and lifelong learning
opportunities for clergy and laypeople.
The Academy of Faith and Leadership
at LTSS seeks to provide resources and
programing that inspires, equips, and
empowers women and men to join God’s
work in the church and the world. For
more information on upcoming events,
please visit: ltss.lr.edu/afl .
The Office of Enrollment has been in
full swing gearing up to welcome a new
class in Fall 2015. We will host a Discernment Retreat March 27-29, an Open
House April 27-28 as well as Welcome
Wednesday’s on April 8, May 20, June
24, and July 29. These are all great opportunities to visit campus, meet with
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March and April 2015
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professors, experience classes, and engage with the current community. Please
visit ltss.lr.edu/prospective-students for
more information!
Should you wish to arrange a visit that
is tailored to your schedule, we are happy
to host you at a time that is convenient
for you. We want you to experience LTSS
and have all of your questions about the
application process and financial aid answered. Please do not hesitate to contact
us at 803.461.3296 or [email protected].
The Advancement Office at LTSS
welcomes you to visit campus as well.
Whether you would like to come for
chapel, a campus tour, or bring a group
from your congregation, you are welcome here! Should you wish for us to
visit you, contact us at 803.461.3219! We
look forward to opportunities to visit
congregations and meet with those interested in Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary! ☐
Author bio:
Casey is Director
of Enrollment
Management for
Lutheran Theological
Southern Seminary
April Emphasis
Newberry College
By Jill Johnson
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NEWBERRY COLLEGE HITS RECORD
HIGH FRESHMAN ENROLLMENT
N
ewberry College welcomed a
record high 379 new students to
campus this fall, a 19 percent increase compared to this time last year
and the largest incoming class in the 157
year history of the College.
The College enrolled 1,084 students
for the fall 2014 semester. The total represents a 4.2 percent increase over last
year’s total of 1,040. Enrollment totals
included 277 freshmen, 86 transfers and
16 readmits. Seventy-six percent of the
student body and 72 percent of freshmen hail from South Carolina with the
majority of out-of-state enrollment coming from Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions as well as California.
Dean of Enrollment Management
Delsie Phillips said enrollment growth
reflects the College’s strategic focus on
relationship-building with students and
their families early in the recruitment
process.
NEWBERRY COLLEGE RANKED
AMONG COUNTRY’S BEST COLLEGES
N
ewberry College has been ranked
on the 2015 U.S. News & World
Report Best Colleges rankings. The
College earned three top rankings in the
national magazine’s annual report, finding itself on the lists for the following:
•Best Colleges in the South (33rd,
Newberry College’s highest ranking
to-date)
•Colleges in the South with the Least
Student Debt (5th)
•The South’s Best Colleges for Veterans (11th)
“It is an honor to once again be recognized in these prestigious rankings,” said
Newberry College president Dr. Maurice
Scherrens. “We have created a learning
community that gives students a personalized and transformative education that
will prepare them for successful careers
and purpose-driven lives. It is gratifying
to see this commitment recognized nationally.”
NEWBERRY COLLEGE LAUNCHES $35 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
Priorities include facilities construction/renovation, scholarship and endowment growth
Newberry College announced the launch of
Scaling the Summit, its $35 million comprehensive capital campaign at a gala held on the
campus on Oct. 17, 2014. The campaign aims
to fund new construction and renovate existing facilities and to increase annual giving
and endowment support for the institution.
Scaling the Summit is the largest capital
campaign in the school’s 158-year history and
has raised more than $9 million in gifts and
pledges.
“The overarching goal of the Scaling the
Summit campaign is to focus our efforts on
outcomes that will have the greatest impact
on students at Newberry College,” said Hugo A. Pearce, III, current chairman
of the Newberry College Board of Trustees. “We can achieve this by supporting
projects that emphasize academic quality and a dynamic campus life.”
Two years ago, Newberry College
made headlines for its innovative solution to make college more affordable
by introducing its tuition guarantee initiative. The Newberry College Tuition
Promise guarantees students and their
families that their tuition rate will not
increase during the four years they are
in school. This approach to affordability helps families plan their college costs
more effectively.
Newberry College also was recognized
as one of eight private colleges worth the
time and money in the book, “Is College Worth It?” by former U.S. Secretary
of Education William J. Bennett, who
noted the tuition guarantee initiative.
NEWBERRY COLLEGE RECEIVES
ACCREDITATION REAFFIRMATION
N
ewberry College has been fully reaffirmed for accreditation by the
Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges
(SACSCOC) the accrediting agency
today announced. The College will
next be reviewed as part of the regular
SACSCOC five-year review process and
undergo the standard reaffirmation process in 2022.
“We are truly delighted that the substantial effort dedicated to this reaffirmation process resulted in our full
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March and April 2015
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reaffirmation of accreditation,” said
Newberry College president Dr. Maurice
Scherrens. “We have worked hard to get
to this point and SACSCOC, with its announcement today, has recognized and
reaffirmed our position of strength.”
Newberry College had been placed
under sanction because of financial difficulties experienced during the 20112012 fiscal year. Under the guidance of
a new president and senior leadership
team, the College has affected a significant turnaround.
NEWBERRY COLLEGE MISSION
TEAM SERVES CHILDREN AND FAMLilly House make and sell jewelry, baked the Gospel and pray with the families
ILIES IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
A
team of 22 students, faculty and
staff from Newberry College’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes spent
their Christmas break sharing the love of
Christ with people in the Dominican Republic. The group found many ways to
serve during their eight-day visit.
The group spent time at two different
orphanages where they organized Bible
stories and activities and also played
games and sporting activities with the
children. They toured the facilities and
heard the testimonies of the men and
women who care for the children who
have been abandoned by their parents.
The group also served at Lilly House,
a safe house for women rescued from
human trafficking. The residents of
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goods, ice cream and coffee and offer
cosmetology services to women in the
local community. The Newberry College
mission workers painted two out-buildings and the interior of the day care facilities at the rescue center.
Fundraising efforts prior to the trip
allowed the Newberry College group
to make a sizable donation to the Lilly
House for needed essentials. They also
used funds they had raised to purchase
food they distributed to 50 families living in sugar cane villages. The sugar cane
workers and their families live in abject
poverty and the food baskets the group
distributed will feed a family of four for
a week. The food distribution offered the
opportunity for several students to share
who had received the food.
The Newberry College mission group
toured several facilities operated by
SCORE International, the organization
that coordinated the trip, which
provides schooling for the local children
in a Christian environment as well as
education and training for disabled
children. ☐
Author bio:
Johnson is
Director of
Marketing
for Newberry
College.
Editor’s note: This is the eleventh in a series of
first-person, “in our own words” articles from a
number of people who will share their stories about
what prompts them to give to mission support,
and what that giving means to them. Please feel
free to reprint these articles and share them in your
congregation.
In Our
Own Words:
What Mission
Support Means
To Me
By Elsa Hope
I
have to confess. As we stood across the
street within the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) complex, one of our first
stops in the Holy Land, I was not even
thinking about Mission Support. My
husband and I do support our church
and its ministries, but our group was
soon to learn first-hand how offerings to
South Carolina Synod and the churchwide organization are used.
The Reverend Mark Brown, Lutheran
World Federation (LWF) regional representative in Jerusalem, gave us a brief
history about Augusta Victoria Hospital,
located on the north side of Mount Olive, in east Jerusalem.
Housed in a historical building inspired by German palace architecture,
AVH is a beautiful and stately structure
built in 1907-1910. Until 1950 the hospital shared in the tumultuous history of
the Jerusalem area. Its mission today is
to provide health care and humanitarian services to Palestinian refugees and
those in social need. Reverend Brown
asked if we ever wondered where our
offerings go and how they are used.
Mission Support comes from each of
us, from our churches. Our offerings
together with churches world-wide and
other supporting partners, enable upgrades, expansion, and employment of
the latest technology needed for specialized treatment and services. Some of the
general Mission Support given by the
South Carolina Synod to the ELCA goes
to support the work of LWF and some
of the dedicated gifts to disaster, world
hunger, and specific programs like AVH
are channeled through LWF. Without
LWF, AVH would be hard-pressed to
support the number of specialty care
centers and departments that provide
life-saving specialized care.
He shared with us that AVH receives
quilts, if any of our churches are involved in quilt making. On our tour I
saw a quilt on a hospital bed and said
a quick prayer of thankfulness for the
church group which lovingly stitched it
for the patient who occupies that bed.
Compassion, which includes the strong
desire to lessen suffering, has to be at
the core of quilting circles and other
ministries gathering on a regular basis
to be involved - answering God's call for
mission support. The documentary entitled Sanctuary, Healing in a Holy Land
on YouTube shows beautifully how our
Mission Support through LWF has enabled AVH to impact lives.
I have returned home to my comfortable world surrounded by family and
friends. In our circles and groups where
we share similar interests, our love and
concern for our neighbors is manifested
through beautifying a courtyard, making quilts, contributing to a local food
pantry, or joining in other ministries to
make a difference in the lives of others.
But there is a need for more.
Mission Support is reaching out to
those who need our care and concern,
locally and even those 6300 miles away.
As Presiding Bishop Eaton has stated on
more than one occasion, “Together, we
can do more.” God has blessed us with
so much, and, yes we can do more! ☐
Author bio:
Hope is a
member of St.
John’s, Pomaria
March and April 2015
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Dr. Rich Melheim discussing Faith5
during the "Re-Imagining Faith Formation
in the Post-Television, Neo-Google World"
workshop at St. Michael Lutheran Church,
Greenville
Faith5 in Our Home
By The Rev. Jason M. Lee
I
n November of 2014, my family and I
started doing Faith 5 together as part
of the bedtime routine. My wife, Dana,
and I have two kids, Jonah who is 3 and
Anna who currently is 20 months. The
four of us pile on the futon in our upstairs gathering area, read a few books,
and then start Faith 5. Though we have
only been doing this for about two
months, the benefits are a gift from God.
Here are a couple of examples.
manuel means, “God is with us.” And
that has stuck. No matter the Bible verse
we share, to Jonah it always means God
is with us. And he’s not wrong. Now, all
of our Bible verses mean God is with us
“and.”
At 20 months, Anna doesn’t share
much in terms of highs or lows, but
she sure can bless. She loves to rub her
balled-up hand on our foreheads (supposedly making the sign of the cross)
and snuggle close with a hug. At those
moments, I know God is blessing me.
Faith 5 has been a great blessing for
our family. It has helped each of us see
and experience God each night with
each other. ☐
Find out more at www.faith5.org
We usually start a new Bible verse
each Sunday night and pull from Sunday
morning’s lesson for that week. Since we
started during the season of Advent, one
of our very first verses was Jesus is our
Emmanuel. We taught Jonah that Em-
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Author bio:
Lee is pastor of
St. Philip, Myrtle
Beach
FAITH5™ (Faith Acts In The Home) is a simple,
easy-to-implement faith practice, perfect for
incorporating into your bedtime routine for five to
fifteen minutes a night. When done over time, the
FAITH5™ carries the power to enrich communication, deepen understanding, aid sleep, and promote
mental, physical and spiritual health. The five steps
are:
Good ideas from our congregations:
reaching out in many ways!
CONFERENCE REPORTERS
CONFERENCE 1: FOOTHILLS
Cheryl Gagné
([email protected])
714 Sidney Dr.
Greenwood, SC 29646
CONFERENCE 2: UPSTATE
Blaine Childress
([email protected])
300 Mountain View Lane
Inman, SC 29349
CONFERENCE 3: EPIPHANY
Reporter needed
CONFERENCE 4: AMELIA
Reporter needed
CONFERENCE 5: HEARTLAND
Reporter needed
CONFERENCE 6: MIDLANDS
Anjay Williamson
([email protected])
3721 Linbrook Drive
Columbia, SC 29204
CONFERENCE 7: COASTAL
Pastor Bonnie Mefferd
([email protected])
1020 Black Rush Circle
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
CONFERENCE 8: SAXE GOTHA
Vonda Scott
([email protected])
3724 Riviera Rd.
Columbia, SC 29205
CONFERENCE 9: WESTERN
Reporter needed
Please share your news with your conference
reporter (listed above)!
We especially look for “outside the walls” ministry
ideas that you can share with other congregations.
This helps all of us strengthen our outreach to our
communities. Thanks.
ST. JOHANNES PARTNERS WITH CHARLESTON SYMPHONY
St. Johannes is partnering with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra to present the
church's historic parsonage in a Designer Showhouse. The church property will be
available for tour from mid-March throughout April with proceeds gong to encourage the arts in Charleston via its symphony.
UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN SPONSORS DRAMA PRESENTATION AS EVANGELISM OUTREACH
As part of its community outreach efforts, University Lutheran Church, Clemson, is
sponsoring a special presentation by the “Act II” drama troupe, from North Greenville University, at 6:00 PM on Sunday, March 1, in our very own sanctuary. This
production, titled ‘Lost and Found’, shares three parables of Jesus that give us a clear
picture of the never-ending grace of God through a mixture of song and drams. “Act
II” consists of twelve members who perform at approximately fifty churches per academic year. Their ministry is supported by the South Carolina Baptist Convention
Cooperative Program and participating churches. In addition to using standard radio and newspaper advertising to alert the community, the Evangelism Committee is
experimenting with social media advertising. All members of the congregation have
been asked to post announcements of this event on their ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’
pages and to keep track of how many ‘likes’ or ‘hits’ they receive. Our recommended
‘tweet’ is “Come out to Uni-Lu on March 1st at 6 PM to see drama “Lost and Found”.
It’s sure to be a blast!
IMMANUEL, GREENWOOD
• On Souper Bowl Sunday the youth collected donations for Greenwood Meals on
Wheels and Immanuel Food Pantry.
• The Adopt A Highway clean up met on 2/21
• With your support congregant, Bo Bowman has flown two Mercy Fights this January, carrying a patient and spouse for the transplant list pre testing.
• The Heritage Room project continues archiving the history of Immanuel and its
ministries
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, GREENVILLE
• On 1/18 the Golden Group, Stone Soup Supper collected canned vegetables and
soups to be donated to Rescue Mission
• Thank you to our members , 44 hats, 70 pairs of gloves, 8 scarves, 3 pr of socks, and
8 jackets were collected for donation to Triune Mercy Center,
■■ those who volunteered their time to build, feed volunteers, made contributions,
and prayed for the safety and success of the Thrivent Habitat House, which was
dedicated on Nov 16, 2014
■■ Those who participated in Souper Bowl Sunday’s collection of food and funds
that were donated to God’s Pantry
• On April 24 LCY in conjunction with Redeemer Lutheran, Greer will hold a Yard
Sale, Car Wash, Bake Sale, Lunch and Blood Drive for the National Gathering in
Detroit
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March and April 2015
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Columbia church raises more
than $50,000 for water purification system in Africa
By Allen West
A
local church congregation
reached deep into its budget to help make sure people
thousands of miles away have clean
water for drinking and cooking.
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
donated $52,551 to Water Missions
International to be used to buy a
water purification system for the
people of Tanzania.
The people of the Columbia
church worked for almost a year to
raise the money, calling the project
the Karibu Fund. “Karibu” means
“welcome” in Swahili, the native
tongue of Tanzania.
The project is part of the Lutheran Synod of South Carolina’s
ongoing partnership with Lutherans and others in Tanzania. The
church congregation learned about
the needs in Tanzania over the past
year and encouraged all members
to donate to this mission.
“It was simply something we felt
called to do,” said Rev. John Trump,
pastor of the congregation. “We
had successfully raised funds for
some internal projects and felt that
we were called to garner gifts for a
significant extra gift beyond what
we normally do and the people responded wonderfully and generously.”
The check was presented to
Bishop Herman Yoos of the South
Carolina Synod.
Author bio:
West is a
reporter for
coladaily.com. Reprinted with permission.
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ST. JOHN’S, WALHALLA
• Planning is now underway for Oktoberfest 2015
• On Feb 17 the Morning Circle continued it’s support of the school’s Backpack program
• we have 5 members who will be participating in Baby Read an early literacy outreach program just beginning in Walhalla whose goal is to share the love of reading
by helping young families get their young children ages 1month to 18 months
ready for school. Baby Read held volunteer training of family readers at the Walhalla Library
• Gifts of Hope response was amazing. The $2,114 in contribitions made will help
impact the lives of many here in South Carolina and around the world
ST. MATTHIAS, EASLEY
• Helping to feed community members through donations to United Christian Ministries
• Dinner & Games night Feb 27, proceeds benefitted the youth heading to the Gathering in Detroit
• The ladies of St Matthias WELCA organized the donation of nearly 400 children’s
book headed to the Craddock Center in Cherry Log, GA, serving the Southern
Appalachia areas ( GA, TN, NC) with books for pre-schools and Head Start programs by way of the Story Express van, the Children’s enrichment program ( where
storytellers & musicians are brought into classrooms). In addition the center also
distributes handmade wooden toys, donated by volunteer craftsman
PILGRIM, LEXINGTON
Hosted the South Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission 2015 Annual Convention
Public Concert Hosted by Pilgrim Lutheran Church
Sunday, March 1 @ 7:00pm – 8:30 pm
AGAPE* has been touring as a full-time musician for twelve years performing for
hundreds of thousands of youth across the U.S. and eight other countries. He has
recorded 6 CDs with critically acclaimed producers. He has shared the stage with
Bishop Desmond Tutu, Toby Mac, David Crowder, Tony Campolo and Kirk Franklin. In 2001 he launched JUMP (Joint Urban Ministries in Praise), a ministry dedicated to helping urban youth unleash their leadeship through the arts. AGAPE*
comes to SC to share his unique blend of worship and praise, dance, and witness at
Pilgrim Church. All ages and cultures will be engaged by this energetic life-giving
experience. Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door.
ST. DAVID, WEST COLUMBIA
2nd Annual Run for God (March 3rd to May 30th – 2015)
About Run for God: Although people run for different reasons, this program is for
those who make God the center of their lives – or need to be reminded to do so. The
tone is conversational and accessible, and the workout plans, discussion questions
and Bible verses are targeted to beginners of all ages and ability levels – especially
those who have never run. This program will help you understand the parallels of
endurance running and enduring faith. You may visit www.RunForGod.com for
more information. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Beth
Riddle at [email protected] or Josh Stevenson at [email protected], or St.
David Lutheran Church Office 803.356.3035.
Stained Glass Pentecost Window Fundraiser (November 2014 – October 2015)
You may contribute through Birthday Honorariums and Memorials
13 ▶
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The Stained Glass Pentecost Window Fundraiser will last for 1 year, giving every
person the opportunity to be remembered. From the Youngest Member to the Eldest
Member. Remember family and friends on their birthdays. Fund raiser forms and
birthday cards are available in the Narthex at St. David Lutheran.
OUR SAVIOUR, WEST COLUMBIA
Healthy Snacks We continue to support SRAA’s Healthy Snack in Pack Program. This program
provides weekend snacks put in backpacks for needy children such as individually
packed fruit cups, dried fruit, jello, crackers, Granola bars, and juice boxes. Snacks
are collected on the first Sunday of each month at Our Saviour as part of our Community Outreach.
EMMANUEL, WEST COLUMBIA
Emmanuel had a very successful blood drive in coordination with the Red Cross
on January 12. Our youth have been very busy with fund raisers including a movie
night, chicken dinners, spaghetti dinners, a silent auction and yard sale which have
contributed greatly toward their expense to attend “The Gathering” to be held in Detroit in July along with thousands of other teens across our nation. We participated
in the collection of money for the Souper Bowl of Caring and members continue to
assist with Meals on Wheels and our community meal on the last Saturday of every
month. We will begin preparation for the Lenten season with a pancake supper provided by our LMM on Shrove Tuesday.
REDEEMER, COLUMBIA
prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary
this year. The congregation participated
in Resurrections Homeless Ministry, a
program that serves lunch to those in
need every Saturday in downtown Columbia.
REFORMATION, COLUMBIA
welcomed GLAD (Gay, Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) to videotape an RLC
service and interview members. This
group works to create a society free of
discrimination based on gender identity
and sexual orientation.
ST. JAMES, SUMTER
provided a home-cooked supper for the
children at Crosswell Children’s Home.
CHRISTUS VICTOR, COLUMBIA
Provided financial assistance for meals and utilities to neighbors in need through
their Pickle Jar Ministry. During Lent, the youth group is leading the congregation
in supporting Lutheran World Relief ’s “Baskets of Promise” ministry, which collects
items for personal care kits to be distributed to those afflicted by war, displacement
and poverty.
GOOD SHEPHERD, COLUMBIA
Youth group helped sponsor St. Lawrence Place’s Race for the Place 5K. All donations
from the Souper Bowl of Caring were also donated to St. Lawrence Place, a homeless
shelter that helps families transition to independent living. They also collected more
H.U.G.S. (Hats, Underwear, Gloves) for the Resurrections Homeless Ministry.
INCARNATION, COLUMBIA
Supports the Reading Matters initiative for first and second graders in Richland
School District One. Congregation members tutor and mentor students not currently reading on grade level.
LIVING SPRINGS, COLUMBIA
Participated in the March for Meals 2015 Wild Run, which benefits the Meals on
Wheels program. Members also donated books to the Jericho Community Free Library, based in Ascension Lutheran Church.
LUTHERAN CAMPUS MINISTRIES, USC
Pastor Frank Anderson was asked by the USC Student Government to lead “A Community Reflects” candlelight vigil on the Horseshoe in memory of Professor Fayad.
Students attended an evening Ash Wednesday worship with Ebenezer in Columbia.
Our 7th & 8th Grade Winter Retreat on March 20-22, Rooted
TOGETHER in God's Love, is
coming up fast!
Do you have your registrations
in yet? The first deadline has
passed, but just because we
want to see as many of our
wonderful Youtheran faces
there as possible, the deadline
has been extended for another
2 weeks to March 13! Please
fill out our online registration
so we can make certain we
have your youth on our list by
following this link: http://goo.
gl/forms/U5ejJKfHKX
March and April 2015
13
THE
PA R I S H
PA P E R
IDEAS AND INSIGHTS FOR ACTIVE CONGREGATIONS
Editor: Cynthia Woolever - www.TheParishPaper.com
March 2015 - Volume 23, Number 3
Copyright © 2015 by Martin Davis
What Churches Can Do to Increase Social Media Security
As email gained popularity in the mid-1990s, company leaders feared their employees would spend
too much time with it and tried to limit employees’
email use. Then spam came along, making people
even more nervous.
Today even the most anti-technology person
knows that email is how information moves. Most
also know that several commonsense safeguards go
a long way to reduce risks—do not open emails or
download attachments from people you don’t know,
nor should you trust that a Nigerian prince will give
you $100,000 for allowing him to use your bank
account to transfer his fortune to the United States.
Social media and online payment technology is in
that “big deal” stage. Those in faith communities
remain wary. Because they still do not quite know
what to make of it, they would just as soon abandon
social media as try to use it. However, social media
and online payment systems make staying in touch
and supporting the organizations we believe in far
easier. But what about all those hacking horror stories recounted in the news? Could your congregation
really be at risk for hackers stealing bank account
numbers? Personal information? Photos? Yes. Fortunately, a few commonsense strategies help to keep
you and your congregation safe.
Social Media Security Basics
No matter how you manage your social media and
online payment tools, following four basic rules substantially reduce the risk of someone breaking into
church accounts and stealing your congregations’
personal information.
 Create safe passwords. This is hardly new advice
but many people still ignore it. If your church’s
security passwords use names, common number
combinations, addresses, email addresses, or
common words, you are making it easy for
someone to get into your account. Use a site like
passwordsgenerator.net to create secure passwords
that cannot be easily stolen. Write it down with pen
on paper, and store it away. To make life even easier,
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join a single sign-on site such as lastpass.com to
simplify login and vastly improve security.
 Use the most up-to-date browser. When you turn
on your computer, a message often appears telling you a browser update is available. Because
most browser updates involve closing security
breaches that have been exposed, you avoid security risks by installing the update. Take five
minutes and keep your browser updated. Your
chances of being hacked go way, way down.
 Do not open links from unknown sources. Spend
five minutes on social media and you are bound
to see something like this—“Hi, I just saw your
pictures here [link].” Do not be fooled. Hackers
use these tricks to install viruses and spyware on
your computer. If any anything looks suspicious,
trust your gut and do not click on the link or open
the file. If the note comes from a friend but looks
funny, contact them and ask if they recently sent
you an email. Chances are, their security has been
breached and their site is being used to send
bogus information.
 Limit and protect your access information. No one
wants to believe that someone would take advantage of a church, but it happens. Therefore, limit
the number of people who have access to your
church’s social media passwords. If your church has
a professional technology person on staff, entrust
that sensitive information with this person. Otherwise, the pastor and one key leader should be
the keepers of passwords and account information.
Although there are always people in your congregation willing to volunteer with social media, granting
them access to church passwords and security information is a bad idea. Treat your passwords as you
would treat your bank account. Be smart.
Added Security for Facebook and Twitter
Social media options are numerous and more are
rolled out daily. Since Facebook and Twitter are the
most commonly used, below are additional security
guidelines.
Facebook. Churches love Facebook because it allows them to share photos, invite people to events,
promote the congregation with targeted paid ads,
create pages for groups within the church, and offers
controls for who does and does not see posts.
But Facebook is not without its security problems.
To begin, Facebook’s security settings are notoriously
difficult to understand. Take heart—there is help.
CNET, an online tech magazine written with non-tech
people in mind, offers seven keys to securing your Facebook page that should be required reading. Rather
than replicate their advice, read it here: http://www
.cnet.com/how-to/secure-your-facebook-account-in-six
-easy-steps/. The advice includes how-to directions
and will get you and your congregation in a safe space.
Several non-technical concerns arise with Facebook,
such as the use of photos. There are many reasons people do not wish to have photos of themselves or, more
likely, their children to appear on Facebook. People
may work at jobs that require confidentiality or they
may need to keep their identity secret. Parents worry,
rightly, that posting photos and information about children can lead to identity theft. And some people are
simply not comfortable posting their photos everywhere. When attendees join your congregation or
begin to regularly participate, explain to them the social media tools currently in congregational use. Seek
and secure their permission to use their photos.
Twitter. Churches are increasingly finding Twitter
a useful tool for everything from connecting with the
pastor to promoting events quickly among their constituency to sharing interesting information and discovering new friends. As with any other social media tool, Twitter can be hacked. Fortunately, if you
follow the basic guidelines above, the congregations’ security risks are minimal.
An additional step, however, will not only make
your Twitter account more secure, but will make
Twitter easier to use. HootSuite and TweetDeck were
originally designed to help people manage their Twitter accounts and find the information they are searching for more easily. Increasingly, however, these sites
are being touted for the extra level of security they
bring to Twitter accounts. Both are critically reviewed, well tested, and highly reputable. Register
with one of these and worry less about safety.
Securing Online Payments
Online payments are revolutionizing everything,
including the way people give to their church. Multiple ways for handling online payments exist (see
The Parish Paper issue for April 2014). In terms of
security, there is obviously a lot at stake. Here are
some simple tips:
 Resist the temptation to create and manage an
online payment system yourself. Online payment
systems are tricky, hard to navigate, and expensive. Instead, choose a solid third-party vendor to
do this for your church. A number of organizations provide online payment options for churches. These can be a good bet, but review and watch
for changes in the fees charged.
 Consider PayPal. This vender is often criticized,
but the truth is, PayPal is an incredibly secure
way for people to send your congregation money.
 Follow the basic security guidelines. If your congregation’s staff are handling online payments,
following the basic advice given above is even
more important. Those four simple rules will go a
long way toward protecting church leaders and
the congregation.
Final Thoughts
With good reasons, many people remain jittery
about social media and online payments. But fear
without smart action only heightens security risks.
Fear not. Basic, commonsense tactics remove the
majority of your church’s security concerns.
_____________
About the Writer: Martin Davis owns Sacred Language Communications, formerly directed Alban’s
online Congregational Resource Guide, and has
twenty years of experience working with congregations (www.sacredlanguagescommunications.com).
Copyright © 2015 by Martin Davis
www.TheParishPaper.com
March and April 2015
15
THE
PA R I S H
PA P E R
IDEAS AND INSIGHTS FOR ACTIVE CONGREGATIONS
Editor: Cynthia Woolever - www.TheParishPaper.com
April 2015 - Volume 23, Number 4
Copyright © 2015 by Marcia Clark Myers
Finding God’s New Call in the Same Place
Bill is fifty-five and has been at Fairdale Church
for fifteen years. Ministry there has lost its shine. He
resists routine pastoral visits and even preaching has
become a chore. However, in the current job market,
finding a new call that can provide the salary he
needs to support kids in college is tough. He has
been looking for a while without success, so feels
stuck. Church participation is down and the board is
worried.
Ann has been at Oakdale for four years now and is
happy in ministry with the congregation. She is feeling comfortable in the role of pastor and has some
successes to celebrate. Ann's husband has a job that
he enjoys and their children are thriving in school.
However, her seminary friends ask “What next?”
She is ready for new challenges, but wonders what is
best for the family and congregation.
First Presbyterian Church in Crossroads has experienced a revolving door of leadership for the past
two decades. Pastors right out of seminary developed their ministry skills for a few years before
moving on. Membership declined and lay leaders are
discouraged.
Why Do We Feel Stuck?
Both pastors and congregations get stuck. Pastors
who are burned out, geographically bound, or financially squeezed get stuck, as do congregations who
are waiting for stable leadership or a pastor to leave.
Pastors usually discern God's call to a new ministry
without involving the congregation until the decision is made and a new call has been finalized.
However, those decisions change the course of ministry for all involved. Research shows that clergy
mobility affects congregational vitality.1 When congregations focus on getting a pastor, developing a
relationship with a pastor, or the loss of a pastor,
less congregational energy is available for externally
focused action such as evangelism and mission.
Congregations without pastors, exhibiting “holding
pattern” behavior, generally are less attractive to
newcomers.
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In the past, it was more common for a pastor to
come to a community from seminary and remain
for an entire ministry. Pastorates for twenty years
or more were positively regarded. Now, pastors
confide that they feel pressure to move on in order
to be successful in their ministerial career. Accepted patterns of clergy mobility have established expectations of short first calls. In fact, the most effective years of a pastor's ministry come after five
years in a congregation when relationships have
been built and tested and a true shared ministry has
been established.2
The Feeling Stuck Fallout
Both congregations and pastors often feel that the
best solution to conflict is to part company. When
that happens, neither learn from the relationship
and do not develop skills to deal with differences
without breaking relationship. Opportunities are
missing for living forgiveness, reconciliation, resilience, and developing skills as Christian leaders.
Rather than seizing opportunities for new ministries
in response to God's call, congregations resist
change, hoping that the pastor and his or her unsettling ideas will soon move on. Such congregations
become self-focused and stagnant while the pastor
begins to feel the stress of being stuck.
A stressed pastor decides that the best solution is
to seek a new call and move on. That brings added
pressure to pastor and family with the activities of
the search, decisions, and physical move. Furthermore, our culture teaches us to measure our value by
salary and the size of the church we lead. This goal
is likely unobtainable considering the current membership patterns of churches. In fact, researcher Patricia Chang found that a seminarian preparing for
ministry today has a 1 percent chance of ever serving as Head-of-Staff of a large congregation.3 The
long-established pattern of pastoral steeplechase is
dead.
Internalized measures of success and worrying
about a new call contribute to heightened stress, low
self-esteem, and depression. Pastors feel stuck and do
not do their best work—congregations and ministry
languish. Often they look for the solution for
“stuckness” in the mechanics of ministry—a new program, new leadership, or a new strategy. Yet the root
issue is the loss of a sense of God's call: the energy,
passion, and focus that they experienced sometime in
the past.
Finding a New Call
The Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy,
“Rekindle the gift of God that is within you” (2
Timothy 1:6). This is the secret to keeping vitality in
ministry. Frederick Buechner tells us that to discover our call, we must look for the place “where your
deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.”4
Experienced pastors who have stayed with the
same congregation for fifteen or more years are often able to describe a series of distinct calls in the
same long-term ministry. Tom settled into the challenges of congregational life with worship leadership, pastoral visits, and church programming. Five
years into ministry, he recognized that he got many
requests from the community for pastoral counseling, which he enjoyed and was gifted at. The church
board encouraged him to expand this outreach and
supported him in continuing education to enhance
his skills. Some years later, divisive social issues in
his community drew Tom into a new leadership role.
He understood this work as a new call in his longterm ministry. Rather than becoming stale, both he
and the congregation gained new energy by discovering a series of new calls as he led them for thirty
years before retiring.
As small congregations face dwindling resources,
it is becoming common that they cannot continue to
fully support their pastor. Recognizing that her congregation was nearing this situation, Mary used her
continuing education and some time with a spiritual
director to discern a new call. She agonized over
the fact that she loves her congregation and her
community and did not want to uproot her family.
The suggestion that she was gifted in spiritual direction surprised her. Excited by the idea of a retreat ministry, Mary developed a business plan and
talked with her church board. The board embraced
the possibility of transitioning from full-time
church employment to a bivocational ministry that
would allow her to continue in the pastoral role and
develop her blossoming new ministry.
By considering the activities that bring us joy and
meet the needs of the world God loves, and building
a ministry at that intersection, it is possible to discover a new call in the same place. Pastors and congregations are healthier when they are able to move
from stuck to being re-called by rediscovering passion for ministry. By reshaping ministry in partnership with their congregation, it is possible for pastors
to find the “sweet spot” of vital ministry and care for
family. Consider these questions whenever you
begin to get that stuck feeling in your current call.
Think about times in your ministry work that
bring you “deep gladness.” What were you doing and what gifts were you using?
 What deep needs of the world have come to
your attention?
 How might you reshape your ministry to find
deep gladness as you meet the needs of the
world God loves?

About the Writer: The Rev. Dr. Marcia Clark Myers
formerly directed the PC(USA)’s Office of Vocation
and currently serves as a faculty member in the CREDO
program, which focuses on pastoral renewal.
______________
1. Cynthia Woolever, “When Less Is More; The Consequences of Clergy Turnover,” The Parish Paper, March 2014.
2. Roy M. Oswald, “The Pastor as Newcomer,” Alban Institute, 1998.
3. Patricia M. Y. Chang, Factors Shaping Clergy Careers: A
Wakeup Call for Protestant Denominations and Pastors, Pulpit and Pew Research on Pastoral Leadership, 19.
4. Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking; A Theological ABC
(New York: HarperOne, 1993).
Copyright © 2015 by Marcia Clark Myers
www.TheParishPaper.com
March and April 2015
17
Synod Updates
DEATHS
December 30, 2015 – Death of Juliana
Jenkins Corbett, Associate in Ministry.
A memorial service was held on January
3, 2015 at Our Saviour, West Columbia.
January 9, 2015 – Death of Iris
Josephine Cundiff Harley, wife of the
Rev. Raymond E. Harley , II. A graveside
service was held on January 13, 2015 at
St. John, Irmo.
CALLS ACCEPTED – CLERGY:
July 19, 2014 – Doug Graul, Chaplain
Harbison Agape Senior/Kathwood
February 16, 2015 – Karen K. Young,
Chaplain Lutheran Homes
May 4, 2015 – Jason T. Antley, St.
Stephen’s, Lexington (Associate Pastor)
Lisa W. Isenhower – Faith, BatesburgLeesville
CELEBRATIONS AND SPECIAL
SERVICES:
December 28, 2014 – Worship Service
at Pisgah, Lexington. Bishop Yoos
led the sending service for the Rev. G.
Daniel Bacon.
January 11, 2015 – Worship Service
at St. John, Beaufort. Bishop Yoos
preached and presided.
January 18, 2015 – Worship Service
at Mt. Tabor, West Columbia. Bishop
Yoos presided.
January 18, 2015 – Worship Service at
Sagrada Familia. Bishop Yoos preached
and presided.
January 21, 2015 – Worship Service
at Newberry College. Bishop Yoos
preached.
January 25, 2015 – LARCUM Prayer
Service. Bishop Yoos Preached.
February 8, 2015 – Worship Service
at Pisgah, Lexington. Assistant to the
Bishop Eric Wolf preached and presided.
February 22, 2015 – Manning
Correctional Institution. Bishop Yoos
presided.
ORDINATIONS:
March 22, 2015 – Service of Ordination for Lisa Wells Isenhower held at St. John’s,
Spartanburg. Bishop Yoos will preside. Pastor Isenhower has accepted a call to Faith,
Batesburg-Leesville.
RESIGNATIONS – CLERGY:
February 15, 2015 – Karen K. Young, Bethlehem, Irmo
April 12, 2015 – Jason T. Antley, Peak/Springhill Parish
SPIRIT-LED TIME OF RENEWAL CONGREGATIONAL EVENTS:
March 15, 2014 – St. James, Summit (led by Assistant to the Bishop Aebischer and
Assistant to the Bishop Wolf)
INTERIM OR STATED SUPPLY PASTORS:
The Rev. Linda L. Anderson – Christ the King, Greenville
The Rev. A. Glenn Boland – Messiah, Mauldin
The Rev. Leonard R. Carlson – Bethlehem, Leesville
The Rev. Thomas A. Cassem – Martin Luther, Charleston
The Rev. Marion W. Clark – Faith, Batesburg
The Rev. Stephen G. Cooper – St. Michael, Moncks Corner
The Rev. Harry J. Crout – Silverstreet, Silverstreet
The Rev. G. Reginald “Reggie” Cruse – St. Peter, Batesburg
The Rev. Norman L. Deal, Jr. – Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Newberry
The Rev. William C. Ebener – Holy Trinity, Pelion
The Rev. David J. Edenfield – St. John’s, Clinton
The Rev. G. Willis “Bill” Eiwen, Breath of Life, Blythewood
The Rev. William “Seth” Gibson – Gethsemane, Columbia/St. Andrews, Blythewood
The Rev. James K. Glander – Mt. Pleasant, Saluda
The Rev. “Art” Hallman, Jr., – Bethlehem, Pomaria
The Rev. Karen S. Hawkins – St. Johannes, Charleston
The Rev. Alvin H. Haigler – St. John, Pelion
The Rev. Paul A. Hirth – Pine Grove, Lone Star
The Rev. W. Osborne “Ozzie” Herlong – Bethany, Lexington
The Rev. Scott L. Holland – Bethlehem, Irmo
The Rev. Thomas “Tommy” L. Lineberger – Enon, Leesville
The Rev. Gary R. Lyerly – St. James, Summit
The Rev. Robert E. McCollum – Bethany, Newberry
The Rev. Eddie C. Miller – Faith, Newberry
The Rev. Jane P. Mitcham – Zion, Lexington
The Rev. Everett R. Price – Orangeburg, Orangeburg
The Rev. G. Steven Plonk – St. James, Lexington
The Rev. Carroll L. Robinson – Sandy Run, Swansea
The Rev. Guy H. Shealy – Reformation, Lancaster
The Rev. Floyd E. Sides – Bachman Chapel, Prosperity
The Rev. William “Bill” E. Stone – Trinity, Saluda
The Rev. William “Bill” Trexler – St. Matthews, Charleston
The Rev. Emily J. Willhide – Our Shepherd, Hartsville
The Rev. Paul B. Williams – St. Timothy, Whitmire
INSTALLATIONS-CLERGY:
January 25, 2014 – The Rev. Eric S.
Little – Resurrection/St. Matthew’s
Parish
19 ▶
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www.scsynod.com
◀ 18
CALL PROCESS UPDATES:
S=study
I=interviewing
PC=primary candidate
CP=call pending
CA=call accepted
Batesburg, Faith CA Lisa Isenhower
Charleston, St. Matthew S
Greenville, Christ the King S
Irmo, Bethlehem S
Lexington, Pisgah S
Lexington, St. James I
Lexington, St. John S
Lexington, St. Stephen CA Jason Antley
(Associate)
Lexington, Zion I
Mauldin, Messiah S
Moncks Corner, St. Michael S
Newberry, Redeemer I
Orangeburg, Orangeburg I
Saluda, Mt. Pleasant S
Summit, St. James S
Swansea, Sandy Run S
ADDRESS BOOK UPDATES:
Rev. G. Daniel Bacon
26 Island Creek Lane
Savannah, GA 31410
Rev. Michael Price
417 Crims Creek Way
Irmo, SC 29063
Rev Betty Carr
Brighton Gardens
6000 Park South Drive, Ste 248
Charlotte, NC 28210
Rev. Richard Albert
Cabana I, Unit 601
5404 North Ocean Blvd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(803) 920-8718
2015 South Carolina Synod Assembly
May 28th – 30th, 2015
Location: Spartanburg Marriott, (864) 596-1211.
You are responsible for making your own hotel reservation.
Deadline for obtaining the $125 per night (+ tax) reduced rate is 5/1.
Please refer to our guest room block name, “SC Lutheran Synod.”
Wireless internet is available throughout the facility at no cost.
By The Rev. Ginny Aebischer
2
015 is the Twenty-eighth Assembly of the South Carolina Synod
– ELCA and the 190th meeting
of the Lutheran Church in South Carolina. We will focus together on Faith
Formation across the generations! Each
one of us is called into discipleship in
Christ every day in every community!
Over the course of these two and a half
days opportunities will abound for us
to share in Faith Practices, Bible Study,
Worship, Mission Moments, Keynote
Presentations, and Celebrating the culmination of our Growing God’s Mission
Campaign. It promises to be a wonderful
time together at the 2015 Assembly. We
look forward to being together with you!
Online registration opens in early
March. Please visit http://scsynod.com
for details about how to register online.
All of our registration is done online (no
paperwork for assembly is mailed). If
you need assistance with online registration, please give Julie a call at (803) 5098323, or email her [email protected].
Early birds get a significant discount
for registration (ends April 7th) so please
take advantage of this and register early.
Online registration will remain open
until May 26th, HOWEVER the last
day you can include meals and t-shirt
is May 18 at 5:00 p.m. May 18th is also
the deadline to request any refunds for
any changes that you have made in your
registration. Registration is set up so
that individuals may register themselves
or one person may register their entire
group. Please note that after you register,
we send follow-up information which is
pertinent to our work at assembly, and if
you are registered as a group, it is the responsibility of the person who registers
the group to be sure that everyone has
the information.
Faith Practices (Discipleship Experiences): will be held on Friday afternoon and include a variety of options to
choose from. Through our online registration process you may sign up to learn
more about and dig deeper into one of
the Faith Practices. ☐
Assembly Guests
Above (L to R): The Rev. Emily Edenfield
(Associate Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church,
Spartanburg), Chaplain; The Rev. Eric Wester
(Assistant to the Presiding Bishop for Federal
Chaplaincy Ministries), ELCA Representative;
and The Rev. Dr. Nate Frambach (teaches
Youth, Culture & Mission at Wartburg Theological Seminary), keynote speaker.
Below: Special Musical Guests Lost and
Found
March and April 2015
19
Martin Printing Company
Attn: Janice Duchinski
PO Box 69
Easley, SC 29641-0069
PERIODICAL
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Please check www.scsynod.com for calendar updates.
March 2015
2.........................................................................................................................................Leadership Day, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Lexington
3..........................................................................................................................................................Leadership Day, Faith Lutheran Chapel, Pickens
3....................................................................................................................................................Leadership Day, Messiah Lutheran Church, Mauldin
4.......................................................................................................... First Call Theological Education Committee Meeting, Synod Office 2:00 p.m.
5.........................................................................................Exploring Youth and Young Adult MInistry, Colony Lutheran Church, Newberry 6:30 p.m.
10.................................................................................................................................... Lifelong Faith Formation Network, Synod Office 11:00 a.m.
14........................................................................................................................................... 7th-8th Retreat Staff Training, Synod Office 10:00 a.m.
17.....................................................................................................................................................Rostered Leaders Event, Synod Office 11:00 a.m.
19..................................................................................................................................................... ELCA Campaign Meeting, Synod Office 1:00 p.m.
19................................................................................................................................................ History Committee Meeting, Synod Office 2:00 p.m.
20-22........................................................................................................7th-8th Grade Winter Retreat, Camp Kinard, Batesburg-Leesville 1:00 p.m.
April 2015
14....................................................................................................................First Call Theological Education Roundtable, Synod Office 10:00 a.m.
14........................................................................................................ First Call Theological Education Committee Meeting, Synod Office 2:00 p.m.
15............................................................................................................................................. Finance Committee Meeting, Synod Office 11:00 a.m.
18.................................................................................................................................................................................................Operation InAsMuch
19...................................................................................................Ventures in Growing Stewards, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Summerville 3:00 p.m.
20..................................................................................................................................................Synod Assembly Training, Synod Office 11:00 a.m.
20......................................................................................................................................................Synod Council Meeting, Synod Office 12:00 p.m.
21-22......................................................................................................................................................Candidacy Committee Meeting, Synod Office
24-26..................................................................................................................... Spring into Action Youth Event, Camp Kinard, Batesburg-Leesville
26......................................................................................................................... Cluster Gathering, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Prosperity 4:00 p.m.
Just a reminder: Synod Staff meetings are held most Monday mornings.
The South Carolina Lutheran publication schedule
Please be sure your reporter is receiving news from your congregation! Reporters are
listed on page ??
January-February issue............................................................ deadline December 15
March-April issue........................................................................deadline February 15
May-June issue................................................................................. deadline April 15
July-August issue..............................................................................deadline June 15
September-October issue...............................................................deadline August 15
November-December issue........................................................... deadline October 15
Calendar of causes / emphasis months
January...................................................... Lutheran Church Youth & Global Mission
February..................................................................................Novus Way Ministries
March........................................................ Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
April................................................... Newberry College/Newberry Women’s League
May..................................................................... Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
July....................................................................................................Faithful Giving
August........................................................South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers
September..........................................................................Lutheran Men in Mission
October.............................................................................Growing in God’s Mission
November......................................................................Lutheran Services Carolinas