1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

December 2014
Workers Together
An Email Publication of the Kansas District LCMS
Each article title is listed in the Index below and linked to the location of the article in this document. After
each article there is a link, “Index”, which takes you back to the Index. So, you can scroll down and read each
article or pick and choose from the Index. We welcome your comments/suggestions, sent to Shannon Oldham
at [email protected].
Index
President’s Office
• Call Updates
• In Our Prayers
• Christmas is Not Yet/Already Here
• 2015 Kansas District Convention News
• Strategic Planning Survey Summary
• Pre-Lent Retreat
• Pastors Wives Retreat
• District Calendar
Educational Services
• 2015 National Lutheran Schools Week
• Recap of the 2014 District Youth Gathering
• 2015 LVR Summer Camps
• 2016 National Youth Gathering
• Recap of Adult Education LIVE Webinar
Mission & Stewardship
• A Farewell to Lori Hennessey
• 2015 Support for District and Synod
• Scholarship Grant Applications Available
• 2015 Regional Mission Convocations
• Ash Wednesday Special Offering
• National Mission Festival Hosted by LCMS
Rural & Small Town Ministry
• Construction of New Haskell LIGHT Facility is
Under Way
• Upcoming Webinars
• Guinea Prayer Requests
Caring Ministry
• Doxology Encore Event
Business
• Lutheran Witness Invoices
• Year End Checklist for Congregational
Treasurers
• Business Office Resources for Congregations
• LCMS Ministries Eligible for Payroll Services
Discount
• Concordia Plan Services Offers E-Learning
Modules
LCEF
• LCEF Investment and Loan Rates
• ConnectPlus – A Two-Year Note for NEW
Investors
Miscellaneous
• Best Practices for Ministry Conference
• Servant Events – Register Now!
• Concordia Seminary’s Pre-Lenten Workshop
• Concordia Seminary’s Lay Bible Institute
• Concordia Theological Seminary’s 2015
Symposia Series
• Concordia Seminary Admissions Officer
Visiting Kansas in January
District Office Contact Information
President’s Office
• Keith E. Kohlmeier, President: [email protected]
• Tami Lierz, Primary Assistant: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 200
Educational Services
• Jim Bradshaw, Assistant to the President: [email protected]
• Tami Lierz, Primary Assistant: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 200
Missions & Stewardship
• Marvin Kohlmeier, Mission Awareness Coordinator: [email protected], 785-547-6096
Caring Ministry
• Rocky Mease, Chaplain: [email protected], 316-993-0746
Business Office
• Debbie Crites, Business Manager: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 204
• Shannon Oldham, Primary Assistant: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Lutheran Witness Subscriptions
• Shannon Oldham: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Retreat Center Reservations
• Shannon Oldham: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Communications – Workers Together, District Email List, Website
• Shannon Oldham: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-357-4421 ext. 202
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF)
• Jeff Maltz, LCEF Vice President, Kansas/Oklahoma: [email protected], 785-357-4441 ext. 118 or
800-357-4421 ext. 118
• Curt Loupe, Administrative & Promotions Director: [email protected], 785-357-4441 or 800-3574421 ext. 100
• Becky Elliott, Promotions Director, Kansas/Oklahoma: [email protected], 405-627-0049
Index
Call Updates
Calls Accepted
• Rev. Ron Gloe to Immanuel, Wichita – Vacancy Pastor
• Heather McCormick from Concordia, St. Paul, Minn. to Faith, Topeka – DCE Placement, Commissioning
& Installation, December 14
Calls Pending
• Rev. Kurt Hering from Trinity, Layton, Utah to Christ, Elkhart/Faith, Hugoton
• Greg Johnson from St. Michael Lutheran School, Portage, Mich. to Holy Cross, Wichita – Principal
Calls Declined
• Rev. Luke Brown from St. John, Aliceville to Our Savior, Marion/Zion, Hillsboro
• Rev. Dan Wehmeier from King of Kings, Gardner to King of Kings, Mountain Lakes, NJ
• Rev. Jonathan Ripke from Trinity, Hooper, Neb. to Mt. Calvary, Marysville
Index
In Our Prayers
•
•
•
•
•
Rev. King and Sinok Crawford at the death of Sinok’s mother, Pok Tok Bark, on November 22
Kriss Miller-Kruzel, daughter of Rev. Don and Diane Miller – cancer
Rev. Charles Scott – health concerns
Rev. Fred Darkow, Winfield – health concerns
Rev. Dick Kaczor, Lawrence – health concerns
Christmas is Not Yet/Already Here
Index
by President Keith E. Kohlmeier
It was the second week of November. I was walking into a grocery store with Marlene and I saw my first bell
ringer in front of the store. It wasn’t a week later when I stopped by a department store to pick up a new shirt
and noticed that I was humming along with the store music. It was a Christmas tune! And I thought, “Already, it
is not even Thanksgiving.” The retailer’s season of Christmas had arrived long before the calendar date.
Advent is a similar season. It follows a season when the scripture lessons of the last Sundays of the church year
have raised us to a tiptoe anticipation of the coming of our Lord to judge both the living and the dead. We
gazed into the promises of God that all will finally bow before Him and His people will be eternally joined in
heaven. It ends with the same theme as the final words of God in John’s revelation, “Even so. Come, Lord Jesus.”
And then we begin the chant of Advent, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Although we stand upon the truth that
God has come among us some 2000 years ago in the person and work of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, we yearly
join the church of the Old Testament in prayerful invitation, “O Come to Us, Abide with Us, our Lord,
Emmanuel.”
The anticipation grows throughout the season of not yet/already. Until finally we share again the
announcement of the angels, “For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ, the
Lord.” We join the chorus of angels with our hymn, “O come let us adore him, O Come let us adore him, O Come
let us adore him, Christ the Lord!”
And with the good news, we are the church who is ready to live and proclaim that we will announce to the
world that it is now Already/Not Yet season for the rest of time. For the salvation of the world has already
occurred. But it is not yet the time for His final judgment of this world. There is yet time for us to bring all
those whom God’s Spirit would call to the saving message of the Christ born in Bethlehem. By Gospel
proclamation, we would be a church that echoes that truth before our communities and beyond.
To one and all in this holy season, Blessed Christmas!
2015 Kansas District Convention News
Index
by Rev. David E. Meier, Kansas District Secretary
Nominations
Nominations have now closed. Letters to the nominees asking for consent and biographical information are
being sent. A report of the nominees for President and Vice Presidents will be given to the Kansas District
Board of Directors and then be emailed to all who are on the District email list in January or early February.
Delegate Reporting Forms
I do not have delegate forms from all congregations. We set the November 30 deadline so that we would have a
pool of names for President Kohlmeier to work with as he appoints the Floor Committees for the 2015
Convention. We still need the signed forms. The Pastoral and Lay delegates who attend the 2015 Kansas
District Convention will also be casting the votes for Synodical President prior to the 2016 LCMS Convention.
Circuit Realignment Report
At the request of the President’s office of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we are seeking to comply with
the following bylaw from the LCMS Handbook regarding the election of delegates by circuits for the LCMS
National Convention:
3.1.2 Voting delegates shall consist of one pastor and one layman from each electoral circuit.
(a) An electoral circuit shall consist either of one or two adjacent visitation circuits, as shall be determined by the
district board of directors on the basis of the following requirements: each pair of delegates shall represent from 7
to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate communicant membership ranging from 1,500 to 10,000.
(b) Exceptions to these requirements may be made only by the President of the Synod upon request of a district
board of directors.
The Circuit Realignment Committee – with input from the area Vice Presidents, Circuit Visitors, Pastors and
congregations affected by the changes – will make the following report to the Board of Directors:
• Circuit 14 is eliminated.
• Circuit 11 receives Preston, Nashville, and Medicine Lodge, giving it 13 congregations and 3,087
Communicant members.
• Circuit 12 receives Ellinwood, giving it 9 congregations and 3,307 Communicant members. Ellinwood
goes to Circuit 12 because of an anticipated dual parish arrangement with Grace, Lyons.
• Circuit 13 receives Larned, Great Bend, Hoisington, Claflin, and Holyrood, and loses Plainville, Natoma,
and Hays, giving it 12 congregations and 2,105 Communicant members.
• Circuit 15 receives Plainville, Natoma, and Hays, giving it 12 congregations and 1,895 Communicant
members.
• Circuit 16 receives Greensburg, giving it 15 congregations and 2,029 Communicant members.
• Circuit 9 receives Zion, Newton from Circuit 10, giving it 13 congregations and 1,650 Communicant
members.
• Circuits 3N and 3S have chosen to ask for exemptions. If not granted, they will join together as an
electoral circuit.
In Christ,
Rev. David E. Meier
Kansas District Secretary
Index
Strategic Planning Survey Summary
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
This past summer, nearly 900 Church workers and lay leaders from the congregations and schools across the
Kansas District, LCMS, were encouraged to participate in a District survey designed to speak into the future of
the District. Nearly 300 individuals participated!
An ‘infographic,’ which summarizes the survey and provides highpoints, may be downloaded from our
website. Go to www.kslcms.org, look under Quick Links on the right side of the page and click on Strategic
Planning Survey Summary. We are thankful to all of those who assisted in this survey. As we move into 2015,
the Kansas District Board of Directors and District Staff are now positioned to take the next steps in response
to this survey.
Once again, we thank you for your prayers! If you have any questions, feel free to contact any staff member at
the District Office at 785-357-4441.
Blessings in Christ!
The Kansas District Board of Directors and the Kansas District Staff
Index
Pre-Lent Retreat
WHEN: January 26-28, 2015
WHERE: Spiritual Life Center, 7100 E 45th St North, Wichita
THEME: “Pastoral Anfechtung…And Its Many Blessings” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
PRESENTER: Rev. Dr. Richard Marrs, Dir. Of Master of Divinity/Alternate Route Program, Associate Professor
of Practical Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
COST: $55.00 – Pastor Active/Vicar
No Charge – Pastor Emeritus
$40.00 – Spouse/Other
LODGING: $54.00 per night – Single
$42.50 per night – Double
REGISTRATION FORM
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 12, 2015
Index
Pastors Wives Retreat
When: March 13-14, 2015
Where: Retreat Center in Herington
Speaker: Renee Gibbs
District Calendar
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dec. 24-26 – District Office Closed
Dec. 31 – District Office Closes at 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 1, 2015 – District Office Closed
Jan. 15 – End of Kansas District 2014 Fiscal Year
Jan. 25-31 – National Lutheran Schools Week – Mercy Forever
Jan. 25-26 – Circuit Visitors Conference – Wichita
Jan. 26-28 – Pre-Lent Retreat for Pastors – Wichita
Jan. 30-31 – District Board of Directors – Topeka
Feb. 2-3 – KAIRS Conference – Topeka
April 17 – District Teacher In-Service Day
April 20-21 – District DCE Retreat – Retreat Center, Herington
May 1-2 – District Board of Directors – Topeka
June 4-6 – District Convention – Topeka
June 14-19 – Lutheran Valley Retreat, District Camp I – Woodland Park, Colo.
July 19-24 – Lutheran Valley Retreat, District Camp II – Woodland Park, Colo.
Index
•
•
•
•
•
•
July 21-23 – Marriage Retreat for Clergy/Spouses – Kansas City
July 25 – Early Childhood Summer Workshop – Topeka
July 31-Aug. 1 – District Board of Directors – Topeka
Sept. 17-18 – Principal’s Conference – Topeka
Oct. 11-13 – Professional Church Worker’s Conference – Wichita – Doubletree
Nov. 20-22 – District Youth Gathering – Hutchinson
Index
2015 National Lutheran Schools Week
When: January 25-31, 2015
Theme: Standing in Christ, serving others – Mercy Forever
Theme Verse: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.” Mark 10:45 (ESV)
Free resources are available on the LCMS website – www.lcms.org/lutheranschoolsweek.
"Our schools are amazing incubators for faithful witness of God’s love for us through
Christ by teachers and students alike." Terry Schmidt, Director of Schools
Index
Recap of the 2014 Kansas District Youth Gathering
Nearly five hundred high school youth and adults from across the Kansas District participated in the
November 21-23 District Youth Gathering held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka. Gathering speaker, Travis
Hartjen, an LCMS Mission Planter from Texas, addressed the theme, “We Because He,” based on 1 John 4. The
band, Bread of Stone, shared inspiring words through their music. Following time spent in “prayer stations,”
participants gathered with Rev. Dan Ramsey (Zion/Chanute) and three Topeka area Pastors, Rev. Dan Galchutt
(Calvary); Rev. David Schemm (Christ); and Rev. Neil Buono (Prince of Peace) for the Saturday evening
worship service.
Other Gathering highlights included participants engaged in fifteen service projects throughout Topeka on
Saturday afternoon. Several youth also assisted in the assembly of one thousand “blessing bags” that were
later distributed to the Topeka Rescue Mission as ministry to the homeless community. These bags included
clothing and personal hygiene items. Youth groups were also encouraged to distribute blessing bags in their
local communities following the Gathering.
A tweet on Twitter from a youth following the Kansas District Youth Gathering stated the following: "Gave a
homeless guy a blessing bag that we made at #kdyg2014 and some cash. Honestly the greatest feeling ever
knowing that we just helped him."
The 2015 Kansas District Youth Gathering will be held in Hutchinson the weekend of November 20-22.
Index
2015 LVR Summer Camps
Do you like adventure? Are you up for a challenge? Then join us as we spend a week in Colorado challenging
and growing our faith and understanding of God, our ability to support each other and our ability to have fun!
Week 1: June 14-19, 2015 – 55 spots available
Week 2: July 19-24, 2015 – 90 spots available
Where: Lutheran Valley Retreat in Woodland Park, Colorado
Who is eligible to attend: Youth in the classes of 2015-2019
Cost: $395/person – includes transportation, camp fees, meals at camp, spiritual life programming
Registration: Opens March 1 and closes March 31
For more details, including a Brochure/Registration Form, go to www.kslcms.org, look under Event Links on
the bottom right side of the page, then click 2015 LVR Summer Camps.
Index
2016 National Youth Gathering – Save the Date!
What: LCMS National Youth Gathering
When: July 16-20, 2016
Where: New Orleans
Your Kansas District Coordinators for the 2016 Gathering are:
Arleata Harmon
Kate Luckemeyer
Risen Savior, Wichita
St. John, Ellinwood
[email protected]
[email protected]
Arleata and Kate are planning for bus transportation, a Pre-Gathering Servant Event, Pre-Gathering Activities
and the Kansas District Event. So plan to leave for New Orleans a few days before the Gathering begins!
For more details, visit the LCMS National Youth Gathering website at www.lcmsgathering.com. You can also
visit the Kansas District NYG website at kseducationalservices.yolasite.com/national-youth-gathering.php.
Community Life Builders (CLB) - Apply Now!
Are you 25+ years old and interested in serving at #NYG2016? Community Life Builders (CLBs) are a key
group of volunteers who are trained and resourced to serve Gathering participants and help the event run
smoothly. Known as the “Yellow Shirts” because of the yellow shirts they wear, CLBs work in the Gathering
hotels, Convention Center and Superdome during the event. The CLB application is now open! Find more
information and apply at http://www.lcmsgathering.com/volunteer/.
Index
Recap of Fifth Annual Adult Education LIVE Webinar
Over 200 people gathered at 15 host sites across Kansas for the 5th annual Adult Education Webinar presented
by Rev. Dr. Bruce Hartung, Professor Emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Dr. Bruce Hartung gave a wonderful, practical presentation about living in Christian community in today’s
world, based on God’s Word in Ephesians 4 and Romans 12. These two chapters paint a beautiful picture of
community as God intended it to be. Participants first examined how we, as individuals, should behave as
members of the community. In our relationships, do our thoughts and actions build up or tear down? Are we
speaking the truth in love, using our emotions in constructive ways, remembering our baptism, letting go of
bitterness and anger, being Christ-like?
Then we examined how we should live as the Body of Christ. It is by God’s grace that we have each other and
may gather as a community, brothers and sisters in Christ. We are brought together by the Spirit of God. Our
coming together is a gift. But in our congregations, what is the current picture of our community? What do we
yearn for our community to be? Where are we doing well at building up the body? Where are we failing?
We live in a fallen and imperfect world. But as Dr. Hartung pointed out, “We live at the foot of the cross and in
the power of the empty tomb and with the energy of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, we have hope!
Dr. Hartung offered several resources for learning how to live in Christian community:
• Holding Up the Prophets Hand by Bruce Hartung
• The Relationship Cure by John Gottman
• Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Inviting Community edited by Robert Kolb and Theodore Hopkins
• Growing Up Holy and Wholly by Donald Sloat
• Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
• Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
• Covenants and Care by Gary Harbaugh, Rebecca Lee Brenneis and Rodney Hutton
• Behavioral Covenants in Congregations: A Handbook for Honoring Differences by Gilbert Rendle, (c)
1999 The Alban Institute
Index
A Farewell to Lori Hennessey
Lori Hennessey, Administrative Assistant for the District Office, has accepted a position with First Presbyterian
Church in Topeka and announced her resignation from the District staff effective December 5th.
Lori has served the Kansas District primarily in the areas of Mission and Stewardship for the past eleven years.
She was also the primary communications link for the Kansas email list and the website, as well as serving as
editor of our monthly e-newsletter, Workers Together. Please join us in thanking this servant leader for her
years of dedicated service to the Kansas District!
If you have questions concerning Missions, Stewardship, the website or Workers Together, please contact the
District office (785-357-4441) and you will be forwarded to the appropriate individual to assist you.
Index
2015 Support for District and Synod
Each fall, all congregations are given the opportunity to pledge mission support to Synod and the Kansas
District for the upcoming year. Of every dollar received by the District, at least 25% is sent to Synod as
unrestricted support. Mission commitment pledge forms for 2015 were mailed to all congregations in
September. This information is beneficial to the District Board of Directors as they finalize the Ministry Plan
and Budget for 2015. You may send in your mission pledge form any of the following ways:
1) Mail your form to Kansas District LCMS, 1000 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604.
2) Email your form to [email protected].
3) Fax your form to 785-357-5071.
4) Call Shannon at 800-357-4421 ext. 202.
To communicate the mission, goals and services of the Kansas District and share how your pledge dollars are
utilized, we have provided two documents on our district website, www.kslcms.org – click Publications–
Resources at the top of the page and look under the heading Business Office –District:
• Kansas District LCMS 2013 Financial Report
• Kansas Mission and Ministry
If you have any questions, or if we can be of service to you in the area of stewardship, please contact Jeff Maltz
at 800-357-4421 ext. 118 or [email protected].
Index
Scholarship Grant Applications Available
Attention students! Are you pursuing a degree at one of our LCMS colleges or seminaries in professional
church work? Do you need financial aid for the 2015-2016 academic year? Scholarship grants are available
from the following organizations in Kansas:
• Kansas District LCMS – Application & Instructions – Deadline: June 1, 2015
• Lutheran Laymen's League (LLL) – Deadline: June 1, 2015
o Scholarship Introduction
o Financial Aid Application
o Notice of Acceptance of Enrollment
• Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) – Financial Aid Application – Deadline: June 1, 2015
• St. John's College Alumni Association – Deadline: April 1, 2015
o Financial Aid Application
o Guidelines
Index
2015 Regional Mission Convocations
In the Strategic Ministry Planning Survey, people overwhelmingly stated that the most important thing the
Kansas District LCMS needs to do is: Remain faithful to God’s mission, faithful to God’s Word and focused
on Jesus Christ!
To that end, we are inviting all congregations to participate in Regional Mission Convocations in 2015 to
rekindle our passion for reaching the lost through new ministries and new church plants. These 4-5 hour
convocations will take place in March and April.
We are encouraging congregations to send the pastor and 2-4 lay leaders to the Convocation in their region.
Mark your calendars and make plans to attend!
Here is the schedule for the Mission Convocations:
Region 1 – Circuits 1, 2, 3N, 3S, 4, 6
Date: March 7, 2015 – 10:00 AM
Location: Immanuel, Lawrence
Region 3 – Circuits 5, 10, 11, 14
Date: April 11, 2015 – 10:00 AM
Location: Holy Cross, Wichita
Region 2 – Circuits 7, 8, 9, 12
Date: March 8, 2015 – 2:30 PM
Location: Faith, Abilene
Ash Wednesday Special Offering
Region 4 – Circuits 13, 15, 16
Date: April 12, 2015 – 2:30 PM
Location: Holy Cross, Scott City
Index
We invite all congregations to participate in the annual Kansas District Ash Wednesday Special Offering,
designated by the Board of Directors to be divided equally between the District Scholarship and Education
Loan Repayment Funds. These funds benefit Kansas students pursuing a career in professional church work
and professional church workers serving Kansas congregations and schools.
To help promote the Ash Wednesday offering, we are providing newsletter and bulletin articles and a bulletin
insert. These materials are posted on our website at www.kslcms.org – click the Publications-Resources tab at
the top of the page and look for 2015 Ash Wednesday Materials on the bottom left side of the page. It seems a
bit early to be talking about Ash Wednesday, but as it falls on February 18, we wanted to get this information
out to congregations to include in their January newsletters. Thank you!
Index
National Mission Festival Hosted by LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, through its Rural & Small Town Mission, will host a National Mission
Festival on Jan. 17-18, 2015, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, Missouri.
From 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, speakers will address the blessings and challenges facing rural and
small town congregations as well as encourage those congregations and their leaders in cultivating healthy
churches that are eager to bear witness to Christ, show mercy to the suffering in the community, and
encourage a robust life together with their fellow members.
A dinner will follow at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP at 888-463-5127 or email [email protected].
Worship services will be held at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, with
a Bible study will be held beginning at 9:15 a.m.
Overnight accommodations are available through Biltz Hall on the campus of Saint Paul Lutheran High by
contacting Rosalie Pennington at 660-463-2238 ext. 313.
For more details, including a schedule, visit https://calendar.lcms.org/event/national-mission-festival/.
LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission supports and encourages rural and small town congregations in engaging
their communities and growing together in Christ through Word and Sacrament.
Index
Construction of New Haskell LIGHT Facility Under Way
Since obtaining the building permits to begin construction of the new facility for Lutheran Indian Ministries’
Haskell LIGHT Campus Ministry in Lawrence, construction has made steady progress. To date, the footings
have been poured and the building pad is now complete. The exterior walls are now being erected. Facility
construction will occur in two phases. Phase I is expected to be complete by the end of January 2015.
We are now in need of volunteers to assist our Laborers For Christ team! If you and members of your
congregation are interested in helping our Laborers For Christ team in various ways, please contact Haskell
LIGHT Campus Ministry at 785-841-4809.
Haskell LIGHT Campus Ministry is committed to “Restoring the Foundations” for future generations. The new
facility will be a place for Native American university students to worship and hear God’s Word and the Gospel
message of Jesus Christ. Plans also are under way to partner with Lutheran universities and seminaries to
provide distance-learning opportunities for students to enter in church ministry. Lutheran Indian Ministries’
staff, Rev. Will and Patricia Main, will continue to serve as mentors, role models, counselors and leaders,
ministering to the daily needs of Native American university students – many who have yet to hear the Gospel
clearly proclaimed.
Lutheran Indian Ministries is still raising funds for Phase I of this construction project. Your generous gifts will
be used for furnishings for the new facility. Items such as tables and chairs for the fellowship area, kitchen
appliances, sanctuary chairs, altar, baptismal font, lectern, etc., are still needed. Without them, we will be
unable to welcome students and local residents to participate in campus ministry activities.
For more information and ways to give, contact Lutheran Indian Ministries at 888-783-5267 or visit
LutheranIndianMinistries.org.
Index
Upcoming Webinars
LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission (RSTM)
• December 11, 1:00 p.m. – Ideas for Church Planting in Rural & Small Town Settings – presented by
Rev. David Johnson, mission developer at Grace Lutheran Church in Becker, Minn. – To participate, go
to: http://www.anymeeting.com/lcmsrstm1.
• January 22, 2015, 1:00 p.m. – Don’t They Know We’re Here – presented by Rev. Mark Frith, Program
Director for the Outreach Initiative at Lutheran Hour Ministries
• Archived Webinars
Lutheran Hour Ministries
• January 24, 2015, 10:00 a.m. – Ministry that Equips Women for Leadership – Darcy Paape is the
director of The Women's Leadership Institute, a servant institute of Concordia University Wisconsin.
Paape will share her experience leading campus ministry and inspiring women to acts of service. As
she lays the foundation and need for ministry to women, Paape will give practical advice on how to
educate, encourage and equip women to purposefully serve the Lord with all their gifts in order to
impact their communities for Christ. To participate, go to:
http://www.lhm.org/missionu/speakerseries.asp.
• Archived Webinars
Index
Guinea Prayer Requests
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Pray for wisdom, discernment, and integrity for the leaders of the affected nations as they make
decisions affecting millions of lives.
Pray that the international community would respond not with fear but with compassion, urgency, and
perseverance, assisting those in need.
Pray for the scientists who are working to find a cure for and vaccine for Ebola. Pray that safe and
effective solutions would be found soon.
Pray that hearts in crisis would open to the Gospel and turn to Christ.
Pray that the Body of Christ would demonstrate love and concern for their neighbors in this crisisaffected area.
Pray that God would glorify Himself in the midst of the crisis and demonstrate to a broken world that
He is the Reconciler of all things (Colossians 1:19-20).
Index
Doxology Encore Event
by Rev. Rocky Mease
DOXOLOGY provides training, mentoring, and consultation services for pastors seeking to improve their ability
to provide spiritual care and counseling. Participants will be refreshed and equipped as a result of their
participation in a program of soul care grounded in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
Jan Borst (Lay Member of Kansas Board of Caring Ministry) and I attended the Doxology Encore Event in
November along with 55 other Clergy and Lay Leaders. Topics covered at Encore included:
• Putting the Best Construction on Everything (led by Beverly Yahnke)
• Church and Ministry in Essence (led by Hal Senkbeil)
• The Problem of Suffering (led by Greg Schultz)
• Suicide: Pastoral Responses (Yahnke)
• Life in the Stained Glass Fishbowl (Yahnke)
• The Care and Feeding of Pastors (Senkbeil)
One of the highlights of Encore was the opportunity to talk to Lay Leaders and to hear their perspective of
Clergy Care. It produced a helpful dialog for all involved.
•
•
“Thank You! I am a lay leader who knows how DOXOLOGY has already helped my pastor. This weekend
has been a wonderful opportunity for lay leaders to get together and discuss our concerns and
solutions to challenges our congregations are facing.” (Layman)
“I believe that DOXOLOGY has saved my ministry from a spiral into terrible mediocrity and my early
exit from the ministry. Thank you for your support of this high quality and effective education
program. (Pastor for 21 years)
Kansas is privileged to have three Doxology Events coming in 2015:
• Gathering – May 31-June 3, 2015 – Spiritual Life Center, Wichita
• Encore – November 20-22, 2015 – Spiritual Life Center, Wichita
• Grand Reunion – July 31-Aug 2, 2015 – Savior Pastoral Center, Kansas City, KS
For more information about these events, and to register, visit www.DOXOLOGY.us. Contact Chaplain Rocky
Mease at [email protected] if you have questions.
Index
Lutheran Witness Renewals
Invoices for 2015 Lutheran Witness subscriptions were sent to all congregations in late October. Final
payment is due to the District Office by December 31. If you have any questions, please contact Shannon
Oldham at 800-357-4421 ext. 202 or [email protected].
Index
Year End Checklist for Congregational Treasurers
As we approach the end of 2014, congregational treasurers need to be aware of the following items:
Kansas District Fiscal Year to Close
The District will close its 2014 fiscal year on Thursday, January, 15, 2015. Any receipt received after that
date will be credited to the fiscal year 2015 for your congregation. In order to meet the standards for a not-forprofit corporation audit, we cannot credit any 2014 mission gift received after the close of our fiscal year, so
please work to meet this deadline. If you are sending any 2015 gift prior to January 15, please indicate that the
gift is for 2015 so that we may credit it correctly for your congregation.
Charitable Contributions
Charitable contributions for 2014 must be received before the first worship service in 2015 in order to claim
the deduction for that year. A contribution received after that date is counted as a contribution for 2015 for
income tax purposes even if the check was written in 2014. However, checks that are written, mailed and
postmarked in 2014 will still be deductible. A reminder to your members in your weekly bulletin would be
appropriate.
Gifts to Church Workers
Christmas gifts to Church Workers from the congregation in most cases represent taxable income and not a
tax-free gift. Be sure to report correctly on the recipients W-2 or 1099 the amount of these gifts. Also
important to note – donations made by members for these gifts are not included as tax deductible
contributions recorded by the church office.
2015 Housing Allowance
Housing allowances for all Pastors and Commissioned Ministers should be approved by Dec. 31 in order to
obtain the full annual benefit of housing allowance exclusion for 2015. The designation should be adopted
during a regular or special meeting of the church board and should be contained in the minutes of the meeting.
A worksheet for calculating the housing allowance is included in the Congregational Treasurer’s Manual which
is available on our website at www.kslcms.org, under the Publications -Resources tab.
2015 Employee W-4
Have all full-time and part-time employees complete a new W-4 for 2015. This will ensure that your
withholding records for the year will be accurate. If the employee does not provide a completed W-4, the
employer must withhold federal income tax as if the worker were single with no withholding allowance.
2015 District Salary Guidelines
The Kansas District Salary Guidelines for 2015 are available on the District website at www.kslcms.org. You
can access them by clicking on the “Publications-Resources” tab. If you are unable to download and view this
online, please contact the Business Office at 800-357-4421 ext. 202 or 785-357-4441 ext. 202 or
[email protected].
Index
Business Office Resources for Congregations
Congregational Treasurer’s Manual
Do you need help with W-2 and 1099 preparation? The updated 2014 Congregational Treasurer’s Manual will
guide you through the process. Go to www.kslcms.org, click on Publications - Resources at the top of the page. If
you have any questions, please contact Debbie Crites at 785-357-4441 ext. 204 or [email protected].
Church Office Administration Resources from Synod
The church office administration resources below provide information and support for LCMS congregations
and pastors in managing church operations: http://www.lcms.org/resources/churchadministration.
• Congregational Constitution and Bylaws Guidelines
• Employment Resource Manual – Provided to assist congregations and districts of the Synod
understand and apply good sound employment principles.
• Sample Performance Appraisal Worksheets – Contains guidelines for conducting the review; employee
self-appraisal section; supervisor's appraisal section; and summary of evaluation.
• Job Descriptions
o Ministry Staff Positions
o Congregational Officers
o Administrative Staff Positions
o Facilities Staff Positions
• Call Documents – Concordia Publishing House offers free, downloadable call documents. To access the
call documents online, contact Tami Lierz at 800-357-4421 ext. 200 or [email protected] to obtain a
user name and password.
Index
LCMS Ministries Eligible for Payroll Services Discount
All LCMS ministries including congregations, schools, Recognized Service Organizations, district offices and
others are eligible for payroll services at discounted prices with Paychex thanks to an arrangement negotiated
with Concordia Plan Services (CPS). Paychex is a national company with expertise in clergy payroll and taxes.
As the CPS “preferred payroll provider,” Paychex offers special pricing of up to 35% off to LCMS employers.
For those LCMS employers who also are enrolled in CPS, Concordia Plans will reimburse payroll-service costs
for up to 15 employees to the first 250 of those employers enrolling with Paychex for the first time. For this
offer; employers must have no more than 15 employees; must commit by Dec. 31, 2014, to a 12-month service
agreement with Paychex; and must begin processing payroll by Jan. 31. Also, the $50 setup fee will be waived
for LCMS employers enrolled in the Concordia Plans and who sign up as new payroll clients by Dec. 31.
For additional information contact Vicki Helling, payroll program consultant with CPS at 314-885-6816 or
[email protected].
Index
Concordia Plan Services Offers E-Learning Modules
Concordia Plan Services offers a variety of E-Learning modules to educate employer representatives, plan
members and retirees. Options include information on health care reform, CPS health care options, health and
wellness modules and information for Treasurers.
To view the options available, go to www.concordiaplans.org. On the left column menu, click on Resources and
then E-Learning to view all topics they currently offer.
Index
LCEF Investment and Loan Rates
LCEF Interest Rates
 Personal Investments
 Ministry Investments
LCEF Loan Rates – Personal and Ministry Loans
Index
ConnectPlus – A Two-Year Note for NEW Investors
ConnectPLUS is for the new LCEF investor who wants to experience the over-and-above reward of supporting
LCMS ministries, ultimately helping to expand the kingdom of God. Realize not only the financial benefits that
LCEF offers, but start a new relationship with LCEF, the financial arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod. Your investment will make funds for loans and support services possible for more ministries.
Features of ConnectPLUS:
• Open with a minimum of $500.
• Earn a fixed rate (currently 3%) on the first $5,000 (principal and interest) during the two-year term.
• Balance above $5,000 earns second-tier rate.
• Additional investments of $25 or more allowed during the term.
• Available to individuals 18 and older who have not had an LCEF investment in the past 24 months.
Offer subject to change.
• At the end of the term, the funds remain yours to re-invest or redeem.
Connect with ministries today and invest with ConnectPLUS! Visit lcef.org or contact Curt Loupe at
[email protected] or Jeff Maltz at [email protected].
Index
Best Practices for Ministry Conference
According to the Strategic Planning Survey, 80% of respondents would like to be connected with best practices
for their church. Have we got a conference for you! Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Best Practices
for Ministry Conference, Feb. 26-28, at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix, Arizona. This is a FREE conference
encouraging pastors, church workers and lay people to reach out with the gospel of Christ.
Do you want to gain ideas of what to do next? Do you want to talk to others who have gone through the same
things? Do you need encouragement at this crossroad in your life and ministry? Do you want to bring your
whole team so you can be on the same page?
Here are the conference details:
• Cost: FREE conference, FREE food, FREE shuttles, FREE ideas
• Registration Form (includes lodging options): Register early. Last year's conference had attendance of
1,200, which is near capacity for the Christ Church Lutheran facility. You can also register online.
• Lodging: Make your reservations EARLY because baseball spring training starts that week.
• Speakers
• Schedule
• Conference website: www.bestpracticesforministry.net
Index
Servant Events – Register Now!
Fire on the Mountain – DATE CHANGE – December 28-31, 2014
• Wanted: 18 years and older interested in helping with fire mediation at Lutheran Valley Retreat in
Woodland, Colorado
• Cost: $25 – includes transportation, meals on site, and housing
• Registration Form: Register by December 1 with $25
• Contact: DCE Leland Jackson – Trinity, Garden City – [email protected] or
620-276-3110
Come Build Hope – March 14-20, 2015
• Project: Build 2-3 11x22 foot homes in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, working with Amor Ministries based
out of San Diego.
• Cost: $200 – includes, registration, meals, transportation, tools, camping and building materials, stay
at Desert Christian School in Tucson, Arizona
• Registration Form: Register by Nov. 15 with a $25 deposit – Remainder is due by Jan. 15 – discounts
for children 11 and younger
• Contact: DCE Leland Jackson – Trinity, Garden City – [email protected] or
620-276-3110
Young Adult Servant Event – May 21-25, 2015
• Wanted: 18 years and older interested in helping with a variety of work projects at Lutheran Valley
Retreat in Woodland, Colorado
• Cost: $125 – includes transportation, meals on site, housing and program – scholarships are available
• Registration Form: Register by May 1 with a $50 deposit
• Contact: DCE Leland Jackson – Trinity, Garden City – [email protected] or
620-276-3110
SE Kansas Lutheran Work Week – July 20-26, 2015
• Wanted: Youth groups (middle school, high school, college), adults and families to do light home
repairs and make connections within the community
• Cost: $200 - includes food, lodging, t-shirt, canoe trip, donation to the work that will be done
• Brochure
• Contact: Pastor Rocco Mallardi at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oswego at 620-795-4887 or
[email protected]
Fix’n and a Paint’n – August 2-8, 2015
• Project: Paint and do minor repairs on houses for the poor, elderly and physically handicapped.
• Cost: $125 – includes meals, materials, t-shirt, canoeing/float trip and 3 nights camping near
Valentine, Neb.
• Registration Form: Registration opens January 15, 2015. A deposit of $25 holds your place on this
Servant Event.
• Contact: DCE Leland Jackson – Trinity, Garden City – [email protected] or
620-276-3110
Index
Concordia Seminary’s Pre-Lenten Workshop
Calling all pastors! Concordia Seminary’s annual pre-Lenten workshop will meet Friday, January 16, on the
Seminary campus.
This valuable one-day workshop, themed, “Calling Us Home,” will focus on the first epistle of Peter. It
addresses life in a post-church and increasingly secular society. Participants will receive sermon manuscripts,
textual notes, orders of service for midweek services, and suggestions to help pastors develop their own
worship resources for the Sundays of Lent.
Registration for the one-day event is $50, which covers all materials and lunch. The program will run from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information or to register, contact the Continuing Education office at 314-5057286 or email [email protected] or go to http://www.csl.edu/resources/continuinged/pre-lenten-workshop/.
Index
Concordia Seminary’s Winter Lay Bible Institute
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will host its winter 2015 Lay Bible Institute from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on
Saturday, January 17, 2015, in Sieck Hall 202 on the Seminary campus. “Where Eagles Soar: Reading the Gospel
of John with the Early Church Fathers” will be presented by Dr. Joel Elowski, associate professor of Historical
Theology and Director of the Center for the Study of Early Christ Texts at Concordia Seminary. The study will
include a close reading of texts, provide insights from history, and apply them to a 21st century perspective of
Scripture.
To register for the Lay Bible Institute, please call 314-505-7286 or email [email protected]. You may also register
online. The cost is $20 per person and includes all handouts and refreshments. The registration deadline is
January 5, 2015. Concordia Seminary is located at 801 Seminary Place, in Clayton, Mo.
Index
Concordia Theological Seminary’s 2015 Symposia Series
The “Integrity of the Scriptures: Text and Canon” and “Culture: Friend or Foe?” are the themes to be examined
at the 2015 Symposia Series, January 20-23 at Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Schedule, speaker information and online registration for the Symposia Series and the Lenten Preaching
workshop can be found at www.ctsfw.edu/Symposia.
The 30th Annual Symposium on Exegetical Theology will take place January 20-21. The 38th Annual
Symposium on The Lutheran Confessions has a theme of "Culture: Friend or Foe" and will take place January
21-23.
Those unable to be on campus for the series can watch via the internet by signing up for the Livestream Video
option, also at www.ctsfw.edu/Symposia. This option allows viewers to watch live or later in the day as there
will be immediate access to the archived presentations.
Index
Concordia Seminary Admissions Officer Visiting Kansas in January
Rev. Michael Redeker, Admissions Officer for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will be making two recruiting
stops in Kansas in January to visit with prospective pastor and deaconess students. To set up an appointment,
contact Rev. Redeker directly at 314-505-7225 or [email protected].
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Bethany Lutheran Church
9101 Lamar Ave
Overland Park, KS 66207
913-648-2228
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Grace Lutheran Church
117 E Miller Rd
Iola, KS 66749
620-365-6468
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Index