2010 Congregational Resourcing Event  - Workshops

Session A

• The Evangelizing Congregation Dr. Craig Nessan, Keynote Speaker This workshop analyzes some of the common challenges facing congregations in doing the work of an evangelist. We will explore some of the key biblical and theological issues involved in evangelizing. Furthermore, we will identify some of the practical steps congregations can take to strengthen outreach in becoming an evangelizing church.

• Becoming a Truly Welcoming Congregation Rev. Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle and members of Good Shepherd Church, Romeoville, a Reconciling in Christ congregation Share the journey of becoming a truly welcoming congregation. Listen as we talk about how our passion for reaching those who feel left out of the church (particularly our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters) has led to numerical and spiritual growth in our congregation. We’ll share ways that you and your congregation can connect with the disconnected in your own communities and how these new connections can lead to blessings and new opportunities as we bring the love of Jesus to the world. [Note: Q&A time in session c.]

• Café - www.boldcafe.org Elizabeth McBride, editor of Café, Women of the ELCA’s online magazine for young women Café is an exciting monthly online resource that features articles about faith and life. Each issue includes a main article,theological reflection, discussion questions, and a podcast. Learn the ways Café can be a resource for you and women in your community and beyond with a hands-on opportunity to experience podcasts and Café.

• Congregational Conflict Rev. Paul Wolff and Rev. Sarah Wilson Conflict is an inevitable part of life. While no one wants to see it in the church, conflict has been a part of the church for nearly 2,000 years. In this session, we’ll look at what conflict is, how we deal with it, and what Jesus tells us about how to resolve it.

• Congregational Renewal through the Practice of Jesus’ Spirituality Rev. Jim Roberts, author of Jesus: A User’s Guide - The Practice of Jesus’ Spirituality The “New Reformation” is the Practice of Jesus’ Spirituality. Learn how to bring this into your congregation or small groups.

• Congregational Treasurers, Part 1: The Sometimes Boring but Very Important Forms June Cain, NI Synod Bookkeeper The broad categories of this session will be financial oversight, insurance for congregations, federal/state reporting requirements, and federal requirements.

• Creating an Endowment for Mission The Rev. Dr. Len Hoffmann, Associate Director for Planned Giving, ELCA Foundation Leaving gifts for mission is the task of life-long stewardship. Ultimate gifts from wills and estates can make a difference for the future of congregational mission. It helps support a missional church.

• Diakonia: Adult Lay Education Marianne Barstow Diakonia is a two-year process for spiritual formation and theological education for members of the ELCA.

• Funding Congregational Outreach Ministries John Califf, Director of Development, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center Congregations often do outreach ministries to the members of their community. Finding volunteer and financial resources to support these ministries is challenging. Grants, endowments, individual donors, and members of the community are often overlooked. Look at how to identify and approach these resources and make an effective presentation and request.

• Hunger and Hope in Northern Illinois Rev. Rob James, GPS Faith Community, with the people of GPS Faith Community and Dennis Smith, NIFB President and CEO GPS Faith Community, an ELCA Mission Congregation in Machesney Park, shares how stepping out in faith and sponsoring a Mobile Food Pantry shaped this new church. Dennis Smith, President and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank, will share information on the issue of hunger needs in northern Illinois, what NIFB is doing to address these needs, and why they need to partner with you to bring Hope to the Hungry in northern Illinois.

• Incorporating Racial Justice in your Parish Education Nese Msseemmaa and Aaron Shoppa This workshop will help encourage congregations to teach racial justice as part of their Christian education through three engaging lessons for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

• International Companionship Basics Rev. Gary Erickson Recognizing that mission is both local and global, many congregations have developed international partnerships with parishes in Tanzania and India. This workshop will help attendees learn how to develop and maintain international relationships.

• Leadership with the Bishop The Rev. Dr. Gary M. Wollersheim, Bishop of the Northern Illinlis Synod This workshop is for leaders in congregations – Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers. Bishop will discuss leadership in the congregation and will share comments about the Northern Illinois Synod and the ELCA. There will also be time for questions.

• Mexico City: Dramatic Yet Tragic Kent Terry, Chairperson, Northern Illinois Synod World Hunger Subcommittee As part of an ELCA immersion program, Kent Terry was one of 30 World Hunger leaders to spend a week in Mexico City in September 2009. In addition to hearing some of the top speakers in regards to Mexican-American issues, visits were made to ELCA supported programs in all parts of the city, including the very poorest.

• Ministry with Veterans and Families Rev. Marcia Strahl Returning veterans and their families are an increasing part of our ministry needs. Learn how to use the Care of Returning Veterans DVD and other resources in congregations. (New information this year)

• Songs for Blended and Contemporary Worship Melody L. Kuphal, Director of Contemporary Worship Ministries, with The Good News Praise Band & Tech Team from Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Algonquin Come hear samples of our congregation’s most-loved worship music. We’ll start by highlighting Lent, Holy Week, and Easter and play on as time allows. Our tech team will be on hand providing sound for the band and answering your questions. Whether you’re looking for new song ideas or solutions to sound challenges in your congregation, you’ll leave with a lot of ideas and information.

• Standing in Awe Rev. Bruce Booher, First Lutheran Church, Plano, and member of the Steering Committee of the ELCA Alliance for Faith, Science, and Technology Reconnect with the experience of awe and discover how science helps reveal the wonders of God’s creation.

• The Economy’s Impact on Your Congregation Representatives from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Financial representatives will provide a brief economic update followed by a group discussion regarding how the economic environment has affected your congregation. Through best-practice sharing, we’ll discuss how Thrivent may be able to help.

• WELCA 2010 Ann Priester, NIS WELCA Triennial Promoter, and WELCA board members past and present Come and learn about exciting 2010 WELCA events in our synod and and learn about the upcoming triennial convention in Spokane, WA in July 2011.

• What is LYO and What Do We Do? Mary Lasits, Nicole Billips (Synod LYO President), and other LYO members We will talk about the Lutheran Youth Organization structure and what the Synod LYO has been doing, such as events, trips, roles, and more.

• What’s All the “Stew” about Stewardship? David Urewicz Explore all that’s involved in stewardship, from getting people involved to getting financial support.

• Where Have All the Young People Gone? Young Adult Ministry Primer Rev. Diane Dardón, campus pastor at NIU Lutheran Campus Ministry and Katy Resop, ELCA Program Assistant for Youth and Young Adult Ministries This workshop will provide congregations with tools and resources for engaging youth and young adults in the life of the congregation.

Session B

• Transforming Leadership for the Missional Church Dr. Craig Nessan, Keynote Speaker Transforming leadership involves the fostering of life-giving relationships. Transforming leaders mobilize God’s people to face their most difficult challenges. After defining the nature of transforming leadership, this workshop will explore ten core characteristics that congregations can implement to stimulate transformation. Predictable roadblocks will be noted, together with strategies for addressing them.

• Becoming a Truly Welcoming Congregation See description in session a. [Note: Q&A time in session c.]

• Congregational Renewal through the Practice of Jesus’ Spirituality See description in session a.

• Congregational Treasurers, Part 2: Salary Guidelines - What’s a Treasurer to Do? June Cain, NI Synod Bookkeeper Where should you place the numbers that define salary on the W-2? Learn definitions of income, allowance, and reimbursement.

• Connecting Generations in the Congregation Rev. Diane Dardón, campus pastor at the NIU Lutheran Campus Ministry Center Diane will discuss the barriers that keep generations separated within congregations. Participants will leave with ideas for connecting younger and older members and enriching congregational vitality.

• Constitution 201 Rev. Roger V. Asplund This workshop will review the model constitution for congregations of the ELCA, the process of amending your congregation’s constitution, and constitutional changes made at last year’s churchwide assembly.

• Creating an Endowment for Mission See description in session a.

• Diakonia: Adult Lay Education See description in session a.

• Facebook, Blogs and Twitter, Oh My! Katy Resop, ELCA Program Assistant for Youth and Young Adult Ministries Youth and young adults choose a variety of on-line social networks to communicate and stay connected. Learn the importance of these tools in reaching out to youth and young adults. And, discover how easily YOU can use these tools!

• Funding Congregational Outreach Ministries See description in session a.

• God in the Golden Years - A Bible Study John Prabhaker An in-depth Bible study for Christians in the golden years of their life. What is God’s plan at this stage of my life? What are God’s promises for people who are retired, about to retire, or who are mature Christians? What can we learn from the Bible about how God used people in their advanced years? If you have wondered about these questions, this may be the workshop for you.

• Immigration Reform and Social Justice: Beyond Postville, Iowa Peter Kivisto and Jason Mahu The ELCA convention in Minneapolis called for “no more Postvilles.” This workshop will explore how to address the need to reform our immigration policies to insure social justice for migrants.

• Inspiration through Short-Term Mission Trips Estuardo Dardón and Aaron Shoppa Estuardo Dardón has been leading international mission trips for eight years to Guatemala. Learn about these amazing trips and how they can inspire individuals and entire congregations. Aaron Shoppa will join Estuardo in telling the stories and helping you or your congregation prepare for an adventure in Guatemala that will create adventure and energy for the congregation.

• Lord, Teach Me to Pray (Pictorial Prayer Book) Esther Prabhaker Esther Prabhaker was born in a Christian family in India who have been Christians since 1730. She is a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Rochelle, and active in church and community. Esther is the immediate past Vice President of Northern Illinois Synod. She published her Pictorial Prayer Book which enriches daily quiet time with God. It is a combination prayer scrapbook and prayer journal. Esther does workshops and retreats on prayer all over the country.

• Ministry with Veterans and Families See description in session a.

• NIS Global Mission Update NIS Global Mission Teams Learn how your congregation can work together with an NIS Companion Congregation in Arusha, Tanzania, or in Tamil Nadu State, India. Find out about congregational connections, student and school and library sponsorships, and NIS mission trips. Learn how NIS works with ELCA-Global Mission, Lutheran Partners in Global Mission, and other agencies.

• Reducing Carbon Footprints in Congregations George Davis, Facilities Director, LOMC, and NIS Green Team Member Reducing carbon footprints in congregations as recommended at 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Learn simple ways to do these reductions. The Economy’s Impact on Your Congregation See description in session a.

• Visual Media in Worship Rev. Rob James and GPS Faith Community Worship Media Team, GPS Faith Community, an ELCA Mission Congregation in Machesney Park, will share resources they use for visual media in worship. There are lots of products available on the market, from software to pre-made graphics (still or motion). Please bring any resources you can share. We will talk about how to incorporate these resources into your worship. [Note: This workshop continues through session c.]

• WELCA 2010 See description in session a.

• What’s All the “Stew” about Stewardship? See description in session a.

• When Does Spaghetti Stick to the Wall? When it’s GOOD! – Part I January through June Melody L. Kuphal, Director of Contemporary Worship Ministries, Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Algonquin This workshop will provide a variety of practical creative worship ideas (and ministry ideas, too) that have worked in Light of Christ’s congregation and others. Some of these good “noodles” are sure to stick! [Note: Part II in session c will have different content than Part I. However, participants are welcome to attend either or both.]

• Why and How of Sabbaticals NI Synod Ministry Support Committee Intentional time for study and renewal benefits both the rostered leader and their congregation. Come and discover about the need for sabbaticals and how to plan for them.

Session C

• Bishop Wollersheim meets with all rostered leaders For those that cannot meet with Bishop during session c, please contact Julie Lewis to arrange to meet with Bishop over lunch.

• Becoming a Truly Welcoming Congregation - Question & Answer Time See topic description in session a.

• Bridgebuilders: A Process to Address Conflict Rev. Mark Oehlert Bridgebuilders is one way to address deep division in a congregation as movement toward new life.

• Café - www.boldcafe.org See description in session a.

• Congregational Renewal Through the Practice of Jesus’ Spirituality See description in session a.

• Congregational Treasurers, Part 3: What Is Mission Support and How Do We Incorporate It into Our Budget? June Cain, NI Synod Bookkeeper Learn the definition of Mission Support, where our offering goes, and many helps for developing a budget, performing the audit, etc. What should we keep and for how long?

• Constitution 201 See description in session b.

• Creating an Endowment for Mission See description in session a.

• Diakonia: Adult Lay Education See description in session a.

• Inspiration through Short-Term Mission Trips See description in session b.

• Lutheran Campus Ministry and LYO Go South Students from the NIU Lutheran Campus Ministry community and the NIS Lutheran Youth Organization These young people will describe their 2010 spring break mission work in building the School of the Saints in Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Learn how you and your congregation can help bring education to the poorest of the poor in Guatemala.

• NIS Global Mission Update See description in session b.

• Standing in Awe See description in session a.

• The Economy’s Impact on Your Congregation See description in session a.

• The Incredible India Experience of the 2010 Youth Delegation Esther Prabhakar, Russ Senti, Nese Msseemmaa See how international companionships lead us to give and receive blessings of God. This program will be of interest to those who have a companion relationship and those who are interested in developing it, as well as LYO, WELCA, and all other ministries. Come and enjoy!

• Visual Media in Worship [Note: This workshop is continued from session b.] See description in session b.

• When Does Spaghetti Stick to the Wall? – Part II July through December Melody L. Kuphal, Director of Contemporary Worship Ministries, Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Algonquin This workshop will offer a variety of practical creative worship ideas (and ministry ideas, too) that worked in our congregation and others. Some of these good “noodles” are sure to stick! [Note: Part I in session b will have different content than Part II. However, participants are welcome to attend either or both.]

• Where Have All the Young People Gone? See description in session a.

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