ELCA Regional and Synod Events

 

Regional Global Gatherings

Each synod is encouraged to send leaders in global mission, world hunger, the malaria campaign and companion synod relationships to consultations held annually in each ELCA region. Registration is handled through synod and regional offices.

Save the dates for the upcoming events.

See photos, handouts and highlights from the 2011 Gatherings, from the 2010 Gatherings or see the report on the 2009 Regional Global Gatherings.

Companion Synod Consultations

For ELCA synod leaders relating to companions in particular countries or continents. Registration is handled through the synod offices.

Middle East – June 17, 2012, in Washington, DC (plus ELCA dinner at Churches for Middle East Peace on June 18)
CAR – August 6-7, 2012, in Minneapolis, MN
Namibia – May 17-20, 2012, in Namibia
Madagascar – August 24-25, 2012, in Chicago, IL

For more information, contact your synod office or your Global Mission contact:

• Barbara Berry-Bailey — for companions in Africa
• Mary Campbell — for companions in Latin America
• Franklin Ishida — for companions in Asia and the Pacific
• Julie Rowe — for companions in Europe and the Middle East

Take the Plunge into a deeper spirituality

Experience the global faith community at the ecumenical centers in Geneva, Switzerland, and Taize, France.

Dates: May 29-June 9, 2013.

Schedule: For four days, young adults from Canada and the United States will visit the Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches in Geneva to learn how we are connected across the globe through the church. Then they will travel to the Taize community in southern France for a retreat week. There they will experience firsthand the unique style of worship and music that arises from that community as it welcomes youth from across the globe.

Sponsors:

• Northeastern Iowa Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 
• Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)

Get involved two ways:

• Young adults age 18-29 from across the ELCA are encouraged to apply for the 2013 group. Please encourage them to contact Pr. Mark Anderson at andersonm@neiasynod.org for more information and an application form. 
• Synods or ministry are encouraged to sponsor a Plunge group in 2014 or later. This will create a sustainable network that offers this opportunity annually instead of just one time only. Interested synods or ministries would need to send an "observer learner" with the 2013 group to learn how to lead a future group. Please contact Pr. Mark Anderson at andersonm@neiasynod.org or Pr. Lanny Westphal at lanny.westphal@elca.org with your questions.

Thank you for considering this invitation to deepen our understanding and participation in the global communion. Join us in celebrating this new step in our pilgrimage together in Christ!

Pr. Mark Anderson, Northeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA
Pr. Larry Ulrich and Sarah Gelhom, Manitoba / Northern Ontario Synod, ELCIC
Pr. Lanny Westphal, ELCA churchwide organization 

Synod Events

Global Village
Saturday June 30 - Tuesday July 3, 2012 
Pine Lake Camp, Waupaca WI

Join us for an international, inter-generational, multi-cultural gathering of God’s people of all ages. Fun for the whole family! Discover the meaning of “accompaniment” as a way of life in which we become more aware and attentive of all relationships.

Keynote Speakers:
     •  Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, Executive Director of the ELCA Global Mission unit
     •  Bishop Jim Justman, East Central Synod of Wisconsin
     •  Rev. Charles Zang, Lutheran World Relief Congregational Engagement Manager 
Bible Study Leader: 
     •  Rev. Dr. Philip Knutson, ELCA Global Mission Regional Program Assistant in
        Southern Africa 
Worship Leader: 
     •  Becky Luett, AIM from Grace Lutheran Church, Winchester 
Music: 
     •  Provided by South African visitors, international seminarians, and camp staff 
Crossways’ International Counselors: 
     •  from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa - Western Diocese 
Visitors from Madikwe Circuit: 
     •  representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa 
         including: Rev Solomon Seaketso, Circuit Dean, Dr. Benjamin Molokoe, Circuit
         Partnership Chair 
International Seminarians: 
     •  from Luther Seminary, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and Wartburg 
        Seminary 
Church Leaders: 
     •  from LWR, ELCA Global Mission and ELCA Synodical Bishops

Your synod can publicize its global mission event by sending a web link along with the event's name, location, and date, to Lanny.Westphal@elca.org.