Saturday 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Workshops
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Workshops
Saturday, April 28 offerings include a luncheon session with PLTS, followed by a choice of all afternoon service projects or two consecutive afternoon workshops. Registration is required.
Click HERE for pre-assembly discussions with our workshop presenters!
Funding the Mission
Presented by The Rev. Glenn Chase, Oregon Synod Director of Evangelical Mission, and members of the BELIEVE Team
This workshop is about funding the mission of your congregations. We will offer traditional Stewardship Ideas for your congregations. We will also be looking at "outside the box" funding including, "Not Your Parent's Offering Plate" and other non-traditional funding.
Examples of Ecumenical Cooperation
Presented by Bob Vogel, Sunriver Christian Fellowship
In the Oregon Synod we have 13 ministry sites of congregations linked for mission, and six of those are ecumenical relationships. Come hear the stories of cretivity, joy, discipleship, and enriched relationships. This is the wave of the future. The ELCA has full pulpit and altar fellowship with six denominations: Presbyterian Church, USA; United Church of Christ; The Moravian Church; Reformed Church in American; The Episcopal Church, and the United Methodist Church.
Care for Creation: Focus for Mission & Church Renewal
Presented by Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin and Rev. Brian Brandt, Ph.D.
Two emerging models in Oregon Synod congregations make “Care for Creation” a guiding vision for the Christian life. The Rev. Brian Brandt, Ph.D., outlines “Creationtide” – a new model of spirituality, ethics, and worship to support the Church’s Care for Creation. The Rev. Solveig Nilsen-Goodin describes “Ecology of Grace & Justice for our Times: Organizing in the Bio-Commons for Lutherans” – a five month course inviting Lutherans, lay and clergy, to deepen their understanding of the world’s economic and ecological crises; engage Church tradition to respond theologically and spiritually to these crises; build relationships based on common interests and concerns; and agitate imaginative local responses to these crises. Presentations will take about half our time; followed by Q&A, discussion, networking.
"Disorganizing and Reorganizing for Mission - Listening for a Change Part II"
Presented by Wendy Hall, Organizer/Developer for Leaven Project, and The Rev. Terry Moe, Lead Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Portland
This workshop will teach an intentional process of building a listening season, a campaign of one-to-one meetings, house meetings and all-congregational gatherings to identify and move mission from the ground up. Part of this workshop will focus on the practical aspects of doing a listening season, and part will be reflection from leaders from several different congregations who have done listening seasons in their communities.
Presented by Stacy Kitahata and Donna Hertzfeldt-Kamprath
Missional Practices for Strategic Planning in Congregations
Presented by The Rev. Michael Keys, Oregon Synod Director of Evangelical Mission
What is next for our congregation? There is no one model, program, book, or resource that will answer this question. How does strategic planning happen in this ever-changing environment? What are missional practices for the 21st century context?
Reconciling in Christ - We Welcome Everybody!
Presented by Vicky Charlston and Karen Jolly, Central Lutheran, Portland - Portland Metro Chapter of Lutherans Concerned
How might becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation impact our church and our public welcome? Learn about the Reconciling in Christ program in the ELCA and find out what members of local churches have experienced as they discussed intentional welcome and what has happened after they have become a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
A Trip Into the Food Forest – Afternoon with the Nativity Garden and Common Table programs.
Presented by Ron Werner from Nativity in Bend
This workshop option will take both afternoon sessions, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at a common meeting place at Sunriver and ending back at Sunriver no later than 4:30 p.m.
The session will take participants to Nativity’s garden (including the 75-tree orchard known as the Food Forest), and on to the non-profit café operated by a multi-denominational partnership of Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian communities in downtown Bend called Common Table.
This afternoon will provide an in-depth and in-context learning experience about how these two programs were envisioned and developed as a direct expression of faith being ‘brought outside’ the walls of the church. The garden draws over 50 community volunteers each week during the growing season, who make it possible to provide fresh, locally sourced produce for the Common Table café, where on any given day, people from different walks of life and faith find themselves sharing an excellent meal and conversation together where some pay—and some don’t.
The afternoon will include time for participants to ask questions about the two programs and how they might be adapted to other places, along with an opportunity for participants to talk together about how their own localities are working on community involvement focusing on positive change.
Questions? Call the Synod Office at (503) 413-4191.
