2023 Intent to Give - ONE percent campaign

What did your congregation give to the Southeastern Synod in 2022?  Ask your congregational leaders!

How has your life or your congregation been positively impacted by the work of the synod?  Ask your congregational leaders if you don't know! 

A 1% increase in mission support from your congregation also means that the synod continues to serve you and your congregation in greater ways.  We receive with one hand, and give with other.  That small increase means an opportunity for God to bless what we have and multiply this into ministry.

Prayers for All Traveling to Israel with Bishop Strickland and Pr. Jill Henning

January 1-10, 2023, Bishop Kevin Strickland and Assistant to the Bishop Pr. Jill Henning will be traveling with 50 synod participants in a trip to the Holy Land. 

Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare for this formative journey.

MLK Days of Service Mission Trip - Waverly, TN

January 16-20, 2023

Come and be a part of rebuilding or repairing the home of a family that lost so much in the August 2021 floods. Building skills are great but not essential for this trip! There are plenty tasks for all skill levels!  Our housing is being provided by First United Methodist Church in Waverly. 

We hope to have a team of 15-16 volunteers. You can be one of them! 

"Flip the Switch" - a Stewardship Workshop  

Saturday, January 28, 2023 

10:00-11:30am ET / 9:00-10:30am CT

This will be a workshop (held via Zoom) for Lay Leaders of our Synod congregations to offer Resources for Stewardship, Suggestions for “Making the Ask,” and other valuable tools.  This workshop will help you update your Stewardship webpage, reach people through generosity, and "Flipping the Switch" from transactional Stewardship to Transformational!! 

Register now for this informative event and be ready for a transformative discussion about being a vital congregation for Giving, Gratitude, and Generosity!

Synod Discernment Retreat

February 10-11, 2023

Lutheranch, Tallapoosa, GA

Hosted by Bishop Kevin Strickland.

Each of us has been called by God in the waters of our baptism and while being called into the priesthood of all believers is a gift in itself, trying to figure out what that means is not quite so easy. 

Join us to discern how God has called you and is calling you today!

Cost and details in the link above.

2023 Synod Assembly Elections Information and Nomination Forms

2023 Synod Assembly will take place June 2-4, 2023, in Chattanooga, TN.

At the 2023 Synod Assembly, we will hold elections for Synod Vice President, Synod Treasurer, (Lay) At-Large members of Synod Council, as well as Consultation and Discipline Committee members.

Details in this article will help you understand our goals for elections in 2023.

Word & Prayer Ministry (in Spanish) 

Shepherd of the Hills (Birmingham) holds a Word and Prayer Ministry in Spanish the 1^st Sunday of each month at 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET. The Rev. Ed Cortes leads the service in Spanish and invites all who understand Spanish to participate. 

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Shepherd of the Hills (Birmingham) realiza un servicio de palabra y oración en español el primer domingo de cada mes a las 2:30pm CT / 3:30pm ET. El Rev. Ed Cortes dirige el servicio y invita a todas y todos que entienda español a participar.

ELCA Introduces "Journi"

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is pleased to introduce Journi, a web-based tool designed to help people discern their call to leadership in the ELCA.

Journi.faith is an online tool that connects people with programs and ministries from across the ELCA. By creating a free account with Journi, a person can take the ELCA Spiritual Gifts Personality Quiz, which will identify their top five spiritual gifts, and receive content recommendations based on those gifts.

Region 9 Boundaries & Inclusion Training (Last Chance!!!)

Monday, January 9, 2023

10am-3pm ET / 9am-2pm CT

The ELCA Region 9 Bishops’ Relational Agreement for Boundaries, Candidacy, and Call Process points out that our synods are “committed to always reforming for the health of leaders, vitality of congregations, and the flourishing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we agree to work together as a region to address systemic issues facing rostered ministers who are women. Together, we will work to create a culture change in our region through deepening trust and relationship—creating authentic avenues for reporting, responding, education, advocacy, and care.”

The focus for this training is Gender Justice and Inclusion Boundaries Education.   

This event is only for those who missed the previous 3 opportunities in October 2022

This is the FOURTH and FINAL opportunity for rostered ministers to participate in this required Regional event. 

Please contact Pr. Justin Eller (jeller@elca-ses.org) if you have any questions. 

A Hot Mess: "Tackling a Congregation’s Messy and Missing Records" (a 4-part series)

If you are a parish administrator, church secretary, pastor, or church archivist who is overwhelmed by the state of your parish register, church files, or archives; we are here to help. In partnership with Pastor Mary Anderson of Columbia, SC, and other Synods, we are offering a 4-week Zoom workshop from 10-11 am EST on Mondays: January 23, January 30, February 6, and February 13, 2023.

Cost: $30

Region 9 Stewardship Symposium

Friday, January 27, 2023 - 10am-5pm ET

Stavros Lecture Hall - LTSS, Columbia, SC

Cost: $20 for in-person; $10 for online

"Financial Accountability and Empowerment for Missional Leaders" with keynote by Bonnie Ives Marden

In-Person registration includes a free lunch and a complimentary copy of Bonnie’s book, “Church Finances for Missional Leaders: Best Practices in Financial Stewardship.”

ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission

The ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-29 into a transformative, year-long journey in international service. As they offer themselves in service, ELCA young adults are shaped by the witness of our global neighbors. They share in the journeys of companion churches and organizations in one of nine countries around the world.

Applications for the 2023-2024 YAGM service year will be open from Nov. 1, 2022 through Feb. 1, 2023. Priority will be given to those who apply before Jan. 15.

Rostered Ministers Gathering - Registration now OPEN!!!

July 17-20, 2023 - Phoenix, AZ

As a Rostered Minister in the ELCA, you are invited to join colleagues under the theme of "Rekindle the gift within you". (2 Timothy 1:6).

Let this gathering be an opportunity for you to remember, reclaim, rekindle and revive yourself. Gathering with colleagues from across the church for fellowship, renewal, continuing education, worship, bible study and refreshment for your spirit.

All rostered ministers are invited (active in call, on leave from call, awaiting call, retired).