04/23/2012
A message from Bishop Holloway for Rostered and Lay Leaders
Dear Colleagues:
Blessings to you in the name of Jesus! I pray that your Easter season activities and ministry are going well and that you are in good health. Laurie and I thank you for your expressions of comfort regarding her recent knee surgery. She is recovering well and has returned to work.
Our church, the ELCA, continues to face the challenges of reduced budgets and personnel. We are doing remarkably well, under the circumstances. Often, dealing with all the changes in the structure can be a burden to all of us. There is an increasing amount of time and effort on the part of synod bishops, ELCA and synod staff, and others to align budgets, programs, and bureaucracies (yes, bureaucracies can be of good use). This is necessary if we are to be good stewards of resources, tend to ministries that feed the hungry, provide for the education and growth of disciples, advocate for the voiceless, evangelize more effectively, and speak to matters that impact society. The future looks brighter and I pray that it is the future God intends for us.
I send this note to everyone because the items below are actions that will help with budgets, budget planning, and program planning. Your help is needed with the following:
Rostered Leaders
- If you (or your spouse) have not taken the Portico/Mayo Clinic Health Assessment, please do so immediately. It will save your congregation or employing agency 2% on health premium costs, give you at least $150 toward your out of pocket medical expenses, and allow the synod to receive $30,000+. My plan, should the extra money be achieved, is to apply it to upgrading our Rostered Leaders Conference and our assistance/wellness ministry for rostered leaders and families. We only have about 10 business days left to do this. Deadline is April 30.
- Rostered Leader Reports to the Bishop are past due, but not too late to be useful. These help in the management of the call and mobility process, help me to advise and advocate for pastoral compensation, and to flag areas where the Bishop’s office can provide more effective partnership support to leaders and congregations.
- Please complete and submit the current Parochial Reports for your congregation. Less than half have been received thus far this year. They are needed by the synod and ELCA for assessment and planning purposes. Congregational staff or officers can do this easily.
All Congregational Leaders
- SynodFest 2012 is coming along amazingly well. Registration is opening at a good rate and there seems to be a growing excitement. Lots of workshops, service opportunities, and recreational and fellowship options abound. Register now and spread the word. There is something for everyone. And the price is right!
- If your congregation has not sent the synod office its Estimate of Giving for 2012 Mission Support, please do so immediately. It can always be amended as conditions dictate. The Synod Council, synod staff & committees, and ELCA churchwide offices depend on this information so we can all be better stewards. It all rests upon knowing what congregations are planning or hoping to do for support of the church and the huge number of affiliated and direct ministries that depend on us. Help us avoid mid-year funding cuts to our ministries due to a lack of accurate financial information.
- If there are individuals or congregations thinking about supporting the “Roll Away the Stone” appeal, we can support another Faith Trek experience for our young Lutherans. Scores of young people from our congregations have made the effort to contact me directly asking for participation in the program. It can happen if we get enough financial support…despite the economy.
Your help with these administrative items will go a long way in assisting the synod and Churchwide organization in planning for the coming year.
I ask that you keep me in your prayers. I will certainly do the same for you, your families, your ministry, our congregations, and God’s greater mission of which we are a part.
Your partner in the Gospel,
Cal Holloway
Bishop, Southern Ohio Synod