Welcome to the Southwestern Minnesota Synod
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The congregations and all the baptized who are the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are claimed by this mission:
God places us in cities, farms and towns together under one prairie sky. The Risen Christ surprises us with opportunities to plant God's Word in the world. Walking together in confidence, we cultivate life-giving congregations, nurture partner ministries, and cooperate in the life of the ELCA. By God's grace, together we have what we need.
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Contact Us:
Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
PO Box 499
Redwood Falls, Minnesota 56283
507-637-3904 (voice)│507-637-2809 (fax)
swmn.elca@ecunet.org
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Peace be with you
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:21-23
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2008 Synod Assembly, June 13-15
The 2008 Southwestern Minnesota Synod Assembly will be held on June 13-15, 2008 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. About 900 persons from throughout the synod will meet to worship God; to deliberate carefully and faithfully on the business of the synod; to learn from God’s Word about the life and mission God has given us; and to enjoy fellowship with God’s people.
“Come and Follow Me” has been selected as this year’s theme centered on the theme text, II Corinthians 5:16-20. Rev. Craig Nesssan, Director of Contextual Education, Academic Dean of Wartburg Seminary has been secured as our Bible Study leader. Rev. Rafael Malpica, Executive Director Global Mission will be our churchwide representative and Bishop Louis Sibiya of the South-Eastern Diocese of Southern Africa will also be present and participate.
Below is the link to our registration form. Registration forms should be sent to the SW MN Synod office along with payment. If you have any questions regarding the Synod Assembly, please contact Donna Ihrke or Liza Eekhoff at the Synod Office at 507-637-3904.
Donna Ihrke or
Liza Eekhoff
2008 Registration Form
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Fund for Leadership Support
Offering Hope for Rural Ministry -- In recent decades, educational costs have risen dramatically, but rural economies have not risen at the same pace. Current seminary graduates, averaging individual educational indebtedness of $40,000, cannot easily serve on beginning rural pastoral salaries.
Priorities of the Fund for Leadership Support include:
SW MN Synod Fund for Leaders in Mission
• increasing the level of financial support for seminarians from the Southwestern Minnesota Synod preparing for ministry in the ELCA
• reducing the need for seminarians to take out loans to finance their seminary education
• encouraging more individuals to consider entering seminary
SW Mn Synod Pastoral Debt Reduction Fund
• reducing indebtedness of seminary-trained rostered leaders serving in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod by making supplemental educational loan payments
• helping clergy to serve our smaller congregations despite receiving lower compensation than available in our larger congregations
SW MN Synod Pension Equity Fund
• supplementing pension payments for rostered leaders serving in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod and enrolled in the ELCA Board of Pensions plan whose compensation is below the ELCA average
For more information about the Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Fund for Leadership Support, contact:
Bill Elmstrom
Planned Giving Coordinator
744 Highland Hwy.
Ortonville, MN 56278
1-800-542-0942
elmstrom@wat.midco.net
To download brochure
click here.
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Saturday, May 17th Leading the Assembly’s Song
Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church
Olivia, MN
9:00 am to noon (coffee and lefse available at 8:30)
Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Leading the assembly’s song
Leading worshipers in singing is a unique art and skill. Those with extensive training in music will discover new ways of thinking and leading singing. Those with limited experience will be nurtured and encouraged with practical, hands-on ideas. The diverse repertoire of assembly song in ELW will be explored.
This is a pilot workshop lead by the Scott Weidler from the ELCA Churchwide office in Chicago. Scott will be seeking feedback from SWMN participates in shaping a workshop that will serve the whole church in helping worship leaders in developing skills for leading singing.
Yes, we know for some in southwestern Minnesota May 17 is a national Norwegian Holiday (Syttende Mai), so even though Cross of Calvary was once First Swedish Lutheran Church, they will be serving lefse on Saturday morning with coffee!
There is no cost to you for attending this event, but we would ask that you notify Cross of Calvary if you plan to attend. They can be reached at 320-523-1574 or at
crossofcalvary@redred.com
2007 Bishop's Report
To download your copy click here:
2007 Bishop's Report
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Governance Document
To download your copy click here:
Governance Doc.
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Our travelers have safely returned from South Africa
You can still read our traveler's reflections about the trip, check out this blog.
South Africa Blog
Or, you can view our African Photo Gallery by clicking here:
Photo Gallery
Supplement to the 2008 Rostered Person Report Form
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Supplement to the 2008 Rostered Person Report Form
Annual reports for rostered persons were sent out in mid-December. One of the pieces includes the "Supplement to the 2008 Annual Report." If you prefer, you may download this form and email it back to
donna.ihrke@ecunet.org.
Click here to download form.
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Congregational Leadership Forms
To download the Congregational Leadership Form for your church, click here:
Congregational Leadership Form
Play the Vocabulary Game to Feed the Hungry
Play the vocabulary game -- do it every day. Feed the hungry (for free)! Get Smart. What could be better??
Go to:
www.freerice.com
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Conference Chairpersons for 2007-08
Conference Deans and Chairpersons recently met at the synod office. Pictured here are the conference chairs from left to right: Denny Schmidt (Watonwan River), Bob Dalager (Glacial Ridge), Eddie Wordes (Scenic Valley), Deb Robinson (Great River), Marv Isder (Shetek), Ardis Henriksen (Prairie), Curtis Nordaune (Lac qui Parle), Dorothy Stenberg (Crow River). Not pictured: Gwen Krebsbach (Lakeland) and Charley Hartley (Minnesota Valley).
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Synod Poster and Brochure
At the Fall Theological Conference we passed out colored posters of our synod, conferences and congregations. We hope this is helpful to interpret to your parishioners the boundaries and the congregations of our synod.
Click on
Map of Synod to download.
We have also created a synod brochure, which we hope you will find helpful. It includes: Fast Facts, Values, What Is Up in the Synod? and more.
Click on
Synod Brochure to download.
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Sign up for Synod E-News
To better facilitate our communication with you, we send out a weekly
Synod E-News. To sign up, email
swmn.elca@ecunet.org and type "subscribe to E-News" in the subject line.
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Created on 2003-02-04 10:24:27 by admin
Updated on 2008-05-06 14:02:57 by Sarah
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