Keeping health care affordable: It’s up to us
3/26/08 - ELCA Board of Pensions health plan architect, Brad Joern, explains why wellness is a key to more affordable health care.

Get your Health Risk Assessment done by the end of March to help us reach our goal by April! (all people with health insurance through the ELCA Board of Pensions, including spouses but not including dependents or those covered by Medicare, are eligible for the assessment at the Personal Wellness Account rewards!)

Bishop Usgaard's Easter Message
3/17/08 - "If Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain...But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead."
(I Cor 15)

Someone once told me that "but" changes everything. When the conjunction "but" appears, it really doesn't matter what has gone before. What becomes the focus is where one stands after the "but."

"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead." That is the message. That is the good news. That is the proclamation of Easter. And everything that has gone before is swallowed up - just like death - in this announcement.

Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality Released
3/13/08 - The ELCA Draft Statement on Human Sexuality is now available to the public. Please note that it is a "draft," and not the final proposal. Every member of the ELCA has the opportunity to critique the draft with a response form furnished at its conclusion.

Synod Council Highlights
3/12/08 - The synod council met February 23 at Assisi Heights, Rochester, Minn. Below are highlights from their meeting:

• Received a report from Bishop Usgaard on disbursement of more than $155,000 of flood relief to congregations in the synod.
• Received a preliminary audit report for 2007 and designated $50,000 of surplus undesignated income to fund ministry partners at 100% of budget and designated $45,000 to fund sabbaticals for 2009 and 2010.
• Revised the 2008 adopted budget to reflect anticipated congregational intents.
• Proposed a 2009 budget for the Synod Assembly of $2,298,000.
• Adopted a report of the 2007 Budget Task Force to publish with the 2008 and 2009 budgets.
• Extended Letters of Call for interim ministry to Rev. Robert Kleinke, Rev. Lyndon West, and Rev. David Beckstrom.
• Approved the constitution of Rejoice, Northfield.
• Received a report from the Executive Committee approving the bishop's sabbatical July - September 2008.

The next Synod Council meeting is April 5 at Salem Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, MN.