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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20261015T140032Z
UID:134-913@semnsynod.org
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260314
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260314
CLASS:PUBLIC
CREATED:20260312T115500
DESCRIPTION:Who: This event is open to council members\, church staff\, la
 y leaders\, and rostered ministers.\nWhen: Saturday\, March 14\, 2026\nTi
 me: 9 AM to 3:30 PM\nWhere: St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin\nCost: $
 20 per person (non-refundable) \nRegistration deadline: March 2\n**We are
  monitoring weather conditions for Saturday. If this event is postponed du
 e to weather\, we will email attendees and update this page and Facebook w
 ith that information.**\nCouncils as Leaders equips and empowers the peopl
 e of the synod with practical tools and collegial connections to support t
 hem as they participate in God’s mission within their congregations and 
 communities. This event is open to council members\, church staff\, lay le
 aders\, and rostered ministers.\nInvite Your Congregation\nConsider sharin
 g this opportunity with your leaders! Use the Printable bulletin insert o
 r  Promotional video (watch or download).\nAgenda\n9-9:30 AM: Coffee and 
 fellowship\n9:30-10 AM: Bishop's Welcome\n10:10-11:10 AM: Workshop Session
  One\n11:10-11:30: Break and Resource Fair\n11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Workshop Se
 ssion Two\n12:30-1:30 PM: Lunch &amp\; Resource Fair\n1:30-2:30 PM: Affini
 ty Groups\n2:40-3:10 PM: Congregation Recap Time\n3:10-3:30 PM: Closing Co
 mmissioning\nWorkshops\nAll attendees will receive a printed copy of the w
 orkshop details\, or you may view/download the handout here.\nBringing the
  ELCA Social Statement on Civic Life and Faith to your Congregation\nFacil
 itator: Dr. Stewart Herman\nSessions One and Two\nThe ELCA Churchwide Asse
 mbly 2025 has adopted a social statement on faith and civic life\, the rel
 ationship of religious organizations and political authority\, and related
  matters. Social statements are the ELCA’s primary documents to address 
 significant social issues. They are intended to aid reflection\, shape con
 science and set forth the ELCA’s teaching and policy on the major social
  issues and questions of contemporary life. Join Dr. Stuart Herman to lear
 n about this social statement and how you might engage with it in your con
 gregation for meaningful dialogue about this topic.\nConversation with Cou
 ncil Presidents\nFacilitators: three current and former Presidents: Chris 
 Cordes (First\, Kenyon)\; Lisa Queen (Our Savior’s\, Owatonna)\; Karen 
 Kleinwort (Faith\, Dodge Center)\; Brian Ehlert (Good Shepherd\, Wells)\; 
 Kathy Chatelaine\, facilitator\nSession One\nChurch council leaders serve 
 with faithfulness\, creativity and courage. The role of president can be p
 articularly challenging – and rewarding! Led by current and past council
  presidents\, this workshop will provide you with an overview of best prac
 tices for presidents. Come to learn and share ideas!\nDisability &amp\; Mi
 nistry\nFacilitator: Deacon Amanda Sabelko\nSession One\nMinistry with peo
 ple living with disabilities is essential work\, but too often treated as
  optional. 1 in 4 people experience a disability at any given moment\, an
 d almost everyone will experience disability during their lifetime. In th
 is workshop\, you learn about the importance of this work and leave with p
 ractical action steps for your context. \nReaching the Goldfish\nFacilita
 tor:  Ashley Corbett\nSession One\nIn case you didn’t know\, the attent
 ion span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. The average human attention span is s
 horter. (And getting shorter.) What this means for ministry leaders trying
  to get messages to people is that it is really hard. (And getting harder.
 ) We will look at what we know about human nature\, learn how to identify 
 our audiences\, and explore different ways to share effectively. While you
  won’t walk away with all the answers\, the intention is that you will h
 ave new ideas and strategies to reach your goldfish… I mean people.\nVib
 rant Communication Through Stories \nFacilitator: Rev. Dr. Scott Olson\nSe
 ssion Two\nHelp your communications come alive through the power of story.
  This workshop will demonstrate how congregational communications can have
  a greater impact when we share ways God has shown up on our lives. We bel
 ieve that God continues to work in\, with\, and through us to accomplish G
 od's mission to love and bless the world. The stories must be told. See ho
 w temple talks\, newsletters\, annual reports\, and even ministry spending
  plans (aka: budgets) communicate God's powerful presence. \nProviding a 
 Quality Call for Rostered Ministers \nFacilitators: Rev. Cole McCormick\, 
 Rev. Lisa Meshke\, and Rev. Alison Bondy\nSession Two\nThis workshop will 
 give you statistics\, background\, and strategies to help your congregatio
 ns provide a quality call for your rostered minister(s) and insight into a
 llyship.\nDiscerning Your Congregation's Call: How a Clear Mission\, Visio
 n\, and Values Help Shape Faith Communities \nFacilitators: Rev. Todd Bue
 gler and Rev. Tim Bowman\nSession Two\nVital\, dynamic\, and mission-focus
 ed congregations are clear about both their "why" and their "how." In our 
 time together\, we will reflect on practices that help leaders hear where 
 God may be calling their congregation now and into the future. Then\, we w
 ill focus on how to live out that vision in everyday ministry through a th
 oughtful and integrated strategic planning process.\nWe will explore pract
 ical ways to align mission\, vision\, and values with decision-making\, mi
 nistry priorities\, and community engagement so they become more than word
 s on a page.\nThis workshop is designed to be both reflective and practica
 l\, offering tools and perspectives that help congregations lead with purp
 ose\, remain rooted in their identity\, and serve their communities with c
 larity\, collaboration\, and hope.\nTaking Excellent Care: Faithful Financ
 es for Courageous Councils \nFacilitator: Rev. Emily Carson\nSession One\n
 A steward is one who takes excellent care of what has been entrusted to th
 em. In this workshop\, council leaders and treasurers (and any interested 
 pastors\, deacons and lay leaders) will explore financial best practices a
 nd stewardship strategies. Participants will gain tools\, language\, and c
 onfidence to lead congregational financial ministries with integrity\, tra
 nsparency\, and hope - ensuring that resources are aligned with ministry\,
  mission and values.\nReimagining Youth Ministry\nFacilitators: Rev. Sam 
 Mailleue and Rev. Brittany Mailleue\nThis will be a conversation that eng
 ages in an authentic approach to meet our youth where they are in ways tha
 t they function in the world. The demands on our youth are high\, so we mu
 st reimagine how we\, as the church\, can support them in a fast-paced\, o
 ver-scheduled life. How can we help them reclaim sabbath? \n \n \n 
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T115500
LOCATION:St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin
SUMMARY:Councils As Leaders 2026
URL;VALUE=URI:https://semnsynod.org/events/councils-as-leaders-2026/2026-03
 -14
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