Oct. 9 Cluster Meeting Notes

Rosanna Cartwright and I attended the Cluster meeting on Oct 9 at Emanuel Church in Moscow. This meeting was to go over what will take place in the process of the Bishop call. With us in the process of a pastor call we really felt it necessary to see how this could affect us. There were 9 people in attendance representing 6 churches of the Palouse. Both of us found the meeting quite enlightening and interesting. It is always nice to meet with other people that are having some of the similar struggles we are having.
The next meeting is scheduled for Nov 20 at Emanuel in Moscow 4-6, they are hoping to get more people at the next meeting. it would be nice to see between 3 and 4 people there to represent out congregation. Nominations for Bishops will be done at that time.

Cluster Meeting Agenda- Information & Conversations on the Bishop’s Election

AGENDA

Conference/Cluster Meetings

A Conversation Regarding the Election of a Synod Bishop

Welcome/Purpose of Gathering

• Introductions
• Agenda and timeline for meeting
• Election of a synod bishop: discernment and call process

Worship and Bible Study/Dwelling in the Word

• Devotion/Opening Prayer
• Leading God’s People – Part 1
• 1. Leader: Exodus 18: 1-12
• 2. Table group discussion: Exodus 18: 13-2
• Discussion questions:
• What attributes or qualities are needed by God’s people?
• What challenges will leaders face?
• What is God saying about the gifts needed in a leader?

3. Reports from table groups and discussion

Overview of Bishop Election Process

• Explanation of governing document provisions
• Explanation of timetable, if there will be a pre-assembly nomination process

The Synod We Are

• Overview of Research and Evaluation reports and data
• What is a synod?

1. Working definition: “to walk alongside” or “to accompany”

2. ELCA Constitutional provisions

• ELCA Synod constitutional provisions S8.11, S8.12, S9.04
• Constitution for Synods, Chapter 6

3. Synod mission statement/strategic plan

• Appoint a Scribe to record discussion’s key points.
• Table group discussions

1. Discussion questions:

• hat are we able to do better as a synod and congregations working together for the sake of Christ’s mission than as individual congregations?
• Considering the definition and responsibilities of a synod and this synod’s mission statement and strategic plan, what has the synod done well and what has it done not so well in the last six years?
• What should be the primary priorities for synod ministry in the next six years?
• What should congregations in the synod expect of the synod’s bishop in the next six years?
• What should the synod's bishop expect of congregations in the synod in the next six years?

2. Reports from table groups and discussion

 

The Bishop We Seek

• Overview of responsibilities of the bishop (+S8.12)
• Table group discussions

1. Discussion question:

• In light of the Bible study and discussion today, what are the spiritual gifts and leadership attributes that are the most important for a bishop in this synod in the next six years?

2. Reports from table groups and discussion

 

Concluding Comments/Invitation to Congregational Conversations

 

Closing Prayer

                                                    Palouse Cluster Responses:

 

!. What are we able to do better as a synod and congregations working together for the sake of Christ’s mission than as individual congregations?

• Resourcing of ideas (share ideas so that we don’t re-invent the wheel)
• As congregations have fewer and fewer resources on their own, it becomes more important to share resources amongst each other
• Work together more
• Connections made at Synod Assembly are energizing
• Ideas for ministry shared at Synod Assembly – “Synod Shorts”
• Combined youth events and other events
• Education – seminaries, colleges, campus ministry, LCSNW
• Together do synod-make it stronger
• Strengthen congregations
1. Considering the definition and responsibilities of a synod and this synod’s mission statement and strategic plan, what has the synod done well and what has it done not so well in the last six years?
• Done well
1. Net-worker idea
2. Transformation – asked hard questions/try something new
3. All are welcomeFriendly synod – we like one another
4. Relationship building
5. Synod Assemblies (fellowship, getting together, workshops, worship)

• Things done not so well
• Communication with congregations
• Clusters not functioning
• Not capitalizing on friendliness and relationship building
• Costly Synod Assemblies

3. What should be the primary priorities for synod ministry in the next six years?
• Robust conversations about what is happening in congregations
• Get reconnected with the congregations
• Strengthen congregations
• Strengthen the relationships between ministries of the synod
• Encourage partnership
• We are decreasing in numbers, and we need each other
4. What should congregations in the synod expect of the synod’s bishop in the next six years?
• Communicator
• Pastoral care to congregations—bishop visit each congregation and listen (and/or Skype, etc.)
• To challenge us to do better and hold us accountable
• Give guidance
• Teach, give resources—hold us accountable
• Take 2 years to intentionally to plan strategically
• Visionary
• Entrepreneurial
• Willingness to look outside the box
5. What should the synod's bishop expect of congregations in the synod in the next six years?
• Engagement with synodical ministries
• Prayer
• Willingness to be disciples, apostles, and evangelists
• Be welcoming/intentionally inviting
• Holy hilarity
6. In light of the Bible study and discussion today, what are the spiritual gifts and leadership attributes that are the most important for a bishop in this synod in the next six years?
• Really, really connected to God
• Spiritual leader
• Relational, listening healer
• Sharing of leadership
• Delegating
• Humility
• Discernment

October 9th Readings

First Reading:
2 Kings 5:1-3  (NIV)

5 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.^[a]

² Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. ³ She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:7-15
⁷ As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”
⁸ When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” ⁹ So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
¹¹ But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
¹³ Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” ¹⁴ So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
¹⁵ Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

Second Reading:

2 Timothy 2:8-15 (NIV)
⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
¹² if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
¹³ if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself.

¹⁴ Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth

September 25th Readings

First Reading:
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 (NIV)

Woe to the Complacent

6 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
    and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation,
    to whom the people of Israel come!

⁴ You lie on beds adorned with ivory
    and lounge on your couches.
You dine on choice lambs
    and fattened calves.
⁵ You strum away on your harps like David
    and improvise on musical instruments.
⁶ You drink wine by the bowlful
    and use the finest lotions,
    but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
⁷ Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;
    your feasting and lounging will end.

Second Reading:

1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NIV)

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

September 18th Readings

First reading
Amos 8:4-7New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Hear this, you who trample the needy
    and do away with the poor of the land,

⁵ saying,

“When will the New Moon be over
    that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
    that we may market wheat?”—
skimping on the measure,
    boosting the price
    and cheating with dishonest scales,
⁶ buying the poor with silver
    and the needy for a pair of sandals,
    selling even the sweepings with the wheat.

⁷ The Lord has sworn by himself, the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.

Second Reading

1 Timothy 2:1-7New International Version (NIV)

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ⁷ And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

September 11the Readings

First Reading
Exodus 32:7-14New International Version (NIV)
⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. ⁸ They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
⁹ “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
¹¹ But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? ¹² Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. ¹³ Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” ¹⁴ Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.


Second Reading

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Sept. 4th Readings

First reading
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (NIV)
¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.


Second reading


Philemon 1-21 (NIV)
¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

³ Grace and peace to you^[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,^[b] who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.