By pursuing this project
in partnership with Vi-
brant Faith Ministries,
our synod is seeking to
change the culture of
congregational life in
northwestern Minnesota
by lifting up the role of
homes and other circles
of care in planting and
nurturing faith in all our
children.
The V i bra nt
Fa i t h Pro j ec t
Phone: 218-299-3019
Fax: 218-299-3363
Website: nwmnsynod.org
Concordia College
310 14th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56562
Fos te r ing
V ib ran t
Fa i th
In our homes,
congregations
and communities
Transformation Stories
“Our congregation has been a part of the Milestone Ministries for several
years. One of the most powerful parts of the ministry was best stated by one
of the parents who came to me and said, ‘Thank you, Pastor. When I come
with my child, I’m no longer a spectator, but a participant!’”
Pastor Mark Asleson, Dilworth Lutheran Church, Dilworth, MN
“Our experiences with Vibrant Faith Ministries have been infectious. We
achieved the results that we directly worked for, but what surprised me most
were the results that I didn’t solicit or even know about at the time. I knew
that Vibrant Faith Ministries had helped make a real and lasting change to
who we are and how we ‘do church.’”
Pastor Darrell Kyle, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lake Nebagamon, WI
Thanks for everything. People REALLY enjoyed the training events! It brought
a lot of meaning to our Sunday milestone of the blessing of the backpacks! FYI
— we began worship by saying the mission statement out loud during the time
of announcements — a simple way to bring focus.
Pastor Becky, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD
Founded in 1987 by Dr. Mert
and Irene Stommen, Vibrant
Faith Ministries is a catalyst
for Christian congregations,
communities and households,
striving to practice vibrant
faith in a dynamic world.
The V ibrant Fa i th
Frame Vibrant Faith is a compelling vision for how to pass on the
best gift imaginable: a life-transforming faith in Jesus Christ.
5 Principles for living and passing on faith
1. Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit
through personal, trusted relationships-often in
our own homes.
2. The church is a living partnership between the
ministry of the congregation and ministry of
the home.
3. Where Christ is present in faith, the home is
church, too
4. Faith is caught more than it is taught
5. If we want Christian children and youth, we
need Christian adults
4 Keys for practicing faith
Caring Conversations•Devotions•Service
•Rituals and Traditions
3 Characteristics for Christians
Authentic•Available•Affirming
How Can Congregations
Participate?
The Vibrant Faith Frame challenges us to
move away from assuming that faith for-
mation is solely “the congregation’s job”
and towards recovering the crucial role of
homes and other circles of daily care in
nurturing faith.
Within each conference...
Two Immersed Congregations
Dive deeply into the Vibrant Faith Frame
Bring 10-20% of active members to
training
Monthly coaching sessions for 2 years
Three Involved Congregations
Bring congregational leadership team to
training
Bi-monthly coaching sessions for 2 years
Inquiring Congregations
Introduce congregations to the Vibrant
Faith Frame
Why Vibrant
Faith?
For more information,
visit
www.vibrantfaith.org
For more information about this project, please visit our
website:
www.nwmnsynod.org/resources/fostering-vibrant-faith
From the North/East/Detroit Lakes Area
At the intersection of Hwy 10 and Hwy 59, take Hwy 59
south from Detroit Lakes. Go nine miles, and turn right
onto Ottertail Cty Road #20. Go three miles west and Fair
Hills Resort will be on your left.
From the West via U.S. Highway 10 (through Dilworth,
Glyndon, Hawley, and Lake Park)
Going east on Hwy 10, at Lake Park, take Cty Hwy 5 going
south for 15 miles. Go through the village of Cormorant
and continue south. The road will change numbers when it
enters Ottertail County, but continue until the T. At the T
(at Pelican Lake and Zorbaz) take a left onto Cty #20. Go
three miles and Fair Hills Resort will be on your right.
From the South via Barnesville
Take MN Hwy 34 east. Turn left at the intersection of Hwy
59 (at Dunvilla). Turn left onto Ottertail Cty #31 (3-4 miles
past Dunvilla) Follow Cty #31 for three miles and turn left
onto Cty Road #20. Fair Hills Resort will be on your left.
Fai r H i l l s Re sor t on Pe l i can Lake
2427 0 C o H wy 20 , D e tro i t Lak es , MN
218 -5 32 -22 22
h ttp : / /www. fa i rh i l l s re sor t . com/ map. php
Northwestern Minnesota Synod
Theology for Ministry Conference
Fair Hills Resort
Detroit Lakes, MN
September 14-16 2014
“Keep these words that I am commanding you t oday in
your hear t . Rec i t e t hem to your ch i l dren and ta lk abou t
t hem when you are a t home a nd when you are away ,
when you l i e down and when you r i s e . . . and wr i t e t hem on
t he doorpos t s o f your house and on your gat es .”
Deu teronomy 6 :6 -7 ,9
“The synod expects that all pastors and rostered lay leaders
under call on the roster of this synod will attend
the...Theology for Ministry Retreat (normally in the
autumn)...Because these are expectations the synod has for
all rostered leaders under call, congregations will pay
registration fees and/or reimburse the rostered leader for
expenses incurred in participating in these events, not as
compensation, but as part of the cost of doing the business of
the congregation.”
NW MN Synod Compensation Guidelines, adopted
annually by the synod assembly
Note: Congregations are also urged to pay all expenses
for spouses of rostered leaders to attend the
theological retreat.
Costs and Extras
Please complete the enclosed registration form and return it to the
Synod Office by September 8. Please include payment for the full
retreat or the commuter rate.
Full-time participants pay $270 per adult, which includes a $60
program fee. This covers two nights lodging, six meals, program,
coffee breaks, golf at guest course, tennis, and swimming.
Part-time participants (“commuters”) pay the $60 program fee
plus charges for whatever meals they eat. Individual meal costs are
$12 for breakfast, $16 for lunch and $20 for dinner. Commuters pay
the program fee to the Synod and pay for individual meals directly
to Fair Hills.
Child Care arrangements must be made directly with the Fair Hills
staff prior to the conference so they have staff available. Please
call 218-532-2222 to make arrangements. Please note, child care is
not available during meal times.
Pastor Lori Hope was raised
near Odin, MN and graduated from Butter-
field-Odin High School. She graduated
from Mankato State University with an
Elementary/Special Education degree.
After teaching for 2 years in southern
Iowa she began her seminary education at
Luther Seminary.
Pastor Lori graduated from seminary in 1996 and began her
first call at a three-point parish in Lyman County (Kennebec,
Presho and Vivian), South Dakota. She has been serving as
pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD since
April 2008. Pastor Lori is married to Bruce and they have three
sons.
Conference Chaplain Schedule of Events
Sunday, September 14
4:00-5:15pm Registration (Lodge)
5:30pm Dinner (Dining Hall)
6:45pm Gathering Music
7:00pm Worship
8:00pm Our Shared Life and Ministry (Bishop’s Hour)
9:00pm Refreshments/Free Time
Monday, September 15
7:30-8:30am Breakfast (Dining Hall)
8:45am Gathering Music/Announcements
9:00am Worship
10:00am Refreshment Break
10:15am Portico Presentation
10:30am Presentation #1
Noon Lunch (Dining Hall)
1:00-5:30pm Free Time
5:30pm Dinner (Dining Hall)
7:00pm Presentation #2
8:30pm Refreshments/Free Time
Tuesday, September 16
7:30-8:30am Breakfast (Dining Hall)
8:45am Gathering Music
9:00am Presentation #3
10:30am Refreshment Break
11:00am Worship
Noon Lunch (Dining Hall)
Andrew Root joined Luther Seminary in
2005 as assistant professor
of youth and family
ministry.
Previously he was an ad-
junct professor at Wesley
Theological Seminary,
Washington D.C., and
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.
Root received his bachelor of arts degree from Bethel
College, St. Paul, Minn., in 1997. He earned his Master
of Divinity (2000) and his Master of Theology (2001)
degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena,
Calif. He completed his doctoral degree from Princeton
Theological Seminary in 2005.
Root's ministry experience includes being a gang
prevention counselor in Los Angeles, youth outreach
director in a congregation, staff member of Young Life,
and a confirmation teacher. He has also been a
research fellow for Princeton Theological Seminary's
Faith Practices Project.
Root has published articles in the Journal of Youth and
Theology, The International Journal of Practical
Theology and Word and World.
He is a member of the International Association for the
Study of Youth Ministry and the International
Bonhoeffer Society.
Keynote
All events will be held in the Lodge unless otherwise indicated.
Lead Musician
Michael Larson currently
serves as the Director of Music and Arts
Ministry at Lutheran Church of the
Cross in West Fargo, ND.
Michael provides music and worship
leadership for synod assemblies and
theological conferences, along with his work on Sounds Sacred
(to me) as part of The Project F-M (Fargo-Moorhead).
His love for music extends far beyond the church world – he
hears “sacred music” in all kinds of places and feels “sacred
space” all around.
Michael has experience in campus ministry and young adult
ministry, and earned his Masters of Theological Studies from
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.
Find Michael and his music online
at www.michaeldlarson.com.
The Holy Cow! and Holy Mackerel! awards recognize churches in the NWMN Synod for putting their heart and stew-
ardship into ending hunger locally and globally, both financially and through projects that raise awareness.
Criteria for receiving the HOLY COW Award:
This award is given to the congregation that has...
Given the most per capita in the NWMN Synod toward the ELCA World Hunger Appeal in the last year.
(This award is determined by looking at the data that each congregation reports to the ELCA annually.)
Criteria for receiving the HOLY MACKEREL Award:
This award is given to a congregation that is nominated for …
Raising awareness in their community or congregation about hunger related issues and/or
Doing a project within the congregation or community that involves members in a hands-on way to help end
hunger locally or globally.
Examples of efforts include: Homeless and Hungry simulation activity, creative way to raise money for local hunger
or World Hunger Appeal, or involving multiple generations in hunger awareness activities.
Selected congregations will be recognized at the 2015 Synod Assembly
For more information, please contact Pastor Steve Peterson at [email protected]
Where Your Offering Goes
ELCA Churchwide Ministries
Congregations and Synods $20.20
Supports new and renewing congregations in the USA and works with
synods in many ways, including Directors for Evangelical Mission.
Global Mission $9.30
Missionaries and global partnerships are supported. Additional money from
World Hunger nearly doubles this amount.
Mission Advancement $3.50
Manages World Hunger and Disaster Relief so 100% of gifts are given for
their purposes; oversees other public relations for the ELCA.
Mission Administration $14.00
The Offices of Presiding Bishop, Treasurer, and Secretary provide numerous
leadership, management and administrative roles in the oversight and
management of our ELCA’s mission, ministry and properties. This includes
budgeting, strategic planning and representation on a worldwide level for
policies and procedures consistent with our Lutheran confession and our
ELCA’s constitution as we serve together in God’s world.
Retiree Support $2.00
Financial support for retirees whose pensions are in need of assistance.
Northwestern Minnesota Synod Ministries
Mission Staffing $27.50
Mission Staffing includes compensation and benefits for synod staff who
support the mission of our synod.
Shared Ministries $15.00
Ministry partners include Lutheran Campus Ministry, Luther Seminary,
Minnesota Council of Churches, and Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy.
Leadership & Programs $4.00
Candidacy, boards, governance, and other programs.
General Administration $4.50
Operational expenses of the synod.
49% 51%
TOTAL $49.00
TOTAL $51.00
Mission Support is the financial lifeblood of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In 2014, the Northwestern Minnesota Synod
passed on 49% of your mission support offerings to ELCA churchwide ministries and the other 51% went to fund ministries of the
Northwestern Minnesota Synod. Here’s how $100 given in mission support is used to support God’s mission in the ELCA and our synod.
In addition, we pass through our synod about $350,000 for other benevolences, including
ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, Missionary Sponsorship, companion synod
projects, seminary scholarships, seminary debt reduction, and more!
Our Synod St a f f
Phone: 218-299-3019
Fax: 218-299-3363
Website: nwmnsynod.org
Concordia College
Moorhead, MN 56562
Physical Address: 310 14th Avenue South
Our
Ministry
Together
Making a difference in our synod:
Next Generation Vision
The purpose of the Northwestern
Minnesota Synod, in this time and
place, is to serve God’s mission by
focusing its entire life on calling
forth, raising up, forming in faith and
spiritual leadership, and sending the
next generations of disciples of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
The “Next
Generation”
Synod
From Top: Bishop
Larry Wohlrabe,
Pr. Steve Peter-
son, Pr. Laurie
Natwick, Pr. Keith
Zeh, Marsha
Hendrickson,
Shirleen Wyland,
Cheryl Zeh,
Kristina Johnson,
Courtney Williams
Mission
Our synod connections help us stir up and
support one another to share Christ with
others—in word and deed.
Leadership
Leadership is critical to the renewal of
Christ’s church. Our synod devotes major
time and attention to calling forth, forming,
supporting, and encouraging leaders for the
sake of God’s mission.
Relationships
In our synod, we tend to the relationships,
networks and formal structures that make up
the “connective tissue” in the Body of Christ.
Accountability
Our constitution binds us to a confession of
faith based on Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions. Decisions are made
democratically, and leaders are elected by
their congregations or appointed by the
synod council or synod assembly. We value
mutual accountability in the community of
faith.
How are w e
inve s t ing in God ’ s
miss ion ?
For every $100 given by members of congregations,
approximately $95 supports the local congregation and $5
supports the ELCA and synod ministries.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America includes
nearly 4 million followers of Jesus Christ in over 9,500
congregations in the United States and the Caribbean.
T oge ther , we
s e rve God ’ s M iss i on
Synod Ministries:
Making a
Difference
What i s a
“ syn od? ” A synod is a “walking together” of
God’s people in a particular part of
God’s world.
The Northwestern Minnesota Synod covers
21 counties in Minnesota and includes 94,862
baptized disciples, 234 congregations and
342 rostered leaders.
Top Related