Events

‘God’s work. our hands.’ service day

Congregations from the Northeastern Iowa Synod will join others across the U.S. to do service projects in their communities, for mission ministries or for other organizations. 

Fall Leadership Event

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019
St. Paul’s Lutheran, Waverly, Iowa

Lay and rostered members are invited to learn about synod ministries and networks, join a network, and plan projects for the coming year. The event will be Saturday, Sept. 21, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran, Waverly.

Network members connect throughout the year through emails, Facebook, Skype, and conference calls. The synod networks are Companion Synod-Hungary, Companion Synod-Namibia, Disaster Response, Home Life, Hunger, Lutheran Youth Organization, Men’s Ministry, Generosity, AMMPARO Welcoming, and Racial Justice Advocacy. Committees meeting at the event include the Compensation Committee and S.A.F.E. Ministry Team.

There is no cost to attend. Lunch is included. To register, call the synod office, 319-352-1414, by Wednesday, Sept. 11, or email Kathy Liddle.

Tri-Synodical Fall Conference

Rostered ministers and spouses from the three Iowa ELCA synods are invited to gather for fellowship, worship, learning and group meals at the Tri-Synodical Fall Conference. The event will feature the theme “Faith Formation as Shared Mission.” Featured speakers will be Deacon Dr. Jeremy Myers, associate professor for Augsburg University, Minneapolis; and Deacon Chelle Huth, director of Lifelong Learning and Certificate Studies for United Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg, Pa. They will look at how faith formation should go beyond the congregation and into the communities.

ELCA Secretary Chris Boerger will present at one of the sessions and will preach and preside at the Monday evening worship service. 

The event will take place at Faith Lutheran Church, Clive, and at the Sheraton, West Des Moines. A group rate at the Sheraton of $102 per person is available to book until Sept. 8. 

Learn more and register online at these links:
Conference Schedule

Register online and reserve a room.

ELCA Churchwide Assembly

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly met at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee Aug. 5-10, 2019, to discuss and make decisions about how to go about God’s work as a church, with the theme “We are church.” Some 17 voting members represented the Northeastern Iowa Synod.

Actions taken during the assembly include: re-elected Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to a second six-year term; elected Deacon Sue Rothmeyer as Churchwide Secretary; adopted the new social statement, “Faith, Sexism, and Justice: a Lutheran Call to Action;” approved Constitutional change for Deacons (rostered ministers of word and service) to be ordained, from the previous practice of consecration; approved a resolution to endorse the World Council of Churches’ “Thursdays in Black” movement for a world without rape and violence; adopted “A Declaration of Inter-religious Commitment;” voted to commemorate June 17 as a day of repentance and remembrance of the martyrdom of the Emanuel 9 – the nine people who were shot and killed June 17, 2015, during a Bible study in Charleston, S.C.; adopted a resolution to condemn white supremacy; presented a declaration of apology to people of African descent; approved a memorial that declares the ELCA a sanctuary church; celebrated the milestones of 50 years of women’s ordination.