Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
Who isn’t my neighbor?
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Ten days ago in Demsa, Nigeria, I joined eleven bishops for the laying on of hands, ordaining 72 new pastors to serve in the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN). [...]
We are synodia
By Pastor Wondimu Sonessa At the age of 12, I had to travel on foot with my dad to our zonal capital called Mettu to get to a photo studio. This tiresome whole day commute [...]
Into the future
By Pastor Craig Pederson “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’, into the future ...” From the song, “Fly Like An Eagle,” Steve Miller Band, 1976 In the synod office these days, we are living [...]
To rise and repair
By Johan Baumeister I am fond of spending time in canoes and on paddleboards, floating on the crisp waters of Minnesota. These waters reflect the natural beauty of our state and have long been gathering [...]
Grace and belonging
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Grace is something you can never get but can only be given. There's no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve [...]
Created to be
By Pastor John Hulden Pastor Rusty Halaas (white suit jacket) on the stage of the youth gathering in Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1970. Imagine you were given the task [...]
The neighborhood where I grew up
By Mercy Zou Taithul I grew up in a small town called Lamka, Churachandpur in the northeast of India. To be specific my street is call P. Kamdou Veng. (P stands for Phiamphu, the Chief [...]
Cash bail: Inequality and modern-day hypocrisy
By Manny Lewis In today's society, cash bail has become a glaring example of systemic racism and inequality. It is a disgrace that people of color bear the burden of this unjust system, perpetuating a [...]
In need of ecological conversion
By Bishop Ann Svennugsen Duke professor Ellen Davis shares a story about a neighbor’s conversation with his young grandson. The boy says, “Grandpa, the two biggest fears I have are that I won’t make the [...]
The rungs on the ladder
By Bob Hulteen Saturday is Epiphany – January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas fulfilled. I don’t know about you, but for me it has usually been the day when the tree comes down and [...]