Weekly Blog Posts

The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.

Sixty-four Different Competencies

September 23rd, 2025|

This post is one of the monthly posts blog posts written by the deans of the conferences of the Minneapolis Area Synod. By Pastor Katie Jorgenson Faith Lutheran Church, Waconia Dean of the Southwest Conference What [...]

Diakonie & Gemeine

September 12th, 2025|

By Pastor Jen Collins, Assistant to the Bishop I stepped through a new doorway and into my new home for the week. This home was not close –- it took over 4,400 miles, including 10 [...]

Led Into Life

September 2nd, 2025|

By Bishop Jen Nagel Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. -Taize, tune by J. Berthier, based on Psalm 103.1 (listen [...]

Church Together: Walking Each Other Home

August 26th, 2025|

This post is one of the monthly posts blog posts written by the deans of the conferences of the Minneapolis Area Synod. By Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities Dean of the South Minneapolis [...]

Serving Those Who Serve

August 18th, 2025|

By Sarah Maslowski It’s Thursday at 1:00 p.m. and a zoom meeting has begun. Not everyone is there yet because CYF staff are known more for their relational skills than their timely ones. As [...]

Come, Holy Spirit, Come

August 5th, 2025|

By Bishop Jen Nagel More than 800 voting members and hundreds of visitors, observers, volunteers, and staff spent last week in Phoenix at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly. From Minneapolis [...]

Sent Out Beyond Your Recall

August 5th, 2025|

By Pastor Colin Grangaard, YAGM Alum First Lutheran Church of Crystal, Brooklyn Park God speaks to each of us as he makes us, then walks with us silently out of the night. These are the [...]

New Jobs & Calls – Before and After

July 29th, 2025|

By Pastor John Hulden I’ve been blessed to work with dozens of first call pastors. I’ve also visited with many call committees pondering calling a new seminary graduate. To get a congregation in the mindset [...]