Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
The Gift of Tension
By Pastor Craig Pederson C’mon, it’s summer, ... the season of relaxation and renewal for those who work hard the rest of the year. Time to let go of some of that tension that is [...]
So, I’ve been thinking
By Rev. Deb Stehlin A weird thing happened to me this month. I had time to think. For years, I’ve read books on leadership that suggest carving out “thinking time” each week. They say Monday mornings [...]
Packing Light
By Emilie Bouvier Yesterday evening in the waning heat of the day, I pulled through bundles of now-finally-clean-laundry to set aside assembled outfits. I quickly dug out my international outlet converter I haven’t used in [...]
Ahhhhhhh, Summer. Wait. What?
By Pr. John Hulden There is a 35-year-old Minneapolis Area Synod tradition of Summer Youth Programs. More than a dozen congregations see summertime as a golden opportunity to reach out to children in the city. [...]
The Critical Need for Leadership Skills
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Long before women could become pastoral leaders, my mom was a leader in our congregation. I remember her leading in lots of settings – most notably, chair of the building committee [...]
In Search of Independence
By Bob Hulteen When I was little, my (much) older brother blew up my “little army men” with firecrackers. Mercilessly, he would throw some of the plastic soldiers into an empty can of Folgers with [...]
Incarnating Community
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen How important is it for a pastor to know how to form and lead a healthy community? In addition to teaching pastors how to preach, teach, and provide pastoral care, should [...]
What’s said in Leipzig, stays in … people’s memories for decades
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen I have a new resolution: “Each year, take at least one of group of synodical leaders on a week-long mission trip.” Just last Thursday, 16 of our synod’s rostered leaders returned [...]
At Pentecost, the answer is blowing in the wind
By Emilie Bouvier “Think of a time in which you powerfully experienced public space.” This is what I asked a room of faith leaders this week at the Peer Group Lunch and Learn I led [...]
Answer Is …
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen Hymns for $300: “If you cannot preach like Peter, and you cannot pray like Paul.” “What is ‘There is a Balm in Gilead’?” This was not your grandparents’ synod assembly. Instead [...]