Weekly Blog Posts
The following blog posts are written by Bishop Jen Nagel, Synod staff members, and leaders from the Minneapolis Area Synod.
Get Your Toolbox Ready
By Rev. Craig Pederson, Assistant to the Bishop By this time of the fall, church councils and committees are in full swing – implementing the ministry plans laid months ago, and looking forward to the [...]
Climbing a Ladder (Not Jacob’s)
By Rev. Deb Stehlin, Director for Evangelical Mission I’m still a little bit surprised that a) I am Lutheran, and b) I’m a pastor. When I was planning out my life as a young adult, [...]
Understanding the Quest for God
By Bishop Ann Svennungsen How do we speak faithfully of God – the creator of all things, the author of life, the giver of love beyond our wildest dreams? Throughout history we have tried to [...]
Overheard and overwhelmed
By Bob Hulteen, Director of Communications and Stewardship Running out the door of my house to catch the bus, I overheard a rather intimate conversation between a father and daughter as he accompanied her to [...]
Confessions of a First Call Pastor
By Rev. John Hulden, Assistant to the Bishop Way back in 1987, I was brand new at this “pastor” thing. My first call was to Bethany Lutheran on the lower Eastside of Saint Paul. Thankfully, [...]
What it’s really like at the synod office
By Bob Hulteen, Director of Communications and Stewardship Just call me “the truth teller.” My colleagues all write blogs "bragging" about the wonderful activities of the synod. Yes, we are hosting tool kit workshops for [...]
Where Have All the Honey Bees Gone?
By Emilie Bouvier, Congregational Organizer for Environmental Justice Growing up listening to Joni Mitchell songs, whenever I think of the heavy use of pesticides and herbicides, this line immediately comes to mind: “Give me spots [...]
Real Presence
By Rev. Deb Stehlin, Director of Evangelical Mission “The body of Christ, given for you.” It’s more than a bite of bread and sip of wine. This meal comes with a promise: Jesus has given [...]
An Impossible Task
When I tell my colleague bishops about our plan for the synod to host “God in your Mercy, Hear our Prayer: An Election Year Worship Service," they have two immediate responses: “What a great idea. [...]
Resurrection People – and Churches
By Rev. Craig Pederson, Assistant to the Bishop In a blog post earlier this summer, I talked about the joys of working with congregations to identify their sources of vitality. But, for some congregations, vitality [...]