South-Central Synod of Wisconsin

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

God’s work. Our hands.

bc Bishop’s Convocation

“Building Beloved Community”

October 6-8, 2019

Fall Theological Conference for

Rostered Ministers & Spouses

Grand Harbor Resort & River Center – Dubuque, IA

& Wartburg Theological Seminary

Rostered Ministers and Spouses of the South-Central

Synod of Wisconsin are invited to our annual

theological event. Bishop’s Convocation will

continue our synod’s theme of Building Beloved

Community. New this year, we will

move closer to the west part of our

synod to the Grand Harbor Resort and

Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa

located on the beautiful and mighty

Mississippi River. We will also celebrate

Holy Communion together at Wartburg

Theological Seminary.

This year, leadership will be shared by

two speakers. First, we will begin each

day with the leadership of

Rev. Dr. Wayne Muller.

Wayne will open each session

with playful curiosity, wonder,

deep listening, and nourishing

affirmations of God’s mercy

and grace. He will help us get

centered, and open our

minds, souls, and hearts with

life-giving stories to offer us the

necessary, increasingly rare

permissions we need, to feel

we can honorably keep some rhythm of Sabbath in

our everyday life and work. He writes:

“Productivity has become a goal for its own sake,

universally acknowledged as being far more useful

than time in contemplation, reflection, prayer, or rest.

We bypass the nourishment we need for courage and

clear action; we reject quiet stillness that leads to

Wisdom. Sickened by a contagious illusion that good

things come only from relentless striving and bone-

weary labor, we lose those sacred gifts we claim we

most cherish, which need unhurried Time in which to

grow and thrive: love, family, community, trust,

collaboration, authenticity, creativity, hope, joy – all

these need a sufficiency of Time. When we trade

away Time, we lose the treasures of the Kingdom.

Our lives feel thin, empty, shallow. With no season of

dormancy, the daffodil and crocus, the lilac and tulip,

the iris and lily cannot flower in spring. Just so, we – for

want of rest – slowly allow our magnificent spiritual

gifts to wither, we become dry and brittle. If

we malnourish our soul’s delight, ignore our

spirit’s passion, and let ourselves be seduced

by our need always to be tending the infinite

gnats of imagined indispensability, we fall prey

to a call that serves a world saturated with

artificial emergencies and dishonest

kindnesses.

The rhythmicity of the earth, the seasons, the

tides all remind us it is from this fertile rhythm of

action and rest that we gain the

most potent nourishment,

wisdom, courage and clarity to

lift up, illuminate, and ultimately

heal the world.

And, with the help of God and

one another, we also find, in the

ripening of time, that moment

when we know to heal

ourselves, and all those we

love.”

Advancing Racial Equity Training

with Judith Roberts, ELCA Program Director for Racial

Justice Ministries. Judith will equip participants to

apply a common framework and lens in

identifying the many ways racism and other forms of

oppression manifest within ourselves, interpersonal

interactions, institutions and across society.

Through presentation materials that you can bring

back to your settings, and discussion topics—

participants will acquire practical tools and strategies

for implementing racial equity and for bringing us

closer to living out the beloved community that God

intends for us.

“In the relentless

busyness of

modern life, we

have lost the

rhythm between

action and rest.” ~Wayne Muller

Spiritual & Educational

Timeline: Early Bird Fee: Register and pay by September 5 to save $25. September 5 is also the deadline if you

need a room. After Sept. 5, we cannot guarantee rooms. All other registrations and payments are due to the

synod office by September 26.

Event Rates: Full conference rate includes all meals (5 meals), lodging, and program. A commuter rate is

offered; however, we encourage you to be present for the entire event.

Fees if paid prior to September 8:

Rostered Leader Full Conference - Single Room (Sunday & Monday night) . . . . . . $ 360

Rostered Leader Full Conference - Shared Room (Sunday & Monday night) . . . . . $ 305

Spouse/Partner All Sessions All Meals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 240

Spouse/Partner All Sessions No Meals Complimentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ - -

Commuter Registration All Sessions All Meals (no lodging) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 240

Fees if paid after September 5 - Above rate plus $25 per registrant.

Optional Items:

Meals for Spouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . each meal $ 35

Monday Afternoon Golf Outing (Includes green fees and cart ) . . . . . . . . each $ 35

We invite you to take a look around at the Grand Harbor Resort & Conference Center; however, please do not

call the hotel to book your room. All rooms are booked under the synod’s group contract and must be

booked through your registration. To take a tour of the venue: www.grandharborresort.com

Questions? Contact:

Deacon Vicki Hanrahan

Assistant to the Bishop for Synodical Life

& Event Manager

(608) 270-0201 or vickih@scsw-elca.org

HOW TO REGISTER: Online registration will Open August 15.

You will register On Line for the Event: http://bit.ly/BishopsConvocation2019

You will be able to pay by credit card or by mailing a check to the synod office. Make payable to South-

Central Synod of Wisconsin indicate your payment is for Bishop’s Convocation and include the names of the

attendees for which your payment applies and mail to: South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 6401 Odana

Road, Suite 20 Madison, WI 53719 to reach our office by September 26.

Fees and Registration Timelines

Sunday, October 6, 2019 Tuesday, October 8, 2019

4:00 - 6:00 pm - Registration & Check in Grand River Ctr. 7:30 Breakfast & Connecting

6:00 - Welcome & Dinner 8:30 - Program - Muller & Roberts

7:30 - Dr. Muller—Session 1 11:30 - Wrap Up and Closing

8:30 - Fellowship Time 12:00 - Lunch on your own

Monday, October 7, 2019

7:30 - 8:30 am Breakfast

8:30 - 12:00 Program - Muller & Roberts Throughout the day Monday: ASSIST

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Rev. Dr. Dan Feaster counseling times:

1:00 - 6:00 Rest & Renewal (See Free Time Options) 11:00 - 12:00 and 1:30 - 5:00 pm

6:00 Dinner (Individual 30 min. appointments at no cost)

7:30 Worship - Wartburg Theological Seminary

Fellowship - Grand Harbor Resort

Event Schedule

You will register On Line for the Event:

http://bit.ly/BishopsConvocation2019

There are many fun things to do within walking distance or short driving distance of the Grand Harbor Resort.

Please indicate your interest in these when you register. Some have costs associated. In those cases, you will

not be paying us, rather you will pay at the door, with the exception of the golf outing. Those interested in golf

will pay online when you register. Expressing interest in activities other than golfing does not commit you to

these, but it will help us to organize groups that can participate together if you so choose. Several are within

walking distance. Others, you will need to carpool. Some recommendations:

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Distance from Resort - .2 mile

https://www.rivermuseum.com/

Cost $ 18.00

Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

From Japanese, to English to Herb, you’ll find

56 acres of gardens and trees for peaceful

strolling. Meet up with Wayne Muller before and

after for a meditation exercise & conversation.

Distance from Resort: 6 miles

Cost: Free

Eagle Point Park

Dubuque’s Eagle Point Park, overlooking

the Mississippi River and providing a spectacular

view of the Mississippi River and Lock

and Dam #11, and tri-state view of Iowa, Illinois,

and Wisconsin. Truly is one of the most beautiful

Places in the Midwest. Hiking trails throughout.

Distance from Resort: 1 mile

Cost: $1.00

Cherry Lanes Bowling

Distance from Resort:

Across the street

Cost: $5.00

Stonecliff Wine Tasting

Inside the tasting room, gift

views of the majestic Mississippi

and historic train bridge.

Distance from Resort: .3 mile

(Walk please)

Wine tasting $5.00 +

Fenlon Place Historic Elevator

Great views of the Mississippi,

Distance from Resort: 1.5 mile

Fare $3.00 RT cash only

(Enjoy an ice cream cone in cable

car square at foot of the elevator)

Bunker Hill Golf Outing:

Distance from resort: 3.5 miles

Cost: $35 includes green fees

& cart.

Resort Amenities include a fitness center and access

to the River Walk. Sorry, the waterpark will be closed in October.

Register online: https://bit.ly/BishopsConvocation2019

Monday Afternoon Free Time Activity Options