By pursuing this project

in partnership with Vi-

brant Faith Ministries,

our synod is seeking to

change the culture of

congregational life in

northwestern Minnesota

by lifting up the role of

homes and other circles

of care in planting and

nurturing faith in all our

children.

The V i bra nt

Fa i t h Pro j ec t

Phone: 218-299-3019

Fax: 218-299-3363

Website: nwmnsynod.org

Concordia College

310 14th Avenue South

Moorhead, MN 56562

Fos te r ing

V ib ran t

Fa i th

In our homes,

congregations

and communities

Transformation Stories

“Our congregation has been a part of the Milestone Ministries for several

years. One of the most powerful parts of the ministry was best stated by one

of the parents who came to me and said, ‘Thank you, Pastor. When I come

with my child, I’m no longer a spectator, but a participant!’”

Pastor Mark Asleson, Dilworth Lutheran Church, Dilworth, MN

“Our experiences with Vibrant Faith Ministries have been infectious. We

achieved the results that we directly worked for, but what surprised me most

were the results that I didn’t solicit or even know about at the time. I knew

that Vibrant Faith Ministries had helped make a real and lasting change to

who we are and how we ‘do church.’”

Pastor Darrell Kyle, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lake Nebagamon, WI

Thanks for everything. People REALLY enjoyed the training events! It brought

a lot of meaning to our Sunday milestone of the blessing of the backpacks! FYI

— we began worship by saying the mission statement out loud during the time

of announcements — a simple way to bring focus.

Pastor Becky, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD

Founded in 1987 by Dr. Mert

and Irene Stommen, Vibrant

Faith Ministries is a catalyst

for Christian congregations,

communities and households,

striving to practice vibrant

faith in a dynamic world.

The V ibrant Fa i th

Frame Vibrant Faith is a compelling vision for how to pass on the

best gift imaginable: a life-transforming faith in Jesus Christ.

5 Principles for living and passing on faith

1. Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit

through personal, trusted relationships-often in

our own homes.

2. The church is a living partnership between the

ministry of the congregation and ministry of

the home.

3. Where Christ is present in faith, the home is

church, too

4. Faith is caught more than it is taught

5. If we want Christian children and youth, we

need Christian adults

4 Keys for practicing faith

Caring Conversations•Devotions•Service

•Rituals and Traditions

3 Characteristics for Christians

Authentic•Available•Affirming

How Can Congregations

Participate?

The Vibrant Faith Frame challenges us to

move away from assuming that faith for-

mation is solely “the congregation’s job”

and towards recovering the crucial role of

homes and other circles of daily care in

nurturing faith.

Within each conference...

Two Immersed Congregations

Dive deeply into the Vibrant Faith Frame

Bring 10-20% of active members to

training

Monthly coaching sessions for 2 years

Three Involved Congregations

Bring congregational leadership team to

training

Bi-monthly coaching sessions for 2 years

Inquiring Congregations

Introduce congregations to the Vibrant

Faith Frame

Why Vibrant

Faith?

For more information,

visit

www.vibrantfaith.org

For more information about this project, please visit our

website:

www.nwmnsynod.org/resources/fostering-vibrant-faith

From the North/East/Detroit Lakes Area

At the intersection of Hwy 10 and Hwy 59, take Hwy 59

south from Detroit Lakes. Go nine miles, and turn right

onto Ottertail Cty Road #20. Go three miles west and Fair

Hills Resort will be on your left.

From the West via U.S. Highway 10 (through Dilworth,

Glyndon, Hawley, and Lake Park)

Going east on Hwy 10, at Lake Park, take Cty Hwy 5 going

south for 15 miles. Go through the village of Cormorant

and continue south. The road will change numbers when it

enters Ottertail County, but continue until the T. At the T

(at Pelican Lake and Zorbaz) take a left onto Cty #20. Go

three miles and Fair Hills Resort will be on your right.

From the South via Barnesville

Take MN Hwy 34 east. Turn left at the intersection of Hwy

59 (at Dunvilla). Turn left onto Ottertail Cty #31 (3-4 miles

past Dunvilla) Follow Cty #31 for three miles and turn left

onto Cty Road #20. Fair Hills Resort will be on your left.

Fai r H i l l s Re sor t on Pe l i can Lake

2427 0 C o H wy 20 , D e tro i t Lak es , MN

218 -5 32 -22 22

h ttp : / /www. fa i rh i l l s re sor t . com/ map. php

Northwestern Minnesota Synod

Theology for Ministry Conference

Fair Hills Resort

Detroit Lakes, MN

September 14-16 2014

“Keep these words that I am commanding you t oday in

your hear t . Rec i t e t hem to your ch i l dren and ta lk abou t

t hem when you are a t home a nd when you are away ,

when you l i e down and when you r i s e . . . and wr i t e t hem on

t he doorpos t s o f your house and on your gat es .”

Deu teronomy 6 :6 -7 ,9

“The synod expects that all pastors and rostered lay leaders

under call on the roster of this synod will attend

the...Theology for Ministry Retreat (normally in the

autumn)...Because these are expectations the synod has for

all rostered leaders under call, congregations will pay

registration fees and/or reimburse the rostered leader for

expenses incurred in participating in these events, not as

compensation, but as part of the cost of doing the business of

the congregation.”

NW MN Synod Compensation Guidelines, adopted

annually by the synod assembly

Note: Congregations are also urged to pay all expenses

for spouses of rostered leaders to attend the

theological retreat.

Costs and Extras

Please complete the enclosed registration form and return it to the

Synod Office by September 8. Please include payment for the full

retreat or the commuter rate.

Full-time participants pay $270 per adult, which includes a $60

program fee. This covers two nights lodging, six meals, program,

coffee breaks, golf at guest course, tennis, and swimming.

Part-time participants (“commuters”) pay the $60 program fee

plus charges for whatever meals they eat. Individual meal costs are

$12 for breakfast, $16 for lunch and $20 for dinner. Commuters pay

the program fee to the Synod and pay for individual meals directly

to Fair Hills.

Child Care arrangements must be made directly with the Fair Hills

staff prior to the conference so they have staff available. Please

call 218-532-2222 to make arrangements. Please note, child care is

not available during meal times.

Pastor Lori Hope was raised

near Odin, MN and graduated from Butter-

field-Odin High School. She graduated

from Mankato State University with an

Elementary/Special Education degree.

After teaching for 2 years in southern

Iowa she began her seminary education at

Luther Seminary.

Pastor Lori graduated from seminary in 1996 and began her

first call at a three-point parish in Lyman County (Kennebec,

Presho and Vivian), South Dakota. She has been serving as

pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD since

April 2008. Pastor Lori is married to Bruce and they have three

sons.

Conference Chaplain Schedule of Events

Sunday, September 14

4:00-5:15pm Registration (Lodge)

5:30pm Dinner (Dining Hall)

6:45pm Gathering Music

7:00pm Worship

8:00pm Our Shared Life and Ministry (Bishop’s Hour)

9:00pm Refreshments/Free Time

Monday, September 15

7:30-8:30am Breakfast (Dining Hall)

8:45am Gathering Music/Announcements

9:00am Worship

10:00am Refreshment Break

10:15am Portico Presentation

10:30am Presentation #1

Noon Lunch (Dining Hall)

1:00-5:30pm Free Time

5:30pm Dinner (Dining Hall)

7:00pm Presentation #2

8:30pm Refreshments/Free Time

Tuesday, September 16

7:30-8:30am Breakfast (Dining Hall)

8:45am Gathering Music

9:00am Presentation #3

10:30am Refreshment Break

11:00am Worship

Noon Lunch (Dining Hall)

Andrew Root joined Luther Seminary in

2005 as assistant professor

of youth and family

ministry.

Previously he was an ad-

junct professor at Wesley

Theological Seminary,

Washington D.C., and

Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.

Root received his bachelor of arts degree from Bethel

College, St. Paul, Minn., in 1997. He earned his Master

of Divinity (2000) and his Master of Theology (2001)

degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena,

Calif. He completed his doctoral degree from Princeton

Theological Seminary in 2005.

Root's ministry experience includes being a gang

prevention counselor in Los Angeles, youth outreach

director in a congregation, staff member of Young Life,

and a confirmation teacher. He has also been a

research fellow for Princeton Theological Seminary's

Faith Practices Project.

Root has published articles in the Journal of Youth and

Theology, The International Journal of Practical

Theology and Word and World.

He is a member of the International Association for the

Study of Youth Ministry and the International

Bonhoeffer Society.

Keynote

All events will be held in the Lodge unless otherwise indicated.

Lead Musician

Michael Larson currently

serves as the Director of Music and Arts

Ministry at Lutheran Church of the

Cross in West Fargo, ND.

Michael provides music and worship

leadership for synod assemblies and

theological conferences, along with his work on Sounds Sacred

(to me) as part of The Project F-M (Fargo-Moorhead).

His love for music extends far beyond the church world – he

hears “sacred music” in all kinds of places and feels “sacred

space” all around.

Michael has experience in campus ministry and young adult

ministry, and earned his Masters of Theological Studies from

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Find Michael and his music online

at www.michaeldlarson.com.

The Holy Cow! and Holy Mackerel! awards recognize churches in the NWMN Synod for putting their heart and stew-

ardship into ending hunger locally and globally, both financially and through projects that raise awareness.

Criteria for receiving the HOLY COW Award:

This award is given to the congregation that has...

Given the most per capita in the NWMN Synod toward the ELCA World Hunger Appeal in the last year.

(This award is determined by looking at the data that each congregation reports to the ELCA annually.)

Criteria for receiving the HOLY MACKEREL Award:

This award is given to a congregation that is nominated for …

Raising awareness in their community or congregation about hunger related issues and/or

Doing a project within the congregation or community that involves members in a hands-on way to help end

hunger locally or globally.

Examples of efforts include: Homeless and Hungry simulation activity, creative way to raise money for local hunger

or World Hunger Appeal, or involving multiple generations in hunger awareness activities.

Selected congregations will be recognized at the 2015 Synod Assembly

For more information, please contact Pastor Steve Peterson at speterso@cord.edu

Where Your Offering Goes

ELCA Churchwide Ministries

Congregations and Synods $20.20

Supports new and renewing congregations in the USA and works with

synods in many ways, including Directors for Evangelical Mission.

Global Mission $9.30

Missionaries and global partnerships are supported. Additional money from

World Hunger nearly doubles this amount.

Mission Advancement $3.50

Manages World Hunger and Disaster Relief so 100% of gifts are given for

their purposes; oversees other public relations for the ELCA.

Mission Administration $14.00

The Offices of Presiding Bishop, Treasurer, and Secretary provide numerous

leadership, management and administrative roles in the oversight and

management of our ELCA’s mission, ministry and properties. This includes

budgeting, strategic planning and representation on a worldwide level for

policies and procedures consistent with our Lutheran confession and our

ELCA’s constitution as we serve together in God’s world.

Retiree Support $2.00

Financial support for retirees whose pensions are in need of assistance.

Northwestern Minnesota Synod Ministries

Mission Staffing $27.50

Mission Staffing includes compensation and benefits for synod staff who

support the mission of our synod.

Shared Ministries $15.00

Ministry partners include Lutheran Campus Ministry, Luther Seminary,

Minnesota Council of Churches, and Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy.

Leadership & Programs $4.00

Candidacy, boards, governance, and other programs.

General Administration $4.50

Operational expenses of the synod.

49% 51%

TOTAL $49.00

TOTAL $51.00

Mission Support is the financial lifeblood of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In 2014, the Northwestern Minnesota Synod

passed on 49% of your mission support offerings to ELCA churchwide ministries and the other 51% went to fund ministries of the

Northwestern Minnesota Synod. Here’s how $100 given in mission support is used to support God’s mission in the ELCA and our synod.

In addition, we pass through our synod about $350,000 for other benevolences, including

ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, Missionary Sponsorship, companion synod

projects, seminary scholarships, seminary debt reduction, and more!

Our Synod St a f f

Phone: 218-299-3019

Fax: 218-299-3363

Website: nwmnsynod.org

Concordia College

Moorhead, MN 56562

Physical Address: 310 14th Avenue South

Our

Ministry

Together

Making a difference in our synod:

Next Generation Vision

The purpose of the Northwestern

Minnesota Synod, in this time and

place, is to serve God’s mission by

focusing its entire life on calling

forth, raising up, forming in faith and

spiritual leadership, and sending the

next generations of disciples of our

Lord Jesus Christ.

The “Next

Generation”

Synod

From Top: Bishop

Larry Wohlrabe,

Pr. Steve Peter-

son, Pr. Laurie

Natwick, Pr. Keith

Zeh, Marsha

Hendrickson,

Shirleen Wyland,

Cheryl Zeh,

Kristina Johnson,

Courtney Williams

Mission

Our synod connections help us stir up and

support one another to share Christ with

others—in word and deed.

Leadership

Leadership is critical to the renewal of

Christ’s church. Our synod devotes major

time and attention to calling forth, forming,

supporting, and encouraging leaders for the

sake of God’s mission.

Relationships

In our synod, we tend to the relationships,

networks and formal structures that make up

the “connective tissue” in the Body of Christ.

Accountability

Our constitution binds us to a confession of

faith based on Scripture and the Lutheran

Confessions. Decisions are made

democratically, and leaders are elected by

their congregations or appointed by the

synod council or synod assembly. We value

mutual accountability in the community of

faith.

How are w e

inve s t ing in God ’ s

miss ion ?

For every $100 given by members of congregations,

approximately $95 supports the local congregation and $5

supports the ELCA and synod ministries.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America includes

nearly 4 million followers of Jesus Christ in over 9,500

congregations in the United States and the Caribbean.

T oge ther , we

s e rve God ’ s M iss i on

Synod Ministries:

Making a

Difference

What i s a

“ syn od? ” A synod is a “walking together” of

God’s people in a particular part of

God’s world.

The Northwestern Minnesota Synod covers

21 counties in Minnesota and includes 94,862

baptized disciples, 234 congregations and

342 rostered leaders.