Some 443 participants from more than 30 Northeastern Iowa Synod congregations are now registered to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering July 16-20 in New Orleans. As the date gets closer, new policies and recommendations continue to be announced. Check back to this page for updates from our Gathering Synod Champion, Alison Pettit. PLAN TO ATTEND THE GETTING READY EVENT May 5, 2024 Wartburg College, Waverly All youth and youth leaders from this synod who are registered for the ELCA Youth Gathering should plan to attend the Getting Ready event set for Sunday, May 5, at Wartburg College. Check ..read more

The Northeastern Iowa Synod’s Youth Ministry Cohort will host a “Plan-It” Event to help ministers and faith formation leaders develop a one-year calendar of events for their youth and family ministries. Lyle Griener of Peer Ministry Leadership will lead this free planning event Thursday, June 6, 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Decorah Lutheran, Decorah. This event is a guided planning and sharing experience for those responsible for faith formation ministries. Griener will offer planning tools, templates and a system to help participants plan out a year of themes and events that will involve nearly ..read more

All congregation members from the Northeastern Iowa Synod are invited to attend the synod’s first “Creative Collaborative Congregations (C3)” Ministry Fair Saturday, June 1, at Wartburg College, Waverly. This new event is an opportunity for lay people, pastors and deacons from across the synod to gather in fellowship, learn together, share ideas and get inspired with skills to strengthen their congregational ministries. This year’s Ministry Fair replaces the Synod Assembly, which will take place every other year and will meet again in 2025. MINISTRY FAIR June 1, 2024 Wartburg College, Wa ..read more

A new Lay Ministry Training Program will begin in 2024 to give lay leaders the tools and support they need when congregations are without a pastor or deacon. The Northeastern Iowa Synod is joining the Western Iowa Synod, Southeastern Iowa Synod and South-Central Synod of Wisconsin to develop a Lay Ministry Training Program to teach lay members how to lead worship, preach, make home visits, and do other basic pastoral ministry when their congregation does not have an ordained minister. LAY MINISTERS ARE EQUIPPED TO SERVE An average of 30 congregations in the Northeastern Iowa Synod have ..read more

A new Lay Ministry Training Program will begin in 2024 to give lay leaders the tools and support they need when congregations are without a pastor or deacon. The Northeastern Iowa Synod is joining the Western Iowa Synod, Southeastern Iowa Synod and South-Central Synod of Wisconsin to develop a Lay Ministry Training Program to teach lay members how to lead worship, preach, make home visits, and do other basic pastoral ministry when their congregation does not have an ordained minister. LAY MINISTERS ARE EQUIPPED TO SERVE An average of 30 congregations in the Northeastern Iowa Synod have ..read more

Northeastern Iowa Synod youth workers – paid or volunteer — are invited to attend free webinars offered in partnership with Youth Ministry Consultants. Youth Ministry Consultants is a nonprofit organization that offers coaching, consulting and training to help parents, leaders and churches be more effective and intentional in sharing Jesus to the next generation. Their monthly live webinars feature knowledgeable presenters on a variety of youth ministry topics, including: small church ministry caring for challenging kids nurturing lasting faith creating safe spaces for youth practical ideas ..read more

Lay and rostered members of the ELCA are invited to submit their thoughts, ideas and suggestions about the ELCA in a new survey from the ELCA’s Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). The survey will assist the CRLC as it examines restructuring the governance of the ELCA. Survey questions focus on congregations, synods and the churchwide organization. Participation is voluntary. The survey will be available until March 15, 2024. Here’s the link to complete the survey online: Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church Survey (google.com) To learn more about the CRLC, visit www.elca.org/c ..read more

The synod’s Hunger Network will host a Hunger Ministry Gathering on Saturday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, at Redeemer Lutheran, Waverly. Participants will hear from guest speakers and join in table discussions around topics related to hunger ministries. The Network is asking people to complete a brief survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/VPHSH88 to help plan relevant discussion topics. To RSVP for the event, please complete this form https://forms.gle/yEXsuAPwtj1ocN4Z8. Check back for more details. The post Register for the March 9 Hunger Ministry Gathering appeared first on Northeastern Iowa ..read more

The Northeastern Iowa Synod’s Global Mission Network invites interested ministers and lay leaders to join Bishop Kevin Jones for a trip to our companion synod in Hungary June 22-28, 2024. Details for the trip are still being finalized, but it will include meeting with Bishop Tamás Fabiny of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary and other church leaders to learn about the ministries and history of the Lutheran church in Hungary. Plans are for a group of eight to 10 people from Northeastern Iowa to travel together to represent this synod. Anyone interested in joining the trip or wanting to ..read more

The Northeastern Iowa Synod will host two Women in Ministry Retreats in March and April. Women from the Northeastern Iowa and surrounding synods who are rostered ministers or candidates for rostered ministry are invited to retreats on March 17-19 and April 28-30 at Ewalu Stone Center near Strawberry Point, Iowa. With a theme of “Journeying Together,” both retreats will offer opportunities for worship, artistic and meditative spiritual practices, and time for connection. Both retreats will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday with supper, and will end after breakfast on Tuesday. Meals will be included ..read more