Regional Global Gatherings

UPCOMING GATHERINGS

Do you ever wonder…

• How can young people get more involved in hunger and global ministries?
• How are other synods raising funds for the ELCA Malaria Campaign? What are some early successes in the fight against malaria?
• How can we use accompaniment principles in all our ministries, both global and local?
• How can we interest and inspire more people in the mission of the wider church?

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, please send a group of people to this year's Global Gathering in your region!

SPECIAL FEATURES this year include:

+ Pilot programs for youth groups

+ New developments in the ELCA Malaria Campaign

+ A new Bible study on Human Dignity and Hunger

+ Using accompaniment values and behaviors in your synod global and hunger ministries

+ A process to increase the number of globally informed Lutherans

Ongoing PURPOSE:

+ Network with others in your region

+ Learn what's new in global & hunger ministries

+ Share what you are doing

+ Strengthen leaders

+ Make plans for future ministry

+ Build your synod's team

+ Discover new worship resources

+ Stay connected in the global body of Christ!

Please take advantage of this excellent opportunity to strengthen teamwork among your synod global and hunger leaders.

WHO should attend? 

+ At least one synod staff person

+ Two or three additional volunteer leaders who can represent well your synod’s ministries in global mission, world hunger, the malaria campaign and companion synod relationships. 

DATES

REGION 8 -  Sept. 11-12, 2012, Tuesday 9 a.m. to Wednesday 2 p.m., Comfort Inn, 871 York Road, Gettysburg, PA (with accommodations available for those coming on Monday, Sept. 10)

REGION 9 - Sept. 14-15, 2012, Friday 1 p.m. to Saturday noon, Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary, Columbia, SC

REGION 7 - Sept. 27-28, 2012, Thursday noon to Friday 3 p.m., Seafarers and International House, 123 East 15th Street, New York, NY, with an optional extension to visit the Tenement Museum on Saturday, Sept. 29.

REGION 4 - Oct. 22-24, 2012, Monday mid-day to Wednesday mid-day, Lutheran Camp Chrysalis, 391 Upper Turtle Creek Road, Kerrville, TX

REGION 5 - Oct. 28-30, 2012, Sunday 5 p.m. to Tuesday 11:30 a.m., Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI

REGION 1 - Nov. 2-3, 2012, Friday 10 a.m. to Saturday noon, Kent Lutheran Church, 336 2nd Ave South, Kent, WA

REGION 2 - Nov. 5-6, 2012, Monday noon to Tuesday noon, Pacifica Synod office, 1801C Parkcourt Place, Santa Ana, CA.  Please note that the dates were changed from Nov. 12-13.

REGION 3 - Nov. 8-9, 2012, Thursday noon to Friday noon, Stub Hall, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN

REGION 6 – Nov. 12-13, 2012, Monday morning through Tuesday mid-day. The location is yet to be determined. Sunday night accommodations will be available for those coming early on Sunday, Nov. 11.

FROM RECENT GATHERINGS

SPECIAL FEATURES in Oct. 2011 to Feb. 2012 included:

+ How to improve communication with people in your synod

+ How to structure your synod team to meet your goals and capacity

+ How Lutherans work together through the ELCA Malaria Campaign around the world.

MATERIALS distributed at every gathering  from Oct. 2011 to Feb. 2012 include:

+ current World Hunger resources to order including Good Gifts catalog, hunger packet, video, and stories

+ downloadable resources to participate in the ELCA Malaria Campaign, as well as an updated PowerPoint presentation for your use

+ Global Mission resources to order including the map brochure, missionary annual,

placemaps, and Welcome Forward Travel Guide

+ current resources and developments in Global Mission and companion synod relationships

+ ways to use Global Links in your communication plans

+ draft report on how synods structure their global and hunger ministries

+ current list of missionaries being recruited

+ list of missionaries to promote who are seeking sponsors in your synod

+ companion synod profiles from each synod

+ current list of international scholars and how you can accompany them

+ list of synod leaders in global mission and companion synod relationships

+ a list of former missionaries in your state is available from lanny.westphal@elca.org

+ a general presentation on YAGM (Young Adults in Global Mission).  For the specific presentation given at a particular gathering, please see that gathering below.

Additional materials from a specific gathering are listed below under the appropriate region. 

REGION 1 - Oct. 21-22, 2011, Kent Lutheran Church, Kent WA. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are materials from this gathering:

+ agenda 

+ highlights from each synod in the region

+ presentation by Christine Doidge, Young Adult in Global Mission

+ handouts on effective communication from Lee Bjorklund, Mission Interpreter Coordinator

+ photo of participants:

REGION 2 - Nov. 14-15, 2011, Pacifica Synod office, Santa Ana, CA. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are materials from this gathering:

+ agenda 

+ highlights from this year and last year from each synod in the region

+ presentation on new developments in hunger ministry

+ presentation by Masresha Chufa, international scholar from Ethiopia, studying World Christianity and Mission at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

+ for a copy of the presentation by Krystle Moraska, recently returned from Argentina, please write lanny.westphal@elca.org (the file is too large to post)

+ the ad for Good Gifts from World Hunger for the Black Friday shopping day after Thanksgiving

+ a photo of the participants: 

REGION 3 - Nov. 3-4, 2011, St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church (next to Luther Seminary), St. Paul, MN. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are materials from this gathering:

+ agenda

+ highlights from each synod in the region

+ new developments in hunger ministry 

+ for a copy of the presentation by Peter and Sara Grow-Hanson, recently returned from service in Senegal, please contact lanny.westphal@elca.org (the file was too large to post)

+ a photo of the participants: 

REGION 4 - Nov. 16-18, 2011, Catholic Pastoral Retreat Center, Oklahoma City, OK. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are items from this gathering:

+ agenda

+ highlights from last year and this year from each synod in the region

+ presentation on new developments in hunger ministry

+ presentation by Janelle Neubauer on her recent year of service in the Holy Land

+ for a copy of the presentation by Sanchita Kisku, international scholar from India, please write to lanny.westphal@elca.org (the file is too large to post) 

+ for a copy of the presentation on micro-enterprise by Lita Brusick Johnson, please write to lanny.westphal@elca.org (the file is too large to post) 

+ information sent by Ann Hafften on the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)

+ photo of participants:

REGION 5 - Oct. 23-25, 2011, Bishop O'Connor Catholic Pastoral Center, Madison, WI. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are items from this gathering:

+ agenda 

+ highlights from each synod in the region

+ for a copy of the presentation by Anneli Doerring, recently returned from Mexico, please write lanny.westphal@elca.org (the file is too large to post) 

+ for a copy of the presentation by Rev. Ha, international scholar from Malaysia, please contact lanny.westphal@elca.org (the file is too large to post)

+ malaria SWAT Team Cheer from the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin

+ photo of participants: 

REGION 6 - Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2012, Maria Stein, OH.  For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are items from this gathering: 

+ agenda

+ highlights from every synod in the region

+ PowerPoint presentation on the Malaria Campaign

+ presentation by Janelle Neubauer on her recent year of service in the Holy Land

+ photo of participants:  

REGION 7 - Oct. 12-13, 2011, Lutheran Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Allentown, PA. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are items from this gathering: 

+ agenda 

+ highlights from each synod in the region

+ presentation by Andrew Steele, recently returned from South Africa

+ photo of participants:

REGION 8 - Oct. 10-11, 2011, Eisenhower Hotel & Conference Center, Gettysburg, PA. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are items from this gathering:

+ agenda 

+ highlights from each synod in the region

+ presentation by Andrew Steele, recently returned from South Africa

+ photo of participants: 

REGION 9 - April 1-2, 2011, Lutheran Southern Theological Seminary, Columbia, SC. For a list of materials distributed at every gathering, please see above. In addition, here are items from this gathering:

+ agenda

+ highlights from each synod in the region

+ photo of participants:

 PREVIous gatherings 

+ see highlights of the 2010 Gatherings