[LIVE BLOG] NTNL Youth and Family Ministry Resources Panel

3:15
NTNL Youth and Family Ministry Resources
Thane McCann
Degas Room

Thane is the director of Youth at Advent Lutheran Church in Arlington, TX. We grow the youth because if we are going to have disciples tomorrow, we need to teach them how to do it today.

Youth leaders are not at on their own. Have a team (e.g. pastor, council, other youth leaders, interested congregation members), be connected to the congregation, have clear goals/expectations (e.g. the youth leader's goal along with the team's goals), and find a mentor (especially someone from a different congregation).

If you don't have a team and something happens to the youth leader, it becomes a disservice to the church. It is important to have people on your team who also understand the direction for the youth activities. It is also important to connect to the congregation at a larger level.

It is important to read in order to continually build professional knowledge. Teach your own "stuff", one-off lessons, and/or pre-made curriculum to continue learning and solidify knowledge.

Larger church resources include NTNL (which is considering creating a position akin to a "Youth Coordinator") and the ELCA (which includes documents online, National Youth Gathering, and "ELCAYMNet - Extravaganza" centered around youth workers).

Outside organizations include YouthNet in Dallas/Fort Worth. Outside organizations don't always have to be Lutheran. There are also national groups like Youth Specialties, Vibrant Faith, D6, and others, some of which have resources online or signups for additional content.

Informal solutions including finding a mentor, mentoring someone else, working together with others (who don't have to be Lutherans), pool resources with other organizations (like books or games), and meeting with other local youth ministers.

National Youth Gathering is coming up this year. Thane is working with other youth leaders to pool resources. A ballroom will be available the entire week. There will also be a fake campfire and a portable S'mores maker. Registration closed once the National Youth Gathering hit their goal of around 38,000 youth, but it may still be possible to register through the end of May. Must have completed the 8th grade year.

Through the NTNL website, one can sign up for an email list that has some announcements on upcoming events.

[LIVE BLOG] ELCA World Hunger Panel

2:16
World Hunger: Root Causes of Hunger and Poverty
Sharon Magnuson (Associate Director for ELCA World Hunger)
Galleria Ballroom III

ELCA World Hunger is part of the greater work of the church. $19.2 million received last year, which makes all the programs happen. About 91.5% of funding goes to food and development; about 8.5% goes to structural and fundraising costs.

According to a video shown during the panel, 14% of families in the US struggle to put food on the table. In terms of poverty, people know their own issues best, and it is up to us to listen for how to partner to bring communities out of poverty.

ELCA churchwide recently reorganized as Global Mission, Congregation and Synodical Mission, and Mission Advancement (where ELCA World Hunger resides).

Advocacy is a big way to change some of the big issues impacting hunger and poverty. Access to water is very important for everything from food production to hygiene.

[LIVE BLOG] Radical Hospitality Panel

1:21
Radical Hospitality
Bjorn Peterson (The 99 Collective)
Chagall Room

Transformational leadership revolves around the idea of who we are as informed by the Gospel. Radical Hospitality aims to give something concrete to the "accompaniment" lens presented by Pr. Rafael Malpica-Padilla.

What leads to feeling welcome? Concepts like "compassion, acceptance, at ease, happiness, humbled, heard, and understood".

What leads to feeling unwelcome? Concepts like "excluded, uncomfortable, shunned, hurt, difficult, isolated, ignored, unseen, and unimportant".

Often when we feel unwelcome, the person doing it did not intend it. Out of love, sometimes we go and make a mess of things. Some ministries leave people unknown and hurt. A model for thinking in terms of Radical Hospitality is comprised of Values, Capacity, Equity Areas, which provide "a way to be" as we try to love.

Accompaniment Values: Mutuality, Inclusivity, Vulnerability, Empowerment, Sustainability. These values start to create a way of being, but how do you put them into practice? Decision-Making, Resource-Sharing, Story-Telling, Network-Building, Expertise-Recognizing. We must remember "nothing changes till it changes". In other words these values look nice, but until they are put into practice they are toothless.

Traditional hospitality maintains a power imbalance - I give to you, I have this to share with you. It's one way and not sought. Radical Hospitality values gives a way of being when we are in our equity areas. Any time we make a decision about the way to do things, we privilege a certain set of people who think that way.

Some questions to consider:
Decision-Making: Who makes the decisions? Who sets the agenda? What ways of making decisions are used or not used?

Resource-Sharing: Do we create hierarchies of gifts?

Story-Telling: Whose story is untold? What gates kept closed to story-telling? What kinds of story-telling are allowed?

Network-Building: Who gets to network? What access issues stand in the way? Who do we believe is worthy of our relationships?

Expertise-Recognizing: Who is an expert? How is someone designated an expert? What ways of knowing are privileged (i.e. mind or heart or body)?

Expanding Our Capacities: Empathy Skills (e.g. silence), Asset Based Thinking, System Thinking (e.g. connect the dots, connect all the separate issues, otherwise make decisions in isolation), Formation Disciplines (e.g. prayer, dancing, etc).

[LIVE BLOG] Business Session II Reports

8:50 AM: 2011 NTNL finances ended with a surplus of about $11,000. The full details of the narrative can be found in the documentation handed out at the Assembly. The strategy for 2012 is the same as was voted on last year at Mission Assembly.

8:55 AM: Lutheran Seminary of the Southwest is located on the Episcopal campus in Austin. Incorporated a program for Hispanic applicants throughout the country to attend the seminary. Served 200 MDIV students over the 30+ years of history. Will soon reinstate the MDIV program and will be back in business with that program. Asked to teach programs for several neighboring schools of theology.

9:00 AM: Bishop Ray from Southwestern Texas Synod brings greetings from southwest Texas. They had a Glocal Mission Event last September that was very well received. The 3 synods withing TX and LA do a lot together and get together at the Tri-Synod Conferernce. June 7-9 will be a worship event. The website has registration details. Bishop Mike issued a challenge to make a huge difference with the malaria campaign.

And the new Bishop of the NT-NL Mission Area is...

A BIG congrats to the Rev. Dr. Kevin Kanouse as he was just re-elected to another 6-year term as Bishop of the North Texas-Northern Louisiana Mission Area on the 1st ballot with 190 votes! Congratulations and God-speed!

Affirmation Goes a Long Way

It was lovely to hear Bishop Kanouse's words of affirmation for newly re-elected Vice President Stephanie Varnum. In a way his strong appreciation for Stephanie applied to all those helpful volunteers and hard-working staff whose efforts make the mission of ELCA/NT-NL function smoothly.

A good team that works well together can be a real joy, and how much more delightful when that work is in service to our most gracious God.

So thanks - to the facilitators who are distributing materials and picking up ballots, to the video support team, to those who manage the nomination process, to those who keep good relations with the hotel and keep the coffee coming, to those who handle a million details that no one will ever see. A wise man (my boss) used to say, "If we're doing our job right, no one notices."

But let's notice and say, "Thank you! Gracias! And God bless us everyone."

[LIVE BLOG] Celebration Moment #1 - The Hay Lift

04/27/2012 5:12 pm: The Chair is returned to Bishop Kanouse and he introduces Stephanie Varnum. Stephanie introduces those involved with the hay lift. The hay lift was conducted between the Rolling Plains Conference in NT-NL and the Shepherd of the Hills Conference in Iowa. A video is shown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwF97FqU59A&feature=plcp). Comments are offered by those involved. "Who would have thought that some hay would cause such a commotion..." The hay from Iowa helped over 51 families from all walks of life in West Texas. Alvarado received bales that were twice as big as the bales that were being sold for over $160. A standing ovation is offered for ALL involved. Thanks and Praise be to God for these people!

[LIVE BLOG] Bishop Election 1st Ballot

04/27/2012 4:51 pm: Stephanie Varnum assumes the Chair of the Assembly and introduces Pastor Rafael Padilla from the ELCA National Office. Pastor Padilla brings greetings from the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA Mark Hanson. He explains about the role of the Bishop in the ELCA and explains about the Bishop election process. These remarks are in preparation of our own Bishop election later during this assembly.

5:05 pm: Pastor Padilla offers a prayer and asks for the first ballot to be taken for the Bishop election. The 1st ballot is taken by 5:10 pm.

[LIVE BLOG] Business Session 1

4:00 pm 04/27/12: Words of welcome from our co-chairs Pastor Deb Loudin-McCann and David Timmons. David explains some of the social media sites and guidelines we will be using this weekend. Pastor Kyle Rouze explains about the Glocal-cache Challenge. See him for details! Bishop Kevin Kanouse offers words of welcome and recognizes some important guests with us. There are about 268 voting members and about 187 lay persons present for a total of approximately 450 people at this time.

4:15 pm: Bishop Kevin asks some control questions for the Voting Pad testing.
Q1: Is this your first Mission Assembly?
62 - Yes; 172 - No; 21 - Mission Assembly? I thought this was the general gathering of the United Nations.
Q2: Where is your congregation located?
Q3: How did you become a Lutheran?
Q4: How many social statements does the ELCA have?
Q5: Have you ever read a Social Statement of the ELCA?
183 - Yes; 40 - No; 18 - I didn't know we had any social statements.
Q6: Have you ever studied a social statement and provided feedback to the study group preparing it for the churchwide assembly?
132 - Yes; 124 - No
Q7: Generally as an aid to understanding various social issues and questions I find social statements...
160 - helpful.; 88 - not helpful.
Q8: Generally as an aid to understanding various social issues and questions I find social statements...
131 - Useful.; 79 - Not Useful.
Q9: ELCA social statements...
154(majority) - guide our public church
Q10 In regards to ELCA soc statements...
160 - Keep preparing them.; 99 - Stop preparing them.
Q11: I'm excited to participate in the Mission Assembly?
206 - Yes; 3 - No; 45 - Why am I here?

4:23 pm: Stephanie Varnum presents the agenda. Agenda is adopted as presented. Motion to adopt the standing rules for the 2012 NTNLMA. Standing rules are adopted as presented.

4:32 pm: Pastor Pat Dietrich presents the slate of candidates for a variety of positions. Nominations are opened. Pastor Deb Loudin-McCann was nominated in addition to the slate as female rostered voting representative to the ELCA National Assembly. Parma Kerstin and Anne Hafften were nominated in addition to the slate as female lay voting representative. Arthur Momo was nominated in addition to the slate as male lay voting representative. Lauren Lys was nominated in addition to the slate as a female young adult representative. All running unopposed were elected by acclaimation by a vote of 262 to 2.

[LIVE BLOG] Opening Worship

4/27/12 @ 2:50 Opening Worship [LIVE BLOG] Opening worship is a moving experience! Pastor Kate Warn spoke of the situation in Sierra Leonne, we celebrated with our "DiscipleLife" song (i.e. "Disciples on the Move"), and we enjoyed a worship experience that really sets the tone for the weekend. Here is an excerpt from one of the prayers: "Loving God, we pray that you would energize us, our congregations, and our mission area... Open our eyes and hearts to see and share our love with those around us." Amen!

[LIVE BLOG] Voting Member Orientation

1:00 4/27/12: Voting Member Orientation Bp Kevin Kanouse [LIVE BLOG] At 1:00, the "Voting Member Orientation" began with a rousing rendition of "How Great Thou Art" from Bishop Kevin. Bishop Kevin describes some of the language used in association with the weekend. Traditionally we call this a "Synod Convention" and the attendees "Voting Members", but that language is changing after approximately 24 years of use. We are Holy Spirit inspired and assemble at the "Assembly". We have gone away from use of the word "Synod" to "Mission" to help us understand what we are all about. He describes us as missionaries in the world and our congregations as mission gathering places. "DiscipleLife" is our mission word that describes who we are, which is the life of living out discipleship. We live our life for Jesus all throughout our life, and we  are all about sowing and growing disciples for Jesus. Each and everyone is called in one way or another to DiscipleLife. God empowers and equips us for DiscipleLife. The DiscipleLife theme last year was "serving". This year is the end of the 6 year arc, and the theme is "Celebrating DiscipleLife". For the event this weekend, one of the central highlights is a Glocal Event - this is the first time this has happened at a Mission Assembly. The musicians here are part of the Global Mission team based out of Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and others, plus a gathering of our local musicians. We will also hear from executive director Pr. Rafael Malpica-Padilla. Sunitha Moritha from Global Chicago also here. Saturday afternoon we'll have workshops. The weekend will feature a Global Marketplace, Global Village, and on Saturday a Global Celebration. There are hundreds of expressions of what it means to be an NTNL Lutheran, and this weekend we will hear a lot of these stories. Additionally, we will vote on things like care and compensation packages for clergy, the election of a new secretary this year, and the election of the NTNL Bishop. All this will take place via a voting pad included at the registration desk. This is your best friend! Don't lose yours! These cost $50 to replace, so please return yours at the end of the Assembly. This weekend we will have a session on how to use the voting pads.

First, I Heard the Music... Energizing the Assembly

Hi – I’m Ann Hafften, one of your blogging team members.

First, I heard the music. Coming in through the Grand Ballroom entrance to the Assembly Sheraton with an over-full box of international décor, I heard the music. The Glocal band was rehearsing and everyone within earshot was smiling and dance-walking. Something prompted me to reposition that box on my head, the better to dance and greet friends.

A friend on Facebook scoffed when I called our Assembly/Glocal Gathering a “rockin’” event  – he just doesn’t know, it’s true!

I heard this secondhand: an elderly couple – first-timers at an assembly - got registered and kept gravitating back to the ballroom. “The music is so energizing,” the woman said, “we just had to check it out.” Welcome Lutherans, you have arrived at the high-energy (rockin’) center of our Christian community this weekend.

The Global Marketplace is all set up, and I’m ready to make a serious investment in olive oil products. For the first time we welcome Canaan Fair Trade olive oil to our event. I can vouch for the infused oils (and the regular oil) – it’s just excellent. There’s so much more to look at, I’ll have to go back to the marketplace and shop. Colorful, abundant, great gifts!

The excitement of setting up an assembly is part of the fun. It’s a big job and lots of friends are pitching in together to product an inspirational event for all participants – voting members and Glocal Gathering visitors.

"CELEBRATE with Great Joy"

“Celebrate with Great Joy”  is the 2012 NTNL Mission Assembly Key Scripture Verse

“Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”

                                                                       - Nehemiah 8:12 (NIV)

This portion of scripture comes after Ezra has gathered the people and read to them from the Book of the Law, reminding them of all the great history of God’s commands and care for them as God’s chosen people.  Despite much opposition, defying great odds, Nehemiah has succeeded in re-building the walls of Jerusalem, and the exiles have returned.  Governor Nehemiah and Ezra the scribe and priest call the people together for a day of confession and remembrance and renewing of the covenant. From “daybreak till noon”  (8:3) Ezra read the Word of God to the people  “making it clear, and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” (8:8)  and the effect was so powerful upon the people’s hearts that “all the people had been weeping as they were listening.” (8:9)

With our Assembly key focus on global mission and the work of the DiscipeLife Alive! initiative for mission this verse serves to remind us of  our place in God’s great plan for God’s people in all time and places, a plan continually unfolding in our midst. Obviously it calls for celebrating, but it also is embedded in the story of God’s people re-building, the people of God coming back together after a time of trial, and dislocation to remember and renew their commitment to be the people of God.

          Celebrating the call by God’s Word to live lives of holiness and example –   
                     Celebrating  DiscipleLife!

A Post from Co-Chair Pastor Deb Loudin-McCann

Hi!  I’m Pastor Deb Loudin-McCann and its my privilege to serve as one of the co-chairs for this year’s Mission Assembly Planning Team.  This is my sixth assembly to serve as either worship leader or co-chair of the planning team and this year’s assembly has been the most challenging, and most exciting to work on so far!  As the first synod (Mission Area) to incorporate a Glocal Mission Gathering into our assembly we are a sort of Beta Test Group for the ELCA to see how other synods may be able to do the same thing.  Proving once again that the NTNL Mission Area is doing some creative thinking and cutting edge ministry.


Balancing the resources, communication, and scheduling for an assembly, a Bishop’s election and a Glocal Mission event has truly been challenging for everyone involved.  But I think such endeavors are good for us in these times when the church is undergoing rapid change and re-construction. For some time to come we will need to learn how to do things, all kinds of things, differently in our parishes, our ministries and most especially in our visioning and planning.
The Good News is that God has blessed our Mission Area with so many gifted and generous leaders willing to serve.  That’s what gets me excited about Celebrating DiscipleLife at this year’s assembly, and every time the people of God gather to worship, learn and serve.


So – consider this your personal invitation from me (a real Assembly junkie) to come to the Mission Assembly/Glocal Mission Gathering and join us in what will be an event like you’ve never experienced before!

Mission Assembly Worship Celebrations

Here’s a foretaste of the Feasts to come in our NTNL Assembly 2012

Worship Celebrations will be formed around three Feasts & Commemorations of the church year:

Friday Opening Worship           United in the Waters         (Baptism of our Lord/Epiphany) 

Saturday Mid-Day Worship      United at the Table           (Worldwide Communion Sunday)

Sunday Sending Worship         United by the Spirit                        (Pentecost)

Friday Evening an additional service of  Prayer Around the Cross will be offered – 

                                            “For the Healing of the Nations”     

In a model of Glocal co-operation, musicians from the ELCA National office representing diverse cultural backgrounds will join some of our local musicians in teaching and leading music from around the world.  Our plenary speakers, workshop presenters, worship leaders and assistants will also represent a variety of ethnic origins, sharing fresh perspectives and thought provoking cultural-based insights.  Expect to be both challenged and blessed. Expect to be invited to move out of your comfort zone and away from the familiar to be (as C.S. Lewis said) “Surprised by Joy” finding renewed energy and enthusiasm for worship and mission.

Glocal-cache Challenge!!!

Are you ready?...  Glocal-cache Challenge at the Assembly!

At this year’s Assembly you will have the chance to have a little fun by challenging yourself or a team with a Glocal-cache Challenge.  This event is similar to geocaching (or just plain scavenger hunt type adventure) where you will solve clues, search the hotel grounds for hidden caches, and learn about Glocal Mission.  It’s a great activity for friends to do together.

By yourself or with friends, this is a fun way to spend some down time in the assembly.  It does not have to be done all at once, but it can be done on your own time and in short segments.  The time it takes to complete the Glocal-cache challenge will vary, but total time may take 1-2 hours.  It’s not a timed race, the adventure is about the journey and the search. 

There will be four entries drawn from all the completed entries for prizes from the Global Marketplace.  Please stop by the table after registration to pick up the form and talk to us about it.  You can email me now at kyle@calvaryftw.org.  Trust me everyone will have a great time!

- Pastor Kyle Rouze

  Geocache Master

Your 2012 Mission Assembly Planning Team!

There are many people who help put on a Mission Assembly. Some of those dedicated individuals can be seen in the planning committee photo below!

2012 NT-NL Mission Assembly Planning Committee
(From the left...)
Front Row: Tyna Oslie, Noralyn Carpenter
Second Row: David Timmons, Doris Dupree Harris, Parma Kerstin, Irma Banales, Debra Loudin-McCann, Kevin Keele, Becky Brakke
Third Row: Jesus Escamilla, Doug Perrin,  Maria Cruz-Natal, Julio Cruz-Natal
Fourth Row: Tiffany Michaelis, Chris Michaelis, Thane McCann, Herry Hwie,  Ann Hafften, Kevin Kanouse, Steve Kanouse

We hope to see you April 27 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Irving, TX! To register for the event, go to the "Assembly Registration" section of the NT-NL website.