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News
from Bishop Peter Rogness:
At its September 6
meeting, the executive committee of the synod council
set in motion a process that will result in the first
distribution of undesignated gifts directed to the
Crossing Bridges – Connecting in Mission appeal. (Some
designated gifts have been received and disbursed as
directed.) Funds were allocated in the following
amounts:
Allocations by the
Executive Committee of the Synod Council:
Bridges to New Leaders
Up to $60,000
(not more than $5,000 per student)
Bridges to Ending
Poverty $60,000
Bridges to New Missions
$76,465
Bridges to Iringa
$30,000
Administrative Expense
$50,000
TOTAL $276,465
The tag line of Crossing Bridges—Connecting
in Mission—is reflected in the method of
distribution. Instead of one central authority directing
the distribution of the funds, collaboration shapes
their use. That’s especially true in Bridges to Ending
Poverty, the congregational outreach initiative to
persons living in poverty, but collaboration is
reflected in others as well:
The Iringa work arises out of several efforts related
to the collaboration between people in this synod and
people in the Iringa Diocese as we walk bega kwa bega,
shoulder to shoulder. Examples include an agricultural
institute related to Tumaini University-Iringa, which
itself was begun 20 years ago out of this partnership;
Ilula Lutheran Health Center; and continuing
scholarships for the education collaboration.
The new mission starts on the East Side and Dakota
County are partnership efforts, and those partnerships
have shaped the budgets that have called forth synod
participation through Crossing Bridges.
The assistance we will provide for our seminarians
will be recommended by our candidacy committee and
reflects the reality that these costs also are shared by
the synod, congregations, seminaries, and the ELCA.
But it is in the new work of
reaching out in new ways from our congregations to
people in their communities living in poverty that new
collaborations promise to arise. The criteria for these
proposals for funding are as follows:
- Ministries that are
congregationally based and demonstrate the connection
with the life and people of the particular Word and
Sacrament ministry involved.
- Ministries that build
relationships with persons living in poverty through
ministries that meet real-life needs. The ministries
should not be restricted to members, but should seek
to engage people in the life and membership of the
congregation.
- Ministries that grow
out of collaboration among congregations sharing
outreach to a specific community or city/suburban
collaboration that enriches the life of all parties.
- Ministries that detail
outcomes and measurements, anticipated goals and means
to measure whether the goals have been met.
- Ministries that
outline a clear description of the planned ministry,
staff, budget projections, sustainability, and
evaluative methods.
Synod staff will review proposals and will then
convene a recommendation table, made up of the Ending
Poverty leadership team,, the three bishop’s
associates, and two representatives from each funding
request. The table will review the funds available for
that period, hear presentations of all proposals, and
formulate recommendations for the synod council.
Continued or repeat funding requests should include
information and evaluations of past work. The synod
council will approve the recommendations or return them
for further development and clarification.
Some are already shaping grant proposals. Since this
is a new initiative, some may want to explore
possibilities or ask questions. Feel free to contact
Nancy Maeker or a member of the ending Poverty
leadership team (Nancy is staff to them) or the bishop’s
associate who relates to your conference:
North and North Central
Conferences:
The Rev. Nancy Maeker
Southeast and East Central Conferences:
The Rev. Susan Miller
South and South Central Conferences:
The Rev. Ralph Baumgartner
To request a grant application or if you have
questions about funding, contact
Beth Helgen.
Several dates are key in the
funding process and should be included in your calendar
as you begin to formulate a grant proposal.
November 20
All grant proposals must be submitted to Beth Helgen
no later than 5:00 p.m.
December 11, 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Recommendation table convenes in the synod offices.
To be considered for funding, two representatives from
your group must be present around this table.
January 17, 2008
Synod council acts on proposals received from
recommendation table.
Crossing Bridges now enters a two-pronged
approach—continued raising of funds and support under
the leadership of the Rev. Gary Anderson and the
disbursement of funds under the oversight of the synod
council in consultation with synod staff and
recommendation tables. After several years of planning,
I’m excited that funds are now available to provide
support to the initiatives that are part of the Crossing
Bridges mission appeal, enabling all of them to move
ahead in important directions. The goal of the appeal is
$2 million, and we have received gifts and pledges just
over $1 million. The support of congregations and
individuals continues to be of vital importance to the
success of this endeavor. If your congregation has not
yet decided how it will participate, I urge you to
contact the Rev. Gary Anderson, director of Crossing
Bridges, and discuss ways you might become involved.
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How to Make
Your Gift
to Crossing Bridges
The process is simple, and there are several
alternatives. First, complete a
Crossing
Bridges pledge card. In addition to downloading it,
the form is also part of the Crossing Bridges brochure
available from the synod office or through your
congregation’s office. Gifts may be designated on the
commitment form.
Gifts may be given in one sum or over a period of years.
Unless your congregation has established a process for
receiving Crossing Bridges pledges, please
submit the pledge card to the
synod office at 105 University Ave. West, St. Paul, MN
55103.
Gifts may be made directly by check to the Saint. Paul
Area Synod, ELCA. Please indicate that the gift is for
Crossing Bridges and include any designation in the memo
line. All gifts to the synod are tax deductible. Gifts
may also be made through your congregation and are then
to be remitted to the synod by the treasurer. The Saint
Paul Area Synod is also part of the Simply Giving
program. If you wish to use this convenient, automatic
withdrawal program, please obtain a Simply Giving form.
They are often available through your local church
office or can be obtained through the synod office.
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