Southeastern Minnesota Synod (ELCA)

Developing Leaders to Impact the World!

Your kindness and generosity will enable us to develop spiritually resistant leaders that will have significant impact on their faith communities.  Once equipped, they proclaim the gospel, provide care, work for justice and feed the hungry.

Through Leading Together, an annual giving opportunity in the synod, we have the capacity to change communities throughout the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, from Winona to Mankato, from Mabel to Northfield, from Blue Earth to Rochester. We are impacting lives throughout the synod and beyond as we partner with our siblings in faith in South Sudan.

The Southeastern Minnesota Synod has clear plans for:

• Raising up 35 new pastoral leaders in a three-year period. With 35 leaders reaching retirement age in that span, it’s critical that congregations have the strong leadership necessary to guide them into God’s future. Our plan involves discernment retreats, partnerships with campus ministries and Luther Seminary, and the work of the Candidacy Committee. Halfway into our three-year plan, we’re excited to say that we’re on track to meet the goal!
• Ensuring that new pastoral leaders begin well. Seminary provides excellent education, but new leaders invariably face challenges they did not anticipate. Through an expansion of First Call Theological Education, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod ensures that these leaders start strong, providing a basis for excellent ministry for many years.
• Revitalizing existing pastoral leaders. Pastoral leaders, grounded deeply in their lives of faith, have the greatest impact on the church and the world. To this end, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod provides spiritual direction for these leaders.
• Changing lives in South Sudan. Through a partnership with the whole ELCA, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod plays a major role in ensuring the vitality of ministry in Juba, South Sudan and Gambella, Ethiopia. Because of our work together, people have the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus, they receive education to provide for their future, and they receive critically needed healthcare.

To allow us to have the capacity to fully implement our plans we need an additional $14,000 from people all over the synod by the end of the year. That includes gifts through Give MN and Give to the Max Day!

I invite you to join me in making a gift to Leading Together.   Please look at the gift chart on the back of this letter that shows the gifts needed this year and consider how God might be calling you to be a part of guiding the church into God’s future. Gifts of all sizes make a great difference!

When 50 people take part in this year-end giving opportunity at any giving level, a generous donor will provide an additional $2000 gift. Please help us ensure that we receive this special offer!