1. Leadership Summit

2. Welcome & Opening Devotion
Bishop Wolfgang

3. Opening Devotion
What’s God going to say to my questions? I’m braced for the worst. I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint. And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time. (Habakkuk 2:1-3)

4. Prayer
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(ELW p. 75)

5. Leadership Summit Goals
Outline the goals and objectives of the Forward in Faith Campaign
Understand how the success of the campaign is critical to the Holy Spirit’s work in your congregation, our synod and the ELCA
Understand how Vision 2018 and this campaign are mutually supportive
Invite your leadership as crucial to success

6. Forward in Faith – What it is Really About
It’s about Christ
It’s about You
It’s about Us

7. Forward In Faith Goals $2.5 million overall goal over the next 3 years
$500,000 will stay in our synod to support the Vision 2018 initiatives
$2 million will go to the ELCA church-wide campaign – Always Being Made New
Any support over the $2.5 million will stay in our synod

8. The Great News!
We already have well over half of our goal in pledges or gifts received!
This includes:
$ 921,000 from 13 congregations
$ 118,270 from individuals
$ 799,223 already to ELCA
$1.838 million

9. What is Vision 2018
A very open and inclusive discernment process that had input from more than 1000 of you
Approved at the Synod Assembly last May
Synod Council, Staff, Deans and other leaders are now in implementation phase
We truly believe that this “roadmap” will help us achieve the God’s mission for our congregations and synod

10. Vision 2018 The Four Ways The Way of Discipleship
The Way of Connectedness
The Way of Communication
The Way of Leadership

11. Vision 2018 Key Focus
The main focus of Vision 2018 is to help each congregation discern and live out their unique mission in their community.

12. Vision 2018 and Forward in Faith
God’s Mission for Your Congregation

13. The Way of Discipleship
Our people will be empowered to share the Good News of Jesus in their communities.
How?
By working with every congregation to execute a plan for mission and ministry
Identifying areas for two new mission starts
Revitalizing three congregations through intentional redevelopment
Forward in Faith Funding: $265,000

15. The Way of Connectedness
Our congregations and related ministries will thrive through deeper connectedness with other congregations and communities through mutual support and sharing of resources.
How?
By connecting each congregation with at least two others to share ideas, insights, and resources
Developing discipleship and stewardship ministries to grow generosity in support of both congregational and partner ministries
Forward in Faith Funding: $50,000

17. The Way of Communication
Our communications will be effective and a defining characteristic of our synod.
How?
Implementing technology to enhance communication
Identifying a Congregational Connector in each congregation, so that communication can flow throughout our synod more easily
Forward in Faith Funding: $60,000

19. Forward in Faith funding: $125,000
The Way of Leadership
Our leaders, lay and rostered, will be energized to serve with passion, health, and effectiveness.
How?
Hire a Leadership Director – Done – Rev. Stuart Luce
Creating a lay and rostered leadership development curriculum
Equipping every congregation to have a Mutual Ministry team
Financially supporting our synod’s seminary candidates.
Forward in Faith funding: $125,000

21. Vision 2018 – The Four Ways The Way of Discipleship $265,000
The Way of Connectedness $ 50,000
The Way of Communication $ 60,000
The Way of Leadership $125,000
Total Vision 2018 Funding $500,000

22. ELCA Campaign – Always Being Made New
Congregations $ 16 million
Leadership $ 19 million
Hunger & Poverty $130 million
Global Church $ 33 million
Total ELCA Funding $198 million
Our synod will contribute $2 million

23. Forward in Faith – What it is Really About
It’s about Christ
It’s about You
It’s about Us

24. It’s about Christ
Everything we do is a response to Christ’s Great Commission
We are being called to live out our faith right here and right now
Reaching others in Christ’s name
Affirming and supporting each congregation’s mission in the community
Empowering disciples to be the heart and hands of Christ, welcoming and serving all

25. It’s About You
Discovering the Holy Spirit’s mission for your congregation, then supporting you to implement that mission plan
Developing both your rostered and lay leadership in a focused and practical way to grow your ministry in the community
Helping you to connect with other congregations to share and learn
Increasing communication avenues

26. It’s About Us Connecting us as we “walk together” as a synod
Increasing the assistance we are giving to our next generation of rostered leaders
Helping us share and use ideas and resources across the synod
Supporting the ELCA Campaign – Always Being Made New

27. What Can You Do to Get Your Congregation Involved?

28. Congregational Involvement
Option A: Three week mini-campaign Option B: Include in a congregational capital campaign Option C: Build into your congregational budgets Option D: Receive a designated offering every 5th Sunday for three years Option E: Smorgasboard Reference: Forward in Faith summary and Congregational Involvement brochures

29. What Do We Need Now? Your prayers for guidance and support
Congregational Key Leader identified
Ambassadors – communicator with 4 – 5 congregations in their conference
Outline which approach you will use
Establish giving goals (see next slide)
Identify Leadership Gift candidates

30. AWA = Average Worship Attendance

31. In Summary
This is a very exciting time for our synod, congregations and ministries!
Vision 2018 discernment process gives us a roadmap
We have a very achievable goal in front of us, and we need your support through prayers and leadership to reach our goals
We thank you for your partnership!

32. Campaign Action Team Geneva Wallace, Co-Chair
Bishop Emeritus Jerry Knoche, Co-Chair
Bruce Albright The Rev. David Asendorf John Auger Alice Benson Em Cole The Rev. Bob Harvey Bishop Wolfgang Herz-Lane The Rev. Fred Lehr
The Rev. Glenn Ludwig The Rev. David Misenheimer Carla Palamone The Rev. Ray Ranker Julie Stecker, AiM The Rev. Stanley Steele Cheryl Williams

33. Questions & Answers

34. Closing Prayer
Bishop Wolfgang