Gathering of the Ministerium 2020
This past week from October 12th through the 13th, rostered ministers from across the Virginia Synod gathered in a reimagined virtual event via Zoom for the annual Gathering of the Ministerium. It is both a [...]
Virginia Synod Council Retreat 2020
On September 24th through the 25th the Virginia Synod Council met virtually via Zoom to conduct business and hold their annual council retreat. Some highlights to share from this time together include: 1. Synod Council [...]
Financial Stewardship Tip #5: Turning Ideas into Action
Principle: People succeed when they develop plans and create accountability Here are a series of guiding questions you can use to coach yourself or your team into taking action of one of the Four Tips [...]
Financial Stewardship Tip #4: Open Digital Giving Doors
Principle: Digital Giving supports both Digital and In-Person Worship The old axiom is “People donate in the way they pay their bills.” As more people move to digital forms of payment, there is an expectation [...]
Financial Stewardship Tip #3: Consider a Targeted Ask
Principle: Tailor your request for financial support to the people receiving the message One of the spillover effects of the shift to a digital world is that nearly everything is tailored to your specific interests. [...]
Financial Stewardship Tip #2: Tell Ministry Stories
Principle: People give to ministry, not to bills and budgets. While it is true that some people are motivated by a sense of duty and obligation to pay the bills, most people are motivated by [...]
Financial Stewardship Tip #1: Say Thank You
While some days it feels like the only constant during the pandemic has been change, the truth is that God’s love for God’s people has not changed and neither have the basic principles of good [...]
Thoughts on Stewardship During a Pandemic
By The Rev. John Wertz While some days it feels like the only constant during the pandemic has been change, the truth is that God’s love for God’s people has not changed and neither has [...]
Transportation of Diabetes Medical Supplies to Russia
Vicar Brian Coffey of St. Michael, Virginia Beach is convinced that God uses every unique aspect of a person's life story to do God's will in the world. The latest example of this in his [...]
Week of Service 2020
This past week marked Virginia Synod’s annual Week of Service, which coincided with “God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday, the ELCA Day of Service on Sunday, September 13, 2020. The week of service provides the opportunity [...]