-Summer Office Hours through August 15
-Staff Openings in the Saint Paul Area Synod
-Crossing Bridges: Achieving the $2 Million Goal
-ELCA Civic Engagement Tour

From Beth Helgen, Saint Paul Area Synod
Synod Summer Office Hours Continue through August 15
The synod office is open from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For six weeks this summer on Fridays, July 11-August 15, the synod office will be open from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and closed for the afternoon. Regular Friday office hours resume the week of August 18. Because of vacations, off-site meetings and appointments, and continuing education, there might be a few occasions when the office opens a little late or closes a little early because of staffing. If you plan to drop by early or late in the day, please try to give us a call to let us know you are coming.

Two Openings on the Staff of the Saint Paul Area Synod
Bishop Rogness announced in an e-letter several weeks ago a re-positioning and re-focus of the work of synod staff. Because of this effort, he seeks applications for the following positions:

• Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership Support. A key function of the synod staff is its equipping and supporting those in leadership in the life of the church. Though all staff do this, there are a number of key areas in the synod’s life that can be focused in the responsibility of one person. This is a new position that centers on administration and oversight for candidacy and mobility and call process, with particular emphasis on developing relationships and seeking to engage all rostered leaders in the life of the church. Since this work heavily involves the rostered leadership of the church, it’s preferred that this person be rostered as well. This assistant will serve as the liaison to the North and North Central conferences and provide oversight for First Call Theological Education. For a complete job description>

• Communications Specialist. This is a new position which fulfills a recommendation made by Shirley Teig following a consultation in 2005 that the synod hire a full-time staff person to oversee communications, and repeated by John Johnson following the interviews and focus groups he led this June. While print communication will be one component of this portfolio, the thrust will center on developing and enhancing new electronic communication strategies that include a larger web presence; blogs; online communities; and electronic newsletters that further the mission of the synod. This is an entry level position, particularly suitable for a recent college graduate or a person with one or two years of experience. For a complete job description>

FROM GARY F. ANDERSON, CROSSING BRIDGES MISSION APPEAL
Achieving the $2 Million Goal
Our synod’s exciting “Crossing Bridges-Connecting in Mission” appeal depends on gifts from three sources: congregations, granting organizations, and individuals. All three are important to achieving our $2 million goal and using those financial resources to strengthen the mission of the church in our synod and beyond. The good news to date is that we have received many gifts from individuals!  Included are gifts from many of the pastors of the synod along with numerous individual members of synod congregations. These gifts range in size from a few dollars to up to many thousands of dollars. Every gift of any size is welcome. One way leaders in the synod can help us cross bridges is to make a personal pledge or gift. Another way is to speak to people who might make a commitment to Crossing Bridges. Pastors and key lay leaders in congregations can play a vital role in this regard. They are the ones who know people and are in the best position to make the invitation to give. Pledge forms are available through the synod office or online at www.spas-crossingbridges.org   And remember, gifts can be designated and may be made directly to the synod or through a local congregation.  Also, do not forget that gifts designated to ending poverty or future leaders will be matched by the Thrivent Lutheran Foundation and gifts to ending poverty will be matched by the Otto Bremer Foundation. The ELCA Fund for Leaders will match $1 for every $2 designated for future leaders. We are close to moving all the way across the bridge to mission, nearing our $2 million goal. With your help and that of others, we can go all the way across and beyond!

From the ELCA Washington Office
Civic Engagement Tour: Your Faith, Your Vote
Aug. 28, 11:30 a.m., Woodlake Lutheran Church, Richfield, and Aug. 29, 11:30 a.m., Cross of Hope Lutheran, Ramsey. Lunch and fellowship begin at 11:30 a.m. The forum begins at 12:00 noon. Chances are good that you are overwhelmed with televised debates, opinion poll analyses, and feature stories tracking the presidential candidates. It's easy to become sidetracked by the political mudslinging and partisan bickering, until we consider how our faith can inform our civic engagement. In his Large Catechism, Luther identifies government as a means through which God works to preserve creation and to help maintain a peaceful and just social order in a sinful world. Our faith values should inform how we look at public issues and interpret what is happening in political life. The ELCA is called to be a public church; and thus, we have a responsibility to engage potential political leaders on the values and ethics affirmed by our faith. This isn't about partisan politics. In fact, in order to protect religious liberty and our nation’s democratic system, we must remember that it is not the church's role to promote any single candidate or endorse any activity that will provide any form of partisan gain. Our goal is to equip Lutherans to understand what nonpartisan political activities we can engage in as a church, and to encourage others to get involved. Now is the time to register to vote, think critically about our civic responsibility, and prayerfully and thoughtfully evaluate political issues, as we keep the promise for a faithful democracy. Please join staff from the ELCA advocacy office to discuss:

• How and why we are called to be a public church?
• Why does the ELCA advocate?
• Who is your advocacy staff?
• What are permissible nonpartisan electoral activities for churches?
• Issue conversations on: domestic and international hunger and poverty, immigration, global conflicts, and the environment.