Nebraska Synod ELCA

The Nebraska Synod Council gathered for a retreat August 9-10 in Kearney, followed by their regular business meeting.

Most council members and staff attended this event, which provided an opportunity for continuing council members and newly elected members to get to know each other.

We started with lunch and casual conversations, and then we began our retreat with a Bible study on Zechariah 4:6-10a. Throughout the retreat, IDEA Project cards were used to provide conversation starters. IDEA is a Nebraska Synod initiative focused on four steps to growth: Invite, Discern, Excite, Act.

The Council addressed a number of questions:

• What small steps do we need to start to reach bigger steps?
• What is the Council’s role in relationships?
• What are some ideas that the Council wants to do to connect with congregations?
• Who are we seeking to connect, support, and equip?
• What is a leader?
• How are Council members leaders?

The answers to these questions varied. We learned that being a leader doesn’t mean the person is in charge. We identified a desire to do more visiting congregations, listening to them and celebrating with them. We spent time discovering stories in our personal spiritual journey and sharing them with one another.

Friday evening ended with Dinner Church, which included more personal sharing and Holy Communion.  Saturday morning discussion continued with action steps: what does the synod council do?  What vision do the synod council members have and what are the needed action steps? For now, we committed ourselves to learning more about the synod’s many ministries and returning to our goals and vision at the November meeting.

This event was an opportunity for all of us to get to know each other personally and share our stories.  A huge thank you for the synod staff for their efforts in planning this event.  It was a wonderful experience.  If you have those IDEA cards, use them for conversation starters in your congregation, and contact the Synod office if you’d like to receive a set.

Mrs. Gwendolynn Edwards, Nebraska Synod Council Secretary