Rostered Leader Annual Report to the Bishop 2022

Rostered Leader and SAM

Annual Report to the Bishop

Ministry Milestones

* Name

0/50

* Email

0/50

* Cell/Phone number

0/50

How many years have you been ordained or served as a SAM?

0-3

4-10

11-20

21-35

36-50

Any significant family milestones this year?

Marriage

Birth of a child

Graduation or marriage of a child

Empty nest

Other

0/250

Any significant losses in your life this year?

Death of spouse or child

Death of parent or grandparent

Death of other close relative or friend

Tragic death in the congregation

Divorce or Separation

Leaving a call or spouse's loss of job

Other

0/250

Any significant change in your ministry this year?

First year in my new congregation/parish

Looking/Interviewing for a new call

Anticipating retirement in the next 12-18 months

Moved from full-time to part-time call

Change in parish alignment

Significant new conflict in my congregation

Other

0/250

Do you wish to discuss a change of call? (rostered ministers only)

Urgently

Yes

Personal

How would you rate your Spiritual Health?

Poor

Excellent

How would you rate your Physical Health?

Poor

Excellent

How would you rate your Emotional Health?

Poor

Excellent

How would you rate your Financial Health?

Poor

Excellent

How are your family relationships?

Poor

Excellent

Congregation/Synod

How would you describe the health of your congregation?

Thriving and growing

Stable

Declining

Dying

How is your congregation feeling about the future? (Check all the apply)

Positive

Energized

Faithful

Hopeful

Determined

Wishful

Wondering

Tired

Discouraged

Grieving

Anxious

Angry

Divided

How are YOU feeling about the future? (Check all that apply)

Positive

Energized

Faithful

Hopeful

Determined

Wishful

Wondering

Tired

Discouraged

Grieving

Anxious

Angry

Divided

Does your congregation currently have the energy (spiritual passion, missional purpose, financial capacity, human will) to continue ministry for the next five years?

Yes

Unsure

Is it time for you to have a conversation with your congregational leaders about finishing well, leaving a legacy and setting a timeline to close your church?

Yes

Unsure

Would you like to have a conversation with the bishop about how to begin the conversation to close your congregation?

Yes

Unsure

Would you like more information about Faithful Innovations and other ideas for growing your congregation’s capacity for ministry?

Yes

Unsure

Are you actively encouraging your members to attend Lay School and Lay School continuing education?

Yes

How many members of your congregation are attending Lay School this year?

3 or more

1-2

Are you getting adequate support from the synod ministers?

Great

Good

Fair

Could be better

What would you like Bishop Laurie to know about your current situation?

0/500

How could the synod ministers be helpful to you at this time? How can we pray for you?

0/500

Justice

Did you know that the synod assembly passed a resolution that encourages every congregation to form a green team to promote practices to protect the health of creation at home and in the congregation?

Yes

RESOLVED, that the congregations in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin commit to taking the faithful step of caring for God’s creation by forming congregational Green Teams whose on-going purpose is to promote awareness while challenging the congregation to implement effective practices that protect and promote the health of creation;

Does your congregation have a "Green Team"?

Yes, it's going strong

Yes, but it is struggling

Yes, our group is just getting started

No, but we are thinking about it and might in the next year

No, it's not a priority in our congregation

What is one initiative or activity that your Green Team has worked on in the last 12 months?

0/500

Did you know that the 2022 synod assembly passed a resolution that encouraged congregations to engage in intentional conversation about race and love of our BIPOC neighbors using the synod’s Racial Justice and Equity Statement?

Yes

How has your congregation engaged in conversation about loving your neighbors and the racial equity statement?

Invited Deacon Lidixe Montoya to talk about Neighbor to Neighbor

Invited Pastor Sara Bishop, Synod Advocate for Right Relationships to speak

Invited a member of one of the tribes and nations in our area to speak

Use a land acknowledge before worship or congregational gatherings

Read and discussed the synod’s Racial Justice and Equity Statement with members

Book study about right relationships with our neighbors

Bible Study that focused on radical welcome, love of neighbor, justice issues

Adult class that focused on social justice issues and neighbor love

Confirmation or high school youth conversations about right relationships and justice love for our neighbors

Other

0/250

Approximately how many hours have members of your congregation formally engaged in conversations about loving your neighbors and/or the racial equity statement?

0-2

2-5

5-8

8-10

10+

Resolved, that the 197 congregations of the NWSWI be encouraged to engage in ongoing intentional conversation about race and love of BIPOC neighbors using the synod’s Racial Justice and Equity Statement and accompanying Glossary of Terms in that discussion and publicly take action in their communities consistent with that conversation; and be it further

Resolved, that in addition to promoting the relationship building resources of Neighbor to Neighbor, other resources be provided for adult and cross generational conversations about race and love of neighbors by the Synod Justice Team and Synod ministers;

therefore be it further Resolved, that rostered leaders and SAMs note in their annual report to the Bishop the length and type of intentional conversation and any action(s) taken promoting racial justice and equity and loving our neighbors.

Have you had a conversation with your church council about creating a wider welcome for members of the LGBTQIA community?

Yes, we are just in the beginning stages of the conversation

Yes, we are in the process of becoming a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation

Yes, we had conversations this year, but won’t vote to become an RIC congregation at this time

We are already an RIC congregation

No, we haven’t started the conversation yet, but will in the next 6 months

No, I’d like to, but don’t know where to start

No, the congregation isn’t ready for that conversation yet

Have you participated in a racial justice training such as Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) or Transforming White Privilege course in the last 12 months?

Yes

I plan to attend in 2023

Does your congregation have a land acknowledgement? If yes, please use the other box to explain when it is used.

Yes

Other

0/250

What is your biggest worry about your congregation right now?

0/500

How have you seen worry transformed to wonder?

0/500

Share a brief story of how your congregation moved from worry to wonder by asking God questions. God questions like: What is God up to now? What is God calling us to do? Where is God inviting us into ministry in our neighborhood? How is God speaking to us through this situation? What is our next most faithful step?

0/500

What theme or story from scripture has been capturing your attention these days?

0/500

What is your next most faithful step as a public leader or public church in your context for ministry?

0/500

General

What books or podcasts have you read or listened to in the last year about ministry that you would recommend to a colleague? What classes, workshops, or continuing education events have you attended this past year?

0/250

How much out of pocket money did you spend on continuing education last year?

0-$250

$250-$500

more than $500

Rostered Leaders: What is your total defined compensation? Base+Housing+Social Security SAMS, what is your salary? Do you receive other benefits? Please list.

0/250

Do you live in a parsonage?

Yes

Is your salary:

at or above guidelines

just below guidelines

way below guidelines

Do you have these upcoming synod events on your calendar? Check all that apply

Monday, January 23 Winter Theo Rebound: Unsettled Past, Hopeful Future at Luther Park

Saturday, February 11 Middle School Youth Gathering, Bethany Lutheran in Rice Lake

February 15 is the Due Date for your Annual Report, Mission Support Form and Parochial Reports

Saturday, March 11 Walking Together at Bethany Lutheran in Rice Lake

Saturday April 29 Synod Assembly at Bethany Lutheran in Rice Lake

July 25-27 Tri Synod Youth Gathering in River Falls, WI

August 2023 Synod Trip to Malawi

September 2023 Fall Ministry Retreat at Heartwood

November 1-5, 2023 Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama

January 2024 Synod Trip to the Holy Land: A Palestinian Perspective

Just a reminder that if you are unable to attend Winter Theo, Synod Assembly or Fall Ministry Retreat, please email and let me know.

Thank you so much for completing the Annual Report to the Bishop 2022. I know your time is precious, and I truly appreciate your effort to complete this report. Thank you for your faithful work in ministry and for your partnership in the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s blessings to you and your congregations in 2023.

Bishop Laurie

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