by Larell Fineren, Ministry Engagement Team, ELM Synod Assembly Coordinator

Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries’ Ministry Engagement Program needs fun loving, enthusiastic volunteers to host display tables at Synod Assemblies this year.  Might this be you?!  We put our toes in the water last year and had displays at four Synod Assemblies. We were impressed with the number of connections that came out of this first effort – and so this year, we are hoping to expand to 10 synod assemblies.

Synod Assemblies are some of the best places for us to connect with lay people and spread the word about ELM’s vision, purpose and work.  Lay people are really important in this work since they are the ones who call pastors and other rostered leaders.

The job description for a display table host is available here – ELM Synod Assembly Host Job Description 2016.  The host should be a person who does not need to be in the assembly sessions.  The host does not need a deep knowledge of ELM, but should be familiar with and supportive of our work – and excited to tell others about it!

We are looking for hosts that will be local to the assembly location, so that there will be no housing costs.  Registration and all the materials for the display will be provided through our Ministry Engagement program budget for 2016.  

I’ve stepped up to coordinate all the logistics for registration and display space, and will be sure that all the materials for the display get to the hosts.

If you’d like to help ELM come to a synod near you by hosting a table at your synod assembly, please contact us at info@elm.org.

by Larell Fineren, (she/her/hers).  Larell is a retired Nurse Anesthetist, member of Elim Lutheran Church, Petaluma CA and a Sierra-Pacific Synod Council member.  She writes:  “As I get comfortable in my wisdom years, a profound sense of gratitude buoys my spirit and keeps me involved in the justice work that God calls me to.  I’m a bisexual San Francisco native who’s been involved in LGBTQ inclusion politics for over 40 years.  My initial involvement with ELM was in 2003 when I served on the West Coast Candidacy Panel of the Extraordinary Candidacy Project. Now I live in Petaluma CA and my joy these days comes from helping new immigrants in my community.”