The Lutheran Week Agenda and proposed Rules of Procedure are now available.
Find them below.
Posts archive for July, 2023
News & Updates on Lutheran Week 2023
Recognition of Clergy and Congregations
Here we recognize anniversaries, ordinations, and those who have died in the Lord.
Pre-Convocation Forums – Aug. 1 @ 7 PM
Leading up to our 2023 Mission Convocation, NALC leaders will be hosting two virtual discussion forums on Tuesday, August 1, starting at 7 PM ET.
Discussions will cover the 2024 proposed budget, agenda, rules of procedure, and election process.
From 7 – 8 PM there will be a presentation of the treasurer’s report & the 2024 proposed budget. This session will be led by Mike Johnson (NALC Treasurer) and Anne Gleason (NALC Financial Administrator).
From 8 – 9 PM, the meeting will go through the agenda, rules of procedure, and the election process. This session will be led by Pastor Amy Little (NALC General Secretary).
There will be an opportunity at the end to answer any questions you may have.
The Zoom Link will be sent out in next week’s email. A recording of these discussions will be available at lutheranweek.com.
* To participate: You will need either a computer with audio capabilities (video capabilities are recommended) or a phone to call in. If you use a computer, you must have a Zoom account to join the meeting. *
Speakers Announced for Braaten-Benne Lectures in Theology!
The Carl E. Braaten-Robert D. Benne Lectures in Theology have been an integral part of Lutheran Week since 2009. The event originated as the Lutheran CORE Theological Conference, and came under additional sponsorship from the North American Lutheran Church in 2010. In 2015, it was renamed in honor of Carl E. Braaten and Robert Benne, prominent Lutheran theologians who organized and conducted the theological lectures for their first five years (2010-2014).
The Lectures reflect a commitment on the part of the North American Lutheran Church, the organizers of Lutheran Week, and the series steering committee to the significance of theology for the future of North American Lutheranism. Each year the series brings together leading theologians, biblical scholars and ethicists from across confessional and ecumenical boundaries to address key issues of Christian faith and practice. While the papers are scholarly in nature, presenters are asked to keep the local Church in mind. Each paper is followed by a question and answer session, with audience members determining the course of the discussion. One of the highlights of the annual event is the roundtable panel session at the close of the lectures. This yearly event gathers an audience composed of laypersons, students, pastors, professional scholars and denominational leaders.
The conference theme for 2023 is God the Father Creates in His Image (Genesis 1:27). This is the second half of a study on God the Father begun in 2021, and the final installment of a six-year focus on the Holy Trinity. Theological anthropology will be at the forefront: to be created in the image of God – what does this mean for us? According to the apostolic faith, what is the nature of humanity, and what kinds of moral challenges does the church face in this respect when it comes to being in, but not of, the world?
Speakers will include:
- Dr. David Luy (Assoc. Prof. of Systematic Theology, North American Lutheran Seminary)
- Dr. Bob Benne (Jordan-Trexler Prof. of Religion Emeritus and Research Associate in Religion and Philosophy, Roanoke College)
- Dr. Gilbert Meilaender (Sr. Research Prof. of Theology, Valparaiso University)
- Dr. Mickey Mattox (Flack Family Foundation Chair and Prof. of Theology, Hillsdale College)
- Dr. Paul Blowers (Dean E. Walker Prof. of Church History, Emmanuel Christian Seminary)
Speakers Announced for Faith Formation Festival!
The NALC Youth and Family Ministry has begun a new event series to provide resources to pastors, Christian education directors, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers and anyone who works with children and youth in North America. Teresa Peters, Director of Youth and Family Ministry, works with churches around the country to host Faith Formation Festivals, teaching leaders how to navigate youth and family ministry in their congregations. This event will take place August 8-9 during Lutheran Week in Oklahoma City.
Each event hosts a panel of speakers that cover topics such as tackling best practices for youth and family ministry, how to have honest conversations with teens about hard topics, commissioned living, and more!
During the first part of this two-day event, speakers covering various topics include:
- The Rev. Teresa Peters (NALC Director of Youth and Family Ministry): Update on Youth and Family Ministry in the NALC
- Heather Ruesch (Author, Founder and Speaker of The You Matter Tour™ and executive director of L3 Resources): Sexuality Mentality
- The Rev. Jeff Milsten (Lutheran Pastor in the NALC and the LCMC): God Matters Today (Workshop)
- Emily A. (Discipleship & Mobilization; World Mission Prayer League): Commissioned Living
During the second part of this two-day event, speakers covering various topics include:
- Melanie Corn (Christian Education Director at St. Peter Lutheran Church and Youth and Family Ministry Specialist for the NALC): Solid Rock Program
- Wondmagegn Udessa Bidire (Children and Youth Ministry director for the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, spiritual radio program producer, Gospel preacher and teacher, and youth leadership trainer): Children and Ministry in Ethiopia