Archives for February 1, 2021

Congratulations to our colleagues celebrating work anniversaries in February!

Maria Olson: February 1, 2007 – 14 years
Doug Peterson: February 21, 2011 – 10 years

The ELCA Federal Chaplain Ministry has 180 chaplains who serve in Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospitals, federal prisons, and within the Department of Defense as military chaplains around the world. Would you like to learn more about this interesting and incarnational mission to provide Word and Sacrament ministry, ethical advisement, and spiritual care to those in the care of the federal government? Perhaps the Holy Spirit is calling you to explore the possibilities! Join Chaplain Christopher Otten, the assistant to Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, who directs the ELCA’s Federal Chaplaincy Ministries from the Washington, D.C., office. He will be available at noon Central February 2 at the Zoom link shared in the community announcements email.

Questions: Please contact awheeler002@luthersem.edu or cpe@luthersem.edu.

It is time to mark your calendars for the annual Clergy Tax Law Short Course/ELCA Benefit Introduction on Saturday, February 13. The morning course will serve as a brief primer to the intricacies of clergy tax law. All M.Div. students who graduated in December 2020 or who will graduate in winter term, spring semester, summer term, or December 2021 are encouraged to attend. The morning session is not denomination-specific.

The afternoon session will introduce the benefit package offered for employees in the ELCA. The afternoon session would be appropriate for any M.Div. or M.A. student who will be seeking employment with an ELCA organization.

If you missed this session in the past and would like to attend, you are more than welcome. If you are a local pastor and need a refresher, you are also welcome.

Register by Tuesday, February 9, 2021.

To register, visit the Clergy Tax/ELCA Benefit Workshop 2021 page.

8–8:30 a.m. Central – Set up and system testing

8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. – Clergy Tax Law Short Course, provided by Clergy Financial Resources

12–12:30 p.m. – Break for lunch

12:30–2:30 p.m. – Portico Benefits Introduction (future ELCA employees)

Seminary students, faculty, and staff are invited.

Spouses/partners are welcome and encouraged to attend (even if student cannot attend).

Prior to the event, those that have registered will receive course materials and a Zoom link via email. The sessions will be recorded for those that cannot attend on the scheduled day.

Please note: If you will be doing a final year internship in 2021-22 and will not be on campus, this would be the year to attend.

Questions? Contact finaid@luthersem.edu.