Archives for June 2023

In today’s devotion, Mike Kroona ’07 D.Min. encourage us to share God’s love and grace with a thirsty world. Read today’s devotion.

Educational debt continues to be a pervasive issue among leaders in the ELCA. At its Spring 2022 meeting, the Executive Committee of the ELCA Church Council approved the formation of a task force to study the issue of educational debt and its impact on leaders.

Through studying and determining ways to address educational debt, the task force intends to bring help and hope to as many ELCA rostered ministers as possible, so they can best live out God’s calling for their lives.

To make our research on the topic more comprehensive, we want to hear stories from ELCA rostered ministers and candidates about the burden of educational debt, and the impact this debt has had on them, their families, their call process, and their ministry.

If you would be willing to share your story as part of a small group conversation of 3-4 people (rostered ministers, candidates, and task force members), or for more information, please contact Grace Pomroy, Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program, who serves on the task force at gpomroy001@luthersem.edu or Adam DeHoek, who convenes the Educational Debt Task Force at adam.dehoek@elca.org.

The conversation will last around an hour, covering these questions. You can see the questions here: https://resourcefulservants.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Educational-Debt-Task-Force-Conversation-questions-with-rostered-ministers-and-candidates.pdf We will record the conversations and share them only with members of the task force.

Sharing your story will help the task force members see the issue from a more personal perspective. It will also help us determine the questions we should explore more broadly.

We know that telling this story can be challenging, and we deeply appreciate your willingness to consider doing so.

In today’s devotion, Mike Kroona ’07 D.Min. reflects on the chain reactions. Read today’s devotion.

Dear Luther Seminary Community,

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all members of the Luther Seminary community to review the Luther Seminary Vendor and Purchasing Policy. This policy can be found on MyLutherNet in the financial policies section. It has come to our attention that there have been a few instances where the policy was not followed, which has prompted new process changes in the business office.

Moving forward, the business office will be conducting monthly reviews of vendor balances by department and making inquiries if deemed necessary.

In cases of large, multi-dimensional projects (exceeding $15,000 with a lengthy timeline and multiple deliverables), a Request for Proposal (RFP) should be sent out, and at least three bids/quotes must be received. Prior to engaging the vendor, documentation of the competitive bids and the rationale for the selected vendor must be submitted to the Business Office, usually accompanied by a signed contract.

For other purchases, where the total annual fiscal year spending with a specific vendor amounts to $15,000 or more (with or without a contract), the department must either obtain at least three competitive bids/quotes or complete and submit an explanation for single/sole source selection. It is strongly encouraged to adhere to the competitive bid process, except in rare instances where it may not be feasible.

Additionally, it is essential to note that vendors with annual fiscal year spend greater than $15,000 must undergo the competitive bid process at least once every three years to ensure the ongoing receipt of the best price, quality, and services. The Business Office requires documentation for all three bids and the rationale behind the vendor selection or sole source determination.

We kindly request that all those involved in vendor engagement and invoicing processes familiarize themselves with the Luther Seminary Vendor and Purchasing Policy as soon as possible. Within the policy document, you will find the necessary forms to complete for compliance purposes.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Business Office.

Best regards,

Matthew Schutz
Controller

In today’s devotion, Mike Kroona ’07 D.Min. notes how we are chained to doing what is all about ourselves. Read today’s devotion.

The Luther Seminary community is invited to attend the 2023 Sudan Mission Centennial Celebration, to be held on the seminary’s campus July 8–9, 2023. This event will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Lutheran missionaries in the Sudan Region, which includes Cameroon and the Central African Republic. The conference will feature discussions with the President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic and the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon, as well as former missionaries to the region and other special guests. (Students who register are eligible for a $30 rebate. Contact Mark Nygard ’76, ’88, ’09 at mnygard001@luthersem.edu for more information.)

For complete details or to register, visit sdsynod.org/synod-events/missioncentennial2023.