rostered leaders convocation

Latest Update

Greetings friends in Christ who have registered for the South Carolina Synod Convocation!

Yes, convocation will happen at Lutheridge…

The past two weeks have been a time of grief and anxiety for many near and far. It has been a stressful time for us and we know it has been for many of you. We thank you for your patience in waiting for this update. The convocation planning team, Bishop Aebischer, and Lutheridge staff have been in prayerful conversation ever since the first days after the storm, and are now finally able to give you news.

Yesterday we heard from Lutheridge that the camp is indeed thankful and excited to host the SC Synod Convocation for Rostered Ministers.  Among the initial concerns were the clearing of roads, restoration of power, and ability to provide food and other services.  Camp leadership is now confident they will be able to meet these needs. This indeed is great news that we celebrate!

However, we will pivot in response to need…

Beyond the camp being ready, there were still other concerns of that we and the Bishop have shared. We believe we need to balance the need to gather as colleagues together for collegiality and respite and the call to serve our neighbors in need. Therefore our focus for convocation will be shifting. We will of course still spend time in learning, sharing, reflection, and worship, but will now also be adding opportunities to participate in recovery efforts, at Lutheridge and in the surrounding area.

The planning team will be in conversation with leaders at Lutheridge, Lutheran Disaster Response Carolinas, Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), and others to determine how we may assist in the restoration process. Details will be in emails next week, as needs are constantly changing.

Dr. Jacqueline Bussie and Dr. Brent Driggers will still be our guest leaders. The focus on resiliency in the midst of grief which was already part of Dr. Bussie’s planned message will now be even more deeply hopeful. We will also now include updates from leaders about relief and restoration efforts, and Tuesday afternoon free time will be shifted towards opportunities to serve neighbors in Christ. Projects will be designed to meet the various abilities of our rostered leaders.

A few more details about Tuesday afternoon…

Usually this time has been filled with opportunities for rostered leaders for fellowship and rest. Because much of the area has been affected by Helene, some of these activities are not currently possible. This fact, coupled with the desire to serve that the team, the bishop, and others of you who reached out to us share, led to the decision to restructure this time to include these opportunities to give back in a helpful way. As always, you will be encouraged both to take care of yourselves and to invite one another into community by including others in your plans and decisions. Again, more info will be coming about projects and how you can prepare.

Help needed – an opportunity to involve your congregation/community in helping through Convo…

While we completely agree that the most critical need in response to Helene at this moment is financial gifts, given that we will be traveling to Lutheridge, we wanted to provide an opportunity to stuff your vehicle with things if you would like. Knowing that bringing stuff that people do not need or cannot distribute is not a gift, we asked those working in the area. Remember: whatever you gather, you will be responsible for bringing it with you to Lutheridge.

ABCCM: canned protein (chicken, tuna, etc.); canned fruit; shelf-stable milk; bread; air activated hand warmers

Skyland United Methodist Church (about 3 miles from Lutheridge): new blankets and sleeping bags; headlamp style flashlights; bottled water (individual serving size)

Lutheridge, Camp Kinard, LDR Carolinas : neither camp nor LDR are currently in need of items convenient to “collect” in the congregation. You will hear more about their needs related to hurricane recovery at Convocation.

Sunday arrival at Convocation is STILL okay

I have verified with Lutheridge that those of you who signed up to arrive on Sunday still may do that.

Gratitude…

Thank you again for your patience, both in waiting for this decision and in the coming 10 days as we work out more details about a revised schedule, events, service opportunities, travel tips and other helpful information, etc. Again, we will be sending further messages with additional information as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Pastors Christi Pursey and P. Shannon Mullen, together with Bishop Ginny Aebischer

2024 SOUTH CAROLINA ROSTERED LEADERS CONVOCATION

Monday-Wednesday, October 21-23, 2024 at Lutheridge

Featured leaders: Dr. Jaqueline Bussie and Dr. Brent Driggers

Registration will begin in July.

About Dr. Jacqueline Bussie

Writer, Theologian, Public Speaker

Dr. Bussie will speak about her current work on resurrection, resilience, community, discipleship, and the power of love in the midst of trauma and grief.

Dr. Jacqueline Bussie is an award-winning author, professor, public theologian, and student of life in all its messy beauty, as well as a much sought after speaker and workshop facilitator. Her first book, The Laughter of the Oppressed won the national Trinity Prize. Her 2ndbook, Outlaw Christian: Finding Authentic Faith by Breaking the Rules won the 2017 Gold Medal Illumination Award for Christian Living and received a coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly. Her latest book, Love Without Limits: Jesus’ Radical Vision for a Love with No Exceptions won the Reader’s Favorite Bronze Medal International Book Award for Christian Living, the 2020 IAN Outstanding Religion Book of the Year Award, and 3rdPlace IAN Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award. Also, Publisher’s Weekly named Love Without Limits “a must-read for all Christians interested in inclusivity for their communities.”

Jacqueline spent the last twenty years teaching religion to undergraduates at ELCA colleges and serving as the founding Director of the Forum on Faith and Life at Concordia College. Her favorite things to do are dance, walk on the beach, read good books, ride in the front car of roller coasters, spend time with friends, and travel to any place she’s never been before.

About Dr. Brent Driggers

Professor of New Testament at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

Dr. Driggers will serve as Bible study/discussion leader.

Dr. Driggers teaches courses in biblical studies, including a Bible survey and various courses on the canonical Gospels and biblical theology (for example, the theme of violence in scripture).
His academic publications focus primarily on the Gospel of Mark, investigating this Gospel’s distinctive contributions to Christian theology and spirituality. He is also a contributor to Working Preacher, an online resource for church leaders.

Dr. Driggers seeks to present scripture in a way which cultivates intellectual growth and Christian discipleship. He encourages respect for historical context(s) of scripture while, at the same time, placing interpretation in conversation with the Christian theological tradition. He emphasizes the indispensable role of contemporary and diverse cultural perspectives in the practice of interpretation (for example, African American, womanist, feminist, LGBTQIA+), framing interpretation as a communal endeavor.

Brent enjoys preaching and teaching in local churches, reading (theology, history, culture, and fiction), listening to music (all genres), hiking, and spending time with his family.