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Rostered Ministers Gathering

The Rostered Ministers Gathering Planning Team has worked diligently to create an engaging and relational gathering for our leaders.

Our schedule begins the morning of Tuesday, October 11 with time to settle in, gather for opening worship, and have lunch before diving into our programming. To help foster a sense of community and collegiality among our rostered leadership, this gathering is designed to be an overnight event. We will wrap up the next day with an afternoon closing worship service, as we are sent forth and renewed in our work.

When and Where

When:
Tuesday, October 11 – Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Where:
The Abbey Resort
269 Fontana Blvd, Fontana, WI 53125

Schedule

Tuesday, October 11

  • 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Arrival (Sand Bar Room)
  • 11:00 a.m. Opening Worship (Sand Bar Room)
  • 12:00 p.m. Lunch (Wisconsin Ballroom)
  • 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Welcome and Ice Breaker Exercise (Sand Bar Room)
  • 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging with Pr. Sunitha Mortha (Sand Bar Room)
  • 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break
  • 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Allyship with Pr. Heidi Torgerson (Sand Bar Room)
  • 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Free Time, Hotel Room Check-in, and Optional Affinity Groups
  • 6:00 p.m. Dinner (Wisconsin Ballroom)
  • 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Fireside Chat with Bishop Curry (Sand Bar Room)

Wednesday, October 12

  • 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast and Hotel Room Check-out* (Wisconsin Ballroom)
  • 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Morning Prayer (Sand Bar Room)
  • 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Matthew’s Gospel with Dr. Barbara Rossing (Sand Bar Room)
  • 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break
  • 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Matthew’s Gospel (continued)
  • 12:00 p.m. Lunch (Wisconsin Ballroom)
  • 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. Leadership and Change with Dr. Emlyn Ott (Sand Bar Room)
  • 2:15 – 2:30 p.m. Break
  • 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Leadership and Change (continued)
  • 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Sending and Blessing

*Hotel room check-out is at 11:00 a.m. Participants are encouraged to do so before morning prayer.

Presenters

The Rev. Dr. Emlyn A. Ott (she/her)
Emlyn A. Ott is a native of Rochester, New York where her curiosity about life was nurtured in her parents’ truck manufacturing company. She is the older sister of a brother and a sister. A graduate of The College of Wooster, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and Phillips Theological Seminary, she was ordained in the former Lutheran Church in America (now ELCA) in 1986 and has served as a parish pastor, pastoral counselor, campus pastor, non-profit CEO, and seminary professor since that time. She is an avid reader, especially of new fiction and first-person short stories and is moving steadily toward a goal of hiking in every national park in the US. She has musical theatre and Schubert lieder on her music stand and a pile of books are her night table. Her response to the pandemic was to begin weekly tap and ballet classes.

Emlyn is the Executive Director of Healthy Congregations, Inc. (www.healthycongregations.com). She regularly commutes either to Chicago or via Zoom to students throughout the country as a faculty member at Bexley Seabury Seminary where she directs the Doctor of Ministry programs and teaches in the areas of pastoral theology, leadership, and spirituality. Emlyn is the spouse of Dr. Robert Ward, Director of Choral Activities at The Ohio State University.

The Rev. Dr. Barbara R. Rossing (she/her)
The Rev. Dr. Barbara R. Rossing is professor of New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where she has taught since 1994. She loves to teach and preach about the Bible, including the Bible’s role in public life.

An avid environmentalist, Rossing is involved with environmental initiatives at the seminary. Rossing received the bachelor of arts degree from Carleton College, the master of divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School and the doctor of theology degree from Harvard University.

She served as pastor of a congregation in Minnesota, director for Global Mission Interpretation for the American Lutheran Church, pastor at Holden Village Retreat Center, Chelan, Wash., and chaplain at Harvard University Divinity School.

Rossing has lectured and preached widely, including synod assemblies and global mission events for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), as well as ecumenical theological conferences. She has served on the executive committee and council of the Lutheran World Federation (2003-2010), and chaired the Lutheran World Federation’s theology and studies committee. She currently serves on the advisory committee for The Lutheran Magazine.

As a public theologian her media appearances have included “CBS Sixty Minutes” as well as The History Channel, National Geographic, Living the Questions, and numerous print and radio interviews.

Her publications include The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation (Basic Books, 2004); The Choice Between Two Cities: Whore, Bride and Empire in the Apocalypse (Trinity Press, 1999); two volumes of the New Proclamation commentary (Fortress Press, 2000 and 2004); a nine-session Bible study, Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today (Presbyterian Women, 2010); and articles and book chapters on the Apocalypse and ecology.

Rev. Sunitha Mortha | Associate to Bishop

The Rev. Sunitha Mortha (she/her)
Pr. Mortha serves as Associate to the Bishop and Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the Metropolitan Chicago Synod. She believes that how we engage the “other” is a defining question of our time. Most of her life has been working to respond to this question through preaching, teaching, and walking with partners in God’s vineyard. Family is central in Pr. Mortha’s life. Cooking, dancing, singing, and learning are also some of her loves.

Bishop Y. Curry

Bishop Yehiel Curry (he/him)
Bishop Yehiel Curry was elected June 8, 2019, as bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Previously, from 2013-2019, Bishop Curry served as pastor of Shekinah Chapel, an ELCA congregation in Riverdale, Illinois, where he also served as mission developer from 2007 to 2012. Bishop Curry received a Bachelor of Arts from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, in 1995, and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2013. He and his wife LaShonda are the parents of three daughters.

Metropolitan Chicago Synod Evangelical Church in America

Metropolitan Chicago Synod Allyship Team
The Allyship Team was formed in late 2021 as part of the synod’s unfolding strategy for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The team includes Pastors Jennie English-Dumont (Bethlehem, Beverly, Chicago), Anders Nelson (St. Paul, Wheaton), Tom Terrell (Christ, Albany Park, Chicago), Amy Wiegert (Faith, Homewood), Eric Worringer (Holy Family, Near North, Chicago), as well as Jason Schultz who is awaiting first call as a Deacon. Pastor Heidi Torgerson (Grace, LaGrange) serves as chair for the team.

Cost and Scholarship Information

The cost for all attendees is $100. This includes overnight lodging, all meals, and gathering materials.

Scholarships are also available. Please contact Pastor Wyvetta Bullock () for more information prior to registering.

There is also an opportunity to contribute toward the cost of a scholarship in order to sponsor a rostered minister. Simply add on an optional donation when you register. (And thank you for your generosity and #GoodStew!)

Registration

Online registration is now closed. Please contact Pastor Josh Evans () if you have any questions or concerns.

In Jesus’ name: we proclaim the gospel, make disciples, do justice.

THE METROPOLITAN CHICAGO SYNOD IS A RECONCILING IN CHRIST SYNOD

What does this mean?