Last Monday through Thursday (July 6-9) was the third ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering, held in Indianapolis. Previous gatherings were in Atlanta and Phoenix and they are on a three-year cycle like the WELCA gathering and Youth Gathering (minus pandemic disruptions). This was my first time attending and I loved it! I loved the keynote speakers, worship, the workshops, the pace, the places we could walk to from the hotel, and most of all the many people I interacted with.

Our theme was Woven Together and each day emphasized a different relationship–woven together with God, for creation, in community, as rostered leaders (pastors, deacons, ministry partners). I had breakfast with leaders from the Metro-New York Synod during which we ended up talking about Camp Koinonia. I sat at the closing banquet with pastors from the Atlanta area. I caught up with friends from across the church. I met a daughter of our synod whose dad pastored in Bonner’s Ferry and Deacon Erika runs field education at my alma matter–University of Chicago Divinity School!

I attended a workshop on the Old Testament and Immigration by retired New Testament scholar Pastor Mark Allen Powell. I attended a workshop on the ELCA Church Property Resource Hub. I connected with many exhibitors. I participated in a conversation between all the bishops in attendance and seminary presidents and staff on lay leadership formation.

With our Region 1 Quality of Call Grant (supporting women rostered leaders) we scholarship women with current calls to attend the event. We also hosted a dinner at a restaurant in walking distance and had some intentional discussion about sexism, when women have been supported in ministry, and how all rostered ministers build connections.