Dear Pastors and Members of LCMC Congregations, This communique is to inform you of a transition for Perry Fruhling. Perry has served as LCMC’s Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry for the past five years but is now sensing a need to return to parish ministry. He writes, “During the past six to nine months, my wife, Marlys, and I have been discussing the need for me to return home and to parish ministry. While it ... [...]
Videos from our 22nd Annual Gathering & Convention, which took place October 2- 5 at Hosanna Church in Lakeville, MN at are now available for streaming. To watch from your mobile device, download our mobile app, tap on the "Media" tab, then select "2022 Annual Gathering" from the list of options. The app is compatible with AirPlay and Google Cast, enabling users to play ... [...]
Seminary students are invited to join us October 1-2, 2022 at Hosanna Church in Lakeville, MN for our next Seminarian Retreat. The retreat is an opportunity for LCMC seminarians to come together to experience fellowship, learn about issues related to vocational ministry in LCMC, become more aware of our association’s DNA, and ask questions. Registration for the retreat is being handled separately from Annual Gathering ... [...]
LCMC is pleased to announce that the LCMC Health Plan is moving forward effective January 1, 2022. If you have not submitted your health application, we have a one-time extension to December 10, 2021 to be part of our January 1, 2022 start date. If there are any questions please reach out to the Hahn Financial Group at 1-800-516-4246. [...]
Registration is officially open for our next national youth event, a leadership development experience for students and youth leaders designed to help empower the ministry of the local church. Our youth event offers a chance for students and youth leaders to connect with one another, explore God's call on their lives by participating in keynote presentations, breakout sessions, worship, and small groups, and take part in a service ... [...]
Payroll and tax filing services often cost way too much, especially for ministries, like yours, that rely on tithes, offerings, and donations. This was one of the reasons our preferred insurance provider, Brotherhood Mutual, created its own payroll company: MinistryWorks®. “We serve more than 5,000 ministries, so our team has the expertise to help solve complicated payroll problems, especially for clergy,” said Mark ... [...]
Due to construction delays, the main sanctuary space at UALC will not be ready for use by the time the Annual Gathering is going to start on Sunday, October 3, 2021. We must move to a much smaller space, hence closing registration for the Annual Gathering this year. All registrations received through Thursday, September 16, 2021, have been confirmed. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept walk-in registrations. If ... [...]
Registration is now closed for the 2021 Annual Gathering & Convention. Due to space limitations at the venue, we have closed registration and can no longer accept new registrations for the event. We look forward to a great event and will be live streaming, so if you are not able to attend in person, you are welcome to participate online. More information on how to access the livestream will be available on our ... [...]
Join us online May 18-19, 2021 for "Safe Place", a FREE webinar hosted by LCMC Service Coordinator Mike Bradley. In a culture which is often judgmental, condemning, arrogant, angry, and polarizing, becoming a safe place is an essential key for increasing our effective witness in the world. Being a safe place creates an atmosphere to build authentic relationships, struggle without judgment, and ask real questions; a place ... [...]
We would like to take a moment to thank all of the LCMC pastors who have responded to our request to update their clergy profile on our website. For those who have not yet had a chance to do so, please consider taking a few moments to review your profile, then submit any changes to your contact information or credentials using our online form. To date, approximately 683 pastors out of 1,288 have responded. We are still ... [...]
The LCMC Intentional Interim Ministry Workshop originally scheduled for July 6-9, 2020 at Grand View University has been canceled. "There was a sense that people will be reticent to register and no one is sure at this point whether safe distancing will be at an end by July. We also canceled the LCMC youth event which had been planned for later July," said Perry Fruhling, LCMC's coordinator for pastoral ... [...]
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ's Called 2: Love youth event, scheduled for July 21-24, 2020 at Grand View University, has been canceled. "The deadline for registration was today and as of 11 am CST we had only 77 people signed up and needed 200 to break even," said Mark Vander Tuig, service coordinator of LCMC. "This is understandable for youth groups and youth leaders with the days ahead to be ... [...]
A change of pastors is a significant and sometimes traumatic event in the life of the church and congregation. The need has never been greater for trained intentional interim ministers who are called and equipped to assist congregations during times of change and transition. Intentional interim ministry is not just filling a void during a pastoral vacancy, but focusing on developmental tasks of the congregation and process ... [...]
In October 2019, Rev. Mark Vander Tuig announced his decision to retire from his position as the Service Coordinator for LCMC effective August 31, 2020. The leadership and staff in LCMC have gone through a consultation process that aided the Board of Trustees in developing an opportunity profile for the incoming Service Coordinator. This document is included at the LCMC website within the open position ... [...]
LCMC Coordinator for Church Planting Development Dan Clites, along with Matt Anderson, pastor of Surprise Church in Bismarck, ND, are traveling to several cities in Brazil on behalf of LCMC from June 18 through July 2 to meet with hundreds of Movemento Encontrao Lutheran pastors and leaders that are interested in joining the church planting movement. A group of Brazilian church planters will also be attending the LCMC Annual Gathering ... [...]
A decision was made in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals last month to uphold the constitutionality of housing allowances for ministers. Click here to view a summary of the court's decision, by the Church Alliance. [...]
LCMC has a new ministry partner that provides high-quality insurance protection for congregations. Check them out on our resources page (under Church Life > Resource Links) or visit their website at: www.brotherhoodmutual.com. [...]
At their last meeting, the LCMC Board of Trustees decided to cancel the meal packaging event scheduled for the Tuesday night of our upcoming Annual Gathering and Convention in Des Moines. To date, we have only received just over $11,000 of our $80,000 fundraising goal for this project. We are grateful for everyone who has already contributed. All of the funds donated, as well as any future contributions, will be given ... [...]
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ will once again be teaming up with Meals from the Heartland to help feed the hungry at both our Called 2 Follow youth event and our 18th Annual Gathering. When we hosted our 2014 Annual Gathering in Des Moines, we raised over $90,000 and packaged almost 300,000 meals with Meals from The Heartland. (Watch a video of the experience here!) In 2016, we worked with Meals from the ... [...]
Seminary students: discover what tools your head, heart, and hands will need in order to become a pastor in LCMC at our next Seminarian Retreat October 5-7, 2018 at Riverside Bible Camp in Story City, IA. This is affordable weekend retreat for seminary students is held every other year on the Friday evening through Sunday morning immediately preceding the Annual Gathering. Spouses are also welcome to attend. This ... [...]
During the 2017 Annual Gathering, Johan and Sonja Hinderlie shared a skit depicting on Martin Luther and his wife Katy in honor of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. This was well received and we have had many requests for more information. Johan has graciously provided a video on the 95 Thesis that we have linked here. It is available for download so you will be able to share it with you congregation as you ... [...]
Installation of Pastor Brian Goke serving Faith Lutheran Church of McLean County (Bloomington, IL). Pictured are: Pastors Doug Johnson, John Nelson, Martha Nelson, Brian Goke, John Schurter, Mark Martin, Jay Johnson. A native of Minnesota, Pastor Brian is a graduate of St. Olaf College (1991, BA), Fuller Seminary (1998, MA), and Luther Seminary (2007, Master of Divinity). After serving as a missionary in Thailand and Cameroon (1990s), he ... [...]
Three groups within LCMC are coordinating efforts to help with disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Harvey. Read on to find out how you can help. [...]
The deadline to apply for the LCMC staff position of Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry is next Thursday, August 31. The current job description is available on our website at www.lcmc.net/jobs. If you are interested in applying, please submit a letter of interest, your resume, and brief answers to the three questions listed here to info@lcmc.net by the deadline date. [...]
The Board of Trustees is now accepting applications for the position of Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry. The current job description is available on our website at www.lcmc.net/jobs. Applications will be received until August 31st, 2017. Final candidates will be interviewed at the October meeting of the Board of Trustees, which immediately follows the Annual Gathering and Convention. Please [...]