Together in Mission 2025
Join us for our synod’s annual learning gathering of pastors, deacons and lay leaders from across Southeast Wisconsin! Together we’ll worship, celebrate our partnership in the Gospel, and attend workshops on a variety of ministry topics. We are delighted to welcome Bishop Meggan Manlove from our Domestic Companion Synod, the Northwest Intermountain Synod, as our preacher and workshop presenter!
Please note: Although online registration closed on February 11th, you can still attend by registering at the door on Saturday. Please bring the $25 event fee in cash or by check (made payable to “Greater Milwaukee Synod”) and fill out a registration form when you enter. IMPORTANT NOTE: Because our catering order was placed on Tuesday, meals are NOT available for walk-in registrants. A list of area restaurants is available upon request.
Bishop Meggan Manlove, Worship Preacher and Workshop Presenter
Bishop Meggan Manlove grew up in Custer, South Dakota. She graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, spent a year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Syracuse, NY and then earned her M.Div. from the Univ. of Chicago Divinity School. She was shaped and nourished by both outdoor ministries (including three summers at Christikon) and campus ministry (ELCA and Episcopal in Chicago). She served a parish in rural Western Iowa for six years and moved to Nampa, Idaho in 2010 to serve as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. She earned her Doctor in Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary in May 2021. Her dissertation is titled Equipping Lutherans for Faith Storytelling.
Bishop Manlove loves working collaboratively and cares deeply about food security and affordable housing. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the region, deepening friendships, reading fiction, and watching good movies. She blogs at www.megganmanlove.com.
Agenda
8:00 am – Registration opens
8:30 am – Worship
9:45 am – Announcements and Updates
10:00 am – Break
10:15 am – Morning Workshops
11:30 am – Lunch
12:30 pm – Conference Gatherings*
1:15 pm – Break
1:30 pm – Afternoon Workshops
2:45 pm – Sending
*After lunch, attendees are invited to attend special meetings, grouped by conference and led by the conference dean. Your nametag will help you identify which conference your congregation is in, and more information on the meetings will be available at the event. Read more about conferences here.
Download a pdf of all workshop descriptions here.
Morning Workshops
The Art and Practice of Forgiveness (Marye Beth Dugan, The Nehemiah Project)
This presentation explores the healing and restorative powers of forgiveness. Marye Beth Dugan is the Executive Director of the Nehemiah Project. The mission of this organization is to promote the physical and emotional well-being of youth through psychological, educational, leadership, and transitional living services in a residential community.
Bipoc/LGBTQIA+ Advocacy and Public Safety in a White Christian Nationalist Era (Rev. Michelle Townsend de Lopez, Cross, Milwaukee)
“A holistic strategy to help advocates maintain their well-being in action. This approach integrates self-care, well being, digital security and information security into traditional security practices for public advocacy. Key steps in the process are: Prepare, Explore, Strategize & Act. “Caring for myself is not an indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare.” – Audre Lorde”
Bowen Family Systems Theory and Congregations (Rev. Kristin Nielsen, Assistant to the Bishop for Congregations in Mission)
Dr Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory is a lens through which to understand human behavior in families. Rabbi Edwin Friedman applied this theory to behavior in congregations and synagogues. In our TIM workshop, we will briefly name the eight concepts of Bowen’s theory, and then look specifically at the concept of “Triangles” in our families of origin, and in our congregations.
Church Communicators Chat (Robyn Bayland, Communications Manager)
This session is for anyone who helps make communications or creative content for their congregation. There will be an open Q&A session and time to connect with a community of creatives from other congregations in our synod. Bring all your creative hats — all experience levels and mediums (print and digital) are welcome!
Confused about the Constitution? (Rev. Sarah Stobie, Synod Secretary)
Secretary Sarah Stobie will demonstrate how to take the model constitution and your own church’s out-dated constitution and blend them together. She will answer questions as she does it, and by the end of the session participants will know how to do it themselves.
Discover the Keys to Unlocking Generosity in Your Congregation (Rev. Chris Manke, Executive Director, Outreach for Hope)
In this class, you’ll learn strategies to inspire generosity, strengthen stewardship, and align your church’s fundraising efforts with its mission. Explore practical tools for creating a culture of giving, engaging members of all generations, and sharing your church’s story in a way that compels support. Whether you’re looking to boost your annual giving or launch a specific campaign, this class will equip you with actionable steps to achieve your goals and transform your congregation’s approach to fundraising. Join us and take the next step in faithful stewardship!
Keeping God's People Safe (Rev. Debra Trakel)
Human beings can and do harm one another. By increasing their knowledge of what to pay attention to, congregation leaders can help ensure that the church is a safe place for all of God’s people—children and adults. You will leave this workshop with more information about how to create a safer church environment and a tool to help you engage in dialogue with other congregation leaders regarding the important issue: how to keep God’s people safe.
Paperwork, Please! A Fun & Practical Workshop on Mastering Church Record-Keeping (Mary Romskog, Executive Assistant for Administration and Candidacy)
Let’s face it—paperwork can feel like a never-ending mountain, but what if it could be a manageable, even enjoyable task? Whether you’re tracking membership, managing donations, or organizing historical records, this workshop will help you conquer your record-keeping duties with confidence, efficiency, and maybe even a little fun! Come prepared to share your own best tips.
Smooth Sailing: Becoming a Resilient Leader in Turbulent Times (Jennifer Prinz, Portico Benefit Services)
Resilience is not perfection, but the ability to move forward in imperfect realities. Whether it’s leading the church, dealing with difficult situations, or navigating the inevitable bumps and setbacks of life, it is possible to not just survive, but thrive. Discover how to cultivate your God-given strengths and develop healthy practices that will give you the stamina, confidence, and inner peace you need to be a resilient leader.
What is White Christian Nationalism & How do we Respond? (Breanna Illéné, Wisconsin Council of Churches)
The Wisconsin Council of Churches has been working to address Christian Nationalism on a variety of fronts for the past several years. Join WCC’s Director of Ecumenical Innovation and Justice Initiatives to learn about White Christian Nationalism and brainstorm with others about how we as Christians can respond.
Afternoon Workshops
Authentically Diverse Worship (Rev. Denise Mbise, Trinity, South Milwaukee & Rev. Aida Muñiz, Ascension, Milwaukee)
As the synod journeys through our Authentic Diversity Strategic Plan, Authentically Diverse Worship resources is one of our goals. What does Authentically Diverse Worship look like? What are some resources we can use to build worship that is authentically diverse? Join us as we have conversation about what Authentically Diverse Worship might look like. We will provide a few resources and will crowdsource from the room any resources you may have. Bring your ideas to share!
Church Treasurers and Administrators Benefits Training (Jennifer Prinz, Portico Benefit Services)
As the benefits administrator for your organization, your pastors, deacons, and lay employees rely on you to help them navigate their ELCA benefits. In this session, discover the resources available to help you effectively sponsor and understand the fullness of your benefits and retirement through Portico Benefit Services.
Deep, Then Wide - Church growth in the 21st Century (Danette Braun, Abundance Life Coaching & Rev. Andy Fetters, Holy Cross, Menomonee Falls)
We all know that the landscape of church is changing rapidly. At the same time, there is an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation afoot in the broader culture and more people than ever are hungry for a sense of belonging. In this session, we will practice together some tools that can help your congregation connect more deeply with God, each other, and your neighbors in a way that will breathe new life into your ministry!
The Healing Network, Inc. (Rev. Molly Doreza)
Congregations will share their experiences in developing ministry to/with people with substance abuse, addiction and related mental health issues. Attendees will hear inspirational stories of hope and healing and learn how The Healing Network can help.
Hot Topics (Bishop Paul Erickson & Dr. Joyce Caldwell, Synod Vice President)
The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be held in Phoenix July 28-August 2, and 13 rostered ministers and lay leaders from Greater Milwaukee will gather with over 800 other such leaders from across the ELCA in air conditioned meeting rooms to discuss and vote on a number of important issues. Bishop Erickson and Synod Vice-President Joyce Caldwell will give an overview of the issues on the agenda, including the Social Statement on Civic Life and Faith, revisions to the 2009 Social Statement on Human Sexuality, recommendations coming from the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, and more.
How To Be An Ally To Our Immigrant Neighbors (Rev. Dan Bierne, Global Refuge)
Immigration has become a hot button issue in our society, and changes are in the works that will impact our congregations and communities. Come and learn about resources available to help you and your congregation learn more about the stories and statistics of our immigrant neighbors and how to engage in concrete actions of love and support.
How We Show Up Matters (Yolanda Jackson-Lewis)
Leviticus 19:18. Participants will have an opportunity to gain insight or an awareness of why “How We Show Up Matters” through self reflection and the examination of social identity and emotional intelligence.
Story-linking (Bishop Meggan Manlove, Northwest Intermountain Synod)
Story-linking, originated by Anne Streaty Wimberly, has the goal of equipping us to speak more confidently about our own lived Christian faith. I will give an overview of engaging memoirs, the Biblical narrative, faith stories from the American Christian tradition, and finally our own decision making.
Transition as an Opportunity for Play (Rev. Casey Sugden, Interim Pastor, Our Savior's, Hartland)
Pastoral transitions can be a scary time for churches, but they can also be a time for imagination and experimentation. If you aren’t careful, you might even find yourself having fun. We will take a look at how being playful in times of change can benefit a congregation and maybe even the world.
