Virginia Synod Assembly

Rev. Ron Glusenkamp Director, The Campaign for the ELCA Ron Rev. Ron Glusenkamp Director, The Campaign for the ELCA Ron.Glusenkamp@elca.org

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Thank you Virginia Synod!

Your Impact: Mission Support Together, you made it possible for your synod to share $693,703 with the churchwide expression. That represented 40% of all the Mission Support that your congregations shared with your synod.  The Mission Support dollars that remain in your synod support vital work to enhance and sustain our ministry together—such as providing pastoral care to your rostered ministers and walking alongside congregations going through the call process.

Your Impact: ELCA World Hunger Thank you for your generous support of our work together toward a just world where all are fed through ELCA World Hunger! In 2017, gifts to ELCA World Hunger totaled over $21.3 million with gifts from individuals and congregations in this synod totaling over $242,000.

Your Impact: Lutheran Disaster Response From the first famine declared in over a decade to hurricanes right here at home, in 2017, Lutheran Disaster Response responded in 15 states/territories and 21 countries. Over $22.8 million was given in support of Lutheran Disaster Response this past year, with over $313,000 given from your synod alone.

In Your Synod 6 ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants were funded in your synod for a total of $18,500 Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries in Salem is one of those programs. 33% of children in the Salem and Western Roanoke County school districts are eligible for free or reduced lunch. But what happens on the weekend? Through the ACT Packs for Children and Summer Feed and Read programs, over 160 families were served in 2017. A whole breakfast and lunch for kids can sometimes make all the difference.

In Your Synod 2 ELCA New Congregations in your synod: Bedford Lutheran Church, Bedford Living Water Lutheran Church, Kilmarnock

In Your Synod 3 ELCA Fund for Leaders scholarship recipients from your synod: Melony Bosdell Daniel Hess Paisley Le Roy

In Your Synod 8 missionaries from your synod: Anne Bates, YAGM United Kingdom Samantha DiBiaso, YAGM Southern Africa Jacob Dunlap, YAGM Argentina/Uruguay Anna Nicholson, YAGM Central Europe (Hungary) Rev. Janelle Neubauer, Rwanda Rev. Brian Palmer, Liberia Dr. Mark and Linda Jacobson, Tanzania

In Your Synod Mission Investment Fund (MIF) loans and investments in your synod (as of December 31): 18 MIF loans, with a balance of $11,426,751 $5,585,622 in MIF investments MIF representative: The Rev. Kent Peterson Tel: (276) 698-7970; email: kent.peterson@elca.org

Women and Justice: One in Christ Task Force The task force has been at work since 2012 and brought the work to a crucial stage: On November 15, 2017 it released the Draft of a Social Statement on Women and Justice. The comment period on the Draft is open until September 30, 2018.

ELCA Youth Gathering June 27 – July 1 in Houston 423 registered participants from your synod (as of 2/28) More than 30,000 total participants!

Global Farm Challenge A year-long, youth-driven fundraising challenge to support the agriculture-related programs of ELCA World Hunger $515,000 match!

Campaign Progress $179.5 million total impact for campaign priorities $148 million in gifts and commitments $31.5 million in planned gifts As of April 30

The Campaign for the ELCA Congregations Hunger and Poverty Global Church Leadership

Campaign Progress $268,722 contributed in 2017 to campaign ministries from individuals and congregations in your synod Total $1,167,395 contributed since 2014!

2018 Campaign Annual Theme: Leadership ELCA Fund for Leaders and Youth and Young Adults Packet with materials sent in early January Rostered Ministers Appreciation this fall – packet coming late June

Thank you!