Presbyterian Mission Agency synod school Archives

Synod of Lakes and Prairies approves new policy on restorative actions

Posted October 9th, 2024

During its fall meeting this week, the Synod of Lakes and Prairies approved a new policy of restorative actions.

An incredibly generous miracle

Posted August 20th, 2024

One of this year’s Synod School preachers, the Rev. Katie Styrt, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Milan, Illinois, called John’s account of the wedding at Cana “the kind of miracle that doesn’t line up with good stewardship policies. I don’t know of any church recently that has given away 180 gallons of wine. That’s about 908 bottles. That’s not in anybody’s budget.”

Synod School class looks at developing church leaders like Paul did — from within

Posted July 30th, 2024

The Rev. Dr. Paul Snyder, who pastors an ELCA church and a PC(USA) church in the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys, offered up a fascinating week-long course at Synod School last week he called “Leadership Development NOT Leadership Acquisition.”

Try ‘shalomify’ next time you’re playing Scrabble

Posted July 22nd, 2024

Few Synod School convocation speakers can get away with birthing new words on the spot the way Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall did Monday morning.

Synod School keynoter: Christianity and capitalism don’t get us to the same place

Posted September 26th, 2023

“Y’all responded a little better than I thought you would yesterday,” the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins told Synod School attendees, referring to a talk he delivered on whether some symbols belong in church. “So today I thought I’d talk about Christianity and capitalism.”

Taking her cue from 29,000 cycling enthusiasts

Posted August 23rd, 2023

With a nod to the 29,000 or so RAGBRAI riders who’d arrived in Storm Lake, Iowa, hours earlier, the Rev. DeEtte Decker showed up for opening worship at the 69th Annual Synod School on a borrowed bicycle that she pedaled down the center aisle of Buena Vista University’s Schaller Memorial Chapel.

The good, the bad and the in-between as depicted by Hollywood actors and biblical authors

Posted August 7th, 2023

Once the American Film Institute came out with its list of the 100 most memorable heroes and villains, the Rev. Mark Bedford did AFI one better: He paired the top good and bad guys and gals Hollywood has to offer with scriptural passages to promote lively discussions during his “Good vs. Evil 2: The Sequel!” class held last month during Synod School.

Nearly six centuries after being burned at the stake, Joan of Arc reaches forward with lessons for Synod School students

Posted August 7th, 2023

Born more than 600 years ago and burned at the stake for heresy at age 19, Joan of Arc still had a lot to teach a roomful of Synod School students last month — especially with guidance from Dr. Scott Stanfield, Emeritus Professor of English at Nebraska Wesleyan University and a longtime Synod School participant.

Synod School class helps nearly 60 participants hear Jesus’ parables the way his original hearers did

Posted August 4th, 2023

Susan Stabile, a distinguished senior fellow at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis and a spiritual director and retreat leader, taught a fascinating and helpful week-long class at Synod School last week, “Jesus the Storyteller: Learning from the Parables.”

Restorative Actions explains to Synod School the work it’s undertaken

Posted August 3rd, 2023

Born in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, Restorative Actions describes itself as “a grassroots voluntary initiative for churches, individuals, mid councils and agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as well as ecumenical partners and interested organizations, to take a leadership stance in opposed to racism and racial privilege” by allowing “U.S. Americans who benefit from institutional racism to provide a credible witness for justice by surrendering ill-gotten gains toward the establishment of just relationships with Afro-Americans and Indigenous communities.”