ELCA Updates
With gratitude for those who have gone before and hope for the future, the ELCA gives thanks to God for the ministry of women. In 2019 and 2020 we celebrate 50 years of Lutheran women being ordained in the United States, 40 years of women of color being ordained, and 10 years of LGBTQIA+ individuals being able to serve freely.
As part of this anniversary year, we lament that women have been barred from serving and have been bullied, dismissed and excluded. We also celebrate the gifts and service that women have brought to our church and our world as pastors.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mindy Makant
Dr. Mindy Makant serves as an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Youth and Family Ministry for Lenoir-Rhyne’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She is also co-chair of the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan committee.
Dr. Makant is actively involved with the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). She also serves the ELCA on a national level, sitting on the steering committee for the Association of Teaching Theologians and regularly contributing to the Practice Discipleship curriculum.
Dr. Makant holds degrees in Doctor of Theology in Theological Ethics from Duke Divinity School in Durham, a Master of Education in Theology from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, a Master of Education from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, and a Bachelor of Arts from Mercer University in Macon, GA. Makant resides in Hildebran with her husband, an ELCA pastor. They have two children, a daughter and a son, who are students at LRU. Makant is the author of HOLY mischief (2019) and The Practice of Story (2015). | Blog
Partner Reports
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As it is, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.”
~ 1 Corinthians 12:20-22a
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