By Bishop Michael Rinehart What does baptism mean? Here's what Paul says in Galatians 3: For in Jesus Christ you are all children of God in faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. We often forget that Paul's letters are the earliest Christian documents we have. And many scholars believe that this creedal...

By Lisa Brenskelle For more information on any of the below, or for creation care assistance/information, contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com or see our new website! The team is seeking additional members. If you would be willing to serve, please contact us. The mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation is to promote incorporation of care for creation into the full life and mission of the church, working in five areas: worship, education, discipleship, building & grounds, and public...

By Bishop Michael Rinehart Matthew Thiessen is an associate professor of religious studies at McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario. He has published journals and monographs going back to 2009. Read his Curriculum Vitae. Watch an Interview with Professor Thiessen. Duke University, Ph.D. in Religion (2010) University of Oxford, M.St. in Jewish Studies (2004) Trinity Western University, M.A. in Biblical Studies (2003) Tyndale College, B.R.S. in Biblical Studies (2001) William Tyndale was a 16th...

By Bishop Michael Rinehart “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” ~ Romans 11:29 The 2024 Gulf Coast Synod Assembly was held for the second consecutive year at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas, May 17-18, 2024. Over 200 were registered, with about 10% participating online. Our deans served as chaplains. Lord of Life musician Dan Fenn and some of his team served as musicians. Thursday night, a sudden storm arose with 100mph winds, making a mess of downtown...

By Tracey Breashears Schultz, Bishop’s Associate for Leadership The Synod Assembly offering we collected in 2023 was designated for the Gulf Coast Synod Innovative Internships Fund, the purpose of which was to fund internships in healthy, creative Gulf Coast Synod sites which could not otherwise afford to host an intern. From the generosity of churches and individuals in our synod, $41,633.82 was received. The cost of a year-long internship for word and sacrament (pastor) candidates is...

By Lisa Brenskelle For more information on any of the below, or for creation care assistance/information, contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com or see our new website! The team is seeking additional members. If you would be willing to serve, please contact us. The mission of Lutherans Restoring Creation is to promote incorporation of care for creation into the full life and mission of the church, working in five areas: worship, education, discipleship, building & grounds, and public...

by Tracey Breashears Schultz, Bishop’s Associate for Leadership If you’ve been invited to attend the Gulf Coast Synod Assembly as a guest, or if your congregation is in need of voting members for Assembly, here are more than a few reasons why you might consider registering and participating! It is really easy to become focused on one’s own congregation or one’s ministry in a particular church. It’s good to be grounded in a call and in a place that feels like home, but just like the ELCA Youth...

By Bishop Michael Rinehart Thom S. Rainer is Co-Founder and CEO of Church Answers. He has MDiv and PhD degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His theology rolls accordingly, something to keep in mind as you read. He is also the author of The Post-Quarantine Church: Six Challenges and Opportunities that will Determine the Future of Your Congregation and Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples. This book is a follow up to the author’s earlier, more...

By Bishop Michael Rinehart Andrew Root, PhD (Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary. He is also author of: The Congregation in a Secular Age: Keeping Sacred Time against the Speed of Modern Life The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church's Obsession with Youthfulness The Pastor in a Secular Age He writes thoughtful books about secularism and the church....

By Bishop Michael Rinehart Today I got home from church a bit tuckered out. I had gotten up at 5:30am, leaving the house around 6:00 to make it by 7:30 for the 8:00am service at St. Paul in Shelby. Later, I preached and presided at Bethlehem Round Top. I pulled into my driveway around mid- to late-afternoon and had a little time before a 6:30pm Zoom meeting. I wanted to crash but needed to install a new faucet I had purchased for the bathroom, so I set to work. I was on my back with my head...