1. MINNESOTA
COUNCIL OF
CHURCHES
Enhancing Ministry

2. The Church cannot be the Church only
in denominational silos.
To be the Church we must be the Church
together.
Our unity is a gift
already given in Christ; our job is to manifest
that gift. We should do everything together
that we can.

3. Bishops face challenges unlike
anybody else.
Through MCC, the heads of
communion of 24 judicatories
(synods, denominations, etc.)
have access to:
• Monthly prayer breakfasts
• Shared discernment at board
meetings
• Annual retreats
Through these events church
leaders build community with
each other and are refreshed and
renewed for the work God calls
them to do.

4. MCC heals divides over polarizing topics
The Respectful Conversations Project is a missional
tool. Groups throughout Minnesota have tackled
topics like guns and same-sex marriage in
conversations that don’t change minds, but soften
hearts.
Feedback from River of Hope Lutheran in Hutchinson:
• “a great experience,”
• “it would be great if everybody had the chance to learn
these techniques”

5. The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition is one of MCC’s
collaborative ministries in churches and at the Capitol.
JRLC holds workshops in congregations throughout the state and
organize Day on the Hill, which has introduced elected officials
from each of Minnesota’s legislative districts to faith-based social
justice advocates who were also constituents.
JRLC has been in relationship with 1,100 ELCA congregations
throughout Minnesota.

7. As Christians we seek to live in and with grace, likewise we can help one
another die in and with grace – Together we are on the Graceful Journey.
Congregations hear from faith Ambassadors on end-of-life issues such as
advance care directives, funeral planning, key stressors that people
experience as a loved one nears death, and how to have difficult
conversations now that will make things feel more graceful later.
Faith Ambassadors have already given Graceful Journey presentations
across the state including:
• Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Buffalo Lake
• All Saints Lutheran in Darwin
• Our Savior’s Lutheran in New Ulm
• First Lutheran in St. James.

8. Minnesota Food Share organized the March
Campaign, the statewide fund and food drive
that in 2012 raised the equivalent of 38 million
pounds of food, more than half of the 70 million
pounds of food distributed at 300 Minnesota
food shelves annually.
MCC is a founding, continuing, directing
member of the seven member coalition.

9. Persecuted people from around the world find safety in Minnesota. We
help new refugees get their basic needs met—by providing direct
assistance, housing support, and job training.
MCC offers some of the most innovative approaches to this work: like
the knitting circles and the Tapestry project in Mankato
ELCA congregations have developed lay leadership by sponsoring
refugee families. Volunteers set up a family’s apartment, stock their
kitchen with culturally-relevant foods, show them around their new
neighborhood, and even enroll their children in schools.
In congregations that sponsor refugees, truly are disciples made.

10. • Creating community across Minnesota
• Serving the communities most in need
• Supporting the faith community
• Advocating for a just community for all

11. Thank You
Minnesota Council of Churches enhances the
ministry of the local church and denominational
life.
Through MCC, congregations and
denominations do together what they cannot do
alone.