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One part of the Synod Assembly is giving participants a chance to hear from people representing synod ministries. As part of this, Kathy Tanabe brought greetings from the Southeastern Minnesota Synod chapter of the Women of the ELCA. Their next year will be focused on preparing for the Triennial Gathering in Salt Lake City in July, 2008. Other local opportunities available include, Women’s Day at Good Earth Village on June 23rd for which there are still some openings. It will highlight next year’s “Lutheran Women Today” Bible study, “Blessed to Follow: the Beatitudes as a Compass for Discipleship”. The WELCA Synodical Convention will be held at St. John’s Lutheran in Northfield on September 22nd. The group continues to support the women of Tanzania through the Agape Social Centre, to fund Lutheran Campus Ministry and to work with the Lutheran Social Service project to end homelessness in Minnesota by 2015. Russ Tesch brought greetings from the Southeastern Minnesota chapter of Lutheran Men in Mission. Their major event is Breakfast with the Bishop in April of each year at Cabella’s. There’s great food and speakers and good participation. He gave examples of other projects around the area including the work of Pastor Jeff Sackett to raise money to give more than 200 Bibles to the Men in Mission in his area. Russ encouraged churches to start Men in Mission chapters in their area and discover, as Pastor Sackett has, that men grounded in scripture are energized for service. Men in Mission will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next year. Bishop Usgaard also invited Karna Hagen, a seminary graduate to speak to the Assembly. She brought the story of her call to the ministry, her faith story. It came when she was in high school in Luverne, Minn.. She was challenged to read her Bible every day by her mentor, “Take Charge Marge.” Marge also gave her a rock for Christmas, encouraging Karna to be a “rock for Christ” like Peter was. Continuing the recognition of those celebrating milestones in their journey of rostered leadership, four pastors were honored for their 40th Anniversaries of Ordination. Bishop Usgaard introduced Rev. Glen Monson to talk about the Thrivent grant for Leadership for Today and Tomorrow. This year they will grant over $15,000 for debt relief and scholarship due to the generous donations from the Synod Endowment. This is more than double what was available last year. Rev. Lester Horntvedt invited members of the Assembly to come to Good Earth Village to learn about the Leadership for the Church program on June 27th. Congregations are encouraged to order brochure racks for their church that talk about the leadership scholarships available for seminary students. Rev. Sarah Nietz awarded the following scholarships: To Cheryl Korte, the Women of the ELCA Scholarship; to Jonathan Larson, the Valin Scholarship; to Leslie Neist, the Fund for Leaders Scholarship. Three First Call debt reduction awards for $3,438. were also given to Rev. Cary Larson, Rev. Krista Strum and Rev. Nancy Hansen. The Walter Wahl family was thanked for their contributions to that scholarship fund. The Wacholtz Scholarship for Promise in Rural Ministry was awarded to Mary Miska. The final award was the Lutheran Social Services “Servant of Christ Award.” Rev. Alan Loose presented this award to Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Welch for their work with adults with developmental disabilities. Their support of the group home in their area, decorating it for Christmas and throwing a pizza and bowling party was a “truly intergenerational effort”, involving the children, youth and adults of their congregation. This “Servant of Christ” award was created 10 years ago to honor the work of congregations that responded to those in need during the flooding along the Red River in 1997. Also part of this plenary was Rev. Dr. Elaine Siemsen's continued Bible Study focusing on why we need to tell our faith stories. |
