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Mark Peterson, President,
Lutheran Social Services in Minnesota,
presented LSS’ Servant of Christ Award to representatives of
Christ the King, Mankato. Lutheran
Social Service of Minnesota recognizes a congregation, or partnering
congregations, in each of the six ELCA synods every year as the recipient of
the LSS Servant of Christ Award. These congregations that are leaders in
social ministry and social justice in their community, have a connection to
LSS services in their area, and faithfully provide financial support for the
service ministry of Lutheran Social Service. Christ the King was recognized
for establishing “Circles of Hope” in the congregation which gather monthly
for a meal, Bible study, education and action. Genzler then connected the work of the ELCA with the work of congregations in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Noting five areas of collaboration with the ELCA he observed, “You are agents of some remarkable ministry here in Minnesota.” The five areas are: education, especially from Bishop Usgaard’s participation in the Social Statement on Education; disaster response, which the congregations gave $150,000 for flood relief; Fund for Leaders, which received $200,000 from the synod congregations; Mission Investment Fund, which has provided $2.8 million to six congregations in the synod for building projects; and Global Missions participation, notably with our companion synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia and the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The report ended with Genzler listing four ways the ELCA is seeking to engage congregations all over the country. First, the ELCA is retooling its website, www.ELCA.org, to be more collaborative and responsive. Much of the work has already been launched. Second, the Book of Faith initiative, helping Lutherans go deeper into the Scriptures, will help ground us in our lives of faith and service to others. Third, the ELCA Department of Studies is working on several statements, including the recently passed Statement on Education and the preliminary draft on Sexuality. Finally, Genzler noted the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, a collaborative effort of several organizations to deal with pandemic diseases. Genzler’s parting words were memorable, especially in light of the synod’s theme, “A Synod at Table with the Hungry.” Noting that the word companion means, “to eat with,” Genzler said, “A strange thing happens when you eat with someone who is hungry” and went on to assure the voting members that the ELCA cares about these deep questions as well as the answers. Bishop Usgaard introduced Rev. Sarah Nietz who had the privilege of awarding scholarships at the assembly. Barbara Streed, a junior at Wartburg Seminary from St. John, Owatonna, and Brandon Simonson, a junior at Gettysburg Seminary from United Lutheran, Red Wing, received Fund for Leaders in Mission (FLIM) Scholarships. Currently enrolled Juniors or Interns from congregations in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod are eligible for the $5,000 awards if they are attending or in affiliation with an ELCA seminary. Receiving First Call Debt
Retirement awards were: Rev. David Krinke,
Lands Lutheran Church, Zumbrota;
Rev. Ronald Myers, Bethlehem & Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Churches, Myrtle
and Glenville; Rev. Karen Pahl,
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Red Wing; and Rev. Patrick Patterson,
Christ the King Lutheran Church,
Mankato. The $1,250 First Call Debt Retirement awards are presented to
pastors who are in their first call in congregations in the Southeastern
Minnesota Synod. These awards come from the ELIM Endowment Fund of the
Southeastern Minnesota Synod Endowment Fund. |
