Moments for Mission - Southwestern Washington Synod

Moments for Mission
Southwestern Washington Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering congregations and church leaders
to grow in worship, education, outreach, stewardship and other ministries.
Bishop Robert
D. Hofstad
February 2013
Rev. Ronald Hoyum
assistant to the bishop
Rev. Valinda Morse
assistant to the bishop
Rev. Melanie
Wallschlaeger
director for
evangelical mission
Rev. Donald Fossum
assembly planner
Allison Ramsey
office manager
Rachel Pritchett
editor, rachelpritchett
@msn.com, 206-4980920
Phone
253-535-8300
Address
st
420 121 St. S
Tacoma, WA 98444
Email
[email protected]
Websites
Lutheranssw.org
Elca.org
Blog
swwsynodelca.
blogspot.com
Facebook
Facebook.com/pages/
southwesternwashingtonsynod/129047787133 D. Randall Faro
News
Bishop Hofstad’s final convocation completed
Pastors from throughout the Southwestern
Washington Synod convened in Seabeck
in late January for the 2013 Bishop’s
Prayer Retreat and Convocation. The
opportunity for learning and reflection was
the last one Robert D. Hofstad will lead as
he prepares to retire from 12 years as
bishop of the Southwestern Washington
Synod. Emotions ran deep. A heartfelt
sermon by Assistant to the Bishop Valinda
Morse on Jesus’ miracle at Cana drew
tears and grateful applause. Pastors laid
hands on somber synod staff members
whose time serving under Hofstad will end.
Clergy discussed gay marriage, with no
agreement. Evening bluegrass music by
the Revs. Andy Willis and Mark Johnson,
and Bekkah Weinberger and Steve Body,
lent joy and happiness. More is on Page 2.
Pictured top to bottom: Pastors lay hands on
Bishop Hofstad’s soon-to-dissolve staff.
The Rev. Sandra Kreis, retired, talks with
the Rev. G. Lee Kluth, director of congregational relations at Pacific Lutheran University.
The main dining hall at the historic hillside retreat on Hood Canal has hosted groups
including the Lutherans for decades.
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Bishop’s convocation
Bishop Hofstad shares reflections from four decades of ministry
Bishop Robert D. Hofstad led several sessions of the convocation, sharing what he’s learned from
40 years of ministry. He’s learned to preach forgiveness more directly to listeners’ hearts, he told the
pastors. Rather than saying, “You are forgiven,” he now says, “I forgive you in the
name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
“It’s how they need to hear it,” he said.
The outgoing bishop also spoke of honoring individuals’ Christian vocation, and he
questioned whether he’d done enough of it in four decades.
A person’s Christian vocation is much more than an occupation, he said. Rather,
it’s his or her holy calling in life, given in Holy Baptism, be it parent, spouse or
volunteer. Christians have many God-honoring ‘offices,’ and at any given time only
some are being observed.
“The fact of the matter is we’re always juggling,” he said.
In remarks about practical ministry, Hofstad asked pastors whether they were using too much
“territorial protectionism” in their work. It’s not uncommon to have pastors who feel they need to lead
every meeting and make every decision.
“We simply want to be the very one who make the decisions,” said Hofstad, admitting he had been
one of them.
But over time, the burden becomes too heavy.
He suggested pastors allow others to take on some decisions, and also pass on to them the
responsibilities for the outcomes of those decisions. Pictured: Bishop Robert D. Hofstad
Congregations in transition
Call process
Amazing Grace, Aberdeen
Chinook
First, Port Orchard
Gloria Dei, Tacoma
Hope, Tacoma
Light of Grace, Federal Way
Mount Cross, University Place
Mountain View, Edgewood
Naselle
Our Saviour’s, Cathlamet
Peace Fellowship, Port Ludlow
Salishan Eastside Lutheran Mission
Trinity, Vancouver
Position
P
P
P
P
P
P
AP
AP
P
P
P
P
P
Status
TR
I
I
NV
NV
TR
NV
I
TR
TR
TR
TR
TR
Pastoral care
Linda Nou
Pulpit supply
George Larson
Pulpit supply
Randy Haas
Sang Su Kim
Dave Steffenson
John Vaswig
Pulpit supply
Les Foss
Laurie Stumme-Diers
Pulpit supply
Katherine Hellier
Key: AP – Associate Pastor; I – Interviewing; P – Pastor; NV – New Vacancy; TR – Transition
Called: The Rev. Skip Getman has received a call to serve as chaplain at Hospice Southwest of
Vancouver, Wash.
Installed: The Rev. Jon Olson of Peninsula Lutheran Church of Gig Harbor will be installed by
Bishop Hofstad at 3 p.m. Feb. 10.
Retired: The Rev. Egil A. Sortland has retired, effective Dec. 1, 2012
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2013 Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly
Now’s the time to get involved in selecting new bishop
Registration now is open for the Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly, to be held June 7 and
8 at the Hotel Murano and Bicentennial Pavilion in Tacoma. The assembly’s theme is “Always Being
Made New,” the 2013 theme for the ELCA as its turns 25 in 2013.
This is one not to be missed, with voting members taking on the profound duty of electing a new
bishop. One way to get involved now is to become a voting member of your congregation and attend
a listening post this month in your area (see below).
A plethora of presentations and workshops will be offered, all designed to inspire and equip
congregations and individuals for the year ahead. Worship opportunities will abound. A special
banquet to celebrate Bishop Robert D. Hofstad’s tenure and to welcome his replacement will take
place, too.
The Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim, Old Testament professor at Luther Seminary, will be a presenter
and Bible-study leader. The churchwide representative will be the Rev. Donald McCoid, executive
for ecumenical and inter-religious relations of the Office of the Presiding Bishop. McCoid will speak
and lead a Bible study.
Reduced costs are in place until May 16. Voting members pay $180, clergy who are retired or who
are on leave from call pay $145, visitors desiring meals pay $125 and those who don’t pay $75.
Room reservations also should be made before May 16, by calling 888-862-3255 and asking for the
Southwestern Washington Synod/ELCA group block. The reduced nightly rate is $165, double
occupancy.
To register online, go to www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1099848.
And just how do you go about electing a new leader?
The election is based on the “ecclesiastical ballot” outlined in our synod’s
constitution. It identifies the first round of voting as the nomination ballot.
Successive rounds of voting narrow the field from seven, then to three and then
one. Voting members read biographies and hear remarks from contenders as the
process proceeds. The Rev. Nina Body, chairwoman of the Synod Nominating
Committee, the group running the process, gives more detail in an article on
the synod blog, at www.swwsynodelca.blogspot.com. Pastor Nina can be reached
at [email protected] or 253-474-0525. Pictured: The Rev. Nina Body of Bethlehem Lutheran
Church of Tacoma, chairwoman of the Synod Nominating Committee
Lend your voice, learn the process at upcoming listening posts
Four opportunities to provide input into the selection of a new synod bishop and to learn more about
the process take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on the following Saturdays at the locations listed:
Feb. 2: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma, 3315 19th St.; and St. Andrew Lutheran Church of
Vancouver, 5607 NE Gher Road.
Feb. 9: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympia, 1515 Harrison Ave. NW.
Feb. 23: Poulsbo First Lutheran Church, 18920 Fourth Ave. NE.
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Around the synod
To help spread the word about the synod’s eight mission starts, Moments for Mission is highlighting
each in these issues. Featured below is the North County Campus of Messiah Lutheran Church of
Vancouver, which after only two and a half years has brought new life to the congregation and also
established a much-needed Lutheran presence in north Clark and Cowlitz counties.
Messiah’s second site moves to golf-course clubhouse
By Rachel Pritchett
RIDGEFIELD, NORTH CLARK COUNTY — Planners at Messiah Lutheran Church of Vancouver had a
strong hunch a second site in fast-growing Ridgefield would draw local worshipers.
What they didn’t know two and a half years ago was that families would drive to Messiah’s North County
Campus not just from Ridgefield, but from outlying areas many miles away.
Some 50 came each Sunday from places like Woodland,
Kalama and Longview to the north, and from Battle Ground to
the east, since there was no Lutheran church in the region.
Messiah had invited them using direct-mail post cards,
according to the Revs. Peter and Kathleen Braafladt of
Messiah.
Meeting in an office building close to Interstate 5, the
newcomers brought a lot of new energy and fresh leadership.
Three sit on the Messiah Church Council, which serves both
sites.
“We’ve really emphasized the fact that we’re one congregation
with two places,” Peter said.
Last fall, the North County Campus lease came up, and a new agreement could not be reached. The
North County Campus moved to the clubhouse at the nearby Tri-Mountain Golf Course.
The transition “zaps your energy” for a while, Peter said. Some of the newcomers switched to Messiah’s
Hazel Dell Campus, so attendance at the North County Campus dipped slightly.
The new location is near I-5, and curious golfers are milling around and popping their head inside.
“We’re getting a lot more exposure,” Kathleen said.
The clubhouse arranged eating discounts for Messiah members at the North County Campus, and
members have added to clubhouse business at the struggling county-owned
golf course.
The clubhouse rent is easier to swallow.
“I actually feel freed up; we’re not house-poor,” Kathleen said, adding that
more funds now are available for ministries.
Leaders aren't sure how long the North County Campus will stay at the golf
course; they’re open to go where God leads them.
The Braafladts’ advice for other new mission starts is try different things, and if they don’t work, it’s not
failure.
“Don’t be afraid to experiment,” Kathleen said.
Sunday worship at Messiah’s North County Campus is at 10 a.m. Tri-Mountain Golf Course is at 1701
NW 299th St., Ridgefield, Exit 16 off I-5. All are invited. Pictured: The Revs. Kathleen and Peter
Braafladt
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From the Synod Hunger Committee
On an opportunity to widen the Lenten soup-supper experience
By Beth Ann Johnson, chairwoman
One of the wonderful things about Lent is that each Wednesday evening I am
greeted by a warm bowl of soup. It is such a comfort food, particularly this time of
year when the evenings are cold, dark and damp.
But it can be good to get out of your comfort zone. Two years ago, the members of
Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood did just that, eating food from
Nicaragua, the West Bank and Tanzania. How? By taking part in the Lenten Meal
Project from ELCA World Hunger. Instead of soup and bread, imagine eating a
meal of tandoori chicken or finding out what kind of meal a family using food stamps can afford.
This isn’t just about a meal — there are traditional prayers from each country, placemats with
information about the country and the hunger and poverty issues they face, and discussion
questions.
Lent can be a time of great introspection. But it can also be a great time to talk over dinner with your
friends about our neighbors in need. There are 18 meals your congregation can chose from, from
Columbia to Nepal. Go to ELCA World Hunger, click on resources, then look at the meals listed
under Lenten Meals on the left side of the page. The resulting meals may be a bit uncomfortable, but
it is the quiet discomfort we feel when we are called by Christ to care for our neighbor.
News
Gallimore named host pastor of Little White Church at Elbe
ELBE — The Rev. Galen Gallimore of Bethany Lutheran Church
of Spanaway is the new host pastor of the storybook Evangelische
Lutherische Kirche, or Little White Church.
Perched on the shoulder of majestic Mount Rainier, the 18-by-24square-foot church founded by German immigrants in 1893 offers
Sunday-afternoon worship services from May to
November, and is a popular wedding venue.
Visitors also stop by to worship on their way to
the nearby Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad or for
hikes and picnics in the tall surrounding forests.
Gallimore replaces retired Rev. Randall Olson
as host, and now is lining up 10 pastors from
the synod willing to preach once this coming
season.
Gallimore said that the steeple roof of the
wee-sized worship space needs to be replaced, and brick pavers
are being sold to support construction. The bricks will be laid in an
area between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall.
To volunteer to preach or to purchase pavers, contact Gallimore at [email protected].
more about the church, visit www.elbehistoricchurch.com. Pictured: The Little White Church
To learn
and the Rev. Galen Gallimore.
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News
Hiker-pastor attempting Continental Divide Trail
TACOMA — She just keeps hiking and hiking.
Last summer, retired Rev. Mary Davison finished all 2,600 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail at about a
dozen miles a day, mostly by herself. She’d already accomplished the 2,200 miles of the
Appalachian Trail.
Apparently that wasn’t enough.
Davison, 71, of Tacoma now has begun her biggest mountain journey
yet — the Continental Divide Trail. She started last summer at the
Mexican border (pictured), where she found the locals very friendly,
constantly offering her food and water.
“It’s pretty cool that half of them stopped,” Davison said.
Tiny, talkative and always encouraging, Davison said she hopes to
hike the Divide’s 3,000 miles by the time she hits 75, if she’s physically
able.
“This one’s not a sure bet. But I’m going to act like I’m going to finish it,
and we’ll see what happens,” she said.
If Davison makes it, she’ll be one of the oldest hikers anywhere to
complete hiking’s “Triple Crown.”
“My life is adventure to adventure,” said Davison, who attends Family of Grace Lutheran Church of
Auburn.
Drawing from her experiences in the vast expanses up high, Davison’s just completed a four-part
adult Bible study entitled “Spirituality and Life’s Blessings from the Trails and Psalms.” She can be
reached at [email protected]. — Rachel Pritchett
Our congregations
Information gleaned from throughout the synod, for keeping up
Message loud and clear: Resurrection Lutheran Church of Tacoma recently started a “Noisy
Offering” that demonstrates the joy of giving loud and clear. Each Sunday, the children collect coins
from worshipers in glass or metal jars, with much clanging and jangling. In the past two months, the
young people have collected almost $300 (with matching gift, too) to help buy animals through the
ELCA Good Gifts program. This has become a fun and meaningful project for our little ones.
— Allison Ramsey
110th anniversary: St. Paul of Vancouver celebrated its 110th anniversary Dec. 15 and 16 in part
with a luncheon at the Red Lion at the Quay. Some 100 people celebrated. The 100th anniversary
task force included Geri Hiller, Lorraine Anderson, Veronna Sjothun, Marlene Janneck, Edie Cotton
and Steve Friebel. St. Paul, by the way, has started a second, more informal worship service at
4 p.m. on Sundays, with the hope of appealing to new populations.
Winter lock-in: Vancouver Lutheran churches were planning a Winter Lock-in for youth Feb. 1 and
2 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vancouver. Some 70 middle-school youth are going to take part,
delving into God’s word and having lots of fun.
Teen center fundraiser: March 11 is the date for the annual fundraiser to support the RockSolid
Community Teen center at Bethel Lutheran Church of Brush Prairie. More information about
the “Auction on the Rock” is at www.rocksolid-teen.com.
Chance to help women exiting prisons and their families
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Upcoming
Chance to help women exiting prisons and their families
Once again this year, a fundraiser will be held to benefit Empowering Life, the group that helps
formerly incarcerated women and their families succeed in the community. The fun evening is from
7 to 9 on Feb. 9 at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church of Tacoma, 6730 N 17th St. For a
suggested donation of $15, participants hear intimate stories from some of the woman, share in
fabulous desserts, take part in a silent auction and enjoy the music of the Peninsula High School
Jazz Band. To register, contact Joan Nelson at [email protected] or 253-208-3307. Checks
for $15 can be mailed to her at P.O. Box 1803, Gig Harbor, WA 98335. Nelson seeks auction items.
Advocacy Day approaches as FAN voices legislative priorities
OLYMPIA — Faith Action Network, co-directed by the Rev. Paul Benz, has laid out its priorities as
the 2013 legislative session gets underway. Those priorities include working for legislation to:
n prevent wage theft;
n provide adequate funding for food assistance, farm-to-school programs, the
Housing Trust Fund and the expansion of Medicaid;
n create enough revenue to balance the budget;
n support gun-control legislation and repeal the death penalty; and
n improve immigration laws.
All are encouraged to come join in the Inter-Faith Advocacy Day, from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Feb. 20 starting at United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Ave. SE,
Olympia. The day starts with worship and workshops. Then groups take their
messages to the offices of their legislators. Register at bit.ly/IFAD2013. For more
information about the day, email FAN at [email protected] or 206-625-9790.
Benz suggests congregations pray fervently for their lawmakers and regularly call them to share
views on the free legislative hotline at 800-562-6000. FAN is a merger of the former Lutheran Public
Policy Office and the Washington Association of Churches. Benz can be reached at
[email protected] or 206-390-4133. To stay current on FAN's work in Olympia, go to www.fanwa.org.
Pictured: The Rev. Paul Benz
Lutheran Community Services Northwest fundraiser coming
Lutheran Community Services Northwest’s annual fundraising event takes place March 10 at the
Landmark Convention Center in Tacoma. With the theme “Growing in Strength,” the event for the
social-service provider will start with at 12:30 p.m. social hour, followed by a buffet lunch. The
program begins at 1:30 p.m. and ends at 3 p.m. For more information or to register, contact Lee
Tenneboe at [email protected] or 253-722-5694.
Items for Moments for Mission
Send information and photos to the synod office or directly to Communicator Rachel Pritchett at
[email protected] or call her at 206-498-0920. All material in this newsletter is reproducible.
Mark your calendars for boundaries training
Barbara Keller, ELCA consultant for misconduct prevention, will lead required boundaries training for
clergy, lay leaders and youth directors Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, at locations yet to be
announced.
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Upcoming
Boundaries instruction for clergy, lay leaders scheduled for April
Barbara Keller, ELCA consultant for misconduct prevention, will lead required boundaries training for
clergy, lay leaders and youth directors Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, at locations yet to be
announced.
Training for clergy will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5, at a cost of $30. Training for lay leaders will
be from 9 a.m. to noon April 6, followed by training for youth directors. The cost for the April 6
sessions has not yet been announced. Future Moments for Mission will have further details. To
register, contact the synod office at [email protected] or 253-535-8301. The training is sponsored
by the Southwestern and Northwest Washington synods.
Pastoral-theology conference focuses on Book of Matthew
“God is with us: Preaching, teaching and living the Gospel of Matthew,” is the title of the 2013 Pacific
Lutheran University Conference on Pastoral Theology.
The conference takes place June 17 to 19 at the Tacoma university, and will precede a period
starting in December 2013 when congregations will engage in the Gospel of Matthew. Pastoral
scholars John Pilch of Georgetown University and the Rev. Dr. Melinda Quivik of Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Philadelphia will share the cultural context that shaped the gospel.
Workshops will focus on congregational planning in 2013 and 2014. More information and
registration is at www.plu.edu/congregations, 253-535-7424 or [email protected].
Opportunities
Nigerian preacher, missionary wife and family to visit
Dorthea Hustoft-Hamman, longtime volunteer missionary in Nigeria, Southwestern Washington
native and friend of the synod, plans to visit here this coming summer with her pastor husband,
Amson, and some of their three children. Amson will be available to preach to synod congregations
about his four-point ministry in and around Jos, Nigeria, or meet with Bible-study and other groups.
Congregations, particularly those in the Vancouver area where Dorthea has family, with an interest
in meeting and hearing from Amson are invited to contact Diane Armbrust, co-chair of the synod
Global Missions Committee, at [email protected]. Dorthea, who teaches social studies in
Jos, Amson, and children Annette and Daniel last visited the synod in August 2011.
April 16 is deadline for health-ministry grant applications
Wheat Ridge Ministries of Itasca, Ill., invites Lutheran congregations to submit proposals for its
Congregation Health Ministry Grant program at www.wheatridge.org/chmgrants. The one-year,
$2,000 matching grants are to support ways congregations are supporting whole-person health.
Proposals including anti-violence themes are preferred. The application deadline is April 16, and
funds are distributed in June. For more information, go to [email protected] or call 800-7626748.
A calendar of events appears on the synod blog at swwsynodelca.blogspot.com.