tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89464541989146703562024-02-18T18:09:19.096-08:00ELM BlogRecent News from Extraordinary Lutheran MinistriesExtraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-51202604904117071242011-01-05T13:43:00.000-08:002011-01-05T13:44:44.548-08:00This blog is moving to the new ELM Website<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Thanks for visiting the blog for Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries!<br /><br />This week we launched a new website. <a href="http://www.elm.org/">Click here to visit the new site.</a><br /><br />We have incorporated our blog into the new site, so from now on, please drop by our home page to see what is new with ELM.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-89589717241019852172011-01-02T17:35:00.000-08:002011-01-02T17:35:39.944-08:00ELM Celebrates as Rev. Steve Keiser Received to ELCA Clergy Roster<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLEcr0ZuIT7Rrbe3-dCrjnH-1E0mUv9Xy6SB4prpCDng7GctXt8vaRGnoLH2XFk8itWdetCbPGvDqy8baAe8eFeox-_vd0PmQMksh7-5nrvdSM-FcTXeCso1a3gU8QB_NxzsqUYFO1w3t/s1600/Steve+Keiser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLEcr0ZuIT7Rrbe3-dCrjnH-1E0mUv9Xy6SB4prpCDng7GctXt8vaRGnoLH2XFk8itWdetCbPGvDqy8baAe8eFeox-_vd0PmQMksh7-5nrvdSM-FcTXeCso1a3gU8QB_NxzsqUYFO1w3t/s200/Steve+Keiser.jpg" width="121" /></a>Rev. Steve Keiser was received to the ELCA clergy roster this morning during the 11 a.m. worship service at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion in Philadelphia. Bishop Claire Burkat, ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod preached at the service and presided at the Rite of Reception. Keiser is pastor at Holy Communion, along with Rev. Kari Hart.<br />
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Rev. Keiser is the 15th pastor who was extraordinarily ordained to be received onto the ELCA clergy roster. Other ELM pastors and other LGBTQ rostered leaders have also been reinstated or received onto the ELCA roster. <br />
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The ELCA Rite of Reception is the formal rite developed by the ELCA to receive ELM roster members who had been extraordinarily ordained onto the ELCA clergy roster.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ministrylink.org/article/synod-to-receive-two-pastors-onto-roster/">Click here to read an article about Rev. Keiser and Rev. Jay Wiesner from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod's site. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-59320865982510140402010-12-16T07:47:00.000-08:002010-12-16T08:54:56.735-08:00Rev. Jay Wiesner received onto ELCA clergy roster<div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHX_fgpT6tSGLV_9aQ51l4e9JIyAPROyaPyxrOXKDx3yW23CizcY-z8IMcfOmmNeLuAjp_FftZMj1qqXx2fNkWXP-7wNj0OIULXU-zLE-afT6nOgibJapO8-6zcY06c51-UVfcn0WjiM/s1600/Jay+photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHX_fgpT6tSGLV_9aQ51l4e9JIyAPROyaPyxrOXKDx3yW23CizcY-z8IMcfOmmNeLuAjp_FftZMj1qqXx2fNkWXP-7wNj0OIULXU-zLE-afT6nOgibJapO8-6zcY06c51-UVfcn0WjiM/s320/Jay+photo+2.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Jay Wiesner. Photo by: <span class="profileName ginormousProfileName fwb">Richard W Garnett</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div>On Sunday, December 12, Rev. Jay Wiesner was received onto the roster of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA. The service took place during an Advent celebration at University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia, PA.<br />
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The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod posted a lovely recap of the service on their blog. Read it <a href="http://www.ministrylink.org/article/unilus-wiesner-recieved-to-clergy-roster/">here</a>.Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-61241573177726829042010-11-30T12:44:00.000-08:002010-11-30T12:44:57.255-08:00Rev. Megan Rohrer featured on Living Lutheran<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSvwOR37xDV4gFS_q8lzdymsCBI72FuWHpu8RV72q9EsFspajvs_0N6vOM3UlDCnztnkyCWhevfUMHHjphUeyR9M-QwO1OGzwUl9_zNY5_R47D-fURXDp5GZ1wKHAgMW_U314_W83GJ0/s1600/Megan+Rohrer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSvwOR37xDV4gFS_q8lzdymsCBI72FuWHpu8RV72q9EsFspajvs_0N6vOM3UlDCnztnkyCWhevfUMHHjphUeyR9M-QwO1OGzwUl9_zNY5_R47D-fURXDp5GZ1wKHAgMW_U314_W83GJ0/s200/Megan+Rohrer.JPG" width="200" /></a>Rev. Megan Rohrer wrote an article featured on the ELCA sister site, 'Living Lutheran'. The article "<a href="http://www.livinglutheran.com/blog/2010/11/the-body-of-christ-has-aids.html">The Body of Christ has AIDS</a>" explores the connection between communion and remembering those living with HIV/AIDS.<br />
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December 1st is <a href="http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/">World AIDS Day</a>-a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services. At ELM we keep those directly impacted by HIV/AIDs in our thoughts and prayers.<br />
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Rev. Megan Rohrer is an ELCA pastor and director of <a href="http://www.welcomeministry.org/">Welcome</a> in San Francisco. ELM has supported Welcome with a Mission Partner grant for the past three years.Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-27635231055991549722010-11-22T12:34:00.000-08:002010-11-22T12:34:28.849-08:00Mission Grants at work: Eco-Faith Recovery<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupmPQDHk9uKuoDseb-dsykCjed5oLKVAWwHwehwEXtVV5JPyAzT05mFaGYoCyXwdONPMC4sxYsM8_ynqgBiB55SxI2r-EGVfaZbN8FD5pJWSZrsxAxLsykCoMwYQSJw4lxv1PiQX_85M/s1600/Robyn+Hartwig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupmPQDHk9uKuoDseb-dsykCjed5oLKVAWwHwehwEXtVV5JPyAzT05mFaGYoCyXwdONPMC4sxYsM8_ynqgBiB55SxI2r-EGVfaZbN8FD5pJWSZrsxAxLsykCoMwYQSJw4lxv1PiQX_85M/s200/Robyn+Hartwig.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Robyn Hartwig</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div>ELM has been supporting Rev. Robyn Hartwig's EcoFaith Recovery in the Portland, OR area for the past two years with a Mission Partner grant. EcoFaith Recovery was launched in 2009 with the assistance of an ELM Mission Grant. Since then, the project has grown immensely. Part of that growth has been the development of a website to connect supporters and share information about the project.<br />
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Check out EcoFaith Recovery's website <a href="http://www.ecofaithrecovery.org/">here</a>. <br />
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The program offers table talks, trainings and a number of workshops and interactive projects.<br />
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EcoFaith Recovery is:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z0GvpmixtYNGd49IhCCmV50oOI18RFhE5y6gj8NqSUk9ndG9KUQ-xU7P6pXaFew2eMRT2opS_TIds8o8nxh_0apUMevStT5gbq0LvNmjFrhynXX-Zj5JT26MNITxJhOsIpBjPlsqD7w/s1600/Bull-Run-Tour2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z0GvpmixtYNGd49IhCCmV50oOI18RFhE5y6gj8NqSUk9ndG9KUQ-xU7P6pXaFew2eMRT2opS_TIds8o8nxh_0apUMevStT5gbq0LvNmjFrhynXX-Zj5JT26MNITxJhOsIpBjPlsqD7w/s200/Bull-Run-Tour2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EcoFaith Recovery</td></tr>
</tbody></table><blockquote> "A collaborative effort among Lutheran and other faith communities based in Portland, OR. EcoFaith Recovery develops and supports spiritual recovery from the addictive patterns of human life that contribute to the climate crisis, heighten social injustice, deprive people of spiritual meaning, and threaten life on earth. The means of fostering eco-spiritual recovery includes retreats, workshops, spiritual practices, institutional reform, and pilgrimages to reconnect with the natural world."</blockquote>Rev. Robyn Hartwig serves as the founder and part-time developer of EcoFaith Recovery. Check out EcoFaith Recovery's blog <a href="http://www.ecofaithrecovery.org/blog/">here</a>.<br />
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ELM Mission Partner grants fund ministry by publicly-identified LGBTQ rostered Lutheran leaders. Since 1995, ELM has given away over $750,000 to support congregations and ministries. ELM will give away over $60,000 in 2011 alone.Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-85667839745146734032010-11-17T09:13:00.000-08:002010-11-17T09:15:38.820-08:00Two Philadelphia Rites of Reception for ELM Pastors<div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="pt12"><b>Upcoming services:</b></span></u></div><div><u><br />
</u></div><div><a href="http://content.delivra.com/etapcontent//ExtraordinaryLutheranMinistries/Nov%202010%20enews/Jay%20Wiesner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rev. Donna Simon" border="0" height="200" src="http://content.delivra.com/etapcontent//ExtraordinaryLutheranMinistries/Nov%202010%20enews/Jay%20Wiesner.jpg" style="border: 3px solid black;" width="136" /></a><b>Rev. Jay Wiesner</b><b><br />
</b></div><div>Sunday, December 12, 2010</div><div><a href="http://www.uniluphila.org/">University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation</a>, Philadelphia, PA</div><div>Bp. Burkat, Presider</div><div>Rev. Anita Hill, Preacher</div><br />
Jay is originally from New Ulm, a small town of German descent in southwestern Minnesota. He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota with a BA in religion. After college, he attended Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. During his senior year, he publicly came out to the faculty and students at Wartburg and left to take some time off. He finished his Master of Divinity degree in 2002 and immediately began work at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as Pastoral Minister of Outreach. He was called to and ordained at Bethany on July 25, 2004. He served the congregation from 2002-2008.<br />
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Jay currently serves as pastor of University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, an ELCA congregation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and he also serves as dean of the Central Conference of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. He is also pastoral director of <a href="http://www.thenamingproject.org/">The Naming Project</a>.<br />
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<div><img alt="Rev. Jodi Barry" height="200" src="http://content.delivra.com/etapcontent//ExtraordinaryLutheranMinistries/Nov%202010%20enews/steve%20Keiser.JPG" style="border: 3px solid black; float: left; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px;" width="146" /><b> Rev. Steve Keiser</b><b><br />
</b></div><div>Sunday, January 2, 2011</div><div><a href="http://www.lc-hc.org/drupal/">Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion</a>, Philadelphia, PA</div><br />
Steve Keiser is the pastoral associate at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion in Philadelphia. He was ordained at Holy Communion on January 25, 2009. He is a graduate of Wheaton College (1981, BA in Philosophy) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (1999, M.Div). Prior to entering seminary, he worked in branch management for fifteen years for Bell Savings Bank and Meridian Bank (now Wachovia).<br />
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He has taught at Cabrini College, the Lutheran Seminary and for the Adventures Program at the seminary. He has also assisted Dr. Katie Day, a sociologist of religion who is studying the impact of volunteerism on churches burned as a result of arson. His ministry at Holy Communion includes working with young adults and establishing small group ministries. Steve shares the pastoral leadership of Holy Communion with Pastor Kari Hart.Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-71687005451171832042010-11-09T09:56:00.000-08:002010-11-09T09:56:36.667-08:00Bishop Hanson's "It Gets Better" videoELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson's response to recent suicides by young people who have been bullied.<br />
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Below is his video message, "You Are a Beloved Child of God" to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxDKoxDwUfxLK4sWxfVTElGH27NOvIOhwspaMKIQArFDmWkKvwYuzUI2yjF9eutoIZxMfLGrGtx3bBYe5W5UQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<b>Resources:</b><br />
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<b>The Trevor Project</b><br />
<a href="http://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project</a> is determined to end suicide among LBGTQ youth by providing resources and a nationwide, 24-hour hotline. If you are considering suicide or need help, call: 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).<br />
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<b>BullyingInfo.org</b><br />
<a href="http://bullyinginfo.org/">BullyingInfo.org</a> is a project of the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) focused on providing tools and resources for youth, parents, teachers and mental health providers to prevent and address bullying. <br />
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<b>It Gets Better Project</b><br />
You can watch more videos at <a href="http://itgetsbetterproject.com./">ItGetsBetterProject.com.</a>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-34946759683653067732010-11-04T09:39:00.000-07:002010-11-04T09:39:38.907-07:00ELM pastor Lura Groen received onto Clergy Roster of ELCA<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNgOnbmgL0ENVOTd9Yj7IfCh6tagrqN0lMLEP7nR814o_RFmCzFfXtEqJnxyP6gbMV5JI9D6ANngVAImwrLQyWWzOln4lLPodIBGOo4GHl_Nv5ptc1G_1Gwx8VOI_tK3gOe8Pgi0lROQ/s1600/Lura+Groen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNgOnbmgL0ENVOTd9Yj7IfCh6tagrqN0lMLEP7nR814o_RFmCzFfXtEqJnxyP6gbMV5JI9D6ANngVAImwrLQyWWzOln4lLPodIBGOo4GHl_Nv5ptc1G_1Gwx8VOI_tK3gOe8Pgi0lROQ/s200/Lura+Groen.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Lura Groen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>On All Saints Sunday, November 7, Lura Groen will be the first clergy person allowed onto the roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod under new policy regarding LGBT clergy.<br />
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The Rev. Lura N. Groen is a graduate of St. John’s College in Annapolis MD and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Prior to seminary, Pastor Lura was a two-year member of Lutheran Volunteer Corps, serving as a case manager to homeless people in Baltimore MD and Washington DC.<br />
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Groen was active in community life during seminary, including serving as Student Body President. She received the Winters Scholarship for academic excellence and potential for ministry, the Traci L. Maul Award for leadership potential for ministry, active contribution to seminary life, and academic strength the Atonement-Asbury Park Preaching Award, and was on the Dean’s List. Pastor Lura completed her internship at Trinity Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, PA. Pastor Groen was extraordinary ordained at Grace Evangelical Lutheran on July 26, 2008. <br />
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“The Church is opening up” said Pastor Groen, “The Lutheran Church is more welcoming than most people think it is. I am proud of the ELCA for publicly celebrating the ministry of myself and so many other pastors who were excluded by the previous policy.”<br />
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<b>"No Longer Strangers," a Service of Reception will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 2515 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77006, at 4:00 p.m. November 7, with Bishop Michael Rinehart presiding. Everyone is welcome.</b>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-33128554827251646832010-10-29T22:14:00.000-07:002010-10-29T22:14:10.599-07:00Rev. Jodi Barry To Be Received to ELCA Roster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOajx_juXqi5d6BEcqgnOZFF1b5lTxpAPBhFpARubTiHK7bJuoxnZlRgFhMe5Do6QKcN-76Nrl2c0R2k-6ib5QS10rG7WCHmOdvPCGIRLSF7uV6zK9e_ZHntgsM6m5H7ZsLWiN6ptyKznf/s1600/lutherrainbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOajx_juXqi5d6BEcqgnOZFF1b5lTxpAPBhFpARubTiHK7bJuoxnZlRgFhMe5Do6QKcN-76Nrl2c0R2k-6ib5QS10rG7WCHmOdvPCGIRLSF7uV6zK9e_ZHntgsM6m5H7ZsLWiN6ptyKznf/s200/lutherrainbow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The cake pictured at left was served on Thursday, Oct 28th at the occasion of Rev. Donna Simon's 10th ordination anniversary and reception to the ELCA roster in the Central States Synod. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's a fitting photo for tomorrow as well, when the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA will receive Rev. Jodi Barry. Tomorrow's service will be held at <a href="http://www.graceattheu.org/">Grace University Lutheran Church. </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Minneapolis Area Bishop Craig Johnson will preside at the service. The Rev. M. Susan Peterson is preaching. All are welcome at this service!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grace is located at 324 Harvard Street SE in Minneapolis. Parking is available across the street from the church in the AA parking lot. Check back in a few days for a recap of both services.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ELCA Rite of Reception is the formal rite developed by the ELCA to receive members of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries roster onto the ELCA roster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Cake made by Niki Williams, a member of <a href="http://www.abidingpeacekc.org/">Abiding Peace Lutheran Church</a> in Kansas City, MO). </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-31697714106111527472010-10-26T09:01:00.000-07:002010-10-26T09:01:38.362-07:00Rite of Reception for Rev. Donna SimonIn a Lutheran Rite of Reception service on October 28, in Kansas City, a lesbian pastor will be officially welcomed to serve in the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). <br />
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"We are so proud of this denomination, which has taken a major step toward the full inclusion of gay and lesbian persons," said Donna Simon, pastor of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church. "We are closer to the day when we can sing ‘all are welcome’ with gusto, knowing that our policies reflect our declaration. <br />
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“I must thank our bishop, Gerald Mansholt, who has encouraged me to be connected to the work of our region and the larger church. He has always treated me with dignity and respect, and I have only the same for him. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7nkpASCRrP5o_rpLNrFbG7RSFz2B-LP94amRwT_Xis682S7x3q5MZoD1W0zy3yUuR5xxwvQmcg8m_1yVx-B_s-PGnMHYOYof7jIResNP6iUUPwzXZ-Zj7ewd9T7DHbJemUxlWna7K8/s1600/Donna+service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7nkpASCRrP5o_rpLNrFbG7RSFz2B-LP94amRwT_Xis682S7x3q5MZoD1W0zy3yUuR5xxwvQmcg8m_1yVx-B_s-PGnMHYOYof7jIResNP6iUUPwzXZ-Zj7ewd9T7DHbJemUxlWna7K8/s200/Donna+service.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>“I am excited to stand alongside my clergy colleagues now as a full participant in our church. It’s been a long wait, but I’ve had the support of the people of Abiding Peace and so many clergy colleagues. We look forward to continuing the work of preaching good news to those on the margins, the same folks whom Jesus invited to share prayer and supper with him.” <br />
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Simon had been barred from serving in the ELCA because of previous ministry policies that prohibited people in same-sex relationships from their rosters. She is currently on the roster of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries, which credentials openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rostered leaders. In August of 2009, the ELCA changed its policies to allow people who are in same-sex relationships to serve as rostered leaders. <br />
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The rite of reception was created specifically for people who had been extraordinarily ordained—that is, ordained outside the regular process of the Lutheran church. There have been seventeen extraordinary ordinations in the United States of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people. The service marks the ELCA’s official recognition of these pastors. <br />
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<u>The evening service of welcome will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3800 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri at 7pm.</u><br />
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Valorie Bratcher, council president at Abiding Peace says, “Pastor Donna has been the pastor of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church for the past 10 years. She has served her congregation in word and sacrament and with love and devotion. We have been enriched by her teaching, and led to service in our community. She has challenged us to live and do as Christ taught. We look forward to our continued relationship with the ELCA as they receive her onto their roster.” <br />
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Lutheran Bishop Gerald Mansholt will preside at the service. Rev. Susan Langhauser of Advent Lutheran Church, Olathe, Kansas, will be the preacher. Special music will be provided by Peter Mayer, Lutheran musician and guitarist for Jimmy Buffett. <br />
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<a href="http://www.abidingpeacekc.org/">Abiding Peace Lutheran Church</a> has been a Reconciling in Christ church since 1993, and has been public in welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to participate fully in the life of the congregation. In 2000, the congregation called Simon, a 1999 graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Simon became the first openly gay candidate ordained in an American Lutheran Church in over a decade. <br />
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Eleven members of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries roster have been received or reinstated to the ELCA roster this fall. There are other rite of reception services scheduled this fall in Minneapolis, MN and Houston, TX.<br />
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We celebrate this joyous rite of reception!Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-39779941216161789842010-10-21T07:45:00.000-07:002010-10-21T09:17:45.119-07:00ELM Roster member featured in a Houston magazine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6eCIAOL2DlVz-VqHGyITE9dz_OFbWhbOF1F28jJVTLyK1fuQFcXgFc19d39PAjEARBsSfQ5FE8eBixgHNIP6P-y9FveP58-ji2blesWu6PLCHr6TMAHqkY63yoWwKxDfZWSvRsuGILs/s1600/Lura+Groen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6eCIAOL2DlVz-VqHGyITE9dz_OFbWhbOF1F28jJVTLyK1fuQFcXgFc19d39PAjEARBsSfQ5FE8eBixgHNIP6P-y9FveP58-ji2blesWu6PLCHr6TMAHqkY63yoWwKxDfZWSvRsuGILs/s200/Lura+Groen.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Lura Groen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://outsmartmagazine.com/">Outsmart</a>, Houston's gay, lesbian, bi and trans magazine has featured ELM roster member Rev. Lura Groen. The article discusses Rev. Groen's relationship with the ELCA and highlights her upcoming service of reception to the clergy roster of the ELCA.<br />
Her service of reception is titled “No Longer Strangers,” this welcoming service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 2515 Waugh Drive, at 4 p.m. on November 7.<br />
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Read the article <a href="http://outsmartmagazine.com/2010/10/the-elca-and-pastor-groen-no-longer-strangers/">here</a>. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-30321131280441187382010-10-18T08:52:00.000-07:002010-10-18T08:52:56.211-07:00Minnesota Public Radio story features ELM roster members<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidENaOsQikl-9_uFDlFwwzn9Cj1ds5-p0FxAoqruS7fZ37gn2l_zCW6oUQG038lrZuyL_rh8maMq5-977RIyEftXUmdl2ECxSPIfIuwAYbFzpRVScJWNddyQjp5vsP3CbKzaO9hBO8je0/s1600/R&P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidENaOsQikl-9_uFDlFwwzn9Cj1ds5-p0FxAoqruS7fZ37gn2l_zCW6oUQG038lrZuyL_rh8maMq5-977RIyEftXUmdl2ECxSPIfIuwAYbFzpRVScJWNddyQjp5vsP3CbKzaO9hBO8je0/s200/R&P.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Ruth Frost & Rev. Phyllis Zillhart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last month, Minnesota Public Radio reporter Sasha Aslanian interviewed Rev. Ruth Frost and Rev. Phyllis Zillhart in connection with their rite of reception to the ELCA clergy roster. She was quite taken with their story and has continued to write on it. The radio story that Ms. Aslanian did for MPR was excellent, listen <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/09/16/elca-lesbian-clergy/">here</a>.<br />
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The interview with Ruth and Phyllis was mentioned on the Krista Tippett on 'Being' show (formerly Speaking of Faith) and aired this weekend. Below is a link that helps you find out when the show airs in your area. <br />
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Krista Tippett on Being schedule:<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://being.publicradio.org/stations/"> http://being.publicradio.org/stations/</a><br />
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Being Blog:<br />
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<a href="http://blog.onbeing.org/">http://blog.onbeing.org/</a> (you have to scroll down one story)<br />
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Facebook Page & Discussion (lively one is going on there now!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speaking-of-Faith/23639501875?v=wall#%21/pages/Speaking-of-Faith/23639501875">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speaking-of-Faith/23639501875?v=wall#!/pages/Speaking-of-Faith/23639501875</a>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-29171876296858115912010-10-14T08:27:00.000-07:002010-10-14T08:27:03.005-07:00Rev. Erik Christensen Received onto ELCA Chicago Metro Clergy Roster<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27NaIaZbljKPfepabEaFKB7-6Miu-SDzsTGX6WLKW-24-R6QRiC3bZaorxxT8x6wmaIjbsqOWGox_ONCMXzeA_lfYjxWEh_RK58DWXv5IDabmWiNZvzkPlPtErJ1KeH4rGaW1q14Dzg1a/s1600/EK+preaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_fA3CwusqYZ7Ya_rhRYskG4r4L8f3spyBPU-D0_4Epj91UrJ5hpzWjx3250X8J6QViq9byatcrCSlRz-d_rCoYaEKRynBJxvjcna0ZpnO4i6b6XMCxt9AluLPX4rrvZTH6Qvan2GJeTo/s1600/EK+preaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_fA3CwusqYZ7Ya_rhRYskG4r4L8f3spyBPU-D0_4Epj91UrJ5hpzWjx3250X8J6QViq9byatcrCSlRz-d_rCoYaEKRynBJxvjcna0ZpnO4i6b6XMCxt9AluLPX4rrvZTH6Qvan2GJeTo/s200/EK+preaching.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On Sunday October 10, 2010, Rev. Erik Christensen was received onto the ELCA clergy roster in the Chicago Metro Synod.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The service was held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Andersonville, a Reconciling in Christ congregation and strong supporter of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people and ELM. Rev. Patrick Shebeck, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Chicago's South Side planned the service. Area rostered leaders and congregants participated in the service of thanksgiving and reception. Bishop Wayne Miller presided and preached, reminding everyone that many things are simultaneously old and new.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In a brief address during the service, Rev. Christensen spoke about the present needs of the church--naming the homeless LGBTQ youth on the streets of Chicago and the recent attention to the high suicide rates among LGBTQ youth. Many longtime leaders in the welcoming movement for LGBTQ people in Chicago and members and friends from Erik’s congregation, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square attended.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-15825170334487389032010-10-12T08:50:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:50:51.755-07:00News article on Rev. Christensen's service<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxCZ7MbLzOHqs9etJutymWYbYdfLoqC0gnTLAdgM5Eavk2ZUqm4uLOghbhPpd2MXNgbNH0a74o5KxunlI10Wsr0k1-eA-0tyni8F_B0A2_OQdmBSMdAT9lP_mVDE6r4Z7AxxO35vDNts/s1600/elce_reverikchristensen_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxCZ7MbLzOHqs9etJutymWYbYdfLoqC0gnTLAdgM5Eavk2ZUqm4uLOghbhPpd2MXNgbNH0a74o5KxunlI10Wsr0k1-eA-0tyni8F_B0A2_OQdmBSMdAT9lP_mVDE6r4Z7AxxO35vDNts/s200/elce_reverikchristensen_0032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="133" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Erik Christensen</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>ELM co-chair and roster member Rev. Erik Christensen was profiled in an article by Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism writer Joel Withrow.<br />
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The article chronicles Rev. Christensen's journey to his service of Reception on October 10th. Read the full article <a href="http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=170111">here</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-57409903465766493232010-10-07T09:24:00.000-07:002010-10-08T07:18:55.747-07:00Rev. Erik Christensen To Be Received by ELCA on October 10<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfQDlq8l2NZeCu8oGGv2l_sF9CiXQ2dU040IL_cAgIryVfSns4SftWS0MCxePIBQ85BnLpDIy3HyMWt9eDB-PuzbKhNSQKD-_236kBc-ALeqDEkw3w4JfLYQOm6sSGAq6ab61IRY9SmaC/s1600/EK+preaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuOrxqd7gwVCv_Ezs1N6tWnYEgw4x3E5Xa4aLxW7s0EOFQA6AczFp7HMoqW-7gYOTMtzGaMTUCxOYwmlHzGzRvD9bvdm9jgqxQsRHVFMHssj3TixRwFzfbatUTiDwGQBe93-aaxQ6lFP5/s1600/EK+preaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuOrxqd7gwVCv_Ezs1N6tWnYEgw4x3E5Xa4aLxW7s0EOFQA6AczFp7HMoqW-7gYOTMtzGaMTUCxOYwmlHzGzRvD9bvdm9jgqxQsRHVFMHssj3TixRwFzfbatUTiDwGQBe93-aaxQ6lFP5/s200/EK+preaching.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rev. Erik Christensen will be received to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America clergy roster on Sunday, October 10th at 4:00 pm. The service will be held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL. ELCA Metro Chicago Synod Bishop Wayne Miller will preside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Rite of Reception service was developed for pastors who had been credentialed for ministry by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries and who were extraordinarily ordained (ordained outside the regular process of the ELCA). There have been 17 such ordinations in the United States over the last twenty years. The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to change polices that previously barred partnered LGBTQ pastors and rostered lay leaders from serving in the ELCA, paving the way for the reception of pastors rostered with ELM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Erik is pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square in Chicago, IL. He has been pastor there since he was ordained on October 21, 2006. Prior to receiving the call at St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, Erik served as the Director of East Coast Operations with StandUp For Kids, a national non-profit organization working with and for runaway and homeless youth. A graduate of Macalester College ('95); Candler School of Theology, Emory University ('02); and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia ('04), Pastor Erik brings a wide variety of interests and experience to his ministry with St. Luke's. Pastor Erik serves as Co-Chair of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-58464391578883971722010-09-29T06:49:00.000-07:002010-09-29T06:49:54.257-07:00Howard Erickson, founding member of LC/NA, Remembered<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ELM extends our condolences to the friends and family of Howard Erickson, founding member of Lutherans Concerned. Howard died early last Friday morning of a heart attack and stroke at age 73. His memorial service was yesterday at Hollywood Lutheran Church, in Los Angeles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We give thanks for the life of Howard Erickson and his early and dedicated lifelong commitment to an inclusive church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lcna.org/news/402-news-2010-09-24">Click here</a> to read an extended obituary on the LC/NA website. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-83189612553130720952010-09-28T10:39:00.000-07:002010-09-28T10:39:02.590-07:00Rev. Jen Nagel Received at Salem English Lutheran Church, ELCA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Post by Amalia Vagts, ELM Executive Director).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I arrived for Rev. Jen Nagel's Rite of Reception this past Sunday and immediately felt energized by the colorful surroundings of <a href="http://www.intermediaarts.org/">Intermedia Arts</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the temporary home of <a href="http://www.discoversalem.com/">Salem English Lutheran Church. </a></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnCAOZJ-75D2WT23ceQ7Be0YZkslzbdrRjE4KW0n2LEHbxZg79zwqQdJMaqQTGgNBR4dg2eOPsedz5PD7Dp-fzb9Z7eKWRNRtw72Tgf_gVLOac-6kAakjA-AtYe35N9Og8fr93BznFy-x/s200/IMG_20100926_113333.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulletin from the service</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnCAOZJ-75D2WT23ceQ7Be0YZkslzbdrRjE4KW0n2LEHbxZg79zwqQdJMaqQTGgNBR4dg2eOPsedz5PD7Dp-fzb9Z7eKWRNRtw72Tgf_gVLOac-6kAakjA-AtYe35N9Og8fr93BznFy-x/s1600/IMG_20100926_113333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">feeling continued as we entered the worship space, which is a theater. The sounds of the fabulous Salem jazz ensemble filled the room. Pastor Jen wanted her rite of reception to occur within a worship service at Salem, and many in the congregation were actively involved in the service. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the beginning, Pastor Jen welcomed all of us. She made special note of a couple parishioners typically unable to attend worship due to health issues, but who were present that morning. Bp. Craig Johnson, Minneapolis Area Synod, was present for the Rite, and was also the special guest during Pastor Jen's lively kid's sermon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was the third ELCA Rite of Reception for a pastor who was authorized for ministry by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. The grand services in San Francisco and St. Paul were important events for the community of believers who have long worked (and continue to work) for the day when the ELCA would recognize publicly-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer pastors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Rite of Reception at Salem was a wonderful, local service held in Pastor Jen's own parish. All of these services have been great examples of how this Church is widening its welcome to include all of God's children. Good news!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSA7DpZfi2ASguqFGOW8J8OVXXj9YRdR62M1_QQTcsj7-el2EZWCnD7V2XDwa9NnIfjfKR8PfVd8WnJ_mY_jOXs5yCBpLY7AXWflLxxYs7u_erTTzHTMXJBcIwMMzu2R5iuOnPL5LK4daY/s1600/IMG_20100926_113651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-29077078336461841452010-09-23T07:44:00.000-07:002010-09-23T07:44:16.040-07:00Rev. Jen Nagel to be Received to ELCA Roster on Sunday, Sept. 26<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519937713190410146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCUMvRm954RFh9WzNR5RNUndePz-2tvlYKEhkrRfwU4JlnUcos8SEdT3RQUGTa4dx8jnHXp1q6v4DIEtvgSmBcgn2Lk8iTnnyc8t0-V7j6BfieWm-R_CUF_E1FoN5vOdKYCQagNm7AJiv/s200/jen+nagel.jpg" style="height: 150px; margin: 0pt auto 10px; width: 200px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rev. Jen Nagel (photo by Rev. Jayne M. Thompson)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCUMvRm954RFh9WzNR5RNUndePz-2tvlYKEhkrRfwU4JlnUcos8SEdT3RQUGTa4dx8jnHXp1q6v4DIEtvgSmBcgn2Lk8iTnnyc8t0-V7j6BfieWm-R_CUF_E1FoN5vOdKYCQagNm7AJiv/s1600/jen+nagel.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rev. Jen Nagel will be received to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America clergy roster on Sunday, September 26.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Rite of Reception will occur during a 10:30 a.m. worship at Salem English Lutheran Church, where Pastor Jen has served since 2003. Pastor Jen was ordained at Salem English Lutheran in January of 2008. Salem English Lutheran is located at 2822 Lyndale Ave S. in Minneapolis. This will be the third ELCA Rite of Reception for extraordinarily ordained pastors.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Salem English is a transformational and urban ministry in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pastor Jen is trained in intentional interim ministry. She holds an M.Div. from University of Chicago-Divinity School, completed work at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and at Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota. She has served at Central Lutheran Church and Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, as well as in Africa, Chicago, Michigan, and outdoor ministry settings. Jen has served as a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and the Minneapolis Area Synod Council. She is currently serving as Co-Chair of the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Covenant Circle.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Earlier this year, Minnesota Public Radio interviewed Pastor Jen about the changes in the ELCA ministry policies. You can watch the interview <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFE8fG9Nbz0">here.</a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pastor Jen and her partner, Rev. Jane McBride, live in Minneapolis with their daughter.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-71879611964394524212010-09-20T10:06:00.000-07:002010-09-20T12:44:26.412-07:00ELCA Receives 3 ELM Roster MembersThe historic weekend service of Rev. Anita Hill, Rev. Ruth Frost and Rev. Phyllis Zillhart was a moving, joyful service. Thank you for all who attended, watched the live stream and ELM supporters over the years for making September 18 an amazing day. Below you will find links to various media and press on the event:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Joey McLeister, Star Tribune</td></tr>
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Watch a video of the service <a href="http://www.stpaulref.org/">here</a>.<br />
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Bishop Rogness and Pastors Anita Hill, Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart met with the press prior to the celebration. Watch the press conference <a href="http://blip.tv/file/4138340?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheUptake+%28The+UpTake%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">here</a>.<br />
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Minnesota Public Radio produced the piece "<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/09/16/elca-lesbian-clergy/">Lesbian clergy once expelled, now embraced</a>"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
CNN profiled the event in a video "<a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2010/09/19/dnt.lutheran.lesbian.pastors.KARE.html">Lesbian pastors join Lutheran clergy</a>" </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Star Tribune, a Minnesota-St.Paul area newspaper ran this article about Rev. Anita Hill "</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/103170789.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUHK:uUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs">ELCA to make groundbreaking minister official</a>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Christian Post posted the article "</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100919/elca-receives-3-lesbian-ministers/">ELCA Receives 3 Lesbian Ministers</a>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-73332119530389145642010-09-13T12:43:00.000-07:002010-09-13T12:43:57.448-07:00Three ELM roster members to be received onto ELCA roster<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xP7gVP-OK6_bzqU3OK8jOhLFxMDhuigs3LytfdRZEOhyphenhyphenuJal_rJvh6Md1YMJhR4lH4ncVNaoxigFu8DvKKXoK9Xr7bFUpBVflhyphenhyphenxof06gt4SxKlXGLDV79cKk_Ndl6SvemLppvP0a0c/s1600/Ruth+Frost+Anita+Hill+Phyllis+Zillhart+8-15-2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xP7gVP-OK6_bzqU3OK8jOhLFxMDhuigs3LytfdRZEOhyphenhyphenuJal_rJvh6Md1YMJhR4lH4ncVNaoxigFu8DvKKXoK9Xr7bFUpBVflhyphenhyphenxof06gt4SxKlXGLDV79cKk_Ndl6SvemLppvP0a0c/s320/Ruth+Frost+Anita+Hill+Phyllis+Zillhart+8-15-2010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Rev. Ruth Frost, Rev. Anita Hill, Rev.Phyllis Zillhart</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ELCA Rite of Reception to the roster of the ELCA for Rev. Anita Hill, Rev. Ruth Frost & Rev. Phyllis Zillhart will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2:00 p.m. at <a href="http://www.redeemerstpaul.org/">Lutheran Church of the Redeemer</a>, 285 N Dale St., St Paul, Minnesota. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Rev. Peter Rogness, Bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the ELCA, presiding. The Reverend Barbara Lundblad, Union Theological Seminary, New York, preaching. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Clergy and rostered leaders are welcome to vest and process. Green is the color of the day. Please arrive by 1:15 p.m. to join the procession.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Celebration Dinner/Dance at the Saint Paul Hotel begins with conversation and cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner served 7 p.m. with brief program followed by dancing.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;">This ticketed event will benefit the Wingspan Ministry of <a href="http://www.stpaulref.org/">St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church</a>, <a href="http://www.lcna.org/">Lutherans Concerned/North America</a>, and <a href="http://www.elm.org/">ELM</a>. For tickets go <a href="https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=tYgT1GfNxRUldiimjHMvOd5gvaHDRLyG4OPVq2XyymS1q4qJDDuf89STNCYkcYRM2evTpo0mld6BrVzd2nG0p-jbfF1L-AsYWPtHlrhDYyY=&ver=3">here</a>.</span></div>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-31712010404434043362010-09-03T08:17:00.000-07:002010-09-03T08:23:06.330-07:00Rev. Dale Poland on his reinstatement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nC7RulVxSIcdiklZZ8wlk65RX8kRo15dJJuIMhUsj57n4gU_ExURuaF-OOdiMuM_YcD3hjhB4rK2i_u5ZZNoLNmbFn3KeOMQVm9OCc_QVrAylxN8Rgwj6y6uCeqfCfK_20e7iFMYMgfh/s1600/dale+poland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nC7RulVxSIcdiklZZ8wlk65RX8kRo15dJJuIMhUsj57n4gU_ExURuaF-OOdiMuM_YcD3hjhB4rK2i_u5ZZNoLNmbFn3KeOMQVm9OCc_QVrAylxN8Rgwj6y6uCeqfCfK_20e7iFMYMgfh/s200/dale+poland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512707626523515442" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="">“Over the last 11 years, as a parish pastor and then a hospital chaplain, I have devoted my life to the faithful service of God, this Synod, the Church, and those in need. I have diligently sought to offer the grace and mercy of God to all.<span style=""> </span>I have loved and continue to love the Church as the instrument of Christ’s activity in the world. But I can no longer faithfully and in all good conscience serve a Church that willingly and actively oppresses and condemns a significant proportion of the population that is gay or lesbian, like myself”…<br /></span></i></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >With these words, I officially resigned from the ordained roster of the ELCA in 2002 and entered a form of “ecclesial exile”. I had received a phone call from my bishop in West Virginia the week prior requesting my resignation because I was living openly in a same sex relationship. At the time I wrote my letter of resignation I had no idea where I would go or what I would do in the future. I only knew that the ELCA would no longer be the place I called my spiritual home – not because I had abandoned the ELCA but because the ELCA had abandoned me. I never questioned by sense of call from the Spirit to Word and Sacrament ministry, I simply questioned where I would live out that call.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >A year later I found the <a href="http://www.elm.org/">Extraordinary Candidacy Project</a> and a group of pastors and lay people who offered me incredible words of affirmation and support. This welcoming Lutheran community allowed me to live out my call to ordained ministry as a hospice chaplain and to bring the God’s grace to others at the end of their lives. A few years later when the ECP became the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries I was proud to be the first ELM pastor to apply to the Association of Professional Chaplains for accreditation as a professional chaplain with the support and encouragement of my colleagues in ELM. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >Following the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, I was surprised and overwhelmed by a flood of personal emotions. Did I really want to go back into the ELCA? Could I trust the leadership of the ELCA to fully welcome me again? Had the ELCA truly changed in the last seven years? After discussing the issue at length with my ELM colleagues and admittedly with some trepidation I decided it was time to find out. In the spring I met with the Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, + Allan Bjornberg, and the Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy, Madelyn Busse. They encouraged me to apply for reinstatement to the ordained roster.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >On August 20 I met with the synod’s Candidacy Committee. My partner, Mauricio, came with me to the meeting. What I experienced from the committee was nothing less than an unqualified welcome. I was overwhelmed by their grace and hospitality. We had a fruitful discussion about my previous journey in the ELCA, the pain that was associated with my resignation, the ministry I have been doing since leaving the ELCA, and my sense of call now. Indeed the Church (or at least my corner of it) had changed significantly in my exile and for that I am so very grateful to the work of the ECP/ELM, <a href="http://lcna.org/">Lutherans Concerned – North America</a>, Good Soil, Wingspan, Soul Force, and other groups and individuals who worked and advocated tirelessly on behalf of the GLBTQ community to bring about this remarkable move toward greater justice and equality.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11.5pt;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">To be sure there is still work to be done – we have not reached full equality and sadly, as I learned from one of my ELM colleagues this week, there are parts of the Church that are still resisting the work of the Spirit. But the Church IS moving. I look forward to rejoining the ELCA ordained roster and I hope that I can continue to work along with many others to keep the Church moving toward even greater inclusion.+</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-25420783515988678482010-08-28T10:00:00.000-07:002010-08-28T11:46:03.316-07:00Rev. Craig Minich: Believing It<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One year after the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Decisions, we take a look at how the actions affected one ELM pastor... </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCiD-mWPrDCgO5yZco5cRnHhncivFUj0nzv-uPOu3Gt67kgiDl-oj36KpYiWcdTI-31TooY0buk8vDhzZIqNX0Q7nj6jQWax0oYYgGtKpe2T3DVr5R6fOr-yeBMr4VFpVBgqydrt0wjk/s1600/Craig+Minich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCiD-mWPrDCgO5yZco5cRnHhncivFUj0nzv-uPOu3Gt67kgiDl-oj36KpYiWcdTI-31TooY0buk8vDhzZIqNX0Q7nj6jQWax0oYYgGtKpe2T3DVr5R6fOr-yeBMr4VFpVBgqydrt0wjk/s200/Craig+Minich.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Craig Minich</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My reflection on my experiences on the first Sunday after Easter, 2010.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By Rev. Craig Minich</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was asked to preach at Trinity Lutheran Church in Oakland (one of the churches who are part of the collaborative youth ministry, called the East Bay Lutheran Youth Program), I was unprepared for what was to unfold for me in the life of the church, my ministry, and my faith. I knew that I would be preaching on the first Sunday after Easter (a</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">n opportunity</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, as a youth pastor, I am offered </span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">consistently</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> each year) and that the Gospel would undoubtedly be the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Doubting Thomas</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">'</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> text. As an out gay man ordained </span><i style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Extra Ordinem</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> on February 18th, 2001 and rostered by Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (ELM)</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I had a pretty good idea what I would be focusing on for my sermon. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August of 2009 had passed a resolution to roster qualified gay and lesbian pastors who are in "publically-accountable, life-long, and monogamous relationships." As a pastor who is gay and in a partnered relationship this was welcome news. As an out gay pastor, who has been doing ministry with the "yes" of ELM for 10 years while still standing in principled non-compliance against the ELCA's policy of exclusion against GLBT pastors, their "no," this day seemed like it would never come. In the midst of that astounding vote in August, even though I wanted to believe it, I found myself saying to myself, "I'll believe it when I see it." I know how slow the church can move, I know the institution can take a long time to codify it's policies, and hence when dealing with the institution, I 'don't count my chickens before they hatch.' I have been disappointed before, and I knew from experience that until the policy is officially changed, I had reason to be careful. I wanted to celebrate with straight clergy allies who came up to me effusively saying things like, "aren't you happy!" and "great news, huh?" In those situations, I found myself only being able to smile tersely, all the while thinking to myself, "I'll believe it when I see it."</span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The road to policy change has long indeed. Shortly after the August Assembly in 2009, we were told that November was the date to look forward to when the Conference of Bishops would next meet. As November came and went, we were told that it would be March 2010 until a decision would be made at the next Conference of Bishops meeting. As the winter months passed, more and more colleagues congratulated me and said things like, "we did it! - the day is here." Again, I would smile tersely and think to myself, "The day is not here yet... I'll believe it when I see it."</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">As the Bishops deliberated in March 2010 about requiring the 're-ordination' of ELM pastors who had been ordained <i>Extra Ordinem </i>by ELM and their calling congregation(s), my "believe it when I see it" position was in full gear. "See," I would say to myself, "see the day is not here." And yet, as that meeting continued, word began to spread that transformation was occurring in their ranks and the offensive notion (and the theological contradiction) of re-ordination was off the table! Surprised and heartened by this unexpected change of course, I knew that this was simply a recommendation from the Conference of Bishops that would still need to be ratified by the ELCA Church Council meeting in April 2010, and I was not confident that that would happen either. My wounded heart which had been betrayed so many times by the ELCA, still echoed the phrase that Thomas uttered after Christ's crucifixion in the presence of his Lord, "I'll believe it when I see it"...</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">As those weeks spilled into April, still more people were anticipating celebration at the implementation of the change, yet I was still with Thomas "I'll believe it when I see it." So as I prepared my sermon the week after Easter, I knew exactly what I would preach. I would share with this congregation my experiences with the August resolution, the November postponing of decisions, the March transformation, and the April discussions at the ELCA Church Council. I would share with this - one of my five - congregations that I longed to celebrate the direction of changes in the ELCA in regard to gay and lesbian clergy who are in relationship, but that I had found myself over the last 8 months instead repeating my frustrated mantra "I'll believe it when I see it." As I finished preparing my sermon on Saturday morning which named that reality which I have just explained, and yet went on to proclaim my assurance of God's love presence with me in my struggle, and by extension God's presence with all of us in each of our struggles - God's grace showered on us all - I read of the results of the ELCA Church Council. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">They had voted to ratify the Conference of Bishops proposal and voted to implement the policy changes necessary to receive gay and lesbian clergy in relationship onto synodical rosters of the ELCA. I was stunned, I was dumb-struck... and I didn't know what I was going to preach the following day.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I found myself throughout that day overwhelmed with emotion - this <i>was</i> the day and I indeed <i>now</i> I did believe it. I also prayed and prayed continually and found myself compelled to sing the song 'This is the air I breathe" on endless loop in my mind. Throughout that day, into my dreams that night and into the next morning as I walked to the pulpit to read the Gospel, that is the song that did not cease. As I walked to the pulpit, I was again overtaken with emotion as I felt the weight of those GLBT pastors and seminarians who had gone before me, many of whom had been driven out of the church, and many others who were living half-lives in the Church's closet. I found myself completely overwhelmed and humbled to have been called to serve in my ministry for the last 10 years with this and 5 other congregations who had said "yes," in the face of the ELCA's "no." I found myself humbled to be called to proclaim the Gospel <i>this</i> day, to be asked to preach <i>this</i> day in the midst of such profoundly Divine irony. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I could not get the first word out, my grief and tears welled up so quickly. I sobbed my way through the Gospel reading, a reading that seemed to take ages, and I cried as I confessed at it's conclusion, that "I was OK, no one has died." I jettisoned my prepared sermon, and I preached from the depths of my heart, sharing what had happened the previous day (which most people had not heard about yet), sharing my surprise, and sharing that what I had intended to preach, was no longer the case. A new day had come, one that I had a hard time embracing at first, and yet here we were, we were at this day and their was no denying it. I could experience the change in the ELCA and feel their welcome in a new way, believing that this day had finally arrived, but more important than that, I shared that all along my journey to get to this day, I had seen the risen Christ like Thomas along the way, and I indeed, like Thomas, believed.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Rev. Craig Minich who serves the East Bay Lutheran Youth Program was received onto the ELCA roster of ordained ministers on Sunday, July 25. </i></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span>Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-36747410015067068582010-08-27T13:19:00.000-07:002010-08-27T14:07:37.314-07:00Rev. Jenny Mason Reinstated to ELCA Roster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWw4HeXWT4TW52rt6sczp5Mt-eRLDCLXKBzzi3sUzn0jgiDC1eyr6nmzjn67Mmka17NnvoXbYlQfZeXPw9Q9xuBVwCG-WHZtH_0TJML_oVZdfYSUdaGDLReKU_mfb2j9QxHLjoN1BuFab/s1600/jenny+mason.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWw4HeXWT4TW52rt6sczp5Mt-eRLDCLXKBzzi3sUzn0jgiDC1eyr6nmzjn67Mmka17NnvoXbYlQfZeXPw9Q9xuBVwCG-WHZtH_0TJML_oVZdfYSUdaGDLReKU_mfb2j9QxHLjoN1BuFab/s200/jenny+mason.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510197498524362674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">I am very happy to the share the news that Rev. Jenny Mason (pictured at right) has been reinstated to the ELCA roster of ordained ministers.</span><br /><p style="font-family: arial;">Rev. Jenny Mason served as an ELCA missionary in Santiago, Chile before being removed from the ELCA clergy roster in 2001 because she was an openly lesbian woman in relationship. Jenny then served as Associate Pastor at Central City Lutheran Mission (CCLM) in San Bernardino, California, which was disciplined by the Synod for installing Jenny. This resulted in the loss of both funding and official ELCA status as a congregation in development for this unique social ministry and active worship community.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;">Jenny holds a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Proclamation from the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago. Jenny moved to the Twin Cities in 2005 to live with her partner, the Rev. Jodi Barry, and now works as a Congregational Partnership Organizer for a faith-based developer of affordable housing.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-10916160323637605692010-08-25T14:00:00.000-07:002010-08-25T14:09:42.123-07:00Rev. Dale Poland Reinstated to ELCA Roster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqHubkytWzyL535EfW6b7BwiOkC-GQgq_o1exAVJ8S1ND98tQo0bww3k1NC1YDrmugbg9Wcc374G05j6jPqet263gouMt-8qxnIAP5sdZtpiMzLo9jv4DvZlq9Mtk28LBmGU5PjHTFPF8/s1600/dale+poland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqHubkytWzyL535EfW6b7BwiOkC-GQgq_o1exAVJ8S1ND98tQo0bww3k1NC1YDrmugbg9Wcc374G05j6jPqet263gouMt-8qxnIAP5sdZtpiMzLo9jv4DvZlq9Mtk28LBmGU5PjHTFPF8/s200/dale+poland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509455921127297602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">It is with great joy that Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries announces that Rev. Dale Poland (pictured at right) has been reinstated to the ELCA roster of ordained pastors!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Please check our blog later this week for a personal reflection from Pastor Dale about the experience of being reinstated to the ELCA roster. </span><br /><br />Rev. Dale Poland was ordained in 1991. He was removed from the ELCA roster in 2003 because he is gay. Rev. Poland has been a member of the ELM roster since then, serving for two years as chaplain to the roster. Rev. Poland serves as a hospice chaplain in the Boulder, CO area and is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denver, CO.<br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946454198914670356.post-60476045655135585032010-08-23T08:11:00.000-07:002010-08-23T08:31:45.618-07:00ELM featured on Minnesota Public Radio<a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/">Minnesota Public Radio</a> is featuring stories about the ELCA 2009 vote titled 'A Church Divided, Together:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-HynbBtU9mcHRcp7csTLVxmpkj2PLcoc65fwuIgi_OW-i0eN1yifwBmMKo4IGQ88D3FD9juIKHRFSINhwqAdEOr5Km8hDqsPqYjmevkv2ZAvp_ZOoKfCADqjI2-Q9Jg5oqSiSC_Pw_A/s1600/ordination.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-HynbBtU9mcHRcp7csTLVxmpkj2PLcoc65fwuIgi_OW-i0eN1yifwBmMKo4IGQ88D3FD9juIKHRFSINhwqAdEOr5Km8hDqsPqYjmevkv2ZAvp_ZOoKfCADqjI2-Q9Jg5oqSiSC_Pw_A/s200/ordination.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508628334440753186" border="0" /></a>"We explore the effect of the August 21st, 2009 vote allowing gay pastors to serve as clergy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through the stories of Lutherans in the Public Insight Network."<br /><br />ELM co-chair and pastor Jen Nagel is interviewed <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/2010/08/church-divided/new-welcome.shtml">here</a> about the ELCA one year after the historic vote. ELM's Executive Director Amalia Vagts is featured in a story <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/2010/08/church-divided/coming-together.shtml">here</a>.<br /><br />This project will have ongoing articles about ELM so expect more updates soon.Extraordinary Lutheran Ministrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14608411845353965283noreply@blogger.com0