2016 WESTERN IOWA SYNOD ASSEMBLY

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1 2016 WESTERN IOWA SYNOD ASSEMBLY REPORTS 1

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3 Iowa State University Lutheran Campus Ministry Always Being Made New Formally launched in February of 2014 Always Being Made New is the theme of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) campaign that seeks to raise $198 million dollars in support of new and expanding ministries of the ELCA. But Always Being Made New also describes the way in which ISU Lutheran Campus Ministry lives out its mission. We are bringing new ways to share the Gospel to the students, faculty and staff on the ISU campus. We are also finding new ways to love our neighbors. Lutheran Campus Ministry has sought new ways to serve our community by partnering with Lord of Life Lutheran Church. We have been a neighbor to Lord of Life for many years as they rented space within the University Lutheran Center. But in these past few years we have become full ministry partners with them. The members of Lord of Life support LCM financially by paying for half of the building expenses. We worship side by side, we fellowship together, and we serve our community together. Both ministries have grown because of our covenant together. Allow me to share a few ministry highlights from the past year. RENEW Project: Matching grant from National Campus Ministry to install air conditioning in our lounge and sanctuary, new windows throughout the building, a new electrical service to replace the original 1950s service, and new carpet. These improvements make the building a welcoming place for all during warm and cold months alike, as well as being more energy efficient. Worship, Sunday morning 11 a.m., Saturday evening 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday Holden Evening Prayer at 9 p.m. Our worship is mostly led by LCM students, including student sermons during Wednesday worship. We have seen 26 new students come to worship this year, up from 12 last year. The LCM Board has taken on an active role in building a development team to plan for the future of Lutheran Campus Ministry. Spring Break Trip to Haiti: Five students and three friends of LCM spent Spring Break in Haiti at Wings of Hope, working with the residents there. The dedication and compassion of this group were particularly heart-warming to see. All LCM students helped raise money to defray expenses for the trip. Fat Tuesday Murder Mystery dinner was a fun time had by all! These are but a few of the activities of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State. The students plan many fellowship events and local mission activities. Students are studying in the building throughout the week. Outside groups are using our building for Student Club activities, Congregational Council Retreats, and Fraternity events. Each year, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State is growing not only in numbers but in outreach to spread God s love to the ISU campus, to local agencies, and to God s people overseas. We wouldn t be able to continue in our ministry without the aid of the gifts from synods and individuals. Thank you to all who assist in our ministry! Pastor Jen Andreas 3

4 Dear Friends in Christ, It is an honor to be writing you on behalf of Carthage College and to be able to share with you about the mission and ministry happening on our campus. I have been in the role of Campus Pastor for a little over two years and assumed the role of Director of Congregational Relations in July of Since arriving we have established the Center for Faith and Spirituality (CFS) around the theme of Hey, What s your story? with the goal of encouraging the students at Carthage to explore their own faith journey stories and to listen and learn from the stories of others. Chapel continues to be on Tuesday and this year marked the second year of both Interfaith Lunch on Thursdays and a Protestant worship service at 4pm on Sunday. The biggest change this academic year for the CFS is the addition of a student ministry leadership staff. We have paid student staff working in the areas of music, service, Lutheran Student Movement, Open Table (Wednesday night ministry), Roman Catholics at Carthage, Better Together (interfaith), Resident Hall Ambassadors, CUMBYA (Carthage Undergrads Making Big Youth Activities), and Public Relations. Student to student ministry is already making a difference as students become more comfortable exploring their faith and learning about the faith of others. In my role as Director of Congregational Relations, I have been meeting with pastors in the Greater Milwaukee Synod and sharing what is happening at Carthage. It is wonderful to have the GMS Synod Assembly back on campus and I look forward to visiting other synods over the next several years. Part of my responsibility in this role is leading the committee working on our celebration of the 500 th anniversary of Martin Luther s 95 Theses. We are looking forward to reflecting on the Lutheran heritage of the college and to what it means to be a Lutheran in the 21 st Century under the theme: Here I Stand. There are many things to celebration at the Center for Faith and Spirituality and throughout the campus. Here are a few other highlights: 43 Million Dollar Science Center opened on September 9, Special features include technologyenhanced active learning classroom, a planetarium, an outdoor classroom just feet from Lake Michigan and interactive study space for students right outside faculty offices, so learning continues outside of class. Five students awarded Fulbright Fellowships and are now working towards international understand in Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, India and Germany. Bachelor of Science in Nursing accepted its first class of students this year with 23 prospective nursing majors. Male students make up more than one-third of the class. Carthage has a record incoming class with approximately 840 students from 19 U.S. states and five foreign countries. Carthage is awarded $349K grant for internship funding over three years which will provide nearly 200 new, paid internships. Carthage ranks 4 th in the nation in study aboard opportunities. During January and June hundreds of Carthage students travel around the world to learn during these short term study aboard programs. Countries traveled too include: Germany, India, South Africa, Costa Rica, Honduras, France and more. Lady Red Volleyball team makes it to NCAA Final Four. It is a great group of young ladies who are a class act on and off the court. Please keep Carthage in your prayers as we continue to strive towards helping a new generation find their callings in this world. In Christ, Pastor Kara F. Baylor 4

5 2015 Annual Report to the Synods Wartburg College is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning. In our daily work to educate young people, Wartburg College strives to live its distinctive mission in bold, new contexts. Our calling is to challenge and nurture students of tomorrow, who come to us from many places, desires, and aspirations. Enrollment Like so many sister schools in the region, our most recent incoming classes have been smaller than those we welcomed in the late 90s and early 2000s. Fall 2015 enrollment at Wartburg was 1,537; international students and U.S. students of color total 19 percent. Because so much of our operating revenue comes from tuition, room, and board, we ve had to undergo a careful and serious budget review process, and deploy new admissions strategies to build larger applicant pools. Transforming Tomorrow Campaign Wartburg s $75 million comprehensive campaign, publicly launched in 2014, has been enthusiastically received by alumni, parents, and friends. Nearing the total goal a year early, the campaign features three components: People: Wartburg has awarded new or additional scholarships to more than 120 students, representing $335,000 in additional aid. Two sizeable estate gifts have created new scholarships for science and education students. Places: Wartburg broke ground in February 2016 on an $8 million renovation of Clinton Hall that will create an innovative living and learning environment for students. Fueled by several major gifts, the project includes major interior updates and new academic and social spaces. Other significant gifts have made possible the Knief Outdoor Athletics Pavilion, a new lacrosse field, and a first-of-its kind virtual acoustic system in Neumann Auditorium. Programs: Generous gifts have enabled the College to elevate the Gerald R. Kleinfeld Distinguished Professorship in German History to an Endowed Chair, create the Baldwin Leadership Fellows program, and establish a German Institute to provide organization and focus for the college s wealth of Germany related programs and relationships. New Academic Programs This past fall, Wartburg launched new programs in actuarial science, neuroscience, criminal justice, and a 4+1 program with Iowa State University to enable students to earn a master s degree in industrial engineering in five years. The College will inaugurate its first master s-level program in music therapy in Fall A new Des Moines internship program will provide another compelling learning opportunity in an urban environment, building on the success of the Wartburg West program in Denver, CO. Commitment to Vocation and Mentoring The College was recently awarded a $10,000 NetVUE Professional Development Award from the Council of Independent Colleges to fund a one-year initiative to equip faculty and staff to help students explore their vocation. The 2015 Graven Award, an annual award for vocation and daily life, was awarded to Yale University s Dr. Elijah Anderson, an award-winning author and one of the nation s leading urban ethnographers and cultural theorists. Recognition Wartburg is Iowa s first private institution and only the ninth in the nation to earn a Gold rating from the leading authority on sustainability in higher education. Campus Compact named student Jenna Manders of Dubuque, IA, a Newman Civic Fellow for her contributions to community and civic engagement. Senior Mullohoji Juraev, a native of Tajikistan, was among the 2015 winners of a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant to improve learning conditions at a public school in his home country. Senior Kwabena Owusu-Amoah of Ghana was awarded a $6,000 Clinton Foundation Resolution Grant to expand the use of a software app that aims to reduce maternal mortality rates in Ghana. Many Blessings We are blessed to work with gifted students who are committed to changing the world. Thank you for encouraging your students to join Wartburg s historic tradition as they share their gifts to enrich our community of learning. Dr. Darrel D. Colson, President 5

6 Dear Friends, Warm greetings on behalf of President Kent Henning, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni! Here are some highlights from the past year: New Student Center Opened Last Fall The 67,500 square foot Student Center sits on the east side of E. 14th Street on the main campus and is connected to the Rasmussen Center on the west side of the street by the 156-foot-long Jensen Bridge, the longest skywalk in Iowa. The building, a combination of new and renovated space, houses student support functions, student services, student engagement and entertainment, performing arts and communication programs, as well as the Student Dining Center, which seats 320, more than doubling the previous dining space. The Student Center is the culmination of nearly 15 years of growth and marks the completion of Grand View s Campus Master Plan, developed in 2004, observed Kent Henning, Grand View s president. Global Vision Week & Vocation Week Global Vision Week is about confronting ideas that challenge our beliefs and views so we develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world. Vocation Week challenges our students to think of ways their gifts intersect the world s needs. Notable speakers during these weeks include: Professor Sheila Ryan, Distinguished Chair in the College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska and Ms. Margaret Catley-Carlson, World Food Prize Laureate. In addition, many workshops, activities, forums, and an engaging online auction were held. Athletic Highlight The Grand View wrestling program again made history March 5 th in the final session of the 2016 NAIA Wrestling National Championships in Topeka, Kansas. The Vikings won an unprecedented fifth-straight team national title with 210 points. With the win, the Vikings are the first team in NAIA history to win five consecutive national titles. Grand View finished with a total of 10 all-americans. Head Coach Nick Mitchell was honored at the end of the night as the NAIA National Coach of the Year. Kelley Johnson More Than a Nurse Recent Grand View nursing graduate, Kelley Johnson ( 15) represented the state of Colorado in the 2015 Miss USA Competition. Her compelling monologue, More Than a Nurse earned her second runner-up as well as an appearance on the Ellen and Dr. Oz shows. New Grand View Provost Announced Dr. Carl Moses will become Grand View s next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs effective in July. Dr. Moses brings a solid record of teaching and administrative success to the ambitious leadership agenda awaiting the next Provost. Dr. Moses served three years as Provost at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. Prior to that, he held the positions of Deputy Provost for Academic Affairs, Interim Dean, and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Arts & Sciences, at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Campus Ministry and Theology Studies at Grand View Campus ministry continues to grow and serve our students in many ways. Chapel is held every week with different guest speakers often featured. There are multiple Bible study groups, prayer groups, outreach events, and worship offerings. The Hougen Scholarship is available for ELCA students and Grand View is thankful for their hearty involvement. The Rev. Russell Lackey was featured in The Lutheran with the article, Has the Spirit Forgotten How to Call Young People? The Rev. Dr. Mark Mattes and the Rev. Dr. Ken Jones continue to contribute to a variety of scholarly Lutheran publications. Grand View continues to appreciate its partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Southeastern Iowa Synod. We value the many Lutherans who hold Grand View close to their hearts as we hold you close to ours. God s Peace and Joy, The Grand View University Campus Community 1200 Grandview Avenue / Des Moines, IA / 6

7 Together, we are the church. If Mosaic had theme for 2015, it was better together. Too often people with intellectual disabilities are missing in our communities, not because of malice, but because of misunderstanding. Every day we work to ensure that the more than 3,700 people we support have opportunities to live, work and worship in supportive, inclusive communities. A highlight of the year was attending the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, Mich., where we shared the message that our faith communities are better when people with intellectual disabilities are included as valued and active participants. Hundreds of students and adult leaders stopped by to learn about the work Mosaic does from Ryan, who is served by Mosaic in Central Iowa. Rejoicing Spirits, which helps churches partner with people with intellectual disabilities to build more diverse churches, continues to grow. You can learn more at rejoicingspirits.org. We are also happy to report the success of our new partnership with Wartburg Seminary to educate future church leaders about ministry among people with disabilities through an immersion class taught at our campus in Axtell, Neb. There aren t many opportunities for church leaders to explore this type of ministry in a hands on way. We invite you to come learn more about how we can work together to build more diverse and welcoming communities. Call any location or for information. A Note from our CEO Dear Partners in Ministry, It s so hard to pick which stories to share with you each year in this report. One thing we know for sure: none of this ministry would be possible without your generous support. We d especially like to thank the more than 2,700 people who attended Discover the Possibilities events to learn about Mosaic, our donors and volunteers. Please visit our new blog at to learn more about the many different ways we are working to embrace God s call to serve in the world. Thank you for your support and prayers! Linda Timmons, President and CEO 7

8 Annual Report to the Synod Assembly Spring 2016 Everyone is so so so loving and beautiful; there is so much positivity. I can always see God in chapel and all of the stuff. It s amazing how empowered and loved a person can feel even surrounded by strangers. -Senior High Camper I can t even explain how I feel except transformed. Our life is not easy, but every year I come to camp I come away feeling renewed and reenergized spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Camp has helped me raise my kids by giving them positive role models and pouring into me so I can be a better mom. Thank you. -Family Camp Mom Dear Fellow Workers, As we look back on the past year, we must thank God! What a tremendous year! God has done great things! Join us in praising the Lord! God s Spirit moved among our staff, campers and community in life-changing ways. Our summer mime included a new way of portraying the Holy Spirit moving among the people. Not only did the Holy Spirit empower the characters in the mime, but the campers were included as well. Many commented how this, along with the message, worship, and prayer time really moved them. Our summer theme, TRANSFORMED, based on Romans 12:2 discussed how the Holy Spirit is really a key to living out the Transformed life. Kids needing hope found it, parents needing rest found it, and staff needing the opportunity to share their gifts found it at camp last summer. Two summer staff members specifically shared that they felt a calling to ministry largely through their experience at camp. Others commented about how they were able to discover and develop more of their gifts over the summer. Also, our summer staff enjoyed the new model of mentoring we implemented, pairing small groups of counselors with individual year-round staff. We hope to strengthen that plan in the summers to come. One of our objectives in the BEYOND Campaign is to Expand our programs beyond the current camper. A growing partnership helped to bring nearly 100 immigrant kids to Ingham this summer, many of whom were from Africa and SE Asia. Another partnership and synod communication helped bring around 20 kids who were primarily Sudanese refugees, to experience a great week of Christian camp. These campers also strengthened our mission objective of helping all campers understand God s heart for the world. Youth Camp attendance and family camp attendance grew, and year-around participants were very strong, with about 11,000 camp guests throughout the year. We launched the new BEYOND MINISTRY, and hired Dr. Kyle Fever as our BEYOND MINISTRY Director, to make a longer impact in the lives of campers, and to further equip churches and leaders in their important roles. Financial Support for the camp was very good, especially with the strong support for the $2,000,000 BEYOND Campaign. We have received $1.6M in gifts and pledges. We are seeking $400,000 in new gifts this third campaign year to reach this important step for future ministry. We began construction of the new Ingham Lake Chapel, with hopes to have it ready for summer 2016! Come and see! Thank you for your partnership through prayer, participation, support and encouragement! Come and join us whenever you can at one of these two beautiful camps! For the many who are blessed, Rodney Quanbeck Dan Antoine Kristin Rienhardt Jim Sunde Dr. Kyle Fever Executive Director Director of Programs Day Camp Director Ingham Director BEYOND Min. Director 8

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14 LERN Representative Report Since 1997 the ELCA has entered into full communion agreements with six other churches in North America. They are the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, The Episcopal Church (USA), The Methodist Church and certain provinces of the Moravian Church in America. (Ecumenism: The Vision of the ELCA, 1991). In the past three years, the fruits of these agreements have continued to grow. The ELCA has continued to work towards full communion through mission cooperation, including shared work on congregational vitality and evangelical outreach; advocacy, including cooperation on issues of common concern, including social justice; and exploring common challenges such as seminary education and ecumenical and inter-religious formation. Over the past few years, there have been continued conversations with Jewish and Muslim leaders. This has resulted in a project to explore what it means to be Lutheran in a multi-religious world. In addition, the ELCA is exploring new avenues of inter-religious dialogue with Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. Fifty years of bi-lateral dialogues between Catholics and Lutherans has resulted in the 2016 publication of Declaration on the Way: Church, Ministry and Eucharist. This statement begins with 32 affirmations, where Catholics and Lutherans have come to agreement and ends with 15 topics where there are varying degrees of doctrinal difference. It is hoped that in the next year there will be opportunities for the people of the Diocese of Sioux City and the people of our synod to meet, study, reflect and discuss this statement culminating in a joint celebration of the 500 th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in Pr. Peter Maisenbach LERN Representative 14