Moments for Mission. All pastor, but part cop, too. Bishop Robert D. Hofstad. Police Chaplain Paul Meeker delivers God s Word when needed most.

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1 Bishop Robert D. Hofstad MomentsforMission Southwestern Washington Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering congregations and church leaders to grow in worship, education, outreach, stewardship and other ministries. January 2012 Who we are Staff Rev. Ronald Hoyum assistant to the bishop Rev. Valinda Morse assistant to the bishop Rev. Melanie Wallschlaeger director for evangelical mission Rev. Donald Fossum assembly planner Allison Ramsey office manager Rachel Pritchett editor, (206) Phone (253) Address st St. S Tacoma, WA swwsynod@plu.edu Websites lutheranssw.org elca.org Blog swwsynodelca.blogspot. com Facebook facebook.com/pages/south western-washington- Synod/ All pastor, but part cop, too Police Chaplain Paul Meeker delivers God s Word when needed most. By Rachel Pritchett, communicator BREMERTON Tall and imposing and with a smile as strong as steel, the Rev. Paul Meeker strides past desks at the Bremerton Police Department. Make my way through, just check on people, let them know they re appreciated. Anyone needs care, hey, we re here. For 20 years, the pastor at nearby Our Saviour s Lutheran Church has been a trusted and much-loved chaplain here. A records clerk asks Meeker to pray for her family. Because my son s getting a license, she said. Absolutely, he says before moving on. Two decades have thrust Chaplain Meeker into the hottest fires of human experience. Continues Become one of 1,000 Mission Friends Just $100 a year makes you one of the synod s 1,000 Mission Friends. As such, you help support new mission starts and those in need of renewal. One recipient has been Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow, now worshiping 40. Please consider sending a check to the Southwestern Washington Synod, Att n: 1,000 Mission Friends, st St. South, Tacoma, WA Make the check out to the synod, and write 1,000 Mission Friends in the memo line. Thank you.

2 2 All Pastor, Part Cop: Continued But taking care of officers emotional and spiritual needs is what he does most. An officer s relationship with his wife has gone cold. Another s daughter is taking drugs and causing his family pain. Meeker makes a special stop at yet another officer s desk. Her son killed himself a few years back. Since that awful time, Meeker s been front and center for her. A lot of times I call it a ministry of listening, just a ministry of presence, he said. Meeker never thought about being a police chaplain until asked by Dick Dexter, a funeral-director member of his congregation. Our Saviour s is located in the bull s eye of the poorest and most crime-ridden section of Bremerton. The congregation had a long history of boldly reaching out to those in darkest corners. Meeker as a police chaplain would be a extension of that, Dexter told him. It was a blend of apprehension and curiosity, Meeker remembered. Gave it a try. Dressed in a regular officer s uniform with bullet-proof vest, but with a clerical collar and prominent cross on his sleeve, he rides along regularly with the officers, usually at night when the action is at its peak. They get a call-out. Officers in another county are in hot pursuit of a driver fleeing at breakneck speeds. They re headed their way, and Meeker and the officer are ordered to pick up the chase at the county line. Adrenaline rushes through Meeker as they chase after the driver, who now is weaving through crowded city streets where men, women and children are walking. Meeker prays for their safety. The driver crashes his car smack in front of Meeker s church. He jumps out and flees on foot, but the chase is over. Meeker shudders and takes a breath. The years have left their mark. A parent backs out of his driveway and runs over his toddler, crushing the child to death. Meeker and an officer are immediately called to stand alongside the mortified parent and family. It affected me personally. Why does God allow children to die, to suffer unnecessarily? I will take that question to the grave and to heaven, he said. Then again, Meeker already has the answer. The Lord is faithful in every life situation, he said. Meeker continues his walk-through at the police station, greeting, joking and laughing in his booming voice, and asking if he can help. You never know when your witness might plant a seed for faith, he said. Synod housekeeping Everyone wins with health assessment: Fifteen minutes is all it takes for ELCA primary plan members and spouses to take the MayoHealth Assessment, earning you $150 for your wellness account and potentially saving the synod and congregations 2 percent on medical costs. Consider taking the assessment Jan. 1 or after at elcaforwellness.org. At the gym: The Synod and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans have joined with LA Fitness to support personal wellness of rostered leaders, church staff and families. Through June, scholarships that include a $104 initiation fee waier and a reduced monthly fee of $30 are available. To find out more, call Charles Jeffries at (253) Pre-retirement event at Dumas Bay: The ELCA Board of Pensions presents a pre-retirement seminar for rostered persons within 15 years of retirement from 1 to 8 p.m. Feb. 9 and from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 10 at the Dumas Bay Centre in Federal Way. For more, contact the synod office.

3 3 Synod address We ve clarified our mission, and gone a long way to carry it out By Jim Hushagen, synod vice president It began in 2003 with a phone call from the bishop. Jim, would you be willing to serve as synod vice president? What s a synod vice president? I naively asked. With that inauspicious start, I began a very rewarding journey of nearly nine years that will end this May when the Synod Assembly elects a new vice president. When the Synod Council appointed me, I decided to learn something about this Synod I was to serve. The first thing I learned was that the Synod had no mission statement. This was odd: the church has at least two clearly articulated biblical missions the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. I also learned that, while the Synod Council met regularly, none of the meetings were in a retreat setting where it could discuss mission, vision and values. So, one of my first official acts was leading a Council retreat dedicated to discerning this Synod s mission. After three days of hard, prayerful work, the Council crafted the Synod s mission: to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering congregations and church leaders to grow in worship, education, stewardship and other ministries. This statement brought some clarity to our task as a Synod: (1) we spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and we do it by (2) empowering congregations... to grow. Clarifying our mission yielded immediate positive results. The most significant were the Synod s two strategic priorities: pastoral care and mission starts. To grow, pastors and congregations need a high level of care. And, what could be more empowering than the planting of new congregations where there previously were none? The Council also relied regularly on the mission statement in making the hard financial decisions required by declining revenues during the recession and following the 2009 sexuality decisions. So, how has the Synod done in living out its mission? In some areas, we ve done very well. After having no mission starts since 1993, the Synod now has six new mission congregations underway, thanks in large part to Pastor Melanie Wallschlaeger, director of evangelical mission. It is hard to quantify successful pastoral care, but we believe most of the Synod s pastors and many of its congregations are more effective than ever, thanks in large part to Bishop Hofstad and his assistants, Pastors Ron Hoyum and Valinda Morse. And, we now have a very strong Synod Council that is focused on carrying out the mission in even more significant ways. Not all has been rosy. I grieve to see that we have lost as many congregations to the sexuality fallout as we have gained through mission starts. And, the perfect storm of worldwide recession plus disagreement with the sexuality decision has reduced congregational mission support to the Synod, requiring some painful financial decisions. Still, I remain very hopeful about the Synod s future. Before I leave office next May, I hope the Assembly will enact the recommended constitutional changes to give a shot in the arm to the Synod s boards and committees, making them more effective at pursuing our mission. And, we have already started a process of improving how we will elect our bishop at the 2013 Assembly. I am very glad I took the Bishop s phone call more than eight years ago. Service as synod vice president has been one of the high points of my life an opportunity to serve Christ and His church in a unique way. I have gained much more from this job than I have given to it. I wish for the Synod continued growth in faithfulness to the mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

4 4 Congregations in transition Call process Position Status Pastoral care Bethany, Longview P TR Jim Flachsbart Christ, Belfair P TR Robin Pizanti Faith, Elma P TR Dennis Hartsook Family of Christ, Vancouver P I Janell Bethke Immanuel, Vancouver P NV Pulpit supply Mountain View, Edgewood AP I John Vaswig Mount Cross, University Place AP NV Dave Steffenson Naselle P TR Pulpit supply Our Saviour s, Cathlamet P TR Les Foss Peninsula, Gig Harbor P TR Art Sortland St. Mark, Lacey P I Linda Nou Trinity, Enumclaw P I Dennis Hartsook Key: P Pastor; AP Associate Pastor; NV New Vacancy; TR Transition; I Interviewing Call accepted The Rev. Eric Wooldridge has accepted his first call as associate pastor at Messiah of Auburn. His ordination was Dec. 18 in Richmond, Ind., and performed by Bishop Bill Gafkjen of the Indiana/Kentucky Synod. Pastor Wooldridge begins Jan. 1. His installation will be at 2 p.m. on Jan. 29 at Messiah. All clergy are invited. Retiring The Rev. Al Berg, formerly interim pastor at St. Paul of Winlock, retired Nov. 1. The Rev. Eric Allert has accepted a call to the Sierra Pacific Synod. Synod work From the Hunger Committee: Members evaluated and prioritized applications for ELCA Hunger Grants when they met Dec. 3. We also heard a financial report on the effects of the Great Recession. Through Oct. 31, 45 churches had contributed $67, to World Hunger. The total includes gifts that passed through the synod office. It doesn t include gifts that churches made directly to the ELCA churchwide office or to local programs. The committee spent about four hours evaluating 10 hunger grant applications and prioritizing them for the churchwide office, which will announce the grant awards next spring. In no particular order, criteria for grant applications include: Does the program address the root cause of hunger? Is the program a ministry of an ELCA congregation? Is it unique or are there others like it in the community? Does it involve collaboration between a congregation and the community? Does the program include education and/or advocacy? Does the program provide other benefits such as a visiting doctor, library access, clothing, quilts or similar items, or access to social service program case workers? Committee members will meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 7, in the Synod office to continue work on expanding hunger programs in local congregations and supporting the ELCA s malaria and HIV/AIDS initiatives. Rick Nelson, Hunger Committee member From the Fiscal Board: Members of the Synod s Fiscal Board recommended in December that, in order to reduce costs of the annual synod assembly, the Synod Council consider containing the gathering to one day most years, and asking local families to host visitors.

5 5 News Talks underway for new Lutheran/Episcopal group By Rachel Pritchett, communicator KINGSTON Talks are underway that could lead to the establishment of a new Lutheran/Episcopal worship group in Kingston possibly by spring. Located on the north tip of the Kitsap Peninsula, the maritime city is expected to grow. Lutheran leaders have been frustrated for a long time that there s no Evangelical Lutheran Church in America presence there. ELCA Lutherans in Kingston now have to travel 11 miles to Poulsbo to attend First Lutheran Church; 19 miles to Silverdale Lutheran Church; or 20 miles to Peace Lutheran Fellowship of Port Ludlow long distances, by any measure. Discussion among area Lutheran and Episcopal pastors has centered on folding an ELCA presence into the existing Faith Episcopal Church of Kingston. Nothing s set in stone yet, but organizers meeting Dec. 1 in Poulsbo contemplated starting the new group around Easter of Whatever this is, we re still figuring this out, the Rev. Kent Shane of First of Poulsbo said. About 30 members of Faith Episcopal Church now worship at a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall. They are led by the Rev. Ray Sheldon, and the group is a mission of the Diocese of Olympia, part of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The objective of this effort is to leverage the strengths of each organization such that the result from working together is greater than would be the case if they worked independently, Father Sheldon said. A lot remains to work out. Recent flooding at the VFW hall caused Sheldon and his leaders to wonder whether the current location was adequate. Transferring worship to a downtown Kingston movie theater is under discussion. It would be the second federated congregation in the Southwestern Washington Synod. St. Christopher s Community Church of Olympia is the first. Besides First, synod congregations taking part in the talks to start the new federated church in Kingston include First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard; Our Saviour s and Family of God Lutheran churches of Bremerton; Silverdale Lutheran Church; and Vinland Lutheran Church of Poulsbo. The consensus is, This is a go-forward, Sheldon said. Pictured: A group of pastors meets Dec. 1 in Poulsbo to discuss a new federated worshiping group in Kingston.

6 6 Upcoming Willamette University choir and singers to make synod stop The Willamette University choirs under the direction of Wallace Long will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo. Choirs from nearby North Kitsap High School under the direction of Sylvia Cauter will join in. All are invited to the free performance that will feature classical, jazz, sacred and secular music. Renewing-congregations workshops slated There s no cost to come and learn about renewing congregations in January. Purpose, leadership development and how to plan strategically are some of what is covered by the Revs. Valinda Morse, assistant to the bishop; Doug Knutson-Keller of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympia; and Bill Crabtree of Silverdale Lutheran. Choose whichever time is best for you: Jan. 14 at Gloria Dei or Feb. 4 at Silverdale Lutheran. Both are Saturdays and both go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For questions or to register, contact the synod office. Pastors to gather for Bishop s Convocation in January Current and retired pastors and their spouses will meet once again in January at the historic Seabeck Conference Center for the annual Bishop s Prayer Retreat and Convocation. To take place between Jan. 22 and Jan. 24, the event will feature remarks by special guest the Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim. Fretheim is a professor of the Old Testament at Luther Seminary in Minnesota. Bishop Robert D. Hofstad will have a report to the pastors, as well. Register at regonline.com/2012bishopsconvo. Satterlee to lead Byberg Preaching Workshop The Rev. Craig Satterlee, homiletics professor at Lutheran School of Theology of Chicago, is the featured speaker at the Byberg Preaching Workshop on Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 in Issaquah. Details and registration are at bybergpreaching.org for the event at Our Savior s Lutheran Church, 745 Front St. The Rev. Susan Briehl is the workshop s chaplain. Weyerhauser Center offers lay training The Weyerhauser Center for Christ Faith and Learning at Whitworth University in Eastern Washington has two upcoming educational opportunities for lay leaders. A certificate in teaching the Bible for Sunday school teachers and lay ministers can be obtained through study between February and May. And, instruction in lay ministry takes place from June 4 to 8 and from June 11 to 15. That course of study is to help train, equip and support laypeople to serve more effectively. To learn more, contact Michelle Pace, program coordinator at Weyerhaeuser Center for Christ Faith and Learning at mpace@whitworth.edu or (509)

7 7 Media resources New churchwide site: ELCA.org, the churchwide website, has a new look that includes a big welcome up top, a rotating window highlighting new happenings, and a highly intuitive design that takes you where you want to go. The site gets 10,000 visitors daily. Check it out. Global mission map brochure available: Perfect for Epiphany, annual meetings and Sunday schools, the ELCA 2012 Global Mission Map Brochure now is available. The brochure is filled with stories and photos for around the globe, offering an overview of this church s mission rooted in relationship. Readers will discover how offerings and hunger gifts are turned into effective ministry. There is no cost. To order, call (800) or ris@elca.org. Augsburg webinars: Augsburg Fortress and its ecumenical division sparkhouse is assisting congregational leaders, both staff and members, learn effective new skills for improving the engagement levels in both worship and in their faith formation programs. A starting point in connecting with resources here is to take part in free weekly 30- and 60-minute webinars at augsburgfortress.org/webinars. Stories of Faith in Action free for the asking: Stories of Faith in Action now is available. The ELCA resource contains stores about how God is changing lives around the world through mission and ministry of the ELCA, plus supporting budget information from synod and congregations. Order yours at (800) Postings Lay youth minister: St. John s Lutheran Church of Chehalis seeks a part-time lay youth minister to work with middle- and high-school students. The applicant should be creative in planning and executing fellowship and service activities, as well as qualified to lead in spiritual formation. The position is 12 hours a week. St. John s has a congregation of about 400 worshipers including 40 youth. Contact the Rev. D. Randall Faro at (360) Church administator: Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood seeks a church administrator. Duties include managing church finances and operations, and linking to the Mountain View Community Center. Necessary skills include knowledge of financial and accounting software. A degree in business is preferred. To apply, visit mtviewlutheran.org and follow the prompts. For more information, contact Julie Williams at jules.williams@yahoo.com. Calendar Jan. 1: New Year s Day, Synod office closed Jan. 2: Synod office closed Jan. 4 to 8: Conference of Bishops, San Diego, Calif. Jan. 14: Renewing-Congregations Workshop, Olympia, see Page 6 Jan. 21: Synod Council conference call, 10 a.m. Jan. 22 to 25: Bishop s Convocation and Prayer Retreat, Seabeck Conference Center, see Page 6 Jan. 30 to Feb. 1: Byberg Preaching Workshop, Issaquah, see Page 6 Feb. 4: Renewing-Congregations Workshop, Silverdale, see Page 6 Feb. 9 and 10: ELCA Board of Pensions pre-retirement seminar, Federal Way, see Page 2 Feb. 23 to 26: Women of the ELCA presidents, Chicago March 1 to 6: Conference of Bishops March 17: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA Olympic Cluster spring celebration, Elim of Port Orchard March 31: Synod Council, St. Mark of Lacey April 13 to 16: ELCA Church Council, Chicago April 19 to 22: Women of the ELCA executive board, Chicago April 20 to 22: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA spring retreat, Dumas Bay Centre, Federal Way April 28: Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA Narrows Cluster, St. Mark s, Tacoma May 18 and 19: Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly, Vancouver, Wash. Aug. 3: Catechumenate training, Spokane Sept. 7 to 9: Women of the ELCA conference of presidents

8 8 Our congregations From points across the synod, for keeping up Nearing Reformation s 500th mark By Joy Lingerfelt, associate in ministry and music leader, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church This past fall, I was one of 16 church musicians and pastors in the ELCA that traveled to Germany to where Martin Luther lived. The trip included Leipzig, Halle, Lutherstadt, Wittenberg, Berlin and Graefenhinichen, and it was filled with worship, devotionals, walking tours and museums. In this day when Christianity is maybe 18 percent of the world population and Lutheranism is a small percentage of that, our trip was an opportunity to learn more about Luther, as well as the people who partnered with him in the Reformation. Germany is inviting the entire world to come visit in the time leading to the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther in Wittenberg, where Martin Luther and Katie lived, preached, made beer, and held the famous Table Talks, is under much construction, the result of large grants by the German government to restore, rebuild, and make available to all the many sights related to the Reformation. Our walking tour included the famous Luther House. There we saw the first German Bible. Our tour took us also to the church where Luther preached, where the congregation was invited to sing a hymn for the first time, and where the Mass was first spoken in the language of the people. Our tour included Castle Church, where we all sang A Mighty Fortress around Luther s grave. Perhaps it is time for some of us to visit these sights and become more aware of our heritage. Certainly it is an appropriate time to consider our identity as Lutherans, maybe now more than ever. Pictured: Lingerfelt at the doors at Wittenberg. To view an unedited version of Lingerfelt s journey, visit swwsynodelca.blogspot.com. Editor Poulsbo church community bids Jukams farewell On staff at First Lutheran Church since 1997, the Rev. Don Jukam has retired. Jukam previously was a Navy chaplain. The church now is led by the Revs. Kent and Alison Shane and Youth and Family Coordinator Paul Davis. On Dec. 3, the congregation hosted a banquet in honor of the Jukams. About $25,000 collected or pledged to mark his retirement went to ELCA Good Gifts and church mission efforts. Pictured: Elaine and Don Jukam.