Pastor Meeting - 1/9/2005-1/11/2005 Barkers Island, Superior, Wisconsin Day 1 - January 9, 2005, 7:00 pm. Day 2 - January 10, 2005

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1 Barkers Island, Superior, Wisconsin Day 1 - January 9, 2005, 7:00 pm Those present: Norman Kangas, Charlie Bergstedt, Bruce Bergstedt, Gerry Southerton, Jay Wiedner, Raymond Hilman, Rod Johnson, Chuck Bylkas, Derek Kalkas, Mike Carrier, Jered Niemela, Tomas Nyblom Arvo Onermaa, Elmer Yliniemi, Gary Kangas, Andy Witten, Jim Maunu, Dale Niskanen, Marti Onermaa, Dr. Huttunen I) Prayer and Devotional Time with wives. A) Bruce Bergstedt Opened with a devotion on Epiphany and a prayer. B) Dale Niskanen named secretary. C) Minutes for 2004 read individually and accepted. II) Overview of Upcoming Meeting: A) Changes in schedule: 1) Jay Wiedner will switch Jered Niemela. 2) On Tuesday morning, the schedule may open up for miscellaneous topics. B) Rod Johnson briefed the group on Meeting Conduct Notes: 1) In order to not sermonize, individuals will be limited to 3 or 4 minutes per contribution to the discussion process. 2) If a session has not come to completion, it will continue into the next session time allocation. 3) Each session will consist of a presentation, discussion and resolution of consensus. 4) Expenses for wives will be covered by the Seminary. 5) The allocation of the agenda items are intended to be flexible. Mike Carrier opened with prayer Day 2 - January 10, 2005 III) Conflict Resolution - Presenter Jered Niemela A) There were many points made about the cause of conflicts. Some of the points made were; 1) The Gospel creates conflict. 2) The struggle for authority. (Diplomatic) 3) Pushing agendas. (Political) 4) Ignorance. 5) Self Will. B) There were many points made about preventing conflict. 1) Paul writes; a) Romans: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. b) Timothy: Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes. c) Titus: Avoid foolish questions and genealogies and disputes of the law. 2) Quotable quote: An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Page 1 of 5

2 C) There were many points made about resolving conflict. 1) Identify, expose and confront. 2) Be honest 3) Third party mediation a) God was the third party for mankind through Jesus Christ. D) Results when attempting to resolve conflict. 1) Repentance/Reconciliation 2) Separation when some individuals or groups simply will not reconcile. E) Points of discussion and questions about church conflict. 1) Whenever one makes an issue more important than a relationship, it drives people away. 2) Satan desires to divide and destroy. 3) We are a lay-oriented - rebel movement so the understanding of the office is not understood among much of the laity. a) How do we re-establish the office? b) How do we break the problems that younger pastors have inherited? c) Is there truly a resolution when some don t want to resolve the conflict. 4) Sometimes it s necessary to leave a congregation with good conscience, just as the Apostle Paul once did. (Acts 18) 5) Some pastors shared the leadership structure they have in their congregations. 6) Rod Johnson proposed a mediation committee to develop guidelines for handling conflicts between that pastor and the congregation. There was a vote and it passed unanimously. a) The committee members are Jay Wiedner, Jered Niemela and Rod Johnson. b) The committee has freedom to use the services of other people. IV) Living Wills discussed with wives - Presenter Rod Johnson. A) Living Will Definition: I didn t get this from Rod. I didn t get this from you Rod so maybe you can send it to me and I will put it in here. B) Some forms dealing with living wills were passed out. C) Points made during the discussion of Living Wills: Living wills can determine the care for surviving children. Encourage the discussion of living wills. Don t coerce the one facing death into a living will to follow our desires for them. Have Living Wills on file at church as well as funeral arrangements. V) Introduction of Finnish Pastor Page 2 of 5

3 Rev. Elmer Yliniemi introduced Dr. Pekka Huutunen and his wife Sikka- Lisa. Dr. Huutunen drove down from Thunder Bay where he has a 3 year contract to pastor among Finnish immigrants who don t speak English very well. They are currently worshipping in a large nursing home. VI) Confirmation Curriculumn - Presenter Chuck Bylkas A) The topic was opened up for discussion from the floor. Some of the questions and ideas were; 1) What is the goal for confirmation Camp? a) Fellowship / building relationships b) Teach that Pastors are approachable. Education 2) should we develop a curriculum that is more succinct? 3) Perhaps, instead of so many topics, we should link fewer topics, giving a better chance for the students to at least a grasp on to something. 4) Move the schedule to allow for other churches to attend that still have students in school. 5) It was agreed that a priority item is to develop a centralized curriculum with/for the various congregations a) Dr. Huttunen will be willing to give insight on Confirmation Camps of which he has been involved. b) Rev. Chuck Bylkas will be the coordinator of information brought together for the new curriculum. 6) What about instruction for younger children that are already communicant members? a) Dr. Huutunen indicated that in Finland there is instruction for both the parents and the child in order to allow them to be communicant members. Jay Wiedner closed with prayer and the pastors laid hands on Mike Carrier. Tomas Nyblom opened with Prayer Day 3 - January 11, 2005 VII) KJV and companion bible usage - Presenter Jay Wiedner A) The federation want to know the translation process of the bible and to know what versions are not trying to mislead the reader. They are looking for other translations that can be trusted. Some things pointed out are: 1) The English Standard Version (ESV) attempts to mimic the sound and feel of the King James Version (KJV). 2) Unlike the ESV the New King James Version (NKJV) have not bracketed texts and placed those texts in the borders. 3) It was mentioned that Concordia publishes an ESV which also has a Luther s Small Catechism. VIII) Discussion on the pamphlet Principles of the Dotrine of Page 3 of 5

4 Christ A) Not many pastors use this document, although it is published and passed out in the foreign mission field. IX) Video tapes by Dr. Kenneth e Bailey Today s Truth From Ancient Corinth: A Profound New Study of Our Age - Presenter Arvo Onermaa A) Bailey is going back to the Word and researching the Christian culture from an eastern perspective verses a western cultural perspective with the Greek philosophies. 1) He also has two books that serve as commentaries with a literary - cultural approach to some of the Lucan Parables. a) Poet & Peasant b) Through Peasant Eyes 2) Arvo Onermaa volunteered to send information on how to get the video tape series. B) Raymond Hilman recommended a video tape entitled Grace Walk X) Pre-college Course - Presenter Jay Wiedner A) The subject at hand presented to the Seminary Board is to provide a year long course for pre-college students, in order to prepare them for the subjects that challenge them when they do enter college. 1) Feasibility of providing such a program for 18 year olds would prove to be quite difficult. It would require an extensive and very structured program. 2) It would be more feasible to put the material on the internet for students to study with their perspective pastors. 3) Bruce Bergstedt agreed to head a group of other pastors to research and bring material to Jay so he can cull and acquire suitable information and organize it on the internet in structured manner for this program. XI) Pastoral Training Program thorugh the Eastern Mission - Presenter Jered Niemela A) Documents as well as information was provided which laid out the Eastern Mission s Programs. 1) The need arose for many who desired to have some pastoral training despite a stigma towards the seminary. 2) There is a desire from some to : a) Break down the barriers for full time pastoral care within our congregations. b) Break down the barriers of resistance to the seminary. 3) The funds are being provided in two different ways: a) Seminary interns may apply b) A congregation that has a full time pastor and is looking to groom someone for a year that will replace the retiring pastor. 4) There is also a Sunset Program to help congregations Page 4 of 5

5 acquire a full time pastor. a) 50% of the pastor s salary is paid for the first year. b) The second year the funding is cut by a third. c) The third year the funding is cut by another third and at the end of the year the congregation will take over the full support. XII) Meeting with wives and discussing their on their agenda - Presenter Wendy Bergstedt A) Wives mentioned several areas that they could support Pastor husbands, but also shared some things that they brought up which would help them in their support. 1) Pastors be the same at home that they are at church. 2) Open communication about when things are difficult. 3) The wives appreciate when the husbands share the joys of the ministry. 4) children often feel that dad is married to the church. XIII) Grieving Ministry - Presenter Rod Johnson A) A short discussion on grieving brought about several points. Some of the points were: 1) Grief isn t necessarily caused only from a death of a loved one, but can also be brought on by the loss of an expectation. 2) don t forget the children in grieving. 3) Some things not to say; a) I understand what you re going through. b) Expressing what we ve gone through is worse than what they are going through. XIV) Topics for next year A) Music B) Emphasizing the joy in ministry and the privilege of being in the ministry. C) The use of grape juice instead of wine for communion Pastor Raymond Hilman closed in prayer. Dr. and Mrs Huutunen shared a song from Japan. Lyrics from Isaiah 40 Respectfully submitted in Christ, Pastor Dale Niskanen Page 5 of 5