Positions nominated by the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Nominating Committee: Synod Council Clergy at Large (2 positions, male or female, 3 year terms)

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1 Election Information Positions nominated by the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Nominating Committee: Synod Council Clergy at Large (2 positions, male or female, 3 year terms) Rev. Jack Dixon Member: St. John, Napoleon, IN Conference: Southeast Indiana Congregation service: Pastor Conference/Synod/ELCA Service: currently serving on Synod Council Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Beginning his 32 nd year of ordained ministry, Jack Dixon has served congregations as large as 1100 members and as small as 140 members in both rural and city/university settings. Pastor Dixon served 26 years on Active Duty with the US Army Chaplain Corps. His last 10 years of service were focused on building organizations and training leaders. An effective leader with a proven record of meeting goals, developing high performing mangers, and increasing organizational effectiveness. Pastor Dixon is able, ready, and eager to serve the Synod and the larger Church. Rev. Jane Rothman Member: Faith, Owensboro, KY Conference: Evansville Congregation service: Pastor, Faith Lutheran; Interim-Rector at Trinity Episcopal Community service: Treasurer, Owensboro Daviess County Ministerial Association Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I m a second-career and trained-interim pastor who has worked primarily in rural settings and in multiple-congregation parishes. God has given me opportunities to serve congregations struggling to remain viable and some who have found their purpose. I work in ecumenical and interfaith situations through the ministerial association. Synod Council Clergy at Large (1 position, male or female, 1 year term) Rev. Curtis Black Member: St. Paul, Versailles (Olean), IN Conference: Southeast Indiana Congregation service: God s Work, Our Hands participant, VBS volunteer, Youth Group volunteer Community service: Pangburn Park Lunch Program volunteer

2 Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Treasurer, Southeast Indiana Conference; Member, Mission Support Table Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Pattern recognition: picking out trends from the stories of multiple people and congregation. Growing understanding of how congregational stewardship impacts ministries at the synodical and churchwide levels. Variety of experience: can speak from my involvement with campus ministry, outdoor ministry, and small town/rural ministry. Synod Council Deacon at Large (1 position, male or female, 3 year term) Deacon Barbara Limbach Member: Resurrection Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne Conference: Northeast Indiana Occupation: Deacon Congregation service: Serves on staff, Stephen Ministry, Small Groups, Spiritual Gifts, Outreach and Evangelism Community service: Cure JM Conference, the Park, Byron Health Center, Come2Go, VBS Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Synod Assembly Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I am gifted in organization, a good listener, always asking questions/clarifying, detail oriented, seeing both sides of an issue, and I have over 14 years of experience in team ministry. Discipline Committee Clergy at Large (2 positions, male or female, 6 year term) Rev. Michael Crawford Member: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lafayette, IN Conference: Lafayette Occupation: Retired Pastor Congregation service: Vacancy Pastor at St. Paul, Frankfort, IN Community service: Board member, IMPACT After School Program, Mulberry, IN; Clinton County Drug and Alcohol Coalition member Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Candidacy Committee, I-K Synod Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I am a patient and attentive listener. I value collaboration with colleagues. Rev. John Kost Member: Christ Lutheran, Valparaiso, IN Conference: Northwest Indiana Occupation: Minister of Word & Sacrament Interim Pastor Congregation service: As of May 1, 2018, I will be awaiting another interim assignment. Community service: None. Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Served as a CONNECT coach.

3 Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I am able to critically listen and objectively discern concerns or issues and to discuss difficult issues. Rev. Paul Row Discipline Committee Lay female at Large (1 position, 6 year term) Mary Anderson Member: Holy Trinity Lutheran, Lafayette, IN Conference: Lafayette Occupation: Retired/Social Service Agency Program Director Congregation service: Mutual Ministry Committee, Quilters, Meal Support Team, Prayer Chain Community service: Family Promise volunteer, Food Pantry volunteer Conference/Synod/ELCA service: ELCA World Hunger Leader for I-K Synod Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I feel I have good listening skills and can be objective in assessing situations. My work experience with a very diverse client population, as well as Stephen Ministry & Healthy Congregations training, taught me to be non-judgemental and compassionate in any circumstance. Discipline Committee Lay male at Large (1 position, 6 year term) Paul Kiser Member: St. Stephen Lutheran, Louisville, KY Conference: South Central Occupation: Associate Professor, Biology Dept., Bellarmine University Congregation service: Vice-President Congregation Council, Sr. High Sunday School teacher, Choir Member, Worship Coordinator, Youth group leader, Lector, Cantor, (anything else that needs doing!) Community service: Co-Chair KY Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, SmokeFree Policy Advocate (local and state level), Bellarmine University Faculty Council, BU Hearing Committee Conference/Synod/ELCA service: South Central Conference Council Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: As a research scientist I feel I m extremely objective and rely upon fact-based decision-making yet as a long-time public health advocate (especially related to nicotine addiction) I m also guided by the basic principles of social justice and equitable consideration of all positions prior to the pursuit of any action that may impact individual lives.

4 Consultation Committee Clergy at Large (1 position, male or female, 6 year term) Pastor Wendy Piano Member: Grace, Syracuse, Indiana Conference: North Central Conference Congregation service: Pastor, Grace Lutheran Church, Syracuse, Indiana Community service: Treasurer, Governing Board for Teen Parents Succeeding Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I am willing to serve, I am not afraid to ask tough questions, I am able to look at the details as well as the big picture. Consultation Committee Lay female at Large (1 position, 6 year term) Melissa Schroeder Member: St. Paul, Middlebury, IN Conference: North Central Indiana Occupation: Retail Administrator AVP at First State Bank Congregation service: Member of CONNECT Team, Christian Education Member, Adult Sunday School leader Community service: Board Member of Dollars for Scholars, Executive Board Member of Pathways Retreat Center Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Nominated for Churchwide Assembly Voting Member Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I am a certified Spiritual Director, a member of Spiritual Director s International, and a practicing Spiritual Director and associate at Pathways Retreat in Goshen, IN. As a spiritual director, I am trained to listen, notice, and ask questions to help others discern God s invitation and movement in their lives. I have done this discernment for churches and groups as well. Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Board Lay female at Large (1 position, 3 year term) Christine Miller Member: Mt. Zion Lutheran, LaGrange, IN Conference: Northeast Indiana Occupation: Regulatory Affairs Manager Congregation service: Sunday School, nursery volunteer Community service: Lutheran Foundation Delegate, school and church fundraiser, member of VASA Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Diakonia North Central Indiana Conference Coordinator

5 Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I have a deep appreciation of our camps as places to go and listen to God and fellowship with others, to build community and share the love of Christ. I look forward to serving others by participating as a LOMIK Board Member. Julie Walda Member: St. John Lutheran, Fort Wayne, IN Conference: Northeast Indiana Occupation: Accountant Congregation service: WELCA Board Treasurer, Assisting Minister, Communion Assistant, Handbells, Bible study leader Community service: PTA member, PEO member (just completed term as neighborhood board Treasurer) Conference/Synod/ELCA service: LOMIK Board, WELCA Board Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Financial background especially in nonprofit sector through neighborhood board, church, and other organizations. Healthy body to help out with various camp projects. Organization skills. Positions to be nominated by Synod Conferences: Synod Council Member Lay Female East Central Indiana Conference (1 position, 3 year term) Rebecca Daum Member: St. Paul, Richmond, IN Conference: East Central Indiana Occupation: Retired High School Teacher Congregation service: Treasurer, Assisting Minister, Lap Robe Ministry Community service: AARP Tax Aide, Relay for Life Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Synod Council, Synod Finance Committee Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Understanding of synod finances, experience as congregation council secretary, leader of adult forum in congregation, faithful attendance at synod council meetings, experience in teaching in a racially diverse high school. Synod Council Member Lay Female Northeast Indiana Conference (1 position, 3 year term) Diane Cameron Member: Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, LaGrange, IN Conference: Northeast Indiana Occupation: Retired Congregation service: Council Member, Choir, President of Women s Group, Liaison to Property Committee

6 Community service: LaGrange County Library Board member, Inspector for Elections Board Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I m a hard worker, dedicated to any task. Dependable, honest, and easy to get along with. My talents for leadership are shown through being an HR Director for 25 years, 8 years as President of LaGrange County Library Board, Vice President of Congregation Council and Treasurer for many years. Synod Council Member Lay Male Southeast Indiana Conference (1 position, 3 year term) Robert Graham Member: Resurrection, Madison, Indiana Conference: Southeast Indiana Occupation: Professor of Economics, Hanover College Congregation service: Constitution Committee Community service: Active both in Jefferson County and Hanover College Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Very thorough mind, easy and clear conversation style, faithful to church, passion for ministry and service, quick on my feet. Synod Council Member Lay Male Lafayette Conference (1 position, 3 year term) Michael K. Anderson Member: Holy Trinity, Lafayette, IN Conference: Lafayette Occupation: Retired Congregation service: Finance Committee, Praise Team Singer Community service: Volunteers at a food pantry as well as a food bank Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Ending first 3 rd year term on Synod Council, Member of Executive Committee, Reference and Counsel Committee, and Constitution Task Force Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Having served three years, I believe continuity would help. I believe I listen well and have a passion for the work of the Synod as well as Church at large. Have been active at the Synod level for many years in various ways. Churchwide Assembly Lay Female Indianapolis Conference (youth or young adult) Ashley Schwartzkopf Member: Messiah, Brownsburg, IN Conference: Indianapolis Occupation: Social Worker, Researcher

7 Congregation service: Call Committee member, Sunday School Teachers (2&3), High school youth leader, altar guild, nursery leader, VBS leader, Fellowship Committee member, Usher, Service assistant, Media tech assistant, Christian Education Board member Community service: Indiana National Social Work Association, various Veterans Affairs events at the VA Hospital in Indianapolis Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Ashley has a heart for the Lord s work. Ashley spent her childhood, adolescence, and young adult life at Messiah. Her strong Lutheran background surrounds her capabilities as an active young member in the church. She is strong in decision making and has a sense of what Lutheran is. Madison Engelau Member: St. Paul, Seymour, IN Conference: Indianapolis Occupation: Student Congregation service: Bell Choir, Internship Committee, Luther League, help with youth program Community service: Key Club, Junior Counselor at Camp Lakeview Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Help with Synod Youth Day at ELCA Youth Gathering, attended 2016 ELCA Youth Leadership Summit Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Maddie is very active within the congregation and is thinking about wanting to become a youth director after college. She brings energy to the tasks. She seeks out opportunities to volunteer and provide leadership to events. Churchwide Assembly Lay Female North Central Indiana Conference Carrie Avery Member: Faith, Goshen, IN Conference: North Central Indiana Occupation: Office Professional for Thrivent Financial Congregation service: Choir Member Community service: Participates in Thrivent Action Teams around our conference Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: AS a young adult in the church, Carrie brings insights into the changing landscape of the church while holding onto and lifting up the traditions of our Lutheran identity. Melissa Schroeder Member: St. Paul, Middlebury, IN Conference: North Central Indiana Occupation: Retail Administrator AVP at First State Bank Congregation service: Member of CONNECT Team, Christian Education Member, Adult Sunday School leader

8 Community service: Board Member of Dollars for Scholars, Executive Board Member of Pathways Retreat Center Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Nominated for I-K Synod Consultation Committee, Voting Member Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I am a certified Spiritual Director, a member of Spiritual Director s International, and a practicing Spiritual Director and associate at Pathways Retreat in Goshen, IN. As a spiritual director, I am trained to listen, notice, and ask questions to help others discern God s invitation and movement in their lives. I have done this discernment for churches and groups as well. Churchwide Assembly Lay Female Northwest Indiana Conference (person of color or person whose primary language is other than English) Darlene Terrel Member: Christ, Hammond, IN Conference: Northwest Indiana Occupation: Retired, Childcare Provider Congregation service: Congregation Council, Worship Committee, Mother-Daughter Committee Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Darlene Terrell brings a soothing spirit to a group. She is a retired Day Care Operator who has a great deal of patience which allows her to listen to others and their opinions, thus making informed decisions. Churchwide Assembly Lay Male Northeast Indiana Conference (person of color or person whose primary language is other than English) Churchwide Assembly Lay Male East Kentucky Conference Paul Trickel Member: Gloria Dei, Crestview Hills, KY Conference: East Kentucky Occupation: Social Worker Congregation service: Lay Assistant, Foundation Board Member Community service: AIDS Volunteers of Northern Kentucky Board Member, Greater Cincinnati HIV Collaborative member Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Conference Council Chair and Lay Representative, Synod Finance Committee Chair Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: A desire to shape the vision and mission of the ELCA around Jesus command to love God and one another. Thoughtful and patient decision maker. A willingness to consider perspectives different from my own. Previous Synod and Churchwide experience and previous service on congregational and conference councils and community boards.

9 Bruce Southers Member: Gloria Dei, Crestview Hills, KY Conference: East Kentucky Occupation: Project manager in the financial services industry Congregation service: Memorial Committee Community service: Volunteer with Donate Life, PCHA-Ohio; visited West Africa twice in past two years, evangelized with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of The Gambia; webmaster/sponsor of the Lutheran Church in Guinea-Bissau website. Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I take any responsibility to the church very seriously, and will work with the best interests of the church in mind. I have experience with committees, and recently have traveled to West Africa and evangelized with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of The Gambia to spread the Gospel throughout the world. Churchwide Assembly- Clergy East Central Indiana Conference Rev. David Fleener Member: Zion, Hartford City Conference: East Central Indiana Congregation service: Pastor at Zion, Hartford City since September 2010 Community service: Conductor of Blackford County Community Choir. Volunteer at local food pantry. Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Synod Worship Committee Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Ability to listen emphatically and prayerfully to multiple points of view. Ability to engage large amounts of information with critical and prayerful thinking (social statements, resolutions, etc.) Great interest in helping make churchwide activities of interest to the local congregation. Rev. Melinda Gapen Member: Trinity, Union City Conference: East Central Indiana Congregation service: Pastor Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I have fresh eyes to the Indiana-Kentucky Synod. I also am relatively new to ordained ministry and understand the challenges that we, as a church, are facing.

10 Churchwide Assembly Lay Male Evansville Conference Larry Johnson Member: Grace and Peace, Evansville Conference: Evansville Occupation: Retired/part-time telemarketing Congregation service: Church Council Member Community service: God s Work, Our Hands Conference/Synod/ELCA service: I-K Synod Council Member Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I consider myself a people person. I have the ability to relate to people even on different cultural or economic levels. I have served in various positions on our congregation council in my local church. For my personal development I continue to work on my communication and leadership skills. Jimmie Buchanan Moore Member: St. Luke, Newburgh, IN Conference: Evansville Occupation: Retired Music Teacher Congregation service: Choir member and instrumental ensemble member. Assisting Minister, Usher, Adult Sunday School teacher, Property Committee member, Communion Assistant. Community service: I play in many local not-for-profit instrumental groups as a volunteer. Most of the groups use their income for community service projects. Conference/Synod/ELCA service: I am treasurer for the Evansville Conference and attend ministerium meetings. I host the Conference Assembly meetings. Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I was an I-K Synod council member for 6 years so I am familiar with the workings of the council meetings and Synod Assemblies. I am currently on the Synod Discipline Committee. My personal mission statement is: I am blessed by God to be a blessing. Saved by Jesus to be a servant. Touched by the Holy Spirit to be compassionate. I will use my God given gifts to bless, serve, and care for those around me with joy and thanksgiving. Churchwide Assembly Clergy Lafayette Conference Rev. Derek Nelson Member: Christ, Crawfordsville, IN Conference: Lafayette Occupation: Professor, Wabash College and Director of Pastoral Leadership Program Congregation service: Adult Ed leader; supply preacher; music; breakfast cooker and coffee brewer Community service: Community service/service learning committee of college; volunteer at recovery center

11 Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Dean of Lafayette Conference; co-wrote previous ELCA social statement (on criminal justice); advisory committee on Pendleton Prison ministry (Grace and Hope Fellowship) Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Through my theological and historical work I m fairly well-connected throughout the church. I would like to use those gifts to influence the reception of the social statement on justice for women, to weigh in on the theological direction the church may go in choosing a presiding bishop, and in setting priorities for theological education. Rev. Carolyn Lesmeister Member: First, Attica, IN Conference: Lafayette Congregation service: First Lutheran Church, Attica, IN Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I have a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for its bearing on the world in which we live. I long for our denomination to shed some of its institutional baggage and live into the future by being more agile and flexible in its policies and procedures while supporting the work of more diverse ministries and leader over the long haul. I don t know that being a Churchwide Assembly voter requires particular talents? Churchwide Assembly Clergy Southeast Indiana Conference Rev. Jill Kepler Campbell Member: St. Mark, Batesville, IN Conference: Southeast Indiana Congregation service: Pastor, Batesville Area Ministerial Association Community service: Local Fund, Lion s Club Conference/Synod/ELCA service: Freed to Lead, attend Synod Assemblies Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Top-flight preacher, incredible liturgist, has grace and charm, experience in education, media (broadcasting), beautiful person who sings beautifully, leadership skills, firm belief in fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. Rev. James Smith Member: Resurrection, Madison, IN Conference: Southeast Indiana Congregation service: Pastor of Resurrection Community service: Church food pantry, 2 nd stories, 5K charity runs Conference/Synod/ELCA service: SE Indiana, I-K Synod, Pastor

12 Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: Organized, strong Lutheran theology, passion for mission. Churchwide Assembly Clergy South Central Conference Rev. Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar Member: St. Peter s and Gethsemane, Corydon Conference: South Central Conference Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I will be happy to contribute to critical social analysis and Biblical Theological reflections from a justice perspective. (Critical reflections from a Gender-Race-Patriarchy-Caste perspectives) Rev. Karleen Jung Member: Grace and Glory, Goshen, KY Conference: South Central Gifts or talents you would bring to this position: I bring a substantial level of education and experience related to community organizing, which is closely connected to missional leadership and transformation. I also have 25 years of experience doing advocacy work, including work among Hispanic, Asian, and other cultures. Finally, I bring many decades of worship leadership experience.