Position Nominated for: _Synod Council, At Large Lay Female Name (First, MI, Last): Debra Frank Dew Lay Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: Professor, English/Writing, Writing Director, Valparaiso University; UCCS, Retired Conference/Geography: _Colorado, Colorado Springs Congregation Membership: _Christ the King, Valpo University Chapel, First Lutheran How Long? CTK 2017-present, Valpo 2012-16, First 2011-17, CTK 2004-11 Most recently, I listened attentively to our Bishop declare that advocacy is in our DNA within his address to advocacy training participants in Denver, CO. For me, faith-infused advocacy has been my life s work as a professor of rhetoric and writing focusing on minority rhetorics and civic argument. As a Lay Assembly Rep, I have advocated for the rostering of LGBTQ pastors and hope to further advance inclusive work across our Synod. Spiritually and pragmatically, my desire is to support Synod efforts to be the woke church in the world through increased outreach and engagement on the issues of poverty and hunger, but also beyond, given the complex array of social justice needs now everywhere pressing in our region and across the country. Faith-infused teaching, curricular design, workplace advocacy are home to me. Now that I am retired professionally, I seek service that will enable my greatest passion for social justice advocacy to meet the rising needs in the world through service to our Synod. I have extensive experience in writing program administration and higher education (twelve years with UCCS, four with Valparaiso). My administrative work included program reviews, assessment, faculty development, curricular design, and organizational change. My teaching encompassed civic argument and criticism, teacher preparation, and writing instruction, including extensive work with ethnic-minority rhetorical traditions, women s rhetorics, and faith-based global rhetorics. a. Assisting Minister, CTK 2006-11, 2017-present; Valpo University Chapel, from 2012 to 2016 b. Devotional Writing Workshop Leader, Ashes to Fire from _Jan 2018 to present c. Church Council, Pastoral Search Committee, Worship, Altar Guild, Assembly Rep, Christ the King Lutheran from 2006 to 2010
Position Nominated for: At Large Lay Male, Rocky Mountain Synod Council Name (First, MI, Last): Michael Ray Ferry Lay Occupation: Manager, Los Alamos National Laboratory Conference/Geography: North New Mexico Congregation Membership: Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church How Long? 7.5 years In most of my activities and positions, I have served. I am a firm believer that to fully live out my call to God, it must include service. I am interested to continue as the At Large Lay Male position on the Rocky Mountain Synod Council because it will give me the opportunity to continue to serve on a larger scale. The work we do at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, at the Rocky Mountain Synod, at the ELCA, and at the Global level is critically important and makes a difference in the world. I want to help make that difference in the world. I have only been a Lutheran for 34 years, I know, a young un compared to many! In that time, I have served in many positions in many churches from Tennessee to Maryland to New Mexico. I have taught confirmation classes, adult classes and middle school and high school classes, participated in many youth programs and activities, and served on Boards, Groups, and Councils. I have just completed my term as the Vice President for Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church s Council (Los Alamos, NM) and have completed my third year of my Council term. I am currently involved in worship, facilities, teaching, and youth activities. I also serve on the Discipline Committee for the Rocky Mountain Synod as a lay male member. a. At Large Lay Male Rocky Mountain Synod Council from 10/17 to Present b. VP Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church Council from 02/17 to 02/18 c. At Large Lay Male Discipline Committee, Rocky Mountain Synod from 05/16 to Present
Position Nominated for: Synod Council At Large, Lay Male Name (First, MI, Last): Michael R. Stoker Lay X Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: _Retired Conference/Geography: Utah Conference, Rocky Mountain Synod Congregation Membership: St. Matthew s Lutheran Church, Taylorsville, Utah How Long? 23 years I have always felt called to serve at St. Matthew s and also to serve the Rocky Mountain Synod and the ELCA. As a congregation in redevelopment, we owe much to those who have trained us, provided grant monies and cheered us on. It is important to me to be involved in the wider church and be part of the overall mission. Many times, prior to redevelopment, I struggled with decisions to take a leadership role and time and again, felt God called me to serve in our unique ministry in Utah. During the time frame we didn t have a Pastor, I reached out to the Utah conference to ensure we had supply pastors for our congregation. Our congregation deeply values worship and this experience taught me the importance of hearing God s words in my life and the lives of others. While under redevelopment and looking for a Pastor, I had the pleasure of reaching out to Bishop Gonia to find a redevelopment Pastor and to begin the process of redevelopment for our congregation. These experiences taught me the value of collaboration and open conversation to build relationships with others and understanding that the outcome depended on God s response. a. Council Member at Large Facilities Management: from July, 2016 to July, 2018 b. Council President and Redevelopment Search: from September, 2012 to July, 2016 c. Council President: from July, 2004 to July, 2011
Position Nominated for: Ethnic Specific Ministry or English as a second Language - Clergy_ Name (First, MI, Last): Theresa (Terry) A. Schjang Lay Lay Roster Clergy X Occupation: Pastor: Mission Developer Conference/Geography: Denver Metro East/Boulder Broomfield Congregation Membership: New Beginnings and Nueva Vida How Long? _5 years /2 years respectively I grew up in the Lutheran Church in the Caribbean. The congregation was made of local people of color, local and visiting Danes, and State-siders. I lived and worshipped and raised my family in NYC where the congregation was multi-ethnic. Not until I entered candidacy in the RMS did I realize how underrepresented ethnic specific and other nonmajority voices are in our synod, and how these voices can be quieted when misinterpreted. I feel called to serve on Synod Council, and to lend my voice to the decision-making process of how we, as a multi-ethnic synod and church become intentionally better listeners, and sharers of each other s gifts at this time. I understand this Synod Council position to be one that lifts up the voices of those often unheard. I have served as pastor of a congregation inside the Denver Women s Correctional Facility for the past five years. A large part of my sense of call has been to connect people inside and outside of the prison with each other to bring strangers together in relationship. It is life-giving to experience the myriad ways people come together forming new partnerships. We are church together. I would be honored to serve on Synod Council in any way that helps us to better see and deepen our relationships with each other. a. Synod Trip to Madagascar 2013 b. Mission Developer at New Beginnings from 2013 to present c. _Mission Outreach Committee, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Littleton, CO. from 2011 to 2012
Position Nominated for: Synod Council Youth Representative Name (First, MI, Last): Maggie C. Nieberger Lay Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: High School Student Conference/Geography: Boulder/Broomfield Congregation Membership: _First Evangelical Lutheran Church How Long? _15 Years_ I have felt God s calling throughout my life to be apart of the wider church and especially now I have realized the importance of having an active youth on Synod Council and to contribute to the youth voice of the church. With the creation of the Synod Youth Council Resolution, to be voted on during this assembly, I feel like now more than ever is a time where God is calling me to be apart of that follow through to make sure the youth of the RMS have a place where they belong in leadership in the synod. I think God has given me the gifts to really work hard through the nitty gritty council work and also speak up in places where a youth voice would be beneficial. I have had a lot of experiences over the last several years that have lead me to being able to be a vocal person in Synod Council. I am currently apart of the ELCA churchwide Youth Core Leadership Team that is in charge of programing the Youth Leadership Summit and I have learned a lot about my own leadership abilities. I was also on the Synod Council these past few years and never really realized what it meant to be a youth on council and I feel like I finally understand that and have grown a lot as a person in the past two years. I now feel like I am able and equipped enough to be an influential person on council. a. _Youth Core Leadership Team from _2017_ to _present_ b. Youth Discipleship Team from _2015_ to _present_ c. International Companionship Program from 2015 to 2015_
Position Nominated for: Youth Council Name (First, MI, Last): Wyatt, Austin, Smith Lay Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: Student Conference/Geography: Metro West Conference Congregation Membership: All Saints Lutheran How Long? 14 Years Briefly describe your sense of God calling you into mission and service in the Synod through this I come from a congregation that could be compared to the widow of 2 coins.we are a small congregation that is only able to give the gift of ourself and thats what I have to give, is myself. I am hoping to be able to contribute to the greater church by being our representative for our national gathering ~ Because we are church better together. Briefly describe your skills and/or experiences that would be an asset to area you are As a youth I can provide insight on what youth are going through in the world today~especially in for those of us in a Rural setting List three current or past congregational and synodical service activities a. All Saints Lutheran youth representative from _2016 to Current b. Chairman of Education from 2016 to _Current c. Attending _Synod_ Assumably As a voting member for the second time from _ to
Position Nominated for: Synod Council, Metro East Clergy Name (First, MI, Last): Matthew Bolz-Weber Lay Lay Roster Clergy X Occupation: Pastor Conference/Geography: Metro East Congregation Membership: Holy Love How Long? _10 Years_ We re in this together. Whether it s in our personal households, a congregation, the synod, or churchwide expressions of the ELCA, or the global family of the body of Christ, we re in this together. Whether it s in our neighborhood, our town/city, or as part of this nation, we re in this together. Our synod, all of us together, have a voice and the capacity to impact the world in which we live. I would be excited to be part of the elected leadership of this synod in order to dream and plan for how to make the impact we have continually positive and life-giving. I live in a city; the congregation I serve is in a suburb; I grew up in a small town, in a rural community. I recognize from lived experience that while the realities of life in those different places have some similarities, the realities of life in those different places are also notably different. The church is not, and will never be, the same in those different settings. I believe that the limited experience I have in each of the types of communities present in our vastly diverse synod gives me at least some capacity for contributing to the work of the Synod Council in ways that take into account the diversity of our synod. a. Urban Servant Corps Board of Directors from _2011_ to _2014_ b. RMS Congregational Ministries Board from _2002_ to _2006_ c. Next Step Youth Ministry Team from _2001_ to _2004_
Position Nominated for: Synod Council Representative Metro East Clergy Name (First, MI, Last): Alena, M, Lamirato Lay Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: _Pastor Conference/Geography: Metro East Congregation Membership: Peace in Christ Episcopal-Lutheran Ministry How Long? _1 year I am actively involved in the Metro East Conference and feel as if I can serve our conference by being our representative on Synod Council. As a Denver native, the Rocky Mountain Synod is my home synod and I am very committed to our ministry and mission. I regularly attend the monthly Metro East Clergy meetings and am connected to the clergy (pastor and deacon) in the conference. I served in the Nebraska Synod where I learned a lot which may be of service here in the RMS. I have been the chair of the Global Mission Committee and am currently the coordinator of the ELCA AMMPARO Guardian Angel and Welcoming Congregation Program in the Denver metro area. Because of my experiences, I know people all over the synod, which may be helpful as we discern God s call for us. a. AMMPARO Guardian Angels/Welcoming Congregations Coordinator_ from 2017_ to present b. Global Mission Committee from _2013 to _2018 c. Advocacy Committee Nebraska Synod from 2008_ to _2012 _
Position Nominated for: Synod Council, Metro South Clergy Name (First, MI, Last): Dave Palma-Ruwe Lay Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: Pastor Conference/Geography: Metro South Conference Congregation Membership: Holy Trinity, Littleton, Colorado How Long? 13 years Over the last several years I have been interested in serving on our Synod Council. At our Conference Retreat we were talking about the open position for our Conference and I shared my interest in serving. I would like to serve and lead with people from across the landscape of our Rocky Mountain Synod. These are interesting times to be Church and I look forward to exploring how we can best be Church in our Synod. It would be an honor to serve our Synod on our Council. I have served in the Rocky Mountain Synod for 22 years and have served my current congregation for 13 years. I have participated in 100s of Church Council Meetings and enjoy seeing how we can best be Church together. My 28 years of ordained ministry have given me a variety of experiences and perspectives that will help me to serve and lead on our Synod Council. I care deeply about the Church and listen well to the needs and concerns of people. I also ask good questions and often those questions lead to better ways to be Church together. a. Middle School Youth Gathering organizing and planning team from 1998 to 2003 b. New Beginnings Church Outside Council from 2009 to 2017 c. Steering Committee - Iglesia Luterana Jesus de Nazaret, Aurora, CO from 2014 to 2015
Position Nominated for: _Synod Council: Northern Colorado Lay Name (First, MI, Last): _Jeffrey K Fairfax Lay Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: _Youth Development Outdoor Ministry Conference/Geography: _Northern Colorado Congregation Membership: _Zion Lutheran Church Loveland, CO How Long? _7 mos. 2 Corinthians 5:7 reads, For we walk by faith, not by sight. For me, this verse takes on new meaning in the context of a nomination for Synod Council. Synod Council members are called to rely on their faith and direction from God while they serve as the legislative authority between Synod Assembly meetings. But they are also called to use their sight, in terms of visional, informed leadership, to make decisions as the Synod board of directors. As a person of faith by nature and a non-profit professional by trade, I feel called to use my spiritual gifts and experiences to walk alongside and guide the Rocky Mountain Synod, with both faith and sight. Non-profit organizations, including synodical and congregational ministries of the ELCA, need to be supported with sound business practices to ensure their future for years to come. I feel called to lead as a member of Synod Council to help the Synod focus on spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial health and responsibility. These four essentials are the core of a sustainable faith-based organization. The Rocky Mountain Synod and its 163 diverse congregations rely on guidance and leadership from Synod Council and the Office of the Bishop. We must use our sight, alongside our faith, to connect and support these communities, in joy and in struggles. When we can truly see and listen to the communities we are a part of, then we can make informed choices that result in spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial wellness for all. If we can achieve this, then I have no doubt we will be Christ s Church, Better Together. Synod Council members work with and give guidance to a wide variety of people and congregations. My past and current work experience with six different non-profits has helped me to hone my skills as a leader with vision, relational expertise, and a passion for long-range planning. I have worked as a youth director at a large ELCA congregation in Florida, at a continuing care retirement center, and as a program coordinator for the third largest YMCA association in the country. In addition to my current employment at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, I have experience working at two other ELCA outdoor ministry sites. Each of these organizations, big and small, have faith at the core of its mission and vision, much like Synod Council. Each experience has informed my natural abilities in creative problem solving, logistical and program planning, and faith formation. I enjoy big picture thinking and working collaboratively with others to brainstorm solutions that benefit everyone involved. I am constantly looking three steps ahead at what is or could be possible in any situation. In my current position, I enjoy meeting and connecting others, including pastors, lay volunteers, faith formation leaders, and community members, to build a strong, yet inclusive network based on trusted relationships. It is my belief that these skills would guide me and serve as an asset if I were to serve on Synod Council. a. _Rocky Mountain Synod Youth Gatherings from: January 2017 to Present b. _Zion Lutheran Church Youth Chaperone from: March 2018 to Present c. _Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp Program Director from: December 2016 to Present
Position Nominated for: Synod Council North New Mexico Lay Name (First, MI, Last): Terry E Cole Lay X Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: Retired Teacher Conference/Geography: North New Mexico Congregation Membership: St Paul Albuquerque How Long?40 years I continue to be moved by the words We are church better together. As a current member of Synod Council, I am inspired and moved to action by the work we do. I feel that I now have found my voice and can participate in the work of the Council with even greater clarity and commitment. I have learned about the work of our synod and the ways in which the Holy Spirit moves among us to strengthen God s people as we work together. To name a few, I have learned about our collaborations with Four Winds Council, Lutheran Advocacy, Cristo Rey, the Aurora Area Ministry, Camino de Vida, and other ministry partners. With this new knowledge, I feel more equipped to share those stories and work where my energy is needed. Recently I began serving as liaison to Camino de Vida, a Presbyterian/Lutheran mission congregation that serves the immigrant population. I look forward to, hopefully, continuing this work and more in my next term. I have assisted with the work of the Compensation Task Force and hope to continue in this area as well. A retired teacher, I believe my skills in organization and communication serve me well in work within the church. I love to learn new things and then discern ways for involvement both for myself and for collaborations within the greater church. I have served in leadership positions in the work place as a teacher, department chairperson, and literacy trainer, and in the church on Congregation Council, as chairperson of Worship and Music, Chair of the Personnel Committee, Lay Youth Leader, and Stephen Ministry Leader. I have served on Synod and Churchwide committees and have a sense of the working of our church. My participation on two Synod trips to Madagascar and subsequent involvement on the Companion Synod Committee have opened my eyes and ears to realities that extend beyond my local experience. I cherish these insights and try to use them faithfully when presented with new challenges--- there are always new challenges. I am a team player and love being involved with the church in this way, especially as we all put our trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. a. Synod Council from 2014 to 2018 b Companion Synod Committee from 2006 to 2018 c. Stephen Ministry Leader from2005 to 2018
Position Nominated for: Synod Council, North New Mexico Lay Name (First, MI, Last): John R. Emery Lay X Lay Roster Clergy Occupation: Attorney Conference/Geography: Northern New Mexico Congregation Membership: Lutheran Church of the Servant, Santa Fe How Long? 3 years I have been involved in church governance for many years in all expressions. After a hiatus of a few years I felt a desire to share my gifts and experiences again, which coincided with being approached by others about doing so. The confluence of my internal feeling with the affirmation of others led me to believe I should offer my services in this way. I have been a leader in many civic organizations over the years, and have also served on many church boards and committee on all levels. I believe I have a gift for administration and an understanding of the ELCA organization, as well as a love for the church and desire to see it thrive that would serve the synod well. a. Congregation President from 2018 to present b. ELCA Churchwide Council from 2007 to 2013; Executive Committee from 2011 to 2013 c. Vice President, East Central Synod of Wisconsin from 2005 to 2013