Lawrence Boudon Grace, Oak Ridge TN Pastor Educational Background: M.Div., Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; PhD, University of Miami; MA, University of Virginia; BA, University of Rochester. Completed four units of CPE Completed Stephen Ministry Training Professional Background: As dean of the Miami-Dade-Monroe Conference of the Florida- Bahamas Synod, guided five churches through the transition process. Achieved financial stability for first-call congregation. Community Involvement: Member, Oak Ridge Rotary Club (also former member Rotary Club of South Miami). Member, Oak Ridge Ministers Association Member, Oak Ridge Chorus Congregational Involvement: Participated in Alpha Program. Completed Stephen Ministry Training. Participate in church choir. Synod/Churchwide Involvement: Served as dean of Miami-Dade-Monroe Conference of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, 2014-18. Member of Cuba Team and Global Mission Committee for Florida-Bahamas Synod. Voting Participant in 2016 Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans. Inclusivity: Clergy (Minister of Word and Sacrament), Male, Over age 31, White Why do you want to attend the 2019 Churchwide Assembly? Having attended the 2016 Churchwide Assembly, I feel called to serve at this level of the ELCA. I am a big picture person who appreciates and values the contributions of the ELCA to our society and the world, and would like to contribute to that work at the 2019 assembly. I support the recent changes made at the churchwide level, but also recognize the need to continue adapting the church to a changing world, making it relevant in people's lives. The ELCA must find new ways to be church, supporting new non-traditional models for worshipping communities such as Castle Church Brewing in Orlando, FL. I am also an ideas person who is not afraid to explore new options and possibilities. Past churchwide assemblies attended: 2016 What are your hopes for the ELCA? My hope is that the ELCA will continue discerning the directions in which God is taking the church, then find ways to carry out a new mission. To that end, dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations could result in increased cooperation and new avenues for joint ministry. In addition, it is imperative that the ELCA discover the means to make our particular "brand" of Christianity better known, so as to attract new members. D-31
James Korzun Our Savior, Gatlinburg TN Pastor Educational Background: B.A. - Drew University MDiv - Harvard Divinity School 4 Advanced CPE Units - Emory University Hospital System Professional Background: Addressed in Russian a visiting delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church during their 1000 anniversary. Published a paper on Spiritual Direction in the Sewanee Theological Review (vol. 46:1). Helped establish and served on the Board of the 'Caregivers Relief Program' for family caregivers of Alzheimers patients. Community Involvement: President of Gatlinburg Ministerial Association Member of County Health Advisory Council Gatlinburg Fire Disaster Response Congregational Involvement: Transformation Ministry team member OSLC Foundation Board member As a pastor, I am an ex officio member of all committees and the Council Synod/Churchwide Involvement: Disaster Response Coordinator Inclusivity: Clergy (Minister of Word and Sacrament), Male, Over age 31, White Why do you want to attend the 2019 Churchwide Assembly? As a pastor of 35 years, I have had a variety of experiences in local congregations, as well as experience with a Church Denomination (Russian Orthodox) that the ELCA has had little contact with. I believe I could offer a unique perspective to the discussions at the church wide assembly. Past churchwide assemblies attended: None What are your hopes for the ELCA? I hope that the ELCA would continually grow in spiritual depth and in its ability to understand and live out its faith. I would like to see its congregations creatively reach out to and more effectively engage their surrounding communities. I hope the ELCA would be viewed as a welcoming presence and the embodiment of the love of Christ in all of its expressions as part of the Church. D-32
Robert Loshuertos All Saints, Huntsville AL Retired Clergy Educational Background: M. Div. LTSS, BA Wittenberg University, AA San Francisco City College Professional Background: Executive Minister, Interfaith Mission Service, Interim Pastor at Prince of Peace, Huntsville, Christ, Cullman and Prince of Peace, Knoxville Community Involvement: First President of the Board of Hope Place spouse abuse shelter, Founder of Food Bank, Volunteer at Greater Huntsville Humane Society. Congregational Involvement: Teacher of SS, Committee Member, Altar Guild Synod/Churchwide Involvement: Stewardship Staff Pastor, Stewardship Key Leader, Have been in attendance for 3 National Assemblies as visitor or Volunteer. Inclusivity: Clergy (Minister of Word and Sacrament), Male, Over age 31, Hispanic or Latino Why do you want to attend the 2019 Churchwide Assembly? I have seen Assemblies but not been a voting member. I have knowledge of many areas of the church in this country from my service in various parts of the country. I have a good knowledge of social service agencies. Past churchwide assemblies attended: Pittsburg, Orlando, Chicago What are your hopes for the ELCA? My hope is for the ELCA to grow and speak out more on social issues that are hurting society. D-33
Matt Steinhauer Faith, Lebanon TN Pastor Educational Background: BS in Liberal Studies, Belmont University, Nashville, TN; Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) certification, Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA; Certification in Youth and Family Ministry, Wartburg Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Professional Background: Served as chair of the annual Gospel Music Association Radio DJ Seminar in first career; 20 years in the Life & Health insurance industry with AFLAC as a Sales Associate, District Coordinator, Regional Coordinator and Trainer for the State of Tennessee, winning numerous sales and management awards over those years. Now serving in the 8th year of my first call where, in addition to parish and pastoral duties, I have contributed an Americana music setting of the Liturgy to the body of Worship Music and Liturgy settings available to the church. Community Involvement: Tennova Hospital Volunteer Chaplains Board; Past Chair of The Wilson County Community Help Center; Board of Trustees of PEER Place (day program for special needs adults) Congregational Involvement: As an active lay member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, TN, the congregation in which I grew up (and was a charter member of until 2011), I served as a Sunday school teacher, Men's Bible Study leader, choir member and musician, council member and president, Finance Chair for new sanctuary building project. Synod/Churchwide Involvement: AFFIRM Unit Director 10+ years; member of Synod Disaster Ministry Committee; Tennessee Ready Bench for Health Care Inclusivity: Clergy (Minister of Word and Sacrament), Male, Over age 31, White Why do you want to attend the 2019 Churchwide Assembly? As long as I can remember I have been an active participant in the life of the Lutheran church on the Congregational, Conference and Synodical level. As a pastor, likewise, I have appreciated and promoted the wider church expressions that bind us together to be more than we could be by ourselves. It would be a joy and great honor to extend my experience to participating in a churchwide assembly. My diverse experience in practically every area of ministry of the local congregation as a lay person, and now eight years experience as a pastor of a small congregation (which would be closer to the experience of the majority of Lutherans in the Southeastern Synod), equips me with a good basis for being a part of the upcoming churchwide assembly. Past churchwide assemblies attended: None What are your hopes for the ELCA? My hope for the ELCA is that we continue living out the example of Jesus to welcome and serve the other. This part of the Body of Christ that gathers as the ELCA, has a wonderful and much needed opportunity to be a voice D-34
(Matt Steinhauer, continued) for those in our world without a voice, and those who are sometimes not even seen. As an intern I preached the Sunday the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted on the Social Statement on Human Sexuality. The RCL Gospel included Jn 6:66, Because of [the hard saying of Jesus] many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him (v.66). I remember being struck by there not being a word of condemnation by Jesus of those who turned away. Jesus example of loving those who may not live up to one s expectations of a disciple (and even washing some of their feet) seems like an attribute the ELCA has lived out well and my hope is to carry that same attitude as a lay voting member. D-35
James Thomas Ebenezer, Columbia SC Seminary Professor Educational Background: PhD (U of MN), STM (Union Sem. NYC), MSed (City U, NYC), MSspe (Bank Street, NYC) MDiv (Christ Seminary, SEMINEX, St. Louis, Mo.) Professional Background: Congregation Pastor for 35 Years, Reserve US Air Force Chaplain for 28 Years, Seminary Professor for 10 Years Community Involvement: United Way of the Midlands Proposal Reader, Advisory Board of Lutheran Social Services of the Carolinas, Eau Claire Rotary Club Congregational Involvement: Church Council Member, Adult Bible Class Instructor, Worship Leadership Synod/Churchwide Involvement: Southeastern Synod Candidacy Committee, Consultation Committee, ELCA African Descent Strategy Team Inclusivity: Clergy (Minister of Word and Sacrament), Male, Over age 31, Black or African American Why do you want to attend the 2019 Churchwide Assembly? I bring a theologically informed and strong participatory churchwide and synod background to the team. Past churchwide assemblies attended: 2013 - Pittsburgh (ELCA Faculty Representative) 2011 - Orlando, Fla. What are your hopes for the ELCA? I hope that the ELCA continues as a growing and diverse missional church committed to a ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Name of Jesus Christ. D-36