thirtieth annual synod assembly · 2017-04-21 · this synod shall have a synod assembly, which...
TRANSCRIPT
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Thirtieth Annual
Synod Assembly
Pacifica Synod – ELCA
San Diego Town and Country Resort
10:30 a.m. Executive Committee Le Sommet 1:00 p.m. Hospitality Training Pacific Ballroom 1:00 p.m. Synod Council Meeting Windsor Rose 5:30 p.m. Staff Dinner Le Sommet 9:00 a.m. Hospitality Training Session Pacific Ballroom
9:30 a.m. Registration Opens Golden Foyer
10:30 a.m. Hearings Budget Hearing Pacific Salon 4 Resolutions Hearing Pacific Salon 5 12:45 p.m. Gathering Music Golden Ballroom BUSINESS MEETING 1BUSINESS MEETING 1BUSINESS MEETING 1BUSINESS MEETING 1
1:00 p.m. Opening of the Assembly (Page 2 - 4)
Credentials Report Nominating Committee Report, Open Floor Nominations Grant Recognition Treasurer’s Report Introductions
2:25 p.m. Keynote Address-the Rev. R. Guy Erwin,
Bishop, Southwest California Synod
3:10 p.m. Synod Business Report of the Vice President Resolutions
5:00 p.m. Dinner on your own
7:00 p.m. Worship—the Rev. Andrew A. Taylor, First United Methodist
Bishop of Pacifica Synod, preaching (off site: see page 2-3)
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017
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BUSINESS MEETING 2BUSINESS MEETING 2BUSINESS MEETING 2BUSINESS MEETING 2 Golden Ballroom 8:30 a.m. Credentials Report Synod Council Elections
8:45 a.m. Keynote Address—the Rev. Chris Alexander
10:05 a.m. Synod business Anniversary recognition 10:20 a.m. ELCA Report-Mr. Keith Mundy 11:05 a.m. Conference Ministry Recognition 12:00 p.m. Lunch Lion Fountain Court 1:00 p.m. Vote on the Budget Golden Ballroom 1:10 p.m. Election Results
1:15 p.m. Report of the Bishop—the Rev. Andrew A. Taylor
2:45 p.m. Workshops and Experiential Learning (Page 7 – 1) 6:15 p.m. Reception Lion Fountain Court 7:00 p.m. Dinner Golden Ballroom BUSINESS MEETING BUSINESS MEETING BUSINESS MEETING BUSINESS MEETING 3333 Golden Ballroom 8:30 a.m. Credentials Report Youth Team Report Conference Break-outs Various
10:30 a.m. Closing Worship—the Rev. Terry Tuvey Allen, Golden Ballroom
Assistant to the Bishop, preaching
Close of Assembly
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2017
FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017
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Thursday Evening WorshipThursday Evening WorshipThursday Evening WorshipThursday Evening Worship Thursday, May 11
7:00 p.m.
Service of Holy Communion Bishop Andy Taylor preaching
First United Methodist Church 2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
Directions will be available at Registration
First United Methodist Church
is less than three miles east of the
Town and Country Resort.
You need not be a voting member of the assembly to attend worship.
All are welcome!
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Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Opening of a Synod or Churchwide Assembly
L: As in one body we have many members,
C: so we, who are many, are one body in Christ.
L: Where two or three are gathered in my name, says the Lord,
C: I am there among them.
L: Live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness,
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
C: Let us pursue what makes for justice and peace,
and for mutual upbuilding.
L: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
L: Let us pray.
O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people
by sending into us your Holy Spirit.
Direct us by the light of that Spirit,
that we may have a right judgment in all things
and rejoice at all times in your peace,
through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
L: I declare this thirtieth assembly to be in session
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress
Liturgies Annual License #SB130414.
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Evangelical Lutheran Worship
Closing of a Synod or Churchwide Assembly L: Jesus said, You will be my witnesses
C: to the ends of the earth.
L: I chose you and appointed you
C: to bear fruit that will last.
L: Remember, I will be with you always,
C: to the end of time.
L: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
L: Let us pray.
Direct us, O Lord God, in all our doings with your most gracious favor,
and extend to us your continual help;
that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you,
we may glorify your holy name; and finally, by your mercy, bring us to everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
L: O God, our beginning and our end, you kept Abraham and Sarah in safety throughout the
days of their pilgrimage, you led the children of Israel through the midst of the sea, and
by a star you led the magi to the infant Jesus. Protect and guide us now as we set out to
travel. Make our ways safe and our homecomings joyful, and bring us at last to our
heavenly home, where you dwell in glory with our Lord Jesus Christ and the life-giving
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
L: I declare this assembly closed
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
L: Go in peace. Share the good news.
C: Thanks be to God.
Copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress
Liturgies Annual License #SB130414.
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ASSEMBLY PARTICIPANTS
CHAIR .......................................................... Andrew A. Taylor, Bishop PARLIAMENTARIAN ................................ Ms. Pauline Getz SECRETARY ................................................ Ms. Angela Jackson ASSEMBLY PLANNING TEAM…………. The Rev. David Jorstad, Co-Chair Mr. Nate Maxwell-Doherty The Rev. Laura Ziehl, Co-Chair Ms. Meri Jo Petrivelli Ms. Rachel Line, Assembly Manager Ms. Terri Robertson The Rev. Nate Allen The Rev. Karla Seyb-Stockton The Rev. Brenda Bos Ms. Mary Shaima Mr. Darrell Datte Ms. Rebekah Swanson Ms. Dianne Finnecy
AUDIO/VISUAL ........................................... Mr. Tom Hoegel, Big Dog Sound AUDIO/VISUAL ASSISTANT .................... Mr. Dale Feine and the Rev. Brenda Bos CREDENTIALS ........................................... Ms. Terri Robertson EMERGENCY PROCEDURES .................... Ms. Rebekah Swanson HOSPITALITY VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS ........................................................................ Mr. Darrell Datte ........................................................................ Ms. Ellie Timan ........................................................................ The Rev. Ron Hovick LOGO ............................................................ Mr. Nate Maxwell-Doherty NOMINATING COMMITTEE ..................... The Rev. Scottie Lloyd, Chair REGISTRATION COORDINATORS .......... Ms. Terri Robertson Ms. Sandy Poteet Mr. Glenn Travers RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE .................. The Rev. Brian Taylor, Chair SYNOD COUNCIL ELECTIONS ............... The Rev. Brian Taylor WORSHIP ..................................................... The Rev. Terry Tuvey Allen The Rev. Lawrence Hand The Rev. Matthew Anderson The Rev. David Jorstad The Rev. Erin Armstrong Ms. Mary Shaima The Rev. Jay Egenes Ms. Rebekah Swanson Ms. Dianne Finnecy
The Assembly Planning Team thanks all of the many volunteers who make this event possible.
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin
Bishop, Southwest California Synod
Bishop Guy Erwin earned a doctorate and two master’s
degrees at Yale University and his bachelor’s degree at
Harvard University. He engaged in seminary studies at Yale
Divinity School and the universities of Tubingen and Leipzig in
Germany.
Most recently, he was the Gerhard and Olga Belgum Professor
of Lutheran Confessional Theology at California Lutheran
University in Thousand Oaks, at the same time serving as part-
time interim pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Canoga Park,
California. He has served as the ELCA representative to the
Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches since 2004.
Ordained in May 2011, Guy Erwin is the ELCA’s first synod bishop who is gay and partnered.
He lives in Los Angeles and is married to Rob Flynn, a member of the ELCA. Bishop Erwin is
part Osage Indian and is active in the Osage Nation of Oklahoma.
As well as serving as interim pastor for two ELCA congregations in California, Guy Erwin
served as minister for worship and education at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in North
Hollywood, California.
Prior to coming to California in 2000, he was lecturer in church history and historical theology
at Yale Divinity School from 1993 to 1999. He served as parish associate at Emmanuel
Lutheran Church in New Haven, Connecticut from 1986 to 2000. Bishop Erwin has also served
on a variety of boards and committees for ELCA-related institutions and other non-profit
agencies.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Rev. Chris Alexander
Associate Minister, Countryside Community Church
Chris is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
and was called to serve as the Associate Minister at
Countryside Community Church in Omaha NE in December of
2010. Chris graduates on May 21 (along with Bishop Andy
Taylor!) with her Doctor of Ministry in the area of congregational
leadership and mission. She lives in Omaha with her husband,
Rev. Dr. Scott Frederickson, their two daughters Rachel and
Maddy, and one grandson, Asher. Chris enjoys speaking on
behalf of Countryside as the Christian Partner of the Tri Faith
Initiative because the conversation is rich in history, tradition,
imagination and great respect between the three Abrahamic
faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Countryside looks forward to relocating to the Tri Faith
Campus at 132nd and Pacific in the Fall of 2018.
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ELCA CHURCHWIDE REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. Keith A. Mundy
Program Director for Stewardship, ELCA
As the Program Director for Stewardship in the ELCA
Domestic Mission Unit, Keith A. Mundy focuses on
stewardship education, leadership development, mission
interpretation and growing mission support. This work
includes coaching new ELCA staff, pastors and
stewardship leaders in their efforts to be faithful and well-
formed stewards.
With more than twenty years experience in stewardship ministry, Keith’s roles have included
strategic planner, developer, writer, teacher, facilitator and coach. He has gained valuable
experience in these roles as a charter member of three new starts and an active leader in
small, mid-size and large congregations. Keith strives to help individuals identify and develop
their gifts while engaging congregations in healthy and missional practices. In his own words,
“I think of myself as a servant with a passion for growing disciples who practice faithful
stewardship. When our faith journeys come together, we discover new ways to enrich our
relationship with Jesus Christ and use the gifts God has entrusted to individuals and
congregations.”
As a member of ELCA staff for almost twenty years, Keith A. Mundy has served congregations
in most of the sixty-five synods. He helped develop resources such as Rediscover Macedonia,
Stories to Tell & Gifts to Share, Money Leadership for Thriving Congregations, Make It Simple,
Rediscover Macedonia, and the How to Guide for Stewardship Competencies. Keith also
provides leadership for Ventures in Growing Stewards, stewardship coaching, Lutherans
Restoring Creation and the Ecumenical Stewardship Center.
Keith grew up in California and moved to Minnesota in 1977. His wife, Joyce Hagen Mundy is
a former LSM President and strong supporter of Keith’s call to serve the ELCA. While raising
two children, their family belonged to congregations in Minnesota, Indiana and Kansas. Prior
to joining the ELCA, Keith obtained an MBA and worked in business for twenty years as a
marketing manager and business developer. He has taught marketing courses at the college
level and led several building appeals. His personal interests include gardening, sports and
travel.
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Assembly Rules aAssembly Rules aAssembly Rules aAssembly Rules and Proceduresnd Proceduresnd Proceduresnd Procedures for the Pacifica Synodfor the Pacifica Synodfor the Pacifica Synodfor the Pacifica Synod
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americaof the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americaof the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americaof the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY This Synod shall have a Synod Assembly, which shall be its highest legislative authority. (S7.01) MEETINGS Regular meetings of the Synod Assembly shall be held annually, as scheduled by the Synod Council, generally in the months of April, May, or June. (S7.11.01) QUORUM One-half of members of the Synod Assembly shall constitute a quorum. (S7.14) AGENDA The Chair shall have the authority, within the adopted agenda, to call items before the Assembly in such an order as to ensure the orderly flow of business. Any resolution presented after the 90-day deadline is to be submitted to the Secretary who will immediately refer it to the Resolutions Committee. These resolutions can be introduced at the Assembly if permitted by a two-thirds vote of the members. All resolutions not voted on at the Assembly will be placed on the next Synod Council meeting agenda for action. All motions to come before the Assembly are to be in writing and submitted to the Secretary. A two-thirds vote of the Assembly shall be required to add new business to the Agenda. VOTING MEMBERS The membership of the Synod Assembly, of which at least 60% of the voting membership shall be composed of laypersons, shall be constituted as follows: a. All ministers of Word and Sacrament under call on the roster of this synod in
attendance at this Synod Assembly shall be voting members. b. All ministers of Word and Service, under call, on the roster of this synod shall be
voting members in the Synod Assembly, in addition to the voting membership of lay members of congregations provided in item *S7.21.c.
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c. A minimum of one lay member elected by each congregation with fewer than 175 baptized members and a minimum of two lay members elected by each congregation with 175 or more baptized members related to this synod, normally one of whom shall be male and one of whom shall be female, shall be voting members. The Synod Council shall establish a formula to provide additional lay representation from congregations on the basis of number of baptized members in the congregation. (*S21.c.) In addition to the lay voting members elected by each congregation as stipulated in *S7.21.c, each congregation may provide additional lay representation to a synod assembly by adding one lay voting member who is a Youth or Young Adult … less than 30 years of age (S7.21.B13). Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities (SAWC) of the Pacifica Synod shall be permitted to have one lay representative (S7.26). Licensed lay ministers in recognized ethnic ministries of the synod are granted voice and vote at the assembly, plus one additional layperson from the community may be elected as a voting member. The Synod Council will review a list of the eligible ministries/persons annually. (SC99.04.05) The Synod Council shall seek to ensure that, as nearly as possible, 50 percent of the lay members of the assembly shall be female and 50 percent shall be male.
d. Voting membership shall include the officers of this synod. (S7.21) e. Ten percent (10%) of all retired ministers of Word and Sacrament and Word and
Service on the roster of this synod shall have the right to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly. The selection of these retired rostered ministers to serve as voting members shall be done in a process established by the Synod Council. (S7.22.b,c)
f. Retired ministers of Word and Sacrament on the roster of the Pacifica Synod serving
congregations in an interim position under a contract with the congregation and with the approval of the synod, notwithstanding the provisions above (S7.22b), shall be voting members of the Synod Assembly, consistent with †S7.21.c. (S7.22.A12)
g. In keeping with section S7.27 of the synod constitution that states: “This synod may
establish processes through the Synod Council to grant a minister of Word and Sacrament from a church body with which a relationship of full communion has been declared and established by the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the privilege of both voice and vote in the Synod Assembly during the period of that minister’s service in a congregation of this church,” ministers of Word and Sacrament from full-communion partners who serve in a congregation of this synod shall be granted voice and vote at synod assembly.
h. Retired pastors from a church body with which a relationship of full communion has
been declared and established by the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who are serving congregations in an interim position under a contract with the congregating and with the approval of the synod, notwithstanding the provisions in S7.22b, shall be voting members of the Synod Assembly, consistent with *S7.21.c. (S7.27.A12)
i. Duly elected voting members of the Synod Council who are not otherwise voting
members of the Synod Assembly under S7.21. shall be granted the privilege of both voice and vote as members of the Synod Assembly. (S7.28)
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j. Rostered leaders with On Leave from Call or Continuing Disability status, in good
standing with this synod, may serve as voting members of the assembly. VOICE ONLY The Pacifica Synod of the ELCA grants seat and voice to the President of the Pacifica Synodical Women’s Organization at Synod assemblies. (S7.21.A94) The bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and such other official representatives of this church as may be designated from time to time by the Church Council shall also have voice but not vote in the meetings of the Synod Assembly. Like privileges shall be accorded to those additional persons whom the Synod Assembly or the Synod Council shall from time to time designate. (S7.23) The youth that join the assembly from the Pacifica Synod Youth Team shall have seat and voice in the assembly. VOTING Proxy and absentee voting shall not be permitted in the transaction of any business of this synod. (S7.31) NOMINATIONS Nominations for all positions, whether offered by the Nominating Committee, or from the floor, shall be valid only if prior to the nominations being closed, the Nominee has, either directly or indirectly, indicated his/her willingness to serve if elected. All nominations from the floor must be accompanied by a written nomination containing the signatures of no less than 10 persons qualified to vote for the Nominee indicating their support for the nomination and needs to be in compliance with gender, clergy/lay representation requirements. Nominations for all offices must be submitted to the Nominations Table located outside the
Pacifica Synod Office no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 11May 11May 11May 11. Those desiring to make
nominations are asked to get a Nominations Form from the Nominations Table, and, after completing it, return it to the Nominations Table. During the Assembly, if a resignation or withdrawal occurs, immediate reference shall be made to the Nominating Committee, which will convene and suggest one or more candidates for another election. VOICE No member may speak from the floor more than two minutes or more than twice on one issue without consent of the Assembly.
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ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary procedure of the Synod Assembly. (S7.32) APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS Any proposal to appropriate funds, whether by amendment to the budget or otherwise, which is presented to a meeting of the Synod Assembly without the prior approval of the Synod Council, shall be immediately referred to the Synod Council for an opinion and report prior to any debate or action by the Synod Assembly. (S10.04) DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITS Authorization for setting up displays and exhibits and for placing posters, announcements, etc., at Assemblies of the Pacifica Synod shall be limited to those agencies or groups who are approved by the Executive Committee. The selling of goods or services is not allowed unless approved in advance by the Executive Committee.
DISPLAYS BY AFFILIATED AND NON-AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
The Executive Committee of the Pacifica Synod has approved the following list of organizations
as ones that may display at the 2017201720172017 Synod Assembly.
Permission to display by non-affiliated organizations is granted by the Executive Committee of the Synod Council and does not constitute any type of endorsement of these groups. Under no circumstances may non-affiliated organizations be involved in direct solicitation of funds at the assembly. Permission to display is granted on a year-by-year basis.
DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS All materials for distribution to voting members at the Synod Assembly shall be in the synod office no later than five working days prior to the opening of the assembly. After the assembly is in session, permission to distribute materials must be secured from the on-site synod office.
African Team Ministries Lutheran Social Services of So Cal
Agape House SDSU Mission Investment Fund ELCA
Bethlehem Handicrafts Nancy Bond Insurance Services California Lutheran University—Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary Portico Benefit Services
Coaching Ministry Team Pacifica Women of the ELCA
CollectiveSun, LLC Pacifica Youth Team
ELCA Chaplains and US Army Southern Cross Property Consultants
ELCA Federal Credit Union Survivors of Torture, International
ELCA Schools and Learning Centers Third Avenue Charitable Organization
Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Reconciling Works
Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Thrivent
Lutheran Retreats, Camps & Conferences
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WORD & SACRAMENT ROSTER PASTORS RECEIVED FROM OTHER SYNODS BY CALL TO: Joel Martyn * 10.29.2016 King of Kings, Oceanside * Jennifer Schultz 01.01.2017 Bethlehem, Los Alamitos Timothy Eichler 02.01.2017 King of Kings, Oceanside Richard Fry 07.25.2017 Ascension, San Diego RECEIVED BY ORDINATION AND CALL: TO: Berhanu Refera 06.12.2016 Calvary, San Diego Erin Armstrong 11.13.2016 Trinity, Hemet NEW CALLS OR CONTRACTS WITHIN SYNOD: TO: Carol Reed 03.15.2016 Lord of Life, Moreno Valley John Lunn 08.01.2016 Grace Episcopal, Molokai Andrew Taylor 08.01.2016 Bishop, Pacifica Synod David Beard 10.29.2016 St. Andrews, San Diego Brad Stienstra 11.07.2016 Resurrection, Huntington Beach Karin Boye 11.21.2016 Gethsemane, San Diego Ken Severa (contract) 12.03.2016 LC of the Desert, Joshua Tree Darryl Kozak 01.18.2017 First, San Diego Dennis Laherty 02.01.2017 ATTB, Pacifica Synod Tim Edmondson 05.01.2016 Hope, Riverside Richard Rollefson 01.01.2017 Newport Harbor, Newport Greg Ronning (contract) 02.12.2017 First, Fullerton Jayaprakash (JP) Sabbithi 03.11.2017 Hospice Hawaii, Honolulu PASTORS WHO RETIRED Carl Witt 01.01.2016 E. Carl Zimmermann 11.01.2016 Gloria Espeseth 11.20.2016 Laura Line 12.03.2016 Sharon Gunderson 01.01.2017 CURRENTLY ON LEAVE FROM CALL Karen D.S. Perkins 08.24.2012 Dick Braun 08.01.2013 Amber Remillard 01.01.2014 Steve Awbrey 04.30.2014 James Jerpseth 12.14.2014 Carole Parmeter Dyer 08.01.2015 Michael Hagenow 11.21.2015 David Kieffer 11.21.2015 Tim Philips 08.19.2016 Karla Seyb-Stockton 01.11.2017 Joel Martyn 02.01.2017 Continuing Disability: Dianne Eller 03.08.2005 Roger Patterson 07.17.2012 Mark Cansino 11.02.2016
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PASTORS TRANFERRED TO ANOTHER SYNOD: TO: Jacob Burkman 04.17.2016 Northeastern Minnesota Wilbert “Wilk” Miller 07.01.2016 Metropolitan New York Rebecca Ajer 08.01.2016 Lower Susquehanna Paul Kirchner 08.01.2016 Southwestern Texas DECEASED, RESIGNED OR REMOVED FROM THE ROSTER Stan Califf 07.02.2016 Deceased Roy Blumhorst 07.29.2016 Deceased Audrey B. Foley 10.09.2016 Deceased Larry A. Gardner 10.10.2016 Deceased Edward C. Eskildsen 11.26.2016 Deceased Rafael Melendez 12.03.2016 Removed Dennis Dirks 12.03.2016 Removed Larry Koger 12.12.2016 Deceased Frank Steinhauer 12.21.2016 Removed Robert Miller 01.28.2017 Deceased Mark Allert 02.08.2017 Resigned Dick Wright 02.23.2017 Deceased APPROVED FOR CALL – ASSIGNED TO PACIFICA SYNOD Dianne Finnecy
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WORD & SERVICE ROSTER CURRENTLY ON LEAVE FROM CALL: Lynne Prechel 09.01.2016 Roberta Wall 08.31.2016 DEACONS WHO RETIRED Barbara Martyn 12.09.2016 DECEASED, RESIGNED OR REMOVED FROM THE ROSTER LaVonne Stief 06.25.2016 Deceased APPROVED FOR CALL – ASSIGNED TO PACIFICA SYNOD Mindy Bugaj Mary Shaima FULL COMMUNION PARTNERS NEW CONTRACTS WITHIN SYNOD Cindy Arndt Presbyterian Lihue, Lihue, HI 01.15.2017 CLERGY ROSTER: INVITATION TO SERVE: Dave Madsen Episcopalian The Welcome Church, El Cajon Jonathan Vincent UCC Bethany Lutheran, Norco Lili Bush Episcopalian Shepherd of the Desert, Barstow Elizabeth Williams Episcopalian Faith, Yucaipa Anne-Grethe Nielsen ELC-Demark Danish Lutheran Church, Yorba Linda
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WORD AND SACRAMENT
MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS
P.E. Van Tassel 1945
Luverne C. Tengbom 1946
Lowell O. Larson 1948
John W. Spann 1949
Melvin M. Kieschnick 1950
Kenneth J. Dale 1951
Charles A. Endter 1952
Donovan A. Myers 1952
Robert J. Wayne 1952
Gilbert C. Moore 1953
Lawrence H. Roller 1953
William Schumacher 1954
David Lindberg 1955
M. Laurel Gray 1956
Paul C. Oas 1956
Edward J. Volkmann 1956
Raymond Mehl 1957
Daniel Hansen 1958
John Knudson 1958
Paul Larson 1958
David Babcock 1959
Stephen L. Brandt 1960
Robert R. Freistedt 1960
Ronald J. Lavin 1960
Harvey A. Anderson 1961
Bruce P. Craft 1961
Duane A. Berg 1962
Richard L. Elliott 1962
Fred P. Fritschel 1962
Eugene R. Holtz 1962
George S. Johnson 1962
David D. Reynolds 1962
Kenneth Caudill 1963
Carl Erickson 1963
Donald Johnson 1963
Ying-Chhi Kuo 1963
Jack Lindquist 1963
Albert Stott 1963
David Wenger 1963
David Chen 1964
Frank Gearhart 1964
Charles Malloch 1964
Theodore C. Johns 1965
William A. Norman 1965
Charles W. Sundry 1965
David Kupka 1966
Cliff A. Listug 1966
R. Joseph Ramnarine 1966
50 YEARS-1967
William C. Bengtson
Philip J. Berry
William K. Harman
Kenneth J. Licht
Ronald E. Shonk
45 YEARS-1972
Dale S. Burke
Jerry A. Crawford
H. Ivor Kraft
John H. Moody
Richard L. Rierson
40 YEARS-1977
Mark C. Anderson
M. Ken Anderson
W. Daniel Erlenbusch
James C. Friedrich
Elwood “Woody” Hall
Ken Puccio
William J. Snyder
Carl R. Witt
E. Carl Zimmermann
35 YEARS-1982
Margaret A. Duttera
Lawrence L. Hand
Esaul Salomon
Carol M. Worthing
30 YEARS-1987
Steven K. Bieghler
David R. Mattson
Timothy A. Philips
Kenneth K. Severa
25 YEARS-1992
Jeff G. Frohner
Diane S. Martinson
Deogracias P. Olivar
Marda-Ruth Roberts
20 YEARS-1997
Charles R. Aden
Lynda L. Elmer
Solomon Hailu
Darin N. Johnson
Linda Salmonson Olson
Laura Ziehl
10 YEARS-2007
Virginia Bishop
Michael J. Hagenow
Karla Jerpseth Halvorson
Ashley B. Nicolls
Amber R. Remillard
5 YEARS-2012
Pongtep “Golf” Chutimapongrat
Richard Fry
Holly A. Johnson
Kinndlee S. Lund
Leslie Mahraun
+++
WORD AND SERVICE
MORE THAN 50 YEARS
Betty Darrow 1966
30 YEARS-1987
Mary E. Stohlman
15 YEARS-2002
Shirley J. Lee
10 YEARS-2007
Lynne. L. Prechel
ANNIVERSARIES OF ROSTERED MINISTERS – 2017
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136 YEARS 60 YEARS Lihue, Lihue Our Redeemer, Garden Grove
Ascension, San Diego 129 YEARS Grace, Riverside
Eden, Riverside Hope, Riverside First, San Diego St. Andrew, Whittier
Resurrection, Coronado 123 YEARS
Trinity, Riverside 55 YEARS Bethlehem, Encinitas
117 YEARS Shepherd of the Desert, Barstow Lutheran Church of Honolulu Good Shepherd, Claremont
King of Glory, Fountain Valley 116 YEARS Christ, Orange
First, Redlands 45 YEARS
111 YEARS Tierrasanta, San Diego Emanuel Danish, Yorba Linda
35 YEARS 90 YEARS Taiwanese, San Diego
First, Ontario Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, Kailua Kona
70 YEARS 30 YEARS Christ, San Diego Shepherd of Life, Lake Elsinore
ANNIVERSARIES OF CONGREGATIONS – 2017
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CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS OF ORDINATION-2017
THE REV. WILLIAM C. BENGTSON was ordained on April 2, 1967 at Trinity Lutheran in the Iowa Synod,
Lutheran Church in America. His ordination service, with Bishop Ray Lingwall and the Rev. Rudolph
Anderson presiding, was a combined service of commissioning for World Mission Service in South America
for Bengtson and his wife Sheri.
He served in Uruguay & Peru at the Division of World Missions for seven years. He then took a call to
Emanuel Lutheran in Dallas, Texas as a bilingual ministry Pastor. From 1992 to 2003, he served at Our
Savior’s in San Diego. From 2009-2015, he served in the capacity of volunteer pulpit supply for the Spanish
ministry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Diego.
Bengtson served on the Board of Directors for Lutheran Social Services, the Dallas Independent School
District as a clergy liaison, and the president of the North Park Clergy Association.
He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from LSTC in 1991.
Bengtson considers himself a worker among God’s flock with a ministry emphasis on multi-cultural,
bilingual ministry with a global vision.
THE REV. DR. PHILIP J. BERRY was ordained on June 11, 1967 at First Lutheran in St. Paul, Minnesota by the
Rev. Dr. John P. Milton. Berry’s father, Lawrence J. Berry was a lay participant in the ordination service.
He served briefly in Minnesota and then served two congregations from 1967-1968 (St. Martin in Littlefield,
Texas and St. Paul in Muleshoe, Texas). From 1967-1985, he served congregations in Texas, including
several two-point parishes. While in Texas, he served as conference dean, worked with border ministries,
developed a Hispanic ministry at Mt. Hope in El Paso, and initiated house ministries in Ciudad Juarez. In
1985, he took a call to St. Andrew’s Lutheran in San Diego and served until his retirement in 1996. Post
retirement, he served as an interim as Good Shepherd of the Hills in Alpine, CA.
His ministry emphasized an all-inclusive welcome and invitation to serve in congregational outreach. He
thoroughly enjoyed preaching, teaching, and reaching out.
THE REV. WILLIAM K. HARMAN was ordained on May 14, 1967 in Bloomington, Indiana by Dr. Franklin Fry,
Dr. Carl Braaten, and Dr. Earl Erb. He graduated seminary in 1965 and in 1967 was called by the Division for
Ministry and Ecumenism of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) to teach at a seminary in Tanzania, East
Africa. He says his ordination ceremony had to be held at his home synod convention while he was moving
from Berkeley, California to Hartford, Connecticut for post graduate school overseas studies.
He spent ten years in overseas ministry as a missionary: three years in Tanzania as a teacher in the ELCT
Seminary at Makumira; four years in Trinidad/Tobago as Caribbean Region Project Developer; and three
years in Geneva, Switzerland as an executive secretary with the Lutheran World Federation. In 1982, he
began his call at Bethlehem Lutheran in Encinitas where he served until his retirement in 2006.
He is the founder of the San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association in Encinitas and the founder of the
Jubilee Congregation Program in the Pacifica Synod.
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He was a USA Member of the International Committee of the German Kirchentag from 1985-2007 and was
the Peace Conference Coordinator, Vesper Society from 1982-1990. He has served on a number of boards
including the Pacifica Synod Council, CLU, PLTS, Planned Parenthood, and San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
boards. He is currently working with Faith Leaders for Reproductive Justice in San Diego and Jubilee San
Diego. He also is a chaplain for Palliative Care at Scripps Hospital in Encinitas and a teacher/ambassador at
the Grauer School in Encinitas.
He has worked in the San Francisco Night Ministry-an outreach to the gay community, a counselor for
Planned Parenthood, and an advocate for Reproductive Justice. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr
from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 and taught Swahili in Marin City at a Black Panther center in 1970. He
considers gay rights and women’s rights to be an ongoing aspect of his ministry.
Harman has been a voice for economic, racial, social, and global justice to create an inclusive church,
society, and world that would communicate what a compassionate God intended in Jesus.
THE REV. KENNETH J. LICHT was ordained on June 18, 1967 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowden, Iowa, LC-
MS. The ordination service was a family affair with Licht’s uncle, the Rev. Arlin Maas, presiding over the
installation, his uncle the Rev. Erwin Schroeder assisting, and his Grandfather, the Rev. Herman Maas who
gave the blessing.
He served churches in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod for the first ten years of his ministry in
Mississippi and Illinois. In 1977, he accepted a call to Tierrasanta Lutheran in San Diego, an LC-MS
congregation at the time. In 1981, the congregation voted to transfer their membership from LC-MS to the
American Lutheran Church (ALC), a predecessor body of the ELCA.
After retiring from Tierrasanta Lutheran in 2007, Licht served on staff for five years at the Museum of
Natural History in Balboa Park. He was then invited to join the pastoral team at First United Methodist in
Mission Valley as the Minister of Visitation, where he currently serves.
He has served on the National Board of Directors for the Lutheran Youth Encounter, chaired the Synod
Constituting Convention Planning Task Force, served on the Pacifica Synod Council and the ELCA Region 2
Coordinating Council.
Licht has depended upon the grace of God to meet significant challenges in his ministry: integrating of an
all-white congregation in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement; confronting the rigid conservatism
of the Missouri Synod in central Illinois; transitioning from ministry in the LC-MS to the ALC, the ELCA, and
then the United Methodist Church; growing of a mission congregation in San Diego; and the almost
impossible task of securing without cost 5 ½ acres of land in Tierrasanta for a church home. He is a caring
Pastor who emphasizes the Grace of God in his own life and with those to whom he is privileged to serve.
THE REV. RONALD SHONK was ordained on March 20, 1967 at Zion Lutheran Church in Indiana, PA. There
were eight Roman Catholic Nuns in their traditional habits in attendance as one of them served on the staff
of the Roman Catholic Campus Congregation at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and invited her local
Sisters. Pastor Shonk’s first call was as the Lutheran Campus Ministry Organizing Pastor at this same
University.
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Most of Shonk’s ministry has been as a Chaplain: first in a University setting, then in hospital, hospice,
HIV/AIDS Care, and Long Term Care settings (from which he retired). Interspersed were blessed calls to two
congregational gems: First Lutheran in Palo Alto and First Lutheran in San Diego.
Along the way, he helped to organize and serve “Center for the Study of Non-Violence” at Indiana
University of Pennsylvania, “Ministry for Well-Being” in the San Francisco Bay Area, and “Open Door
Ministries” within the Northwest Washington Synod.
He now lives in the Palm Springs desert and has been led to dedicate his remaining years to teaching and
encouraging the practice of meditation to as many individuals and congregations as may be led to his work,
and to facilitate effective connection to the healing power of divine Love for physical, emotional, relational,
and global transformation. And he says “I can still preach an occasional good sermon!”
+++
CELEBRATING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF ORDINATION-2017
THE REV. JEFFREY G. FROHNER was ordained May 31, 1992 at Trinity Lutheran in Victorville, CA by Bishop
Bob Miller. His first call was to Trinity Lutheran Church in Santa Barbara, CA as associate pastor. He then
served for eight and a half years at Silverdale Lutheran in Silverdale, Washington. In 2003, he accepted the
call to Our Savior’s Lutheran in San Clemente where he continues to serve.
Frohner was a three year participant in the Pastor Theologian program at Princeton University. He was the
recipient of the Louisville Institute Pastoral Study grant and Christian Seminary Pastoral Renewal grant. For
six years, he served as the dean of the Saddleback Conference. He has been a board member for Lutheran
Schools Southern California and Hawaii.
He currently serves on the Warner Trust and Matthew 25 selection committee.
Frohner says he is “an average pastor by the grace of God called to share the love and mercy of Christ.”
THE REV. DIANE S. MARTINSON was ordained August 23, 1992. The ordination service, officiated by Bishop
Sherman G. Hicks, took place in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod with four other people in the synodical
ordination service (including Pastor Marda-Ruth Roberts).
Martinson attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City with an internship at Transfiguration
Lutheran Church in the South Bronx. Her “Lutheran year” was completed as a Master of Theology (ThM) in
World Missions at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. After her ordination in 1992, she served St.
Paul’s Lutheran in Wheaton, IL, Holy Trinity in Littleton, CO, and St. Paul’s in Denver, CO. For the last 16
years, her call has been in Hawaii. She served as Spiritual Care Coordinator at Kauai Hospice in Lihue and a
teacher and chaplain at the Iolani School in Honolulu. Since 2013, she has been serving at St. Peter’s
Episcopal Church in Honolulu.
The three theological lenses which have informed her ministry are justification by grace through faith
alone/faith active in love/ecumenism. She is committed to social justice, lives with hope as a follower of
Jesus, and will tell you that she likes to laugh!
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THE REV. MARDA-RUTH FROSCH ROBERTS was ordained August 23, 1992. The ordination service,
officiated by Bishop Sherman G. Hicks, took place in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod with four other people
in the synodical ordination service (including Pastor Diane Martinson).
Roberts was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela and learned both English and Spanish as a child. She
graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana with a double major (Spanish & Chemistry) and received
her M.A. in Spanish in 1967 from the University of Arizona. She taught Spanish at Fort Lewis College in
Durango, Colorado. In 1988, she answered the call to ordained ministry and entered the Lutheran School
for Theology in Chicago.
After ordination, she served All Saints Lutheran in Palatine, IL. In 1996, she came to the Pacifica Synod,
having received a call to Trinity in Hemet. Later, while on leave from call, she held several interim positions,
first at Lord of Life in Moreno Valley, then at several Hispanic congregations within the Pacifica Synod,
including Iglesia Luterana Clairemont and Santa Maria del Mar in San Diego, Iglesia Lutherana at St.
Andrew, Whittier and Salem, Whitter. In 2005, she began her ministry as Pastor Developer of Iglesia
Luterana Nueva Esperanza in Hemet.
Roberts served on the Pacifica Synod Council, was secretary of the Hispanic Ministry Team, and a board
member of Valley Lutheran Retirement Community in Hemet.
She considers it a privilege to serve where she is sent as a faithful servant of the Lord; she has loved the
people she served and was blessed by them in return.
In 1990 during El Salvador’s Civil War, Roberts was privileged to be part of a delegation from the
Metropolitan Chicago Synod led by Bishop Hicks to visit El Salvador and Nicaragua. They met with Bishop
Gomez in El Salvador and walked alongside these fellow Christians as they shared their stories of faith.
They also visited Nicaragua and listened to the stories told by these people. She notes that “It’s an
understatement to say this had a profound effect on my ministry.”
THE REV. DEOGRACIAS “JOGY” P. OLIVAR was ordained on June 7, 1992 by Bishop Benjamin Lasegan at
Trinity Lutheran Church in Manila, Philippines. He served Trinity as part of the Lutheran Church in the
Philippines from 1992-2001. During that time, he was the president of the South Luzon District of the
Lutheran Church in the Philippines. In 2001, he became a missionary from the Philippines to develop the
first Filipino Lutheran Church in the ELCA, sharing space with Hope Lutheran in San Diego. In 2010, he
began serving as pastor of the now combined Filipino and Hope Lutheran Church. He also currently serves
as a chaplain at Apreva Hospice is San Diego.
Olivar is approachable, compassionate, and a friend to everyone he meets.
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NECROLOGY
MS. LAVONNE STIEF
July 2, 1922 – June 25, 2016
THE REV. DR. STANLEY N. CALIFF
July 24, 1931 – July 2, 2016
THE REV. ROY BLUMHORST
October 1, 1932 – July 29, 2016
THE REV. AUDREY B. FOLEY
June 14, 1918 – October 9, 2016
THE REV. LARRY A GARDNER
August 24, 1929 – October 10, 2016
THE REV. EDWARD C. ESKILDSEN
July 5, 1927 – November 26, 2016
THE REV. LARRY A. KOGER
November 2, 1960 – December 12, 2016
THE REV. ROBERT L. MILLER
June 24, 1933 – January 28, 2017
THE REV. DICK L. WRIGHT
June 1, 1939 – February 23, 2017