Dear Fellow Workers:
Soon we will be gathering for our synod convention. I hope all of you will be able to attend as we deliberate the work of our synod and make use of the gospel outreach opportunities the Lord has set before us. Pastors and delegates, please read carefully the Book of Reports and Memorials (BORAM) and also the Convention Handbook which should be mailed to each pastor by the middle of this month.

We provide you with another brief update of some synod news.

Saude Lutheran Church
Recently President Moldstad preached at Saude Lutheran Church, rural Lawler, IA. Pictured here is Okleigh Nativig (left), member and frequent delegate to our conventions, together with Pastor Dan Larson.

Requesting Membership
On Sunday, May 6, Redeeming Grace Lutheran of Rogers, Minnesota, is having its charter Sunday. The congregation will also be applying for membership in our synod at our June convention. The church is served by Pastor David Russow.

 

Iowa Pastoral Conference
The location for the conference this year was Jerico Lutheran, rural Lawler, IA. Pictured here are (left to right): Pres. Moldstad, Vicar Andrew Schmidt, Rev. Wayne Halvorson, Rev. Dan Larson, Rev. Robert Harting, Rev. Karl Hermanson, Rev. Harvey Abrahamson, Rev. Sam Schmeling and Mr. Michael Butterfield (LSA).

At the April 13 meeting of the Board of Directors of Thoughts of Faith, Pastor Richard Warnke (WELS) was installed as the new pastoral mentor to Ukraine. He and his wife, Sally, will be moving to Kyiv this summer. Rev. Wayne Borgwardt had been serving in this position for about three years. He and his wife Myrna will be moving back to the US in August.

Seminary Call Day
Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary will hold a Call Service on May 10 in Trinity Chapel on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College. Four vicars will receive placement calls: Dale Jaech, Michael Muehlenhardt, Daniel Oberer and Andrew Schmidt. Three seniors will receive vicarage calls: Brian Klebig, Boyd Longshore and Robert Oberg.

Bethany Lutheran College Graduation
Bethany Lutheran College graduation will be held on May 11 at 10:30 a.m.

 

Gay Rights Protest staged at BLC
A number of members of a gay rights organization called “Soul Force” were arrested on May 26 as they made an unwelcome visit to our Bethany Lutheran College. The group was traveling around the country protesting against schools which uphold the Bible’s teaching in prohibiting the sin of homosexuality. The BLC administration is to be commended for the way it handled the event of the uninvited protesters. The religion classes at the college used the occasion to go through a specially prepared pamphlet dealing with the scriptural passages on homosexuality and the way to counsel people who are caught up in this sin.

Members received at our mission
On Sunday, May 5, 2007, 37 members were received into membership at Peace Lutheran in North Mankato, Minnesota. Three baptisms were performed and a dinner was held later in the day in honor of the new members.

Resignation
Mr. Ryan Dee has resigned his position on the Board for Stewardship. This year’s Nominating Committee will need to fill the remaining one year of the original three-year term.

Announcement regarding St. Timothy, Williamsburg, Iowa
As many already are aware, the congregation at Williamsburg and its pastor (Rev. Karl Heck) had previously filed a selective fellowship protest. Since the pastor and congregation are not willing to remove this kind of protest that disrupts the fellowship unity of our synod, it now must be announced that the congregation and pastor are no longer members of the ELS. The termination of membership should be viewed as self-exclusion. Our synod does not recognize communion and pulpit/altar fellowship with only a certain segment of the synod. We are saddened to make the announcement; we pray that God moves all in our church body to be committed to treasuring and expressing the doctrinal unity we enjoy.

 

Great Lakes Pastoral Conference – Holy Cross Lutheran, Madison, WI, April 24-25, 2007

CELC European Regional Convention
The European churches of the CELC met for their annual convention this year in Plzen, April 19-21. Theologians present represented the following nations: Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia, as well as visitors from the US. Six essays, all relating to the 2nd Petition of the Lord's Prayer ("Thy Kingdom Come!") were read and discussed. On Sunday, April 22, the delegates attended the 10:00 worship service of our Plzen congregation. The attendance was 145.

Prayer Requests
Please keep in your prayers the family of Mr. Lyle Manthe of Ulen, Minnesota. Mr. Manthe, who was an active member of Calvary and also a delegate to our conventions over the years, died suddenly in the month of March.

Also we request your prayers for the Schwan family. Lately we received news that Robert Schwan, the brother of Marvin Schwan, died on April 4, 2007. The funeral was held at Christ Lutheran Church (WELS) in Marshall, Minnesota. “Uncle Bob” accompanied travelers from Bethany on the trips to Israel and Turkey.

Our dear friend, Lois Halvorson, wife of Pastor Wayne Halvorson, recently learned that her cancer has spread. We continue to ask that God’s blessings rest upon Lois and Wayne.

Please keep the family of Rev. Dennis Schmidt in your prayers. His father is facing multiple medical problems and may be nearing the end of his days here on earth.

We also ask that you include in your petitions Mary Moldstad, wife of former pastor and missionary, the Rev. Robert Moldstad.  Mary’s breast cancer of three years ago has now spread into the liver area.

Address Change
Alex Ring: akring(at)mac.com

President’s Activities
May 8 - Board of Trustees
May 10 - Seminary Call Service
May 11 - Bethany Lutheran College Graduation
May 14-15 - Board of Regents
May 23-24 - Circuit 9 Conference
June 17-21 - Synod Convention