Ordination at Cottonwood, Minnesota

Candidate of Theology Piet Van Kampen was ordained and installed as pastor of English Lutheran Church in Cottonwood, Minnesota on January 2, 2005. The Rev. Erich Hoeft served as liturgist and ELS President John Moldstad performed the rite of ordination and installation and preached the sermon based on Isaiah 40:1-5 with the theme “Proclaim God's Comfort!” The choir of English Lutheran also sang during the service. Afterwards, the ladies served a delicious meal.

Front row (l to r): Rev. M. Brooks, Pres. J. Moldstad, Rev. Piet Van Kampen, Rev. C. Ferkenstad and Rev. Dale Schliewe (WELS),. Back row (l to r): Vicar D. Finn, Rev. K. Kluge, Rev. K. Anderson, Rev. E. Hoeft, Rev. Joel Luetke (WELS), and Rev. D. Russow.

Home Mission Seminar Met in Florida

Trinity, West Bend Honors 25 Years of Service

On October 24, 2004 Trinity Lutheran Church and School, West Bend, Wisconsin recognized the Rev. Kenneth Schmidt for his twenty-five years of service as pastor to the congregation. Seminarian Andrew Schmidt served as the liturgist during the morning service and Bethany Lutheran Seminary President, the Rev. Gaylin Schmeling, preached the sermon based on Hebrews 13:7 under the theme “Remember Those Who Proclaim the Word to You.” The Junior Choir and Mixed Choir provided special anthems for the service. Special congratulations were read from ELS President John A. Moldstad thanking Pastor Schmidt not only for the 25 years at Trinity but also for his service to the synod as Circuit Visitor and as a member of the Board of Regents of Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary.

A buffet-style dinner followed the service in the school gymnasium. The tables were decorated with pictures of Pastor Schmidt’s experiences at Trinity. The Christian Day School children displayed handmade thank you cards. A presentation of photos showed some of the changes over twenty-five years and people shared memories of that time.

Pastor Schmidt thanked the congregation for the opportunity to proclaim God’s Word during the past twenty-five years. He graduated from Bethany Lutheran Seminary in May, 1977 and was ordained at Christ Lutheran Church in Sutherlin, Oregon and served there until 1979 when he accepted the call to Trinity Lutheran Church.

PHOTO CAPTION: Participants in the service from left to right: Andrew Schmidt, Pastor Kenneth Schmidt, and President Gaylin Schmeling.

POSITION OPENING - ELS

The ELS is seeking a motivated individual to lead in the development of the Lutheran Schools Initiative (LSI—an ambitious plan to establish Lutheran schools within existing ELS congregations and elsewhere throughout the country). This individual is to be a member of WELS or ELS. He will be responsible for promoting the expansion of Lutheran Schools within the framework of the doctrine and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. This individual must:

• Have a passion for and experience within the education profession.
• Have leadership, business and management skills.
• Be an innovative thinker and a determined project leader.
• Have the ability, training, and/or experience in fund raising.
• Be comfortable with public speaking and with making fundraising presentations.

For more specific information regarding the position and/or to submit applications or nominations, please send resume and references to:

ELS President John Moldstad,
Evangelical Lutheran Synod,
6 Browns Court,
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507-344-7356