On the Synod Scene

New Pastor at Apostles Lutheran Church

Apostles Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ukiah, CA, received the Rev. Kent T. Dethlefsen as its new pastor during a 6:30 pm installation service on August 25^th. His father, the Rev. Arlen Dethlefsen, conducted the service and performed the rite of installation. He also preached the sermon “Called to Feed God’s Sheep,” using the text Ephesians 4:4-9,11-16. Also participating in the service were the Reverends Les Lanier from Fillmore, Robert Lawson from Escondido and Matthew Thompson from Windsor, all in California. A buffet dinner was served after the service.

Apostles Lutheran began as a preaching station of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Windsor, California in 2002. Apostles Lutheran became an independent congregation of the ELS in June 2003.

On Sunday, August 27th, Pastor Dethlefsen baptized the newest member of Apostles Lutheran Church, Dominic Migliacci. He is pictured here with his proud parents, Naomi and Paul.

Bethany Seminary Begins a New School Year 2006–2007

Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary began its new school year on August 28 with an opening service in Good Shepherd Chapel. Professor Adolph Harstad based his message on 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 with the theme: Gifted, Yet Humble—God’s Design for His Servants.

Prof. Harstad reminded listeners that the God who gave them the gift of eternal life in Christ has also heaped on them personalized gifts. He noted the great variety of gifts showered on current students and faculty. Those gifts are intended by God to serve the common good and are not to be used for vain glory. He also noted that humility is not an automatic virtue even among gifted believers. Rather humility is something that God Himself works in His gifted servants—often through “thorns” that pierce our lives and prick our pride. God uses even those thorns for our good and the good of those around us. The life of the Apostle Paul is an illustration of one trained by God to be gifted yet humble. The address closed with a prayer that God would use the current academic year at Bethany Seminary to train gifted yet humble pastors for the ELS.

The teaching staff for the seminary this coming year is as follows: Professor Adolph Harstad teaches Old Testament classes; Professor Thomas Kuster teaches communication and homiletics, Professor Michael Smith teaches New Testament; and President Gaylin Schmeling teaches dogmatics and Church history courses.

The seminary enrollment this year numbers twenty-two: four vicars, three seniors, five middlers, eight juniors, and two part-time students. The vicars are Dale Jaech at Bethany Lutheran Church, Port Orchard, Washington; Michael Muehlenhardt at St. Paul's in North Mankato, Minnesota; Daniel Oberer at Heritage Lutheran Church, Apple Valley, Minnesota; and Andrew Schmidt at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minnesota.

College Students Focus on Special Ministries

The third annual Summer Ministry Experience brought ELS and WELS college students together on June 5^th for a nine-week work experience of bringing God’s love to the elderly and to people with disabilities. This program of The Lutheran Home Association (TLHA) in Belle Plaine, MN is funded entirely by donations. It is designed to provide students the experience of working with those in need so that they can lead their future congregations to care for those with special needs.

Five young adults spent the summer observing direct care by TLHA workers and practicing sharing God’s love with the residents. They worked with trained volunteers to plan Bible classes and fellowship events, and to provide support for individuals and their families with developmental disabilities. They also helped at camp BASIC (Brothers And Sisters In Christ) at Wyalusing State Park in Wisconsin and the Special Olympics in Minneapolis,MN.