Dear Partners in Ministry:

It is with a great deal of pleasure and excitement that I write to share with you the decisions made regarding the synod staff. I wrote a month ago to invite applicants for the position of assistant to the bishop for leadership support and described two other positions to be filled as well—a communications specialist and an assistant to the bishop position created in partnership with the churchwide unit for Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission (EOCM).

A week ago at this time, we were still in process with all three of those positions—a source of some concern in light of Ralph Baumgartner’s announcement last week that he had accepted a call to Galilee Lutheran Church in Roseville. That was a week ago. I’m pleased and excited to share the news that all three positions are now set, and as of October 1, we will once again be fully staffed in the synod office.

Let me introduce the three new persons, and then I’ll summarize how this staff configuration will look as a whole.

Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership Support
When we posted the position, the response was surprising and encouraging. We had 15 persons apply, as well as a number of others who inquired. Rather than going through applications wondering if there were any who could do the work well, we faced again and again the recognition that many of them would bring very strong skills to this work. It was enjoyable, but in the end, a difficult decision. I am pleased to inform you that the synod council extended a call to Sister Noreen Stevens at its August 25 meeting. Many of you know that Noreen, a member of the Deaconess Community of the ELCA, has been serving since 2001 as candidacy coordinator in this synod on a part-time basis. During this time, she also served as director of the Eastern Minnesota Resource Center (located at Luther Seminary) and, more recently, as director of vocation and education for the Deaconess Community of the ELCA. Prior to this work, she served parishes in Chicago and St. Paul as director of educational ministries and curriculum coordinator. Noreen is currently serving as a member of the ELCA call review task force which is reviewing current call practices throughout the church. Noreen brings significant skills and experiences in the support and guidance of rostered leaders in the church through her candidacy work. Her attention to personal and professional development of candidates and to the administrative and organizational work involved make for an excellent fit for the work of this position. She is a known and welcome presence among other synod staff. Congregational leaders who work with her will find a delightful and servant partner. Noreen will begin working full time in the office later in September.

Assistant to the Bishop for Evangelical Mission
I am also able to announce the addition of Pastor Paul Erickson to the synod staff. Paul’s position is funded by the churchwide program unit for Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission as a result of a new staffing strategy that seeks to move mission strategy to a more local level. Paul has been serving as associate pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in West St. Paul, a congregation long a stalwart in mission work in both its internal vitality and in its leadership in developing of our companion synod relationships in Iringa and, more recently, with Guatemala, and Paul is a member of the Guatemala task force. Fluent in Spanish, Paul was called to Augustana to help shape a mission strategy for the growing Latino population in that area, reflecting ministry work he had done in both Chicago and Milwaukee before coming here. This position as defined by EOCM moves from handling the mechanics of new mission starts, to being a catalyst in creating local strategy tables that will initiate new and transformational work. This fits well with our priority as staff at building relationships that focus on outreach and new mission initiatives. Paul is married to Lynn, a senior M.Div. student graduating from Luther Seminary in December. He begins his full time position in the synod office on October 1.

Communications Specialist
Also on Monday, after receiving a number of applications and interviewing four strong candidates, we offered this new position to Kate Olson, a 2008 graduate of St. Olaf who majored in political science and Hispanic studies. In hiring Kate, we’re following through on a recommendation made in 2005 that the 20-hour/week communications position then held by Beth Helgen be made full time. We did bring on Beth full time, but moved many administrative responsibilities to her portfolio and in effect squeezed out the communications work. Kate will bring solid writing skills, a love of the church, and an engaging spirit to our team.

Synod Staff
In summary, the team of people poised to join with you in the ministry of the church
in this place looks like this (Note: We are using the title assistant to the bishop rather than bishop’s associate for two reasons: (1) It is by far the dominant term used throughout the church; and (2) the language may also indicate a greater singularity of purpose in that it positions us all to assist in the work of the office of bishop):

• The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop
• The Rev. Susan Miller, assistant to the bishop for congregational life and mission. Furthers congregational health and vitality; coordinates children, youth, and family ministry; stewardship practices; interim pastors; and Book of Faith initiative; serves as liaison to the South, Southeast, and East Central conferences.
• Beth Helgen, assistant to the bishop for administration. Oversees administration and coordination of the office of the bishop; serves as liaison to the bishop; Crossing Bridges; personnel; governance, including synod council and synod assembly; and communications.
• Sister Noreen Stevens, assistant to the bishop for leadership support. Provides administration and oversight for candidacy, mobility, and call process, with particular emphasis on developing relationships and seeking to engage all rostered leaders in the life of the church; serves as the liaison to the North and North Central conferences; provides oversight for First Call Theological Education.
• The Rev. Paul Erickson, assistant to the bishop for evangelical mission. Engages synodical leaders, structures, and strategies in the formation and development of evangelizing congregations; provides oversight for ethnic and urban mission strategies and collaborations; congregational development; collaborative mission funding strategies; partnerships with congregations and leaders to become mission partners throughout the synod; serves as liaison to the South Central conference
• Myrna Lamberton, financial administrator. Consistent with the increasing load of designated financing, Myrna’s position increases to .75 FTE.
• Cyndi Berg, office manager. Provides oversight for office operations; provides oversight and coordination for events planning and arrangements; assists in carrying out ministry initiatives and collaborations; provides support for Paul Erickson and Susan Miller.
• Nancy Johnson, roster and program assistant. Coordinates events planning; assists with organizing Crossing Bridges disbursements; provides administration of the database; assists in the coordination of mobility and call process; provides support for Noreen Stevens, Beth Helgen, and Peter Rogness.
• Kate Olson, communications specialist. Coordinates production of all print communication; develops and enhances new electronic communication strategies that include a larger web presence; blogs; online communities; and electronic newsletters.
• Suzie Bjork, administrative assistant. Provides part-time support in the office and assistance with special events.

In the months ahead—at the theological conference and ministerium as well as the synod council retreat, at which we will include a wider group of leaders—we will work together to deepen understanding of how we can be partnered together most powerfully. We will continue to do the work that has been central to our lives—the equipping and support of leaders, transitions and calls, the threefold vision work. We will seek to more energetically come together for effective mission on the territory of this synod. We will serve and draw together. I have been blessed to have strong colleagues here in the synod office in the past. I am very pleased with the people who will now form the staff team of people going forward, and am confident that you will find in them strong and supportive partners for your ministries as well.

I continue to give thanks for the opportunity to serve with you.

Peter Rogness