We Will Miss You! 

I-K Synod Staff Transition Update 

Pastor Rudy Mueller's last day of ministry as Assistant to the Bishop was Tuesday, January 31. We give thanks to God for his nearly 17 years of energetic and faithful ministry among us and we pray that he will be richly blessed as he takes the next steps in his baptismal journey.

At it's January meeting, the Synod Council affirmed a staff reconfiguration that will take effect as soon as possible:

While continuing to do what she has done until a new Assistant to the Bishop has been called, Assistant to the Bishop Pastor Heather Apel will begin to transition toward a new role as Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership. In addition to continuing in stewarding the synod's candidacy ministry, Heather will add responsibility for call process, interim ministry, first call, and leadership support. She will also be the liaison from the bishop's office to our companion church in Chile, the IELCH, and will deepen her engagement in ecumenical and interfaith relationships.

We have posted the description of the new full-time Synod Communications Coordinator and Office Manager (see the link elsewhere in this email). Leslie French, our current part-time Communications Coordinator, has chosen not to be considered for this full-time position as she continues her full-time ministry on the staff of King of Glory Lutheran Church, Carmel, Indiana. Leslie has agreed to continue in her part-time position with the synod until we fill this new position. In addition to communications, this person in this position will work with the synod's contracted meeting planner to address the logistical aspects of Synod Assembly and will serve as our office manager. This position is open to lay members as well as Word and Service ministers. The posting will close February 15 and interviews will begin shortly thereafter.

Interviews have been scheduled for a new position, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship. This rostered minister, either deacon or pastor, will serve full-time in the areas of lifelong faith formation, youth and young adult ministry, the programmatic aspects of Synod Assembly, and as the liaison from the bishop's office to our companion church in Indonesia, the HKBP. The person in this position will also represent the bishop's office in other ways, including, as is the case for Pastor Apel, presence with congregations and other ministries on Sundays and at other times.

For the time being, Pastor Judy Follis and Pastor Karen Husby have agreed to serve as interim stewards of call process and interim ministry. They will work closely with the bishop to address the needs of congregations in transition until we are again more fully staffed. Other folks have also agreed to take on some added responsibility as part of building the bridge that will take us into the future of synod staffing and ministries.

All of us who serve in synod ministry and leadership will appreciate your prayers and patience as we move through this transition. As we move forward together, it is inevitable that responses will be slower, glitches will develop, and some things will be confusing. Together we will trust in God's forgiving grace and the leading of the Spirit to move us through this bit of a wilderness toward the new things God continues to do among and through all of us across this great mission territory.

Thank you for your partnership and companionship on this incredible missional journey! 

Peace be with you, 

+Bill 

Bill Gafkjen, Bishop

Year-End Mission Support G ifts (Benevolence)

Mission Investment Fund Synod Financial Services will be posting Fiscal Year 2016 gifts intended for 2016 through 2/13/17. If you have not paid your January giving please do so as soon as possible in order for it to be posted to the correct year.

 

Our fiscal year runs from February 1 through January 31. Please clearly indicate in which fiscal year you would like your gifts to be posted by including "2016" or "2017" on your remittance. If your gift is received after February 13, it will be posted to your 2017 giving.

 

If you ha ve any questions please call the synod office and ask for Sylvia at 317-253-355 extension 313 or call the Mission Investment Fund Synod Financial Service s at the toll free number 877-886-3522 for customer service.

In mid-January I experienced a distinct pleasure that I have had only a handful of times over the last six and a half years of ministry as bishop: I preached and presided at the baptism of Xavier Alan Burkholder, the son of two of this synod's pastors, Joshua Burkholder and Carolyn Lesmeister. Over the last half dozen years, I have presided at Communion and preached for countless worship services across and beyond this territory. I have presided at somewhere between 35 and 40 commissionings, consecrations, and ordinations. All of these experiences bring me deep joy as a pastor and bishop. But every time I pour the water and Word over the head of a new sister or brother in Christ, I am brought back again to the very essence of who I am and who we are as baptized and beloved, cross-marked and Spirit-sealed children of God. This is the foundation for all our worship, ministry, and service in the world. Read more or upload a copy for your congregation.