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                                                                                             July, 2017  
      
                         The Virginia 
                      LUTHERAN 
Bringing you news of the Virginia Synod since 1921.


Humphrey to follow Mauney 
 
Bishop-elect Robert Humphrey 
          
           Pastor Robert F. "Bob" Humphrey of Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg, was elected to succeed retiring Bishop Jim Mauney on the fifth ballot with 217 votes at the 30th annual Virginia Synod Assembly at Roanoke College on Sunday, June 11. Humphrey, a quiet, efficient pastor for 36 years, will be installed in Waynesboro on Saturday, Sept. 9.
            Second in voting for bishop was Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick of St. Philip, Roanoke, who received 167 votes. A
Derrick
total of 193 votes was needed for election. The election came after more than a year of preparation and conference meetings by a Transition Team, led by Synod secretary Blythe Scott.
            A total of 76 pastors were nominated on the first ballot but 37 withdrew their names. Six nominated for the third ballot answered questions. They included Pastors John Wertz Jr., St. Michael, Blacksburg; Richard "Rick" Goeres and Cathy Mims, First, Norfolk; David Drebes, Prince of Peace, Basye; Derrick and Humphrey. The fourth ballot listed Humphrey, Derrick and Goeres.
            Judy Casteel of Good Shepherd, Lexington, was elected to Synod Council and four members re-elected were Pastors Paul Pingel, Grace, Waynesboro; Chris Carr, Christ the King, Richmond; Kelly Derrick, St. Philip, Roanoke, and Meredith Williams, Ascension, Danville.
            Others elected without contest: Consultation Committee: Leroy Hamlett, Peace, Charlottesville; Linda Meyer; Charles Poston, First, Norfolk, and Dana Cornett, Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg; four ministers of word and sacrament elected to that committee: Pastors Andrew Bansemer, Ebenezer, Marion; Lauren Miller, Peace, Charlottesville; Chris Price, assistant to the bishop, and Martha Sims, Grace, Winchester.
            Those named to the Committee on Discipline, without contest: Pastors Stephen Bohannon, St. Michael, Virginia Beach, and Terri Sternberg, Trinity, Pulaski; Derek Boggs, Salem, Mt. Sidney; Cynthia Keyser, Christ, Roanoke; Connie Fauber, Woodstock, and Louis Rositer, St. Stephen , Williamsburg.
 
Youth Convo report to the Assembly 
            
Michaela Loving, Mt. Zion, New Market, the outgoing president of Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) and the 12th grade representative, was succeeded by Isaac Wilson, Christ, Fredericksburg, in voting at the Youth Assembly. Other members of the LYO board: Turner Barger, Epiphany, Richmond, 11th grade representative; Mairi Bachman, Grace, Winchester, 10th grade representative; Charles Downs Jr., Christ, Roanoke, 9th grade representative; multicultural representatives, Jasmine Jones, Reformation, New Market, and Hunter Simpkins, Grace, Chesapeake, and Emily Martinez, St. Timothy, Norfolk, at large representative.

Bishop Mauney is honored
Retiring Bishop
Jim Mauney

     Praise was heaped on retiring Bishop Jim Mauney at a Friday night banquet in Roanoke College's new Cregger Center during the Synod Assembly. Maumey's humble response: "The office of bishop is much bigger than the bishop." He was thankful for "the honor."
            Four rewards for his 18 years of service were announced:
  • A Bishop Jim Mauney Lutheran Scholarship will be awarded at Roanoke College this fall, college President Mike Maxey said.
  • The Bachman Award for Distinguished Leadership at Southern Seminary was presented to Mauney by retired Bishop William Trexler, chair of the Seminary's Advisory Board. His leadership is "characteristic of our founders," Trexler said.
  • A gift of $14,050 for Mauney from Synod friends was announced by Pastor Chris Price, assistant to the bishop.
  • Synod voting members unanimously agreed to confer the title of bishop emeritus on Mauney after his retirement Aug. 31.
  
Three generations of Mauneys: Lynda Mauney, the bishop's wife, speaks as daughter, Mem and grandaughters Charlie, Sally and Cricket and the bishop listened.
   After his family, wife Lynda, daughter Margaret (Mem), three granddaughters and a brother, Robert,and and sister, Ginny, were introduced, Lynda Mauney spoke of being "blessed with  43 years of marriage."   She said he is "quick to praise others...raise others...It's not
who you are but whose you are...He is so humble, has no sense of importance."
            Maxey, who worked with Mauney as he served as secretary of the college board, said the bishop "gives credit to others, leads wisely but humbly, spreads good will and speaks forcefully. He has made all of us want to be better Christians, better people."
   
Bishop's retirement cake 
        
Retired college chaplain Paul Henrickson commended the bishop for his healing words after the church's controversial sexual issues in 2008-2009. "No one could have held the church together as Jim did. With respect and love he preserved the synod. That was his greatest and most splendid accomplishment."
            Speakers also recalled the difficult times after the sudden death of the Rev. Chip Gunsten, assistant and close associate of the bishop.Throughout the Assembly, Mauney gave credit to treasurers and those who worked on the
synod staff and to the vice presidents, secretaries,on ministries during his three six-year terms as bishop. He previously served as assistant to Bishop Richard Bansemer for 12 years. His theme of Ambassadors for Christ" has been carried out in many ministries and projects through his three terms.

Humphrey wants to bridge past and future
 
 Bishop-Elect Robert Humphrey

            Bishop-Elect Bob Humphrey talked about his diverse background from North Carolina to Indiana to Virginia last week as he paused from finishing his ministry at Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg. His election at the Synod Assembly surprised some people but confirmed his long-standing reputation as a committed Lutheran leader.
            He leaves Muhlenberg, one of the largest and most active congregations in the Synod, in the capable hands of Pastor Brett Davis, who has worked with him for five years in leading a variety of ministries in a growing Shenandoah Valley city. Humphrey credits "the incredible talent" of his partner-pastor, Davis, and the members who have "developed a wonderful reputation in the community."
            As he begins to think about installation as bishop on Sept.9, following retiring Bishop Jim Mauney, Humphrey said that in the next chapter, "It is important to build a bridge from the richness of the past to the incredible potential I believe God has for the future." This is a calling that "requires faith, skill and patience," he added. He faces many decisions as he puts on the bishop's cross.
            While answering questions during the election process at the Assembly, he described his leadership style: "Working with trusted colleagues, staff, rostered and lay leaders through a variety of channels, including prayer, study, conversation, meetings, email, blogs and social media, I would strive to engage as many as desired in every level of decision-making and implementation."
            His story begins in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he was born in 1955, to the late Dr. Edward M. and Doris Humphrey. His father, a general practitioner, moved the family to Covington, Ind., to work as medical director of an industry during Humphrey's first 12 years. After a brief time in Kansas, the family moved to Richmond where he graduated from high school and the University of Richmond as a history/political science major. During this time he and his family were members of a mission congregation, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, (since closed) and was first encouraged to consider ordained ministry by his pastor, The Rev. James H. Bangle.
            Following graduation from Richmond and marriage came studies at Southern Seminary, ordination and first call to Zion, near Waynesboro. Shortly afterward, he was called to Grace, Waynesboro, which became a location for many Synod events as a geographic center. At Waynesboro, he worked in pastoral counseling, a talent he expects he will need in the bishop's office. He's been trained and served as a congregational conflict consultant. He was on Synod Council, chaired the Waynesboro Planning Commission and served on a public school planning committee.
            In 2010, Humphrey accepted a call to Muhlenberg, a congregation of over 1400 members who worship at three services on Sunday morning. He and Davis lead a staff of twelve who carry out many local and global mission activities.
            He met his wife, Barbra Troutman Humphrey following their second year of college when they both served as counselors at Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp. She has been "incredibly supportive" of his work and his new office. She's the daughter of the late Pastor C. Bernard and Jenny Troutman. Known pleasantly as "Barney," his father-in-law would probably say of the bishop-elect, "I taught him everything he knows," Humphrey said, tongue in cheek.
            The Humphreys have a daughter, Jill Humphrey, a public health nurse in New York City, who is married to Johan Grimsrud, a high school math teacher in the Bronx. The Humphreys' grandchildren are Elias 11 and Marja 7. Humphrey's only sibling, Laura Greenday, lives in Mechanicsville,with her husband, Frank. They have two daughters, Kayley and Allison.
 
Live in the freedom of Christ 
 
Bishop Eaton

          Recently I discovered Google Earth. I know, I'm a little late to the dance. But this is fascinating. You type in an address and up pops a photo. You can zoom in on places all over the world. And you can zoom out for, literally, a 35,000-foot view. I invite you to give it a try. In fact, this will be a great group activity for all of us in the ELCA.
            First, find your congregation. Now expand the field and find other ELCA congregations near you. In some places this will be easy to do. In the "Fertile Crescent" of Lutheranism-the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania-there are more ELCA congregations per square mile than there are gas stations. In other places, ELCA congregations are few and far between. But we're there.
            Next, find your synod office. You can see them spread out across the U.S. and the Caribbean.
            And the ELCA is not alone in North America. Find the congregations, synods and national office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. We are all over North America.
            And now, find all of the member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). We are all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. We are 145 member churches in 98 countries. There are 74 million of us. And your congregation is part of this worldwide Lutheran movement.
            In May the LWF met in assembly in Windhoek, Namibia. Lutherans from Africa; Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; North America; and Western, Central and Eastern Europe gathered to worship, sing, deliberate, study and dance.
           Our contexts are very different. Climate, cuisine and cultures all vary. Our challenges are different. Lutherans in many parts of the world are a minority community, face persecution, contend with war and forced migration, and deal with the devastating effects of climate change. Lutherans in many parts of the world are ministering and serving faithfully in an increasingly secularized culture, or in parts of the world where the church was suppressed for nearly a century resulting in entire generations that have not heard the gospel. But there is something that we all have in common-our life in Christ.
            We have our life in Christ-in the crucified and risen Savior, in the one who poured out his life for us, the one who gave himself away for the life of the world. In baptism we have already experienced the only death that really matters, the death of the power of sin, the death of our death. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4).
            Now, go to Google Earth and find St. Petersburg, Russia. At the LWF Assembly a delegate from Russia told this story of freedom in Christ. There used to be a Lutheran church in St. Petersburg. It was a beautiful structure witnessing to the glory of God where the Lutheran immigrants who arrived in the 18th century could worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. It was skillfully crafted out of wood. St. Mary's Lutheran Church still stood in St. Petersburg, renamed Leningrad.
            The church was a place of worship and hope during the siege of Leningrad during WWII. But people were freezing and starving to death in Leningrad. There was no wood for heating or cooking. So the Lutherans looked at their beloved church and then looked at the suffering around them. Piece by piece they dismantled their building and gave it away for the life of their community.
            This is what being free in Christ looks like. This is part of our Lutheran story. This is part of your congregation's story. We live in the freedom of Christ.  
 
A monthly message from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.Her email address: bishop@elca.org. This column originally appeared in Living Lutheran's July issue. Reprinted with permission.
   
Lutherans in the news
      
Carbaugh
           Pastor Richard Carbaugh is retiring after 36 years at
Christ, Fredericksburg, and four at Mt. Zion and
St. Luke, Woodstock. Carbaugh graduated from Virginia Tech and Southern Seminary. He is a nephew of retired
Pastor Kenneth Carbaugh, Virginia Beach.
  
Penman 
         
Pastor David Penman has retired after serving nine years at St. Timothy, Norfolk, and helping St. Thomas, Bealeton, worship with Bealeton Presbyterian Church. A second career pastor, he graduated from the U.S.. Naval Academy and served in the Marine Corps for 20 years before graduating from Gettysburg Seminary
in 2004.
 
Hannemann
      
Daniel Hannemann is retiring after 44 years as a church musician, including over 10 years at Grace, Winchester. He began at Lockport, N. Y., and worked at Emmanuel Lutheran, Lincolnton, NC, for 20 years. He was certified as an associate in ministry (AIM) in 1980 and that designation recently was changed to deacon. Hannemann, known as "Mr. Dan, the Music Man: by children at Grace, earned a master of scared music degree from Wittenberg University. He was described in Tidings, Grace newsletter, as "organist, vocal and bellchoir director, pianist, travel guide, staff member, friend, brother in Christ and a member of the church family."
            Jennifer Braaten, retired Lutheran president of Ferrum, a United Methodist college, has been recalled as interim president . She follows Joseph Spooner, who was released from the post after less than a year. Braaten drew high marks for her accomplishments during 14 years as Ferrum president. Her husband is retired Lutheran Pastor Conrad Braaten, who served in Washington.
            Emily Dietrick of Epiphany, Richmond, a Young Adult in Global Mission will report on her work in South Africa during the past year at two services and an adult forum at Epiphany on July 30. In her mission year, she was a volunteer in the South Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa.
            The last two congregations in the Attoway-Kimberlin Parish have voted to close. The last worship service for Pleasant Hill at Groseclose was led by Pastor Ed Schaack and Vicar Felicia Swartz on May 14. Schaack also led the last service at Atonement, Atkins, on May 21. Both are in Smyth County.
            Roanoke area Lutherans have been asked to volunteer for a new CafĂ© to Grow program of Feeding America Southwest Virginia. Volunteers will help with summer lunches prepared in a kitchen at West End Village and delivered to children in a new food trailer equipped to serve hot entrees, fruits, vegetables and cold milk. Four volunteers are needed Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Three will go with the food trailer in the afternoon to help serve meals to the children at their location.
            Kelly McCann of St. Michael, Blacksburg, assistant director of special events in Virginia Tech alumni relations, received the university's 2017 President's award for Excellence. She received a $2,000 prize. St. Michael members voted to distribute $7,000 from the estate of Irene Ashley to five Blacksburg area charitable organizations.
            At St. Stephen, Williamsburg, the 1956 Society, an endowment organization, has 50 members and a fund of $990,000 in pledges, ensuring the future mission of the congregation, according to The Quill, parish newsletter. Grants from the fund are earmarked for a video sermon project and an air handler for the church building.
            Members of Trinity Ecumenical Parish have been encouraged to accompany
Pastor Philip Bouknight and Aaron Garber, music director, on a tour following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in Greece June 11-20, 2018, as part of Bouknight's sabbatical.
            A stained glass window depicting Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane was dedicated at Prince of Peace, Basye, in memory of Channing Armell.
            Members of First Lutheran, Norfolk, are working with Commonwealth Catholic Charities to provide support for an Eritrean man who moved to Newport News and an Eritrean family who are moving to Norfolk. They are seeking volunteers to help recently resettled refugees with the Wide Open Arms organization.
            Resurrection, Fredericksburg, is holding its annual sock and underwear collection for distribution through three local agencies, Brisben, Micah and Hope House.   
 
Passing the baton: Mauney to Humphrey 
                    Padilla

            After the Synod Assembly voted for Pastor Robert Humphrey as bishop, the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, ELCA executive, said, "the baton has been passed..We will keep our eyes on the one who leads." Humphrey, pastor of Muhlenberg, Harrisonburg, will follow Bishop Jim Mauney on Sept. 1 and he will be installed at First Presbyterian Church, Waynesboro, Sept.9.
            Padilla, executive director of the ELCA Division of Global Missions and ELCA representative, spoke on the Assembly theme, "Forwarding Faith-Ambassadors for Christ." He said the biggest challenge of the church is how to address human needs of 62 million refugees. "Our church works intimately with people of the world" but it must "create spaces for engagement, places not Lutheran" for people on the fringes.
The Synod's ForwardingFaith campaign has reached $2.2 million toward the goal of $2.5 million, according to Stephanie Hamlett of Epiphany, Richmond, chairman. "I encourage all of us to just keep going so the Synod can continue to keep its excellence," she said. Of the total $2 million will be used to endow the Synod's youth program and $500,000 will be sent to an ELCA program. The campaign, now in the congregation phase, received $87,500 from Grace, Winchester, toward a $100,000 goal and $6,000 from Faith, Whitetop, a very small congregation.
Zuber
A highlight of the weekend was the ordination of Alex Zuber, Christ, Roanoke, who has accepted a call to the two-church Stony Man Parish in Page County, which he has been serving on a contract basis while a student at Philadelphia Seminary. In a sermon at the festive service at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Roanoke, Bishop Jim Mauney said, "The gospel makes a difference in our lives because our Lord makes a difference."
Bishop Mauney presides at the
Synod Assembly worship service
at St. Andrews Catholic Church, Roanoke.
 
The Assembly approved a budget of $1,760,000 for 2018, based on total revenues of $1,975,000 for a deficit of $37,850, according to treasurer Evan Davis. This could be in the black, depending on investments "and we will try to control expenses," he said.. this includes an increase from 40 percent to 42 percent in mission support for the ELCA.
Last year, congregations gave $1,749,594 to synodical ministry, an increase of almost $165,000 from 2015. The Synod ended the year with a surplus of $63,200. Also, the Assembly approved a 1.75 percent increase in pastors' base salary and a 1 percent increase in minimum base salary to $54,154 for pastors with a housing allowance.
            The Synod has contributed $39,000 toward a goal of $50,000 to purchase mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Papua New Guinea, according to Diane Giessler, who has led the PNG program for many years. Support has been sent for PNG school children and planning is underway for a long-awaited PNG Lutheran center.
            Christine Gedin of Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service said the LIRS mission is "to witness to God's love for all people. We stand with and advocate for migrants and refugees transforming communities through ministries of word and sacrament." Since 1939, she said, over 500,000 refugees and migrants have come into U.S. communities.
            Samantha DiBiaso of First, Norfolk, was commissioned for a year's service in Southern Africa under the Young Adults in Global Mission program.
            The Rev. Ruth Hamilton, new Region 9 manager for candidacy and development, said she will be assisting region synods in talking with candidates for ministry. She urged voting members to help potential candidates.
            In a Saturday morning sermon, the Right Rev. Mark Bourlakas, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, said, "We need each other for Christ's sake and for the sake of the world."
            Caribbean music was provided by the Glocal Musician-Educators of the ELCA, made up of musicians from different countries and cultures.
 
Anniversaries, retirements celebrated   

            Anniversaries of pastors' ordinations and congregations were recognized by Bishop Jim Mauney at the Synod Assembly.
            Those ordained 60 years ago: Pastors Arthur J. Henne, Raphine, and Charles H. Mayer, Hampton
            55 years: Pastors Daniel J. Jungkuntz,Newport News; Floyd Addison Jr., Roanoke; Paul T. Jersild, Norfolk, and Richard N. Umberger, Harrisonburg
            50 years: Pastor Edward R. Schaack, Rural Retreat
            40 years as an association in ministry (AIM): Ina R. Berkey, Williamsburg
            40 years: Pastors Gordon R. Putnam, Waynesboro; Richard M. Carbaugh, Fredericksburg, and Robert R. Ward, Roanoke
            35 years: Pastor John D. Herman, Greenbackville, and Mark S. Briehl, Staunton
            Retirements---Pastors Lance Braun, The Legacy at North Augusta, Staunton; Patti Covington, Hebron, Madison; Eric Moehring, Christ, Richmond, and George Sims, National Lutheran Communities & Services, Winchester
            Congregation anniversaries---Hebron, Madison, 300; Sharon, Ceres, 200;; St. Stephen, Strasburg; St. Peter, Toms Brook; St. James, Mount Jackson, and New Mt. Olive, Fairfield, all 175; and Good Shepherd, Front Royal, 75
 
Bansemer to lead Day of Prayer 

           Bishop Emeritus Richard Bansemer will be the speaker at an Ecumenical Day of Prayer, Western Gathering, sponsored by the Lutheran Episcopal Joint Committee of Virginia, at Trinity Ecumenical Parish, Smith Mountain Lake, Thursday, aug. 17, from 9:30 .am. to 2:15 p.m.
            Bansemer will lead two group sessions considering how and when to pray, whom to pray with, resources for prayer, prayer and the liturgical year and personal prayer practices. Registration cost is $20 and information is available at www.bit.ly/dayofprayerwest. Aug. 10 is the deadline for registration.
            Bansemer is the author of 11 books and three librettos for oratorios about Job, Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Jesus.
 
College has merit-based scholarships   
   
      A Roanoke College professor has established a $2.35-million full scholarship for one or more students who maintain Honors Program status throughout their college career. The unnamed professor established the scholarship in honor of his grandmother, who influenced his intellectual pursuits. This is the first merit-based award of its kind at the college.
           Also, a group of Roanoke students are spending a month and a half building a business plan for three entrepreneurs in an Innovation Challenge program. They will work with three small business startups.
 
Southern Seminary needs more Virginia students   

            In the last 12 years, the number of seminarians has fallen in half and "we need to raise rostered leaders in the church," said Retired Bishop William Trexler, chairman of the Advisory Council for Southern Seminary, at a Seminary lunch during the Synod Assembly.
            In the Seminary's student body of 136, only one is from Virginia. Enrollment for the next year is expected to exceed the current figure. Speaking of the collaboration with Lenoir-Rhyne University. Trexler said LR is "the most consciously Lutheran of ELCA colleges."                  
           The student body of Southern Seminary is still predominately ELCA but United Methodists and some Baptists are there. The seminary has a "healthy scholarship fund."
A new health services building on the seminary campus will house an occupational therapy program. The LR collaboration has enabled the seminary to offer other programs, such as mental health counseling.
            The North Carolina Synod is starting a $2 million campaign to help Lutherans go to the Seminary, Trexler said.
 
Church plans to talk with veterans   
            
            "Veterans and Faith" was the theme of a veterans meeting at Faith, Suffolk, on June 15, the first of a planned series of quarterly gatherings to talk about ways the church can assist with the assimilation of military personnel as they transition out of active service or move to new communities.
            Many studies show that veterans commonly require connectivity with other veterans after military service. Quarterly meetings are intended to be one of the venues they choose, according to Larry Moores, a leader of the group.
            The meetings have a two-fold purpose, he said: To assist the veteran transition and assimilation process and to help grow Faith Lutheran military and veteran attendance. Moores is working with Pastor Scott Benson to discuss such topics as overcoming adversity, veteran support connection options and highlightingveterans in service over Memorial and Veterans Day weekends. A second meeting is planned for Sept. 14 at Faith Lutheran.
            Moores, a retired Army Ranger, is executive director of Three Rangers Foundation, a veteran service organization that works with transitioning veterans on a mentorship and assistance platform. He recently was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Ga.
 

THE VIRGINIA LUTHERAN

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