Update from the Bishop's Committee

Greetings and Peace to you from the Bishop's Committee at Gethsemane:

We wanted to provide a brief update for the community based on our discernment so far. 

First, it is a great joy to hear about your connections to God in this place. Thank you. Many themes are emerging from your stories. Great love and respect for Pastor Gronberg is one of them, and it is clear how central he has been in many of your spiritual lives, your families, and many important lifetime milestones over his 50+ years of serving you and the city. That theme is so important...and will be taken seriously...among all the themes present in experiences that span decades.

Second, we want to clarify our function. We are listening to your stories to learn more about Gethsemane, and care for you during this difficult time. The end result will be a document that makes recommendations for Gethsemane about how to best move forward from this point, considering best possible outcomes for your spiritual vitality, governance, and community healing. The document will be presented first to Bishop Sue, then to Pastor Gronberg, Pastor Schnelle and the congregation, and then the congregation will be able to decide on whether/how to act on those recommendations. We endeavor to listen to everyone who wants to be heard; but we also want to bring this to a conclusion before long, recognizing that we do not want to drag this out longer than necessary for all parties involved.

Third, as of Friday evening, we have had 16 interviews, including the staff. More are being scheduled for next week. This in addition to the 9 interviews of victims (or their spouses) of sexual trauma from Gethsemane as well as others from Hutto. We find a cohesive theme of your desire for better self-governance and mutual ministry to the pastors. Everyone has expressed a strong desire for Gethsemane Lutheran Church to continue in harmony, in service to each other and the neighborhood. We also hear a theme of gratitude for our volunteer hours away from our own churches for this gift of care and discernment. Thank you for welcoming us to be among you during this difficult time.

May God's presence continue to be made known among us for our healing and discernment in our time of shared grief.

With Care, 

Pastor Candice Combs

Bishop's Committee for Gethsemane 

God our comforter, you are a refuge and a strength for us, a helper close at hand in times of distress. Enable us to hear the words of faith so that our fear is dispelled, our loneliness eased, our anxiety calmed, and our hope reawakened. May your Holy Spirit lift us above our sorrow to the peace and light of your constant love; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Message from Pastor Susie Schnelle

As we await the completion of the Bishop's Committee and the subsequent recommendations, it is imperative that we, as a Gethsemane community, actively engage in the process of restoring our church polity. 

To initiate the election of a congregational council, our first step is to nominate individuals for these positions. The position descriptions must be publicized, and individuals wishing to be nominated must fill out biographical information. This transparent approach ensures that all eligible voters are well-informed when making their choices. In the event of any floor nominations, the individuals involved must also submit a bio, which will be distributed to voting members prior to the vote. I am pleased to announce that Greg Althaus has graciously agreed to chair the nomination committee. Details regarding council positions and responsibilities will be disseminated through G-News and Sunday worship bulletins once finalized. Please prayerfully consider your participation in this process.

For the election to proceed, we also require an up-to-date list of voting members. Denise Schulz is leading a committee dedicated to reviewing the names in the Gethsemane directory and verifying membership status. We greatly appreciate their efforts in this significant undertaking.

Upon the successful completion of these tasks, we will be able to convene an annual meeting and conduct a proper council election. While I understand that this process is time-consuming and painful for the congregation, it is crucial that we approach it with openness, transparency, and adherence to ELCA guidelines. I extend an invitation for your active participation in this important process.

Peace,

Pastor Susie Schnelle