Bishop’s Newsletter April 2016

Our 2016 Synod Assembly is May 15-17 at the Crowne Plaza in Grand Rapids. You can find information at:

http://mittensynod.server303.com/events/assembly/

The theme of our assembly Is, ”For the Life of the World.” My reflection on this theme is on the website and will be in the assembly book. Here I would like to offer some highlights.

MONDAY AFTERNOON TRACKS – On Monday afternoon, the assembly will divide into three tracks that celebrate being a church for the life of the world. I am very excited that leaders within our synod are planning these tracks and that the best I can offer is my “take” on what will happen. Last year, I was wondrously surprised, even amazed. I expect to be this year as well. The first track—PRAYER THAT LEADS US TO SEEK JUSTICE IN THE WORLD—is a spiritual retreat within the assembly in which participants will pray in ways that lead them to share Christ’s love and life in the world through acts of justice and mercy. This is a quiet, meditative time with plenty of silence. Worship will be integral to the retreat. The second track–EQUIPPING OUR CONGREGATION FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD—is a set of seven “affinity groups” in which participants will engage in facilitated conversation on topics that will strengthen congregations’ capacity to be a church for the life of the world. Topics include global engagement, food and water scarcity, helping our children confront and respond to racism, and the refugee crisis plaguing our world. Worship will conclude this track.

2016 Synod Assembly

North/West Lower Michigan Synod

2900 N. Waverly Rd.

Lansing, MI 48906

517-321-5066

In this issue:

Bishop’s Letter Synod Assembly The Spirit’s Touch Upcoming Events Congregations in Transition

In the third track–MEETING CHRIST IN THE WORLD–participants will leave the assembly to encounter Christ in the Grand Rapids community. Opportunities include Bethlehem Lutheran Church in downtown Grand Rapids, and Maple Creek, a senior living facility operated by what, at this writing, is still named Lutheran Social Services of Michigan. Worship will begin the track. CALLED FORWARD TOGETHER IN CHRIST: A PROCESS TO DECIDE THE ELCA’S FUTURE DIRECTION— On Tuesday morning, ELCA Representative Rev. Daniel Rift, Director, World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, will lead the assembly in structured conversation aimed at helping our young church–the ELCA is only 28 years old–take a look at where we are as God’s people and try to understand what God has in store for us as we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. We want to create a vision for the future ELCA—as a church with solid foundations excited to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make a difference in the world locally and globally. We also desire to be a church that we can be proud to pass on to our children. These conversations are occurring all across our church. You will be able to take the process home and use it in your congregation. You can learn more at http://elca.org/future WORSHIP – I am particularly excited about worship at this year’s assembly. Sunday’s Evening Praise

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Bishop’s Newsletter April 2016

Synod Assembly 2016 This year’s Synod Assembly will be held May 15-17 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. Voting members and visitors are encouraged to check the synod website regularly for updated information. Registration forms are now available on the Assembly page of the Synod website!

2016 Health Assessment Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Online is the destination for ELCA health plan members to take the Mayo Clinic health assessment. Complete the assessment and earn money to pay out of pocket medical costs. Our Synod still needs 10 more people to take the assessment to reach our goal before the deadline of April 30, 2016! Login into Portico Now: https://www.porticobenefits.org/

features the band from our synod day at the ELCA Youth Gathering last summer in Detroit, and reflections from young leaders as the sermon. On Monday afternoon, each track includes a service of Holy Communion that is integral to its theme. We conclude our evening on Monday with the beautiful Prayer Around the Cross for the Healing of the Nations, and our sending Eucharist on Tuesday includes the baptism of James Justin, son of Pastors Jessica Rivera and Justin Walker. OFFERING– The assembly offerings will be divided between the ELCA’s World Hunger Appeal and our newly established disaster response fund. The situation in Flint helped us to realize the importance of having money available to share quickly when disaster strikes communities on the territory our synod.

And, of course, we will also conduct some business–budget, elections, compensation guidelines, and two resolutions–all for the life of the world! The Rev. Craig Alan Satterlee, Ph. D., Bishop

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Bishop’s Newsletter April 2016

The Spirit’s Touch

By Pastor David Sprang Many people have touched my life in many ways. I was privileged to have the doctor who delivered me to be the doctor who cared for me for the first 20 years of life. My parents touched my life in so many ways, not just holding me and nurturing me, but instilling their faith in me. When I became an adult, my wife touched my heart and life in ways that make me who I am today. Having a son, who now has grown and has found someone to touch his life, is a profound experience. In the church, besides the touching that happens in greeting, fellowship, and the passing of the peace, we have another kind of touch. It is the “laying on of hands”. At moments in life when Christians need to feel God’s spirit in a very physical way, and when we set someone apart for service, we have special ritualized touching. In baptism, the pastor draws the cross on the forehead of the baptized, marking them and sealing them with the cross of Christ forever. In healing services, hands are laid on those needing healing, anointing can be done, and prayers can be said for those needing help. At confirmation, hands are laid and we call to “stir up the Holy Spirit”. At various other times in our lives we may reaffirm our baptism and again those hands are laid on us to “stir up the spirit” in us. When a person is ordained into the Christian ministry or commissioned into a set apart lay service, hands are laid. When a bishop is installed, hands are laid to “stir up” the Spirit and to feel the presence of the body of Christ for service to the greater church. When I was ordained on September 7, 1980, it was a great day. On that day, hands were laid on me by Rev. George Wright, Rev. Walter Hoffman, and Rev. John Seivert. Then I was off to my new assignment in North/West Michigan and I did not think much about that laying on of hands and what effect it might have on me. As I started out in ministry, I had passion for the care of people, not just in the church, but the town where I served. I think that came from the hands of Rev. Wright who had been my home pastor and also my father-in-law. Worship became the center of our life and mission as a congregation. I developed a yearning for the weekly practice of worship. Rev. Hoffman was my worship professor and Dean of the Chapel at Trinity Seminary. His hands and touch affected me. It took a while for me to begin to understand how Rev. Seivert’s hands upon my head would affect me. He was a missionary in Papua New Guinea for 25 years and came back to the States to serve one local parish before he retired. He served at the congregation where my wife and I worked during seminary. He shaped and formed me during my seminary years, and was the host pastor at my ordination. When Bishop Emeritus Gary Hansen became bishop in our synod, he sought to renew and increase our connection with our companion synod in Papua New Guinea. I traveled to Papua New Guinea with Gary Hansen’s first group in January of 1997. Bishop Emeritus Hansen and I worked together to organize a trip in 2006. In 2009, I had the privilege of introducing, then Bishop John Schleicher to Papua New Guinea, and on that trip we signed a covenant with our companion, the Papua District, to renew our relationship. It began to dawn on me that Pastor Seivert’s hands on my head instilled a passion in me for global mission, and specifically a passion for our partners in Papua New Guinea.

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Bishop’s Newsletter April 2016

Understanding Islam Event Join Dr. Mark Swanson and Bishop Satterlee for a day of conversation on Saturday, April 16 at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos. The event will begin at 9 am and conclude at 3pm. Lunch will be provided. To register, contact Ann at the Synod Office. There will be a modest fee for food. An ordained pastor of the ELCA, Mark Swanson teaches in the areas of Christian-Muslim studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Before coming to the great ecumenical and interfaith meeting-place that is the city of Chicago, Dr. Swanson taught at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt. His research interests include the history of Christian-Muslim relations, medieval Egyptian church history, and early

Continued from page 3 In the synod rotation of sabbaticals, mine was the first name drawn, and I was encouraged to organize a plan. I knew the plan had to include another trip to Papua New Guinea. The Lutheran world watched as The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea held elections for Head (presiding) Bishop in January of 2016. The past six years had been a rocky and contentious time as the previous Head Bishop’s leadership was troubling. The Rev. Dr. Jack Urame was elected Head Bishop in January 2016. He is a talented new leader in the church with a breath of fresh air and a renewed sense of hope. I corresponded with our churchwide Global Mission staff about this sign of hope. I offered that I was interested in going to the Bishop’s installation. An invitation came. I joined Rev. Franklin Ishida, Director of Asia Pacific for ELCA Global Mission, and we traveled to Papua New Guinea for the installation of the new head bishop on March 13, in Lae. Rev. Ishida nominated me to represent the ELCA and join the partner Lutheran Churches from Germany and Australia in the laying on of hands for the installation of the new head bishop. I passed on to the new Head Bishop of Papua New Guinea a legacy of mission passed on through me from my missionary pastor. At my ordination,, a sense of pastoral care, vitality of worship, and God’s mission were laid on me, and I rejoice in being able to pass that on to all I touch, and especially the new Head Bishop of Papua New Guinea, Rev. Jack Urame.

Synod Finances

FINANCES AT A GLANCE (as of March 31, 2016) March Year to Date Income Income Mission Support $112,332 Mission Support $192,913 All Other Income $13,587 All Other Income $47.392 Total Income $125,919 Total Income $240,305

Expenses Expenses Support to ELCA $56,166 Support to ELCA $96,457 All Other Expenses $70,859 All Other Expenses $126,419 Total Expenses $127,025 Total Expenses $222,876 Balance +/- -$1,106 Balance +/ +$17,429

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Bishop’s Newsletter April 2016

Upcoming Events

May April April 16 Understanding Islam

Event Faith Lutheran, Okemos

May 15-17 Synod Assembly Crowne Plaza, Grand Rapids

May 23-26 Summer Institute in Theology and Disability

Holland

For information on these events and more, be sure to read our weekly update emails and visit the events section on our website.

Grace Gathering The Grace Gathering will be held in partnership with the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans Aug. 10-13. The gathering will bring people together from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Participants will see the church in action, worship with Churchwide Assembly voting members, engage in experiential learning, and attend a variety of workshops that will equip congregations and synods with tools to prepare for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. The partnership of the Grace Gathering and the 2016 Churchwide Assembly will provide a place for all members to prepare for the Reformation anniversary – which is an opportunity to rejoice in the life-giving, liberating power of the gospel – by connecting, reflecting on and discovering ways the Reformation continues to guide us today. Learn more and register at www.ELCA.org/GraceGathering.

Summer Institute on Theology and Disability The 7th Summer Institute on Theology and Disability is being held in Holland, Michigan, May 23-26, hosted by Western Theological Seminary and Hope College. The first day of the Institute is a Community Day, designed to be a day for clergy, laity, professionals, family members and people with disabilities to attend if their schedules and/or resources do not enable them to come for the full Institute. Come and hear John Swinton, Erik Carter, Hans Reinders, Darla Schumm, Bill Gaventa and others, meet people involved in many areas of disability and ministry from around the country, see resources, and more. To learn more about the Institute, visit: http://faithanddisability.org/projects/summer-institute/. To register for the Community Day, visit: http://eventreg.hope.edu/EmsRegics/SITD2016, click on the Partial Week, and you will find the information for the Community Day. Price: $50 for one, $50 for two, and $25 per person for three or more.

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Bishop’s Newsletter April 2016

Congregations in Pastoral Transition

Bay Conference Rev Dan Stoneback, Dean

Trinity/Midland Carl Bjork, Interim Pastoral Assistant/ Congregational Meeting 4/17

Faith/Saginaw Paul Nuechterlein, Interim

Resurrection/ Saginaw

Barbara and Tim Bender, Interim

Our Savior/Saginaw Supply Pastors

Capital Conference Rev Gary Bunge, Dean

All Saints/Mason John Schleicher, Interim/Interviewing

University/East Lansing Fred Fritz last Sunday 6/5

Christ/Michigan Center Erick Johnson, Stated Supply/Interviewing

Greater Grand Rapids Conference

Rev Julie Schneider-Thomas, Dean

Grace/Hastings Paul Kuhlman, Intentional Interim

Faith/Sidney Betsy Kamphuis, Administrative Pastor/Awaiting Candidates

Zion/Woodland Polly Stanton, Intentional Interim

Stony Lake Conference Rev Doug Ogden, Dean

Immanuel/Muskegon Jack Ferra, Interim

St. Luke’s Muskegon Jack Ferra, Interim

Traverse Conference Rev Kent Lee, Dean

Feast of Victory/Acme Matthew Deames, Intentional Interim/ Awaiting Candidates

Bethany/Northport Supply Pastors/Awaiting Candidates

Bethany/Kaleva Fred and Ruth Overdrier, Interim

Calvary/Elk Rapids Supply Pastors/Awaiting Candidates

Advent/Lake Ann Chrysanne Timm/Transitional Pastor

Jack Pine Conference Rev Bill Huether, Dean

Note: We include congregations on the public list when the called pastor or rostered leader completes her or his ministry in the congregation. Thus, congregations in which the pastor has resigned but is still serving are not listed here. We also do not post calls that are accepted until Bishop Satterlee signs the Letter of Call.

Kalamazoo Conference Rev Kari Fast, Dean

St. Peter’s/Battle Creek Cheryl Johnson, stated supply/Awaiting Candidates

Prince of Peace/Portage

Jim Foster, Interim/Call committee training

Allegan/Immanuel Paul Kehnle, Stated Supply. Dean Beckwith, Pastoral Care

Sunrise Conference Rev Chrisy Bright, Dean

Spruce Chrisy Bright, Administrative Pastor/Awaiting Candidates

St. Thomas /Cheboygan

Mike Kemper, Intentional Interim/ Congregational Meeting 4/17

St. James/Millersburg and Trinity/Ocqueoc

Supply Pastors/ Discerning Future