Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries

One of the six ministry grant programs Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries is supporting this year is the “Open Doors” ministry at Lord of Mercy Lutheran Church in Sparks, Nevada.

The idea for the ministry was born when two members of the congregation, Sandy Poirier and Sharon Lemons, met with intern pastor and Proclaim member, Paul Gibson (left), to discuss ways of expanding the RIC congregation’s outreach to the LGBTQ community. They recognized the scarcity of community resources in the cities of Reno and Sparks, as well as the need for teenagers and people in their twenties to have “an alternative to the bars.”

“Open Doors” is described as a safe gathering-place for LGBTQ young people and their friends. At present, it meets at the church every Friday evening from 7pm to 10pm; the intention is to expand to other days of the week. Each week, anywhere from 12 to 20 young people gather for something like a movie, board games, karaoke, or a spaghetti cook-off, and for lots of conversation and general silliness. The hope as the program grows is to also provide mentoring, tutoring, and opportunities for community service.

The group has been meeting since January and a sense of community and of mutual responsibility is growing. Participants trust one another enough to talk about a problem like cutting or a suicide attempt. Everyone benefits from hearing the advice and life experience of others.

Many people were hesitant to join the group at first; they simply couldn’t believe that a church was offering this service with “no strings attached.” They also suspected that they’d be threatened with hellfire and damnation once they were lured inside the doors. Word of mouth has helped to allay these suspicions and the group has grown steadily over the past few months.

“Open Doors” is funded by a ministry grant from ELM. Initial grant monies were used to advertise the group and to purchase food and drink for the Friday gatherings. In the next phase of the group’s development, the plan is to use grant money for the purchase of sports equipment, a sound system, a karaoke machine, and a gaming system: things that will make “Open Doors” an enjoyable place for people to hang out and create community with one another.

For more on ELM’s Ministry Grants program:

www.elm.org/elm-grants/

“ELM Today” is a 6 minute video telling the stories of seminarians, pastors, and church leaders and about the work of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. It’s a great way to learn about and share the work of ELM!

Watch the video here! And share it with your friends!

Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries received a grant from the St. Francis Lutheran Church Endowment in San Francisco for this project.

This film was made in one day at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. We’re so grateful to the leaders and ELM supporters who offered their stories for this film.  Filmmaker Rich Tolsma, a member of University Lutheran in Philadelphia did an absolutely amazing job capturing the stories to create one narrative.

We invite you to share this video with friends, family & congregations. This is an excellent tool for congregations and other individuals and groups who want to learn about ELM or are asking the question: “Do we still need ELM?”

Rather than just watching the video and thinking “how good it is that someone is doing something!” we hope this video inspires you (and perhaps your congregation) to get involved with Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries and support LGBTQ people who are called to ministry in the Lutheran church. 

If you wish to use this with your congregation or in another setting, there is no need to contact us.  But you are very welcome to if you’d like to discuss ways others are using it.  Contact Rachael at operations@elm.org.  And check out our viewer’s guide below!

Viewer’s Guide: CLICK HERE for a 1 page list of discussion questions.

The 2013 Proclaim Retreat earlier this month was a beautiful & moving weekend.  One person called it “life changing” in their evaluation.  

Some reflections from the retreat:

“One couldn’t go away from this retreat except feeling hugged, encouraged and especially stretched intellectually about the deeper breadth of our ministry.” (Pastor Bob Goldstein, retired)

“Both at the retreat and throughout the year, this community exemplifies for me what it means to ‘be church.'” (Becca Sealy, Seminarian)

“Why do I need the Proclaim community? Because this is the community who know how to listen for God’s “Here is the way’ in the midst of a church that continues to say “We aren’t quite ready for you yet. These Lutheran LGBTQ faith leaders challenge and comfort, inspire and heal me in ways that no one else can.” (Tim Feiertag, Awaiting First Call)

“The Proclaim retreat is one of the places I feel the most me…a place where my queerness, my faith, and my vocation can live and breathe together most freely.” (Pastor Jen Rude, Chicago Night Ministry)

“The Proclaim Retreat was a tremendous blessing for me. As a new seminarian struggling through the end of my first year, it provided me with the opportunity not only to feel inspired and reinvigorated, but also to learn a lot about some important topics that I hadn’t had much exposure to yet.” (Brian Hornbecker, Seminarian)

“I have been renewed, cleansed by the water, fed at the table, and gathered among a people of light, hope, and love. It is an Easter celebration.” (Sara Cogsil, Awaiting First Call)

The group photo below by Emily Ann Garcia displays the joy felt by all who attended. We’ve put up a wonderful collection of photos from the retreat that we’d love to share with you:  View photos from the retreat here. 

Proclaim is an ELM program. You support this work through your contributions to Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries. Every dollar makes experiences like the Proclaim retreat a reality–and in turn you  are affecting ministry throughout the church.  Thank you to our wonderful supporters for making this happen!

Learn more about Proclaim by visiting www.elm.org/proclaim.

On April 6, 2013 friends, family,  clergy and other rostered leaders gathered at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Evanston, IL to witness the ordination of Jeanine Reardon.  Jeanine is a member of Proclaim, the professional community for Lutheran pastors, rostered lay leaders, and seminarians who publicly identify as LGBTQ.

Jeanine has followed a 14.5 year path to ministry.  She is active in the Proclaim community and served as Chaplain for this past year.  She and her partner, Julie Boleyn, live in Berwyn, IL with their daughter.

The service included a sermon by Proclaim member Rev. Jen Rude.  Read the sermon here.

Congratulations to Jeanine as she continues with her ministry at St. Paul and in chaplaincy.

This was the first ordination that used ELM’s new hand painted silk worship banners. The banners were created by artist Kristen Gilje.  The banners will be used for special services such as installations and ordinations. The banners were made possible by special gifts from Bonny and John Vaught, Erik Stevens, the Revs. Jen Nagel & Jane McBride, Jerry & Val Vagts, David Lester & Amalia Vagts, and other friends from Holden Village.  Thank you these supporters for making the banners a reality! 

2013 marks the 18th anniversary of Joel’s passing from AIDS. This year, ELM will award a $1,000 grant to a seminary student who meets the eligibility criteria and submits a qualifying application.  The award comes with a $1,000 scholarship which may be used for tuition, educational costs, spiritual and professional development, and candidacy expenses. For more information about Joel go here.

This will be the sixth year that a Joel R. Workin Memorial scholarship has been awarded.  This award is open to all LGBTQ seminarians who are members of Proclaim.  Click here for the Proclaim membership form.  

The Joel R. Working Memorial Scholarship Endowment Committee includes Joel’s friends and former classmates, the Rev. Jeff R. Johnson and Greg Egertson; friend and former co-worker, Michael Nelson;  first Workin recipient, the Rev. Jen Rude; and ELM Executive Director, Amalia Vagts.  We invite you to apply or encourage eligible persons to do so.  

To be considered for the award, your completed application must be submitted to the scholarship committee no later than Friday, May 10, 2013.  All application materials must be submitted electronically to director@elm.org.  The scholarship committee will notify applicants of its decision on or before May 29, 2013.

Download the scholarship application here.

If you would like to make a gift designated for the Joel R. Workin Endowment Fund, please contact Amalia Vagts, Executive Director at director@elm.org or 563-382-6277.

Please consider making a planned gift from your estate to this fund.

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square and a group of churches on Chicago’s Northwest Side united on Palm Sunday to form an anti-violence network that encourages community members to step up and promote peace in the streets. 

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square hosted the ecumenical Palm Sunday rally “A Remedy for Violence”.  Proclaim member Rev. Erik Christensen has been the pastor at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square since 2006.  

Photo on the right:  “I will be a remedy for violence!” Pastor Bruce, Pastor Erik Christensen of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Logan Square, and St. Luke’s members Jessica Schimpff, Will Storm (seminarian), and Noel Spain.

The event was covered in the Chicago area media, including the Chicago Tribune:

Leaders and members of several community organizations spoke to more than 50 people — including little children — about the root causes of violence, from poverty to homelessness to unemployment.  At the beginning of the forum, people gathered in the front of the room as they sang, chanted and held signs calling for an end to the violence. Some who attended also shared stories about losing jobs, spending time in prison and dealing with violence in schools.

Read the full article by Jennifer Delgado here.  

Univision has Spanish language video coverage of the event available here. 

More photos of the event are on the Remedy for Violence is a project of Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance (LSEA) and ALSO (Alliance of Local Service Organizations) can be accessed here. 

In response to the Palm Sunday event, “A Remedy for Violence,” at St. Luke’s the Chicago Tribune journalist Robert Koehler wrote this piece. 

To stay updated or get involved visit: http://www.remedyforviolence.blogspot.com/

Bishop Mark W. Holmerud will join us at the opening night of the Proclaim Retreat to welcome LGBTQ leaders on behalf of the Sierra Pacific Synod.  Bp. Holmerud will also preside at the opening Eucharist of the 2013 Proclaim Retreat that evening. The Proclaim Retreat is a gathering of publicly identified LGBTQ rostered leaders and seminarians for a time of renewal, community building, and professional development.  The 2013 Proclaim Retreat is April 12-15 at Bishop’s Ranch in Sonoma County, CA.

Bp. Holmerud is the 4th Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod and has served there since 2008.  Bp. Holmerud has been a supporter of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries for many years and we are looking forward to having him at the retreat.

One of the six ministry grant programs Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries is supporting this year is Spirit of Hope. Proclaim member the Rev. Matthew Bode will be expanding his duties from being the sole pastor at Spirit of Hope to being part of a team supporting five Detroit Lutheran churches.  

This will be a new multi-congregation parish.  Spirit of Hope and its new partner congregations serve a diverse community across Detroit.  The funds provided by ELM will help Spirit of Hope maintain its ability to support a full time pastor in a lower income community.

Spirit of Hope

Who We Are

Spirit of Hope, born in 2006 at the coming together of two congregations, one Episcopal and one ELCA, is a fully affirming congregation in the heart of Detroit.  Our faith leads us to visions of justice based on charity, education and advocacy.  Located in a diverse community in race, income level and sexual expression, we are leading lives of hope and love in our city and world as followers of Jesus Christ.

What We Do

As one of very few fully affirming, majority African American congregations of any denomination in our city, we have become a well-known spiritual home for those who identify as transgender, lesbian, gay bisexual and allies.  Justice opportunities cross lines of race, income level, gender, sexual orientation and gender expression.  By speaking openly and honestly about places of oppression, we are able to move to places of power and healing.

Today, important ministries include our Pray and Play Youth Basketball Ministry, Spirit Spit Open Mic, Spirit Farm Urban Farm Project, an HIV prevention and support ministry, food pantry, community kitchen and more. We are currently the lead church working with neighbors to rehabilitate a local park dedicated to Rosa Parks and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In addition, we are helping to facilitate the renovation of a neighborhood apartment building and build a local community land trust. We are a regular participant in Motor City Pride, Michigan’s largest Pride festival held just a mile from our location.

The Future

Spirit of Hope is blessed to have four partner ELCA congregations in the city working toward further cooperation.  Soon to have one shared staff, we will be able to learn and grow from one another’s strengths and partner strategically.  As an affirming congregation with an openly gay pastor, Spirit of Hope is able to teach our partner congregations about moving from being welcoming congregations to fully affirming.

The influence has already been dramatic and uplifting as ELM supports our pastoral staff in providing LGBT leadership in five ELCA, majority African American congregations.  God is good and the Spirit is at work!

For more on ELM’s Ministry Grants go to: https://www.elm.org/elm-grants/

Joyous news! Proclaim member, Matthew James has received a first call.  Matt will be the Associate Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, MA.  Matt shared these words about his first call:

I am humbled to have been called as Associate Pastor by the wonderful people of Trinity Lutheran Church here in Worcester.  I am especially thankful for the amazing support and prayers from all over.  I am overwhelmed.  God is good indeed!

Matt  was approved for ordination by ELM in 2008.  Following the 2009 ELCA ministry policy changes, he was quickly recognized and approved by the ELCA New England Synod candidacy committee. 

Thanks to all our supporters who have been thinking & praying for Matt over the last four years.

We have great news for Thrivent members who participate in the Thrivent Choice Dollars program:  you can now designate funds to Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries!  We are now officially in the catalog.  Your support is greatly needed and will be put to use to support ministry by LGBTQ Lutheran rostered leaders & seminarians.

If you still have 2012 funds to designate you have until Friday, March 28 to do so by phone (1-800-847-4836) and Sunday, March 31 online (www.thrivent.com).  Your 2012 dollars expire at the end of this month if you don’t designate them.

Click here to download a PDF & follow 6 easy steps to designate your support for ELM.

If you have any questions, you can contact your Thrivent representative or Amalia Vagts, ELM’s Executive Director at 563-382-6277.