Minutes of Ethnic Ministries Task Force of LCMS Northwest Dt.

Date and Place:               April 29, 2005 , at district office, Portland , OR

In attendance:      Rev. Dr. Erhart Bauer

                            Rev. Dr. Robert Schmidt

                            Dr. Denny Langston

                            Ms. Susan Olson

                            Ms. Pam Bridgehouse

                            Rev. Mike Schuessler

                            Mr. David Sternbeck

                            Rev. Dr. Herb Hoefer, Chair

Excused:              Rev. Dan Kunkel

A.   Opening Bible Study

Herb presented materials from the book “The Bible in Cross-Cultural Perspective,” and the group discussed how the Bible is understood differently in different cultures.

B.   Reports on District Activities

              1.   Lutheran Latino Ministries

a.   Convocation

Pam reported on the Latino Ministries Convocation that was held in Woodburn on April 9 th .   She also showed a PowerPoint that the LLM is developing for use in local congregations, explaining their work and needs.

One special blessing out of the convocation was that Ms. Michelle Fortier of St. Peter, Cornelius, has volunteered to help LLM develop a web site.

The LLM now foresees itself as a resource for others in the district to develop and fund new ministries among Hispanics.

                            b.   Pastor Miguel Luna

At our previous EMTF meeting, the need for finding and training ethnic leaders was emphasized.   The LLM has such a leader in Woodburn, Pastor Miguel Luna.   He had been trained and ordained in another denomination, but now he has taken five LAP courses and is preparing for ordination in the LCMS.  

Now that Rev. Bruce Zagel is no longer in Woodburn to mentor him, we must find new mentors for Pastor Luna in the LAP program.   Herb said that he had spoken with three people at the convocation, and they said they would be willing to help:   Deaconess Darlene Jansens, Rev. Oscar Marquardt, and Rev. Wallace Misterek.   Lenette Schuldheisz , LAP administrator, is to follow up these contacts.  

It was further pointed out that Pastor Luna may be eligible for a colloquy, since he already was trained and ordained in another denomination.   Pam said she would check into this possibility.

The group also discussed how these ethnic leaders must train lay leaders as well.   Pam said that Pastor Luna is already doing this.

                    2.   “Tracking the   Spirit” DVD

Susan showed the DVD that the district has developed on the “Tracking the Spirit” program.   The emphasis of the program is that congregation members see themselves as empowered by the Holy Spirit for outreach.

C.   Reports on Task Force Assignments

                    1.   Orientation Workshop Curriculum

The group appreciated the three-stage format and curriculum that Susan and Herb had prepared (see attached).   Group suggestions were:

•  One element that might be added when the full 1 ½ day format is used is some training in strategic planning.  

•  It would be best to have a target ethnic group in mind when presenting in a particular region.

•  We might include a history of Lutheran involvement in immigrant settlement in this country.    This is something that we are good at!

In order to introduce the workshop to the district, it would be helpful to present it at the annual Circuit Counselors Conference.   Through the Circuit Counselors, we might get opportunities also to present the program at monthly gatherings of the Circuit pastors.   From there, interest might develop to hold the workshop for gatherings of congregations or for particular congregations.   Mike is a Circuit Counselor, so he will discuss the possibility with Pres. Schumacher.

Other suggestions were:

•  to offer this as a topic for a sectional at the district youth gathering

•  to offer it during the Bible Study hour on a Sunday morning  

•  to offer it as a follow-up to the “Tracking the Spirit” trainings.

Erhart said he will follow up with Rev. Joel Brauer, as previously discussed, to get his feedback on the workshop curriculum.

The group looked at the training materials that have been developed in the Pacific Southwest Dt. by Rev. Kenneth Behnken.   They determined that our proposed curriculum will provide general awareness and motivation for involvement in ethnic ministry outreach.   The “Planting Missions Across Cultures” material will be good to use as follow-up training for those who want to pursue this ministry.

                    2.   Follow-Up on Requests for Training

                            a.   Latinos

Pam reported that five pastors expressed interest to have training in outreach to Latinos in their area.   Most of the pastors are in Circuit One, so that would be a good spot to hold a Circuit workshop.

                            b.   Asians and Koreans

Mike described how his congregation of St. Timothy in Edmonds had developed a multi-cultural congregation in which approximately 20% of the worshippers on a Sunday are from ethnic (primarily Asian) backgrounds.   One way that they have found for existing congregation members to mix effectively with ethnic members is to have the ethnic members hold cooking classes.  

The group asked Mike to discuss with his congregation leaders if they would be willing to have representatives from other congregations in the district visit his congregation and discuss this approach to ethnic ministry outreach.

                            c.   Multi-Ethnics

Dave reported that three of the pastors he contacted expressed interest in having an orientation workshop.

                            d.   South Asians

Erhart reported on the ministry of Rev. Phan, who has three Vietnamese congregations.   He is called by Holy Cross, Portland , and they hope eventually to develop into a blended congregation, similar to St. Timothy, Edmonds.

                            e.   Africans

Bob related the vision of the Oromo Lutheran congregation in Portland .   They hope to form partnerships with congregations that want to be in ethnic ministry, but don’t have opportunities in their immediate neighborhoods.   They would like to establish sister congregation relationships that include mutual prayer, exchange of visitors and groups, and funding.  

The Oromo choir is willing to sing at different congregations, but they need to be at their own worship on Sunday mornings.

                            3.   ESL Support from Concordia University

Mike said he would follow up on contacting Prof. Linda Rountree about the possibility of Concordia University ’s ESL faculty helping to establish an ESL ministry in other district congregations, as they did with Trinity, Portland .

                            4.   Support for Existing Ministries

Denny presented the possibility of funding for ethnic ministries through the Ablaze initiative of Synod.   The group discussed to request a three-year funding for the training of existing ethnic leaders in the district:  

•  Mr. Haro of the Oromo Lutheran Church in Portland

•  Pastor Luna of Hope Lutheran Church in Woodburn

•  Mr. David Sternbeck in Forks, WA.  

•  Since Pastor Yared is planning to begin an outreach to African immigrants in the Seattle area, this ministry also could be included.  

•  The request should detail how these leaders will also train lay leaders among their ethnic group.

The group assigned Bob, Erhart, and Herb to draw up this proposal.   Guidelines are:

•  We prioritize our request so that the Synod can fund as much as they are able at the start.  

•  We include existing sources of income in the budget that we present.  

•  We present the goal that these ethnic leaders be freed from their income-producing jobs so that they can focus totally on outreach and training.  

•  We have a goal that, after three years, these ministries would be self-supporting, either independently or jointly by local congregations

D.   African Immigrant Outreach in Seattle Area

Mike and Erhart reported on the exploratory meeting that Pastor Yared of Las Vegas held with pastors and lay leaders in the Seattle area about outreach to the African immigrants in the region.   Pastor Yared said that Synod’s goal is to establish five congregations among the various immigrant groups in the Seattle area.   It is possible that Good Shepherd will call Pastor Yared to pursue this ministry and that two circuits might join in support of his ministry.   However, it is also not clear if Pastor Yared will be free to make the move from Las Vegas by next summer.

The group observed that there are already 3-4 Ethiopian congregations in the Seattle area.   We will need to coordinate with these existing congregations as we start.   It would be good also to involve the Oromo congregation in Portland , as they have many contacts in the Seattle area.

E.   Next Meeting

                    1.   Ethnic Representation

The group discussed how valuable it was to have David in the discussions, as he brings an authentic ethnic voice into the proceedings.   They suggested that Herb invite 2-3 representatives of some ethnic group to participate in up-coming meetings.   They could give a presentation on their ethnic group and participate in that meeting’s deliberations.

                    2.   Date, Time, and Place

The group set Aug. 24 th as the date of the next meeting.   Since Pam does not have to come after school, it was decided to start the meeting earlier:   from 2:00-8:00 p.m.

Note that there will also be a change of venue, as Susan will not be a part of our meeting and, therefore, we cannot close the district office.   The meeting will take place at Concordia University in the basement meeting room (no. 013) of Centennial Hall.

Respectfully submitted.

Herb Hoefer, Chair

Nortwest Dt. Ethnic Ministry Task Force