Spouses of Pastors

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson

In recent days I have been reminded of the important partnership of spouses in the life of pastors and all leaders in God's Church. I recently attended the funeral of Kathryn Winterfeldt. She was married to Pastor David Winterfeldt of the Neighbors in Christ Parish of Gibbon and Winthrop.  Kathryn and David had been living with cancer until it ended her life.  Kathryn has become an icon for me of the ways spouses walk alongside and support their spouse who is a leader in God's Church.

As I drove to her funeral I found myself thinking about how I have failed to express my strong appreciation for the spouses of our congregational staff and leadership.  I found myself giving thanks to God for the ways spouses support the pastors and leaders of our congregations.  I see some of the ways. Their ways of supporting their partner vary based on their gifts and interests.  But I have been thinking we often do not take time to thank them for their faithful service. Today I want to do so.

This is a week where I also received notice of LaVonne Foss' death, widow of Pastor Arlen Foss. I remember and give thanks for LaVonne. I first met her back in the days when I worked in Bible Camp.  Her death was another reminder of people who have served the Church and their Lord in this unique 

vocation.

In the past, spouses often were thought about as an associate pastor who was expected to do certain things as part of their role.  While I am glad that we have moved beyond that time where such expectations were routinely brought to spouses of pastors, I am thankful for the ways spouses of pastors and other leaders contribute to the life of Christ and support their partner's vocation. I am thankful for all the ways they serve in their many other callings, too.

We treasure and give thanks for all our synod's leaders whether they are single or married. In our synod we have several pastors who are engaged.  We are excited for them. We have professional staff and rostered leaders who are expecting children.  We pray that their pregnancies will go smoothly and the birth of their child will be a great blessing.  I watch Facebook to see the unfolding lives of our leader's families. I smile as I read and see pictures sharing their stories.

Today I want to give thanks for leaders of all kinds...and their families for all the ways they support the work of Christ and love God's world.  In particular I want to note my appreciation for the spouses of our leaders.  Thanks.

Mission Support Update

+Bishop Jon V. Anderson

Thanks to your support our synod has been able to support campus ministries across the state.  We remember and give thanks for all the students, faculty and staff that have been touched by our missionaries in local mission serving in campus ministry.  We fund ministry at University of Minnesota-Morris, Southwest State University-Marshall and St. Cloud State University-St. Cloud. The Lakeland Conference funds ministry at Ridgewater Community College-Willmar. Resurrection of St. Joseph funds and staffs campus ministry at St. Benedict and St. John University.  Gustavus Adolphus funds the campus ministry at this college. I invite you to remember them in your prayers this week. 

Here are our mission support numbers for the opening quarter. 4/30/15

Feb. 2015: $117,464

Mar. 2015: $211,190

April 2015: $175,118

Total to date: $503,772.21 (27.7% of budget)

We are thankful to share that our congregational mission support is stronger than last year when the hard cold weather and multiple storms deeply impacted our people's and our congregation's lives. Total mission support for the first quarter is $82,116 more than last year at this time.   Thank you.  

You are making ministry and mission happen locally, regionally, nationally and globally.