The Thirtieth Assembly of the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

June 8—10, 2017

Joseph A. Floreano Riverside Convention Center

2

2017 SYNODICAL DISCIPLESHIP AWARD

ELIZABETH WALKER

Elizabeth (Beth) Walker lives a life of learning and service. Her parents and the people of Luther Memorial in North Syracuse were her models for learning and service. Her husband Rich has ac-companied her in her ministry of service along the way. Through the years she has volunteered for service to people in need both in the community and her church. Beth prefers to be in the back-ground, but she is not afraid to speak out and act for causes and people that are important to her.

Beth discovered her true passion in Global Ministry, and has for years worked tirelessly to raise the awareness of global church, particularly with our companion synod in Zimbabwe. She has been a strong advocate for “twinning” congregations, which help to build relationships between congrega-tions in Upstate New York and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe. Beth was part of the 2010 group from our synod that went to Zimbabwe. She hosted and traveled with Bishop Dube and general secretary MM Dube during their visit in 2012. She again hosted Gracious Moyo pastor from Zimbabwe, three summers while he attended Luther Seminary for his masters degree. Beth and her husband, Rich have been extremely generous with their time and money for the work of the church around the world.

Besides the many Zimbabwe connections, Beth has been a part of the synod Global mission team since the early 90’s and she has been chair since 2010. She is one of the members of this year’s Syn-od Assembly planning team, there is after all a global mission emphasis.

In addition to work in the Synod, Beth Walker is an active leader at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fairport. She has written confirmation material, chairs the Mission and Social Concerns Committee, is a money teller, has been a God’s Work our Hand’s coordinator and the list goes on. She also has a day job as a math and science teacher for a charter school with a population that is 98% eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Beth is a disciple who doesn’t hesitate to pass on the love of Jesus no matter who they are. Thank you Beth for your faith, your tenacious determination raise up God’s people all over the world. Well done good and faithful servant.

3

CONGRATULATIONS : Previous Synodical Discipleship Award Winners

1999 Mary Lu Bowen, Christ the King, Vestal 2000 Thomas Barney/Holy Trinity, Buffalo 2001 Steven Crane/Trinity, Herkimer 2002 Warren & Marion Truland/St. John’s, Albany 2003 Nancy Bader/Luther Memorial, N. Syracuse 2004 Frank Welker/Ascension, Rome 2005 Peggy Joslyn/Zion, New Hartford 2006 Nancy Rice/St. John’s, West Seneca 2008 Bob and Cynthia White/Incarnate Word, Rochester 2010 Bonnie Grzenda/St. Timothy, Geneseo 2011 David Truland/Faith, Troy 2012 Dr. Robert Lebel/King of Kings, Liverpool 2013 Denise Ballou/Luther Memorial, N. Syracuse 2014 Jeffrey Human/St. John’s, Williamsville 2015 Gary Roller/Redeemer, Rochester 2016 McCurdy, Laurel/Zion, New Hartford

CONGRATULATIONS:

Previous Congregational Discipleship Award Winners

4

2017 CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP AWARD

CENTRAL CROSSROADS CONFERENCE

DORIS PLOCHKO

Doris Plochko was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Syracuse. When that congregation closed she joined First English Lutheran Church where she became an active member of the Wom-en of the ELCA, served on the Congregation Council as well as in the office of President. She was a key member of the First English Care Team and regularly visited sick and shut-in and has been trained to distribute communion. She taught Sunday Church School and Vacation Bible School (the last few years in partnership with Atonement.) Working with youth, she developed deep rela-tionships with refugee families from Burma/Myanmar who had become members of First English. She also serves as a member of the Syracuse Lutheran Campus Ministry Board. Her deep spiritual-ity and prayerful life, her care for people, and her ability to keep up her spirits and those around her even when things are difficult are all amazing and we give thanks to God for them.

But it has been her work with the Karen community at First English, on the north side of Syracuse, and now at Atonement that causes us to make this nomination. Doris has volunteered with the Learning to Read: Families Together program which is sponsored by Syracuse University Lutheran Campus Ministry’s STEP Center. This program works with refugee parents and toddlers (particularly in the Karen community from Burma/Myanmar) as together they learn English as a second language. Doris, along with her husband Carl, have planned and provided transportation for program participants. They approached Atonement Lutheran Church asking for the use of their bus for transportation. This began another partnership.

With the closing of First English, Doris and Carl gravitated to Atonement, where Carl’s father had been a member. She was determined to continue to provide for the Christian education and wor-ship needs of the Lutheran Karen community members. She approached Atonement early on and we worked with our Christian Education Team in providing a regular schedule of transportation to and from Atonement every Sunday morning and planning for integration of children and youth in-to our Sunday Church School program. Many of the youth knew each other and their teachers from Vacation Bible School. Every week Carl drives the bus (he should get an award too!) around the northside neighborhood and picks up children and families who come to Atonement for worship and Sunday School. Their participation doubled the size of our 8:30 am worshipping community as well as of the Sunday School and Youth Group. (Our only problem is that we need a bigger bus.) It has been a blessing to Atonement. We could not have been successful without someone to shep-herd individuals, children, and families along the way. Doris provides pastoral care and visitation in their homes and the hospital. She is an evangelist through and through, a powerful witness to what it means to share your faith with others. Her life is a model of a relationship based ministry and she is an example of what it means to let the Holy Spirit guide and lead.

Pastor Gail Riina of the Syracuse Lutheran Campus Ministry joins me in making this nomination as does Pastor Dawn Rodgers at Atonement.

5

2017 CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP

GENESEE FINGER LAKES CONFERENCE

BARBARA SANKO

It is my pleasure to recommend Barbara Sanko for the 2017 GFL Conference Congre-gational Discipleship Award. For more than twenty years Barb has served God and God’s people at Atonement Lutheran Church and the surrounding community with a generous spirit and a compassionate heart. She is, by definition, a “working disciple” who takes the love of Christ outside the walls of our congregation with her hands, feet and car! When asked to help, to serve or to share the Good News of Jesus - Barb answers by going and doing. This is no small thing.

Over the years, Barb has taken on an incredible number of leadership roles in outreach ministry at Atonement. Through Barb’s efforts, our congregation has offered significant support to the Brighton Food Depot with ongo-ing donations of canned and packaged food which she personally delivers twice a month to the Depot. She is the organizer of our yearly Rummage Sale, in which all proceeds are donated to a Rochester area outreach ministry. She currently serves on our Board of Ministries as well as our Discipleship Committee, which makes recommen-dations for the financial support of our benevolence ministries. In previous years she headed up our “College Connection” program, collecting and mailing “care packages” of treats to Atonement’s college students during exam weeks. Each December, she continues to coordinate our Advent Giving program, which offers members of our congregation opportunities to donate needed items to area ministries: In addition, she puts up our Atone-ment Angel Tree each December and decorates it with tags containing gift ideas for a family we sponsor through Habitat for Humanity. Barb delivers the gifts to the Habitat family a few days before Christmas. Outside of our congregation, Barb is an active volunteer with the Brighton Coalition for Habitat for Humanity as well as with the Brighton Textile Clothing Donation Shed.

Above all, Barb’s leadership of our Labors of Love Craft & Food Fair, held each November for twenty years, has been indeed, a labor of love on her part. Barb has been deeply involved in every aspect of this huge endeavor; an endeavor which has resulted in thousands upon thousands of dollars donated to feeding, clothing and helping our neighbors in need.

Inside the walls of our congregation, Barb’s welcoming presence is a daily gift to each of us. Through her efforts this past year as the new coordinator of Fellowship events and New Member/Visitor outreach, she has developed a Cards of Caring ministry for active worshipers and homebound members; updated our Church Family Photo Board with a fresh, new look; and has developed a creative nametag ministry for members, friends and visitors which is so successful – that people actually like wearing their nametags on Sunday mornings! Barb’s creative talents have also made her our “go to” person for calligraphy. Every child, youth or adult who is baptized, con-firmed or received into membership through Affirmation of Baptism, receives a certificate from our congregation inscribed with professional calligraphy through the hand of Barbara Sanko.

Barb’s gentle and soft-spoken efforts have, in many ways, moved mountains. Through her faith-filled acts and loving spirit, our congregation has been the presence of Christ in the lives of many who seek welcome – and countless others who face hunger, homelessness, want or heartache. It is a privilege to be the pastor of this disciple.

Submitted by: The Rev. Gail Swanson, Atonement, Rochester, New York

6

2017 CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP

NIAGARA FRONTIER CONFERENCE

MARC SCHWARTZ

Marc began has walk in faith as a young boy under the tutelage of his

father. He was taught early on the importance of a good clean Christian life and the use of the bible.

After high school and graduating from Edinburgh College in PA, as a Science Teacher, Marc began

his career of teaching and has never stopped. In 1967 Marc taught a teen class and a Sunday School

class at St. John's Lutheran Church in Gardenville, NY. They transferred to Wayside Presbyterian

Church in Hamburg, NY after they moved from West Seneca to Derby in 1973. Marc taught the adult

class and was a member of the church council and handled congregational personnel matters for the

church. In 1991, Marc & family transferred to their current congregation of All Saints in Hamburg.

There Marc taught the Confirmation class from almost the beginning of his transfer until he retired

from both Confirmation Class and work in 2000. But Marc wasn't done! In 2000 he began to teach

the Adult Morning Class on Sunday Mornings and joined Habitat for Humanity, first as a full time

volunteer and then gradually backed off to 2 days a week, due to family commitments. Marc still

teaches the adult class from September to June, he has participated and headed up the All Saints

Covenant Committee since coming to All Saints in 1991. Because of Marc's efforts several of the con-

gregation's confirmands have stepped up to be youth leaders and becoming involved not only in the

leadership of the church; some even joined the church council and participated in church services,

but became involved as staff at LCLC and Organic Youth.

Marc is not only an example to looked up to by the youth, but also by the adults as to what Christian

leadership really is. It's is our pleasure to nominate Marc.

7

2017 CONGREGATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

LOIS RUMFELT

Lois has had a passion for Women of the ELCA (and its predecessor groups) since childhood at her

mother' side. Lois currently serves as a board member of the Upstate NY Synod Women of the ELCA

and as Secretary of Southwestern Conference Women of the ELCA. She has often served in

leadership positions at synod-wide conference and congregational levels using her communication

skills to advocate and publicize the projects, initiatives and mission of Women of the ELCA. A

favorite of hers is to lead Women's Bible Study from the Gather Magazine as she currently does with

the Rachel Circle of Holy Trinity Jamestown. Lois's faith and love of scripture is nurtured in prepa-

ration to lead Bible study and in daily devotional reading.

Lois also finds meaningful ministry as a volunteer at Lutheran, Jamestown, where every Sunday af-

ternoon she prepares Christ Chapel for worship, welcomes residents to Chapel serves as acolyte and

shares the gift of her music. Residents enjoy Lois’ soprano voice as she sings a hymn or

anthem during worship. Many arrive early to listen to her practice. With her talents, eye for detail

and love of the elderly , Lois is truly a partner with her husband, Pastor Daniel Rumfelt, Chaplain at

Lutheran, in the worship ministry of Christ Chapel. Grounded in her baptism into Christ, Lois

faithfully shares Christ in worship, lifting the spirits of the many campus and community residents,

Catholic and Protestant alike, who gather at Chapel weekly to celebrate our one Lord together.

8

1999 David Swanson/St. Andrews, S. Glens Falls 2000 Sandra (Sonnie) Samuelson/St. Timothy, Bemus Point Daniel Juers/Bethlehem, Fairport 2001 Yvonne Vermeulen/Our Saviour, Horseheads 2002 Virginia Wieding/First, English, Syracuse Art Brauer/First English, Lockport 2003 Muriel Parsons/St. John’s, Ancram William Goldbach/Grace, South Buffalo 2004 Karen Reynolds/Bethel, Portville Robert Lange/St. Paul’s, Richmondville 2005 Albert Herpich/St. Paul’s Pittsford Nancy Tiedemann/Holy Trinity, Skaneateles 2006 Rebecca Senft/Our Saviour, Endwell Charles Bilby/St. Paul’s, Richmondville 2007 Douglas Cassidy/Trinity, East Amherst 2008 Jim Roberts/Prince of Peace, Clifton Park 2009 Leslie and Linda Larsen/St. Paul’s, St. Johnsville 2010 Paul Thiel Family/Grace, Buffalo 2011 Marcia Brown/North Park, Buffalo 2012 Melissa Dyer/Lord of Life, Depew 2013 Melissa Wilber/Atonement, Syracuse 2014 Nan Richard/St. Peter’s, Verona 2015 Lynn Whitworth/Lutheran Parish of the Tonawandas Carole Glidden/St. Andrew’s, S. Glens Falls Ellen Meyer/Concord, Rochester

Robert Lindholm/St. John’s-St. Mark’s Canajoharie Mary Lohr/St. Paul’s, Liverpool 2016 Tori Swanson/Zion, Frewsburg

Lynn Whitworth/Lutheran Parish of the Tonawandas Carole Glidden/St. Andrew’s, S. Glens Falls Ellen Meyer/Concord, Rochester

Robert Lindholm/St. John’s-St. Mark’s, Canajoharie Mary Lohr/St. Paul’s, Liverpool

CONGRATULATIONS:

Previous Congregational Discipleship Award Winners

9

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

THE REV. DEAN MITCHEL HUNNESHAGEN

JULY 30, 1967

Dean was born in Charleston, W. Virginia and was baptized at home on May 25, 1941. He worshiped St. Paul Lutheran Church of Charleston, WV and was confirmed there on 6/20/1956. He graduated from South Charleston High 1959, obtained a BA degree from Capital University, Co-lumbus, Ohio in 1963 and a BD from Trinity Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1967. He then served his internship at Parma Lutheran Church, Parma, Ohio. He was then Ordained at St. Paul’s, Charleston, W. VA on July 30, 1967.

Dean served as Mission Pastor at Resurrection, Rochester from 1967-1971 and as Mission Developer and Founding Pastor of Lord of Life, Depew from 1971-2008

During his ministry at Lord of Life he:

Preached 2000 sermons

Received 1164 adults and children into covenant membership in Lord of Life

Led more than 120 retreats

Performed 372 baptisms

Prepared 245 children for their first communion at age 11

Guided 106 youth through to age 16 to make their confirmation

Performed 212 marriages

Conducted 194 funerals

Dean and Brenda Hunneshagen were married in 1969 and have four adult children. Since the 1980’s

Dean and Brenda have been permanent foster parents, to three siblings from Laos who are now

adults. In 1982 the family received the John N. Walsh, Jr. Board Appreciation Award from the Child

& Family Services of Buffalo and Erie County in appreciation for outstanding contribution as a fami-

ly to improve their community and strengthen America.

Dean’s interests include new building construction and remodeling, trees, landscaping and support-

ing his wife in her hobby of breeding and showing championship angora rabbits. He has a rich back-

ground in cycling, backpacking and cross country skiing.

Dean retired in 2008 and continues to serve the Lord and the Upstate New York Synod . He and

Brenda live in Orchard Park, New York.

10

“A REFLECTION AT 50”

BY DEAN M. HUNNESHAGEN

April 19, 2017

I entered Trinity Seminary (ELTS), an institution of The American Lutheran Church, in 1963 with

both optimism and deep concern for what I thought then was the wide-spread deadness in the

Church. What eventually grounded the optimism was the reminder, astutely conveyed by faithful

men of God who were my teachers, that the church will always survive, because God will always,

without fail, be active in this world and constitute His body, the church to do His work in the world.

As for the “deadness in the church” part, although I would frame my ministry as an attempt to push

back against that deadness, there is still, fifty years later, quite a bit to go around.

Now, however, I see some things more clearly. The years since stepping out of my role at Lord of

Life in Depew in 2008, after thirty-seven years, have given me time and space to reflect. Like during

the four years at Resurrection in New Hampshire following seminary, where I felt I had to think eve-

rything from scratch, my seven years at St. Timothy on Grand Island has brought me additional clar-

ity as to my thoughts about the state of the church.

I still believe the church will survive. What the church that not only survives but thrives will look

like is not all that clear. But, in my opinion, this much is sure: the church that thrives will embody

three characteristics: It will be reflective, it will be radical and it will be redemptive.

In exercise of its thought and reflection, the church’s leadership will master a transition to a post-

critical reconstruction of theology and faith. The crisis of faith and belief sweeping the world as well

as profound embracing of alternative paths is rooted in the struggle to cope with a world of thought

dominated by critical deconstruction or even naïve world construction. The quality of its reflective

ability will be essential to a thriving church.

The church that survives and thrives will be “of the root,” as radical is defined. The root is Christ. A

radical church will center its being in the life and ministry of Jesus. It will take seriously the biblical

doctrine of man, will find redemption in the grace of God in Christ and will espouse joining God’s

mission of reconciling all things unto Himself as its reason for being.

The church that thrives will be God’s instrument through which He redeems. Ends, not means, will

be key. A certain style, the latest successful program, one more “fix” will not be key. Hope rests in

God’s activity. Conversion, transformation, change will be this church’s hallmarks.

Fifty years have passed since being ordained into the ministry of word and sacrament. It has been a

rich and rewarding stretch of living. Today, I am especially grateful to God for two things: one, that

I have had these fifty years for ministry; and, two, that I can still “reflect.”

11

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

THE REV. ROBERT EDWARD JOHNSON

9/14/1967

Rev. Johnson graduated from Oceanside High School in June of 1960 after which he earned his BA from Wagner College on Staten Island, NY and graduated from the Lutheran Theological Semi-nary in 1967 obtaining his M. Div. He served as Chaplain to Philadelphia Harbor prior to his ordination. He was ordained by Presi-dent Rev. Dr. Alfred Beck in the Metropolitan Synod. After ordination he was called as Assistant Pastor to Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, N.Y., N.Y. from 1967-1969. He was then called as pastor to Christ, Little Neck, NY from 1969-1977. His final call was to St. Andrew’s, Yorktown Heights, NY beginning on 7/24/77 and serving there for 29 years until his retirement in August of 2006. He transferred to the Upstate New York Synod in September of 2007. Robert and his wife of 52 years, Susan reside at Silver Bay, NY.

REFLECTIONS By Robert E. Johnson

I am one of those pastors who had three good calls in the parish; Gustavus Adolphus, NYC, 1967 -

69; Christ, Little Neck, 1969 - 1977; and St. Andrews, Yorktown Heights, 1977 - 2007.

God is good. The people we have met and the few we still keep in touch with, has blessed our lives

in many ways. We have Facebook friends who were in our youth groups? Reflecting, I would say

three events helped me through the ministry of our Lord; weekly Bible study with the district pas-

tors, Silver Bay YMCA Conference in July, and a Money magazine subscription. My pastorates with

the support of my dear wife, Susan, were good and supportive and full of good memories.

Thank you for your recognition.

12

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

THE REV. JAMES WILLIAM SHELDON

JUNE 1, 1967

Rev. Jim Sheldon was ordained at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Minnesota after earning an AA

from the University of Minnesota in 1959, his BA from BA Newberry College, Newberry, SC in 1963

and his M Div. from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia in 1967.

His first call was as pastor of Zion, Waynesboro/St. James Lutheran Parish, Fisherville, VA from

1967-1970.

He proceeded to serve:

St. Timothy, Vinton, VA, from 1970-1978

Messiah, Virginia Beach, VA from 1978 to 1981

Trinity Emmanuel, Rochester from 1981-1983

Resurrection , Rochester from 1983 to his retirement in 2001

Jim began working in the areas of social action concerns and evangelism in the VA synod in 1968.

He also served the Virginia Council of Churches from 1976-1980. In 1982 he became the Synodwide

Stewardship Priority Cluster Leader of the Upper New York Synod in the Rochester area.

Jim and Marcia Sheldon were married on 1/20/89 and currently reside in Pittsford, New York.

13

My 50 Year Journey

By Jim Sheldon

It began with my baptism in a Swedish Covenant parsonage when I was marked with the cross of

Christ on my forehead. My journey in the faith began with my attendance at Holy Trinity Lutheran

Church in Minneapolis. It was in that church that my faith was developed and formed. A youth pas-

tor served as my mentor and guided me in the direction of ministry.

In 1967 I was ordained by the Minnesota Synod in the beautiful chapel at Gustavus Adolphus Col-

lege. My parish ministry began in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia at Zion-St. James a

point parish. During my tenure at Zion-St. James the congregations became self-sufficient to call

separate pastors. The Board of American Missions (ELC) called me to develop a mission in Vinton,

VA a suburb of Roanoke. It was a thrilling and challenging ministry to develop a congregation and

bring them into their first building. My next call was to Messiah, Virginia Beach to serve on staff to

develop programs and to reach out in inviting Evangelism to the surrounding neighborhoods. In

1981 I was called to Trinity-Emmanuel, Rochester to do a ministry similar to what I had done in Vir-

ginia Beach. In 1983 I became the Pastor of Resurrection, Rochester, where I served until my re-

tirement in 2001. During my tenure at Resurrection, Sunset House a hospice care center was devel-

oped and that ministry of caring is still close to my heart. Upon my retirement, Marcia and I joined

Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fairport. In the community, I have served on the Health Care

Board, at St. John’s Home in Rochester and served as president of the Auxiliary. For years I have

been a strong supporter and advocate for Public Broadcasting and am a member of the Volunteer

Leadership Council at WXXI.

As I reflect on my years as a Pastor it occurs to me that I have been a part of a Church in constant

Reformation. I have experienced 2 mergers the ULCA became the ELC and then later the ELCA.

Four Hymn books from blue to red to green the cranberry. Clergy attire from surplice and cassock

to Alb, stole, and chasuble. From a total male clergy roster to the addition of female pastors. How

wonderful it has been to experience the gifts that our female clergy have brought to the church in-

cluding Elizabeth Eaton our presiding Bishop. Synod presidents changed their title to bishop com-

plete with staff and mitre.

What a journey I was allowed to travel during my 50 years as a pastor in ELCA.

It was God who carefully guided me on these ventures and it is to Him that all glory belongs.

14

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Rev. Paul Luisi 11/8/1992

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Rev. Joanne Groman-Stewart 6/12/92

15

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Rev. Frederick Kopp

7/12/1992

I was born Frederick William Kopp, in Syracuse, New York. I am a twin and a PK. My father, the Rev. Dr. Walter R. Kopp, was a pastor in this synod. My mom, Ingeborg, was just as active. They would be very pleased at this accomplishment and would have sat in the front row of this assembly to soak in all the speakers and activities.

I was the second in my family to attend Gettysburg Seminary; my father graduated in 1945 and I in 1992. I attended with my wife Anne (also a PK to Rev W. Donald Miller and Shirley Miller) and our son, Nate. After a year in school we welcomed Rebekah to our family. I did my CPE in Harrisburg Hospital, and served as an intern under Pastor Ric Connor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Hern-don, Virginia. After less-than-perfect grades – but with a wonderful personality (LOL) – I was ap-proved by the gate-keepers of the Synod and became Bishop Perry’s last ordinand.

My first call was to Trinity Lutheran Church in Herkimer. After serving with the good people of Trinity, I accepted a call to Townline Lutheran Church in Alden. During my tenure, Townline ex-tended its ministry to the larger church by opening its doors as an internship site. I supervised six interns, including Pastor Mark Luscombe and Pastor Ann Zimmerman of this synod.

In 2009, I went “on leave from call,” and served briefly as a Visiting Pastor for the Jamestown churches. In 2014, I completed my Master of Mental Health Counseling Degree from Medaille Col-lege. While pursuing my studies, I began serving part-time at Trinity Old Lutheran (TOL) of Am-herst. I am proud of TOL’s vision to establish an internal “Mission and Transition Team” which in-cludes our Visioning Minister, Charlie Schmidtke; Programming Minister, Sue Wloch; and Pastoral Care Minister, Velma Achenbach.

In 2016, TOL partnered with Augustana Lutheran of Tonawanda and together issued me a two-year term call. I am entering the final quarter of that two-year call, and I have a feeling we will be contin-uing this blessed experiment into the future. It is exciting to be connected to the people and leaders of TOL and Augustana. Though each congregation has had its trials, they are both solid, faithful and fruitful in mission. Trinity Old Lutheran provides “TLC at TOL,” a respite care program for families struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. Augustana leads with “the Refugee and Immigrant Driving Program,” helping newcomers to our country be active and productive. I am blessed to be their pas-tor.

I have always been focused on the “priesthood of all believers,” and am confident the future of the church is in the hands of its lay leaders. We need to get creative and find new ways to empower, and in some cases employ, the laity of our churches, and to continue to open up the power structure of the Synod to them.

Thank you to all who have been part of my journey. I continue to be amazed and supported by peo-ple’s faith stories. Soli Deo Gloria!

16

FIFTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Rev. Leonard Johnson 6/27/62

SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Rev. David Windle 6/23/1957

17

SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Rev. Richard Siemann 6/19/1957

SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Rev. Richard Rieger 6/19/1957

18

Thank you for your

participation in this year’s

Synod Assembly!

We hope to see you again

in Rochester for the

thirty-first Assembly of the

Upstate New York Synod,

June 3—5, 2018