LANDSCAPE The Rocky Mountain Synod n FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 We are filled with gratitude as we share the news that the 2013 year ended in the black with a balance of $68,221. This is due in part to some staff positions that are not yet filled and some generous special gifts. Income for the year was $2,803,436 and expenses were $2,735,215. Thank you to all of our partners in ministry! n ELCA ROSTER CHANGES NOVEMBER 2013 The Rev. Stephanie Kopsch from St. Andrew, Arvada, CO to Lord of the Mountains, Dillon, CO 11/01/2013 The Rev. John Maroni from Northeastern Ohio Synod to Pastor Faith Lutheran Church, Eaton, CO 11/1/2013 DECEMBER 2014 The Rev. John J. Ziegler Jr. deceased 12/9/2013 The Rev. Andrew Boesenecker from candidacy to Associate Pastor King of Glory Lutheran Church, Loveland, CO 12/10/2013 The Rev. Andrea Doeden from candidacy to Pastor Zion’s Lutheran Church, Trinidad, CO 12/14/2013 The Rev. Robert Schmidt from Pastor St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, WY to Western North Dakota Synod JANUARY 2014 The Rev. Jeffrey Louden from Interim Pastor St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Taylorsville, UT to On Leave From Call 1/1/2014 The Rev. Garrett Struessel from Pastor Lutheran Church of the Resurrection to South-Central Synod of Wisconsin 1/1/2014 The Rev. Connie Winter-Eulberg from CSU Campus Ministry to Sierra Pacific Synod 1/1/2014 The Rev. Daniel Bollman from On Leave From Call to retired 1/1/2014 Samuel Sitompul installed at HKBP 1/10/2014 The Rev. Raymond McKechnie from Candidate to Associate Pastor American Lutheran Church, Grand Junction, CO serving St. Matthew Episcopal Church 1/11/2014 FEBRUARY 2014 The Rev. Keith Knoff from Pastor Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO to retired 2/1/2014 The Rev. Edward Smith from Pastor Trinity Lutheran Church, Loveland, CO to retired 2/1/2014 The Rev. Wayne Pouppirt from On Leave From Call to retired 2/15/2014 The Rev. Kaila Hochhalter from Candidate to Pastor Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Fort Morgan, CO 2/23/2014 n “LIKE US” ON FACEBOOK TO STAY CONNECTED The RMS Facebook page has become the place where great photos and interesting stories are posted about the extended life and ministry of the Rocky Mountain Synod. You can visit the page even if you don’t have a Facebook account. Visit facebook.com/rmselca 455 Sherman Street, Suite 160, Denver, CO 80203 303.777.6700 / 800.525.0462 / rmsynod@rmselca.org / www.rmselca.org “Gifted to Grow” is 2014 assembly theme May 8 is dedication of new Lutheran Center; sessions are May 9-10 T he assembly begins at the new Lutheran Center site on May 8 and continues at the Denver Tech Center Marriott on May 9-10, celebrating that we are, together, “gifted to grow.” The guest presenter is the Rev. Ruben Duran, the ELCA Program Director for New Congregations. Guest musicians are from the Camino de Vida congregation in Albuquerque. Those attending are invited to bring gifts to be shared with our Mission Partner congregations, such as gift cards, white computer paper, pens/pencils, colored pencils/crayons, musical instruments for kids, coffee, and more. The registration deadline for the assembly and the hotel is April 4. Assembly information and registration is posted online at www.rmselca.org/assembly Assembly co-chairs are Erin Power & Jan Philpy. Kent Mueller is the assembly manager. Contact Erin Power with questions by email at epower@iliff.edu THURSDAY, MAY 8 At the new Lutheran Center and Office of the Bishop, 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver, Colorado, 80221 3 p.m. Conference Gatherings for these conferences (or some may choose an evening session): Border, North New Mexico, Metro (Mountain) West, Southeast Colorado, Utah, Wyoming 4:30 p.m. Dedication Worship at the new Lutheran Center 6:00 p.m. Fiesta & Open House Rev. Ruben Duran FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MAY 9 & 10 At the Denver Tech Center Marriott, 4900 S Syracuse St, Denver, CO 80237 FRIDAY MAY 9 Registration, plenary (begins at 8:45 a.m.), speakers, workshops, eucharist, evening fellowship SATURDAY MAY 10 plenary, speakers, worship To allow appropriate travel time, assembly concludes at noon for those from conferences travelling far distances (who began with conference gatherings at 3 p.m. on Thursday). Noon Conference gatherings continue for: Boulder Broomfield, Metro East, Metro West, Metro South, Northern Colorado APRIL 2014 “Lutheran Center” is new home for Office of the Bishop on Mar 28 Conference deans are essential ministry partners The former Valley Lutheran Church has been renewed and reborn as the new Rocky Mountain Synod Lutheran Center, four years after the church closed. The site is the new location for the RMS Office of the Bishop as of March 28. The church property was constructed uniquely with three separate buildings. The north building was the congregation’s “first unit” and later was used as the fellowship hall after the “second unit” was built, a large sanctuary. A third separate building, we are calling the “office annex” was the church offices. A covered walkway connects the three buildings together. The north building was extensively renovated and expanded resulting in a beautiful and functional space. The construction manager for the project has been Craig Tamminga, a member of Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver, CO, who expertly orchestrated a complex project. Office costs will be reduced now because payments on the mortgage (plus site expenses) will be less than the current office lease. Utility costs will also be reduced since 82 solar panels have been installed on the north building. Congregations and individuals contributed over $40,000 towards furnishings, landscaping, media, liturgical furniture, and art for the new building. A Vision Team is continuing to consider the uses for the entire site. The basement of the church building is used periodically for a transitional housing ministry in Adam’s County called “Growing Home.” Families who are temporarily without a home stay in churches, and the churches provide meals and hospitality volunteers. Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Broomfield, CO, has hosted Growing Home weeks at this site for many years. Members of Cross of Christ raised funds and coordinated a complete renovation of the church building basement’s kitchen area, which was in desperate need of an upgrade. A host of other congregations have been involved in the renewal, including several painting days for volunteers. The dedication is slated for the May 8 at 4:30 p.m., the first day of the 2014 RMS Assembly. The site is located at 7375 Samuel Drive, Denver, CO, 80221. C A dean elected in each conference connects congregations onferences are regional subsets of a synod. In the Rocky Mountain Synod there are ten, and each is served by an elected dean or, in several cases, two codeans. The purpose of a conference is: n to enable congregations to discover their mutual interdependence. n to provide tangible witness in local communities to the unity we share in Christ. n to provide mutual support for congregations and leaders to share program resources. Those serving as Dean articulate the ELCA’s identity and mission, have healthy leadership and communication skills, and serve in a spirit of collaboration with the Office of the Bishop. The Deans partner with the Bishop to serve and communicate in the following ways: n Advocacy for ELCA Identity and Mission: n n n n n increasing understanding of our work as a wider church, and actively promoting work with and participation in our shared mission. Communication: assures effective communication between the Conference and the Office of the Bishop. Collaboration: promoting and supporting avenues of collaboration between congregations and leaders as well as Synod Council. Conference Meetings and Retreat: assures that regular meetings of the Conference take place, including meetings of rostered leaders as well as gatherings that include lay leaders and congregational members. Facilitate Conference Gatherings and Visits: assures collaboration with the Office of the Bishop in planning synodical gatherings on the territory of the Conference. Transition, Mobility and Interim Ministry: assists in orienting a recommended Interim Pastor, welcomes new leaders, conducts exit interviews. n Healthy Leadership Liaison: works with rostered leaders in the conference to promote healthy practices for their physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. n Norms and Expectations: communicates and promotes the norms and expectations for rostered leaders in the synod, including attendance at theological conference and synod assembly. n Pastoral care: provides pastoral care for the rostered leaders in the conference during times of crisis, either themselves or through other persons such as synod staff, other pastors in the area, or other resources. CONFERENCE DEANS Border Conference – CO-DEANS Geri Cunningham (St. Peter - Carlsbad) Jerry Reynolds (Trinity – Las Cruces) Boulder/Broomfield Conference Steve Berke (First - Longmont) Metro East Conference Kristi Beebe (Nativity - Commerce City) Metro South Conference Dave Risendal (St. Peter - Greenwood Village Metro/Mountain West Conference – CO-DEANS Brian Bergum [Mountain] (Lord of the Valley - Granby) Penni Walsh [Metro] (St. John's - Thornton) North Colorado Conference Sonja Pancoast (Zion - Loveland) North New Mexico Conference – CO-DEANS Pat Holman (St. Paul - Albuquerque) Rachael Powell (St. Timothy - Albuquerque) Southeast Colorado Conference Robert Kippley (Shepherd of the Hills - Cañon City) Utah Conference Jeff Beebe (Our Savior's - Salt Lake City) Wyoming Conference Brenda Frelsi (Grace – Casper)