Dear Network friends,
The Network’s Board of Directors has drafted the following letter, to be sent to Rev. Stephen Bouman, Executive Director of Congregational and Synodical Mission at the ELCA. It requests that staffing in the area of children’s ministry at the churchwide offices be considered.
The Network Board invites you to co-sign the letter. If you would like to do so, please make a “comment” below the letter and in that comment, put your name, your role/title, your congregation or organization and your city and state. Please sign on or before June 17th to have your name included in the version being sent to Rev. Bouman.
Thank you!
Networked in Christ,
Todd
June 9, 2014
Rev. Stephen Bouman
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL 60631
Dear Rev. Bouman,
Greetings, in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We are grateful that the Congregational and Synodical Mission unit of the churchwide organization added two program director staff positions for youth and young adult ministry in 2013. Thanks for your vision and commitment to forming and nurturing faith in youth and emerging adults. Paul Amlin and Rozella White have been marvelous partners with the ELCA Youth Ministry Network and great representatives of the churchwide expression.
We remain concerned however, about the lack of resources and support for those engaged in children’s ministry at the congregational, synodical, and churchwide level. As congregations have cut budgets and staffing, we are aware that a large number of youth and children’s ministry positions are being combined in our congregations. In our effort to identify and connect our members to training, resources, and support to those who do ministry with children we have recognized that there is no staff person on ELCA churchwide staff in the area of children’s ministry. We believe this is a gap that needs to be filled as quickly as possible.
We are aware of the importance of excellent faith formation beginning as early as possible in the life of a young person. Based on James Fowler’s Stages of Faith, and our own experiences, it is clear that our children from birth to age twelve require intentional shepherding and guidance in their faith development. If we take seriously that faith formation is a process of development, and that the baptismal journey is indeed a journey that begins at the font and continues throughout our life, then our church must provide guidance to parents, pastors, teachers, and lay ministers who are working with our infants, toddlers, and children at the beginning of this important journey.
We believe it is crucial that there be a person at the churchwide office, partnering with Paul and Rozella along with the rest of the CSM staff, working to make congregations aware of the best resources, to build partnerships around children’s ministry and to be a voice for those who work with the youngest within our church. We believe that it is essential that a person in this role
- Has experience and expertise in the area of children’s ministry
- Understands the full spectrum of faith formation as it spans all the ages
- Has skills in working in large systems to affect change and to grow ministries
We hope that you will consider providing resources for a churchwide staff position in the area of children’s ministry. This is a vital ministry for the present and future of our church.
Respectfully,
The ELCA Youth Ministry Network Board of Directors
Erik Ullestad (chairperson)
Julie Miller
Rev. Ben Morris
Valerie Taylor-Samuel
Sue Megrund
Jeremy Myers
Tom Schwolert
Rev. Todd Buegler
And the following members of the Network:
Network is a Verb 
Jamie Travers, AiM, Family Ministry Coordinator, St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake, ND
Raymond A. Hopkins III
Director of Youth Ministries
Upper Dublin Lutheran Church
Ammbler, PA
Ethan Overcash, Minister of Youth & Family, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Charlotte, NC
I am delighted to affirm the convictions of this letter. When we baptize our youngest we owe it to them to support in every way possible their journey of faith. Staffing a position of this nature affirms our core convictions in infant bAptism and early faith formation. Imagine a church that was committed to funding soup kitchens across the country but had no mechanism for writing checks or transferring money…in essence no treasurer…this would be epic fail.
Please hire for this position.
Thank you.
Rev. Scott j. Maxwell-Doherty
University Pastor
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks ca
8054056664
Rachel M. Slough, Youth Ministries Coordinator, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, La Crosse, WI.
As a person responsible for Children, Youth, and Family Ministry in a congregational setting I would urge the central church to recognize that without children’s ministry there will be no youth ministry. Today’s parents want the church to help them raise their children in faith as they no longer have the community and family support for this task available in previous decades. Thank you for all you do for youth, and please extend that same concern to the children of our church.
Tania Schramm, Interim Director of Children and Family Ministry, Faith Lutheran Church, Clive Iowa
De Ann Martell
Director of Children’s Ministry
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Las Vegas, NV
Rev. Geoff T. Sinibaldo,
Pastor, St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, New Canaan, CT.
Dean, Southern CT Conference, New England Synod, ELCA.
Chris Madgwick
Youth and Family Ministry Director
Redeemer Lutheran Church
PLymouth, WI.
Director of the Family Ministry Team
Kris Tostengard Michel
Pastor of Spiritual Formation
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Minneapolis, MN
Martha Maier, Associate Pastor, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Vancouver WA
Rev. Adam K. Butler, Associate Pastor – CYF Ministries, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD
Dr. Rich Melheim, Faith Inkubators, the Faith Inkubators Foundation & the Preschool Incubators Project, Specialized Ministry Call, St. Paul Area Synod, ELCA
Rev. Stephanie Coltvet Erdmann
Associate Pastor
Transfiguration Lutheran Church
Bloomington, MN
Chris St.Clair, Youth Director, Triumphant Lutheran Church, Garden Ridge, Texas
Rev. Amy L, Juel-Palmer, Director of Faith Formation Ministries, Vinje Lutheran Church, Willmar, MN
Rev. Michael Engfer
Director of Program Ministries
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Las Vegas, NV
Tara Ulrich; Diaconal Minister
Director of Home and Family Ministry
First Lutheran Church
Minot ND
Jeremy Hallquist
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
South Santiago Lutheran Church
Clear Lake, MN
Carole Joyce
Passing on the Faith Ministry
Good Shepherd Lutheran
Plainview, MN
Also chair of the SE MN CYF adviory committee.
Rebecca Maser
Youth & Family Ministry Director
St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Martinsburg, PA
Carrie Stiles, Director of Children, Youth and Family
Fish Lake Lutheran Church, Harris, MN
Ian McConnell
Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
iangmcconnell@gmail.com
(612) 875-4062
Pastor Karen Wight Hoogheem, Faith Lutheran Church, Coon Rapids, MN
Jason Poole
Youth Minister
Faith Lutheran Church – Janesville, WI
Cynthia Wiste, CYF Ministry Director at Trinity in Hayfield MN and the Financial Secretary of the Christian Education Network of the ELCA.
Brad Lindberg
Pastor
English Luther Church
Ellsworth, WI
Mindy Makant
Assistant Professor of Religion
Youth and Family Ministry
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
Terry Baird
Faith Formation Director
First Lutheran of Richmond Beach
Shoreline, WA
Valyn Metropoulos
Pastor
Amazing Grace Lutheran Church of Grays Harbor
Aberdeen, WA
Rev. Erin Evans, Peace Ev. Lutheran Church, Greenock PA (Southwestern PA Synod)
Matt Canniff-Kesecker
Director of Youth & Family Ministry
Faith Lutheran Church
Sarasota, FL
My entire ministry (40 plus years) has been a joyful response to Jesus’ call to welcome children into God’s family. As a parish pastor, synod staff person, and now as a college professor I know that time and $ invested in our “little ones” in the forming of their faith is the most important element in my call! Adequate staffing in children’s ministry on a churchwide level is essential to both the present and the future of Christ’s church!
Lisa Gray
Director of Youth Ministries
Zoar Lutheran Church
Canby, Oregon
Rev. Tim Orlowski, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Durango, CO
Robin Souhrada
Director of Faith Formation
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Rev. Stephanie Lord, Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Louisville, CO
Leanne Elliott
Director of Christian Education, Youth & Family Ministry
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Westminster, Maryland
children are the future
Nicole VanderMeulen
Children’s Ministry Coordinator
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Renton, Washington
Dawn Alitz
Pastor, Minister of Faith Formation
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Stillwater, MN 55124
Elizabeth Buck
Christian Education/Youth Coordinator
Trinity Lutheran Church
Galesburg, Illinois
Marnie Dahle Backer
Director of Family & Young Adult Ministries
First Lutheran Church
Sioux Fall, SD
Shawna Berg
Director of Confirmation and Stepping Stones Ministry – Incarnation Lutheran Church, Shoreview, MN
Lorie Garcia
Director, Faith Generations Ministry
Galilean Lutheran Church
Corpus Christi, TX
Patty Koplitz
Youth Leadership Facilitator
St. Andrew’s
Oshkosh WI
Dean Smith
Associate Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church
Owatonna, MN
Ed Wosinski
Director of Youth and Family Ministry
First Lutheran Church
Muskegon MI 49445
Michelle Kleene
Youth & Education Minister
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Clara City MN
Nancy Henrichsen
Director of Children’s Ministry, First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD
Michael J. Odegaard
Director of Youth & Family Ministry
Christ Lutheran Church
Georgetown, Texas
Barbara Harner
Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Yes! I’ve noticed a campaign about fair wages popping up at some churches. As a life long servant of the church, this message should start with the log in the eye.
Sister Michelle Collins
Director of Faith Formation
Advent Lutheran Church
Melbourne, FL
Pastor Lauren Miller, Peace Lutheran Church, Charlottesville VA
Wendy Black, Lay Pastoral Assistant, Grace Lutheran Church, Tomahawk, WI
Desta Goehner
Faith Formation Coordinator
Southwest CA Synod
Kathy Hunstad
Director of Youth Ministry
Trinity Lutheran Church
Moorhead, MN
NW Minnesota Synod
Rachel Hunstad
Registered Nurse, 2012-2013 Young Adults in Global Mission – South Africa
Minneapolis Synod
ERNIE LEHR
YOUTH MINISTER
ST MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
PERRY HALL MD
Pastor Andrew H. Arnold
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church – Maple Valley, WA
Jen Kooistra
Pastoral Assistant
ELC – Mount Horeb, WI
Susan Detwiler
Coordinator for Children and Family Ministry
Ascension Lutheran Church
Medford, Oregon
Todd Lewis
Youth and Family Coordinator
Trinity Lutheran Church
Stevens Point WI
Megan Floyd
Youth & Sunday School Coordinator
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Portage, MI
Molly Sullivan
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church
Centennial, CO
Diaconal Minister
Director of Faith Formation and Outreach
Zion Lutheran, Penn Hills PA
Minister of Faith Formation
Beautiful Savior Lutheran
Bloomfield Hills MI
Janny Franken
Director of Children’s Ministries
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Thousand Oaks, CA
Mary Toufar
Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry
Faith Lutheran, Waconia, MN
William Johnson
Former Sunday School teacher, confirmation leader, youth worker, all around Lutheran guy from Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Woodbridge, Virginia
Parish musician – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Morristown, TN
Assistant to the Bishop, Rocky Mountain Synod
Deb Westerberg
Youth & Family Ministry Director
Elim Lutheran Church
Duluth, MN
Christina Kadelbach
Youth Minister
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Cloquet, MN
Anita Smallin, Director of Youth & Family Ministry, Trinity Lutheran Church, North Berhesda, MD
Marissa Letscher
Director of Children and Family Ministries
First Lutheran Church
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Bonnie Boord Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, West Hills, CA
Sarah Grans St. Peder’s Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
Kristen Hitchcock
Youth Director
Living Lord Lutheran Church Bradenton, FL
Rick Mollenkopf-Grill
Director of Youth Ministry
Organic Youth
the youth ministry program of the Niagara Frontier Conference, Upstate New York Synod
Buffalo, NY
Ellen Doughty, ELCA Diaconal Minister; synod call to chaplaincy; member of St. Paul’s, York, PA
Anne Williams
Minister for Learning
Holy Trinity, Ankeny, Iowa
Rick Biedermann
Pastor
Bethany Lutheran, Burlington, IA
Marian Henry, Director of Christian Education, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Telford, PA
Jennifer Vasquez
Diaconal Minister
On leave to raise kids
Doctor of Ministry student (faith formation)
Ryan Stagg Youth and Family Minister, David Lutheran Church, Canal Winchester, OH
Rev. dr. Ritva H. Williams, Pastor, St. Stephen’s, Cedar Rapids IA
Sarah Gunderson
Youth & Family Ministry
Grace Lutheran Church-Hermantown MN
Children’s ministry is the foundation of our church. Just as people in the secular world are finally realizing that it is the early education that makes the difference in a child’s education, we know that strong, meaningful experiences make a difference with our children. I am a retired public school teacher but I have seen how having a well trained leader who has a strong understanding of children’s ministry can lift the lay education and ministry members of the church.
Julie Marie Seibert
St. John’s, Jersey City, NJ
Ian Hartfield
Director of Congregational Life
Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church – Omaha, NE
Director of Children and Family Ministry
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Brooklyn Park, MN
Taylor Wilson
Seminarian // Lutheran Musician // Pastoral Intern
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
Maple Grove, MN
For our future!
Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Jen Jarman, Director of Faith Formation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cincinnati, OH
Every church a child loving church.
Dawn Rundman, Ph.D.
Director of Children’s Development
Augsburg Fortress Publishers & sparkhouse
Minneapolis, MN
Nicole Eastwood
Minister for Discipleship
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Longwood, FL
Alicia Stephens
Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries
Joy Lutheran Church
Tulsa, OK
Administrative Assistant
Faith Formation
Bethany Lutheran Church
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113
I would like to add my support to this thoughtful and well supported request.
Mark J. Jackson, Professor & Chair of Children, Youth & Family Studies, Trinity Lutheran College, Everett, WA
Lisa Lee
Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation
First Lutheran Church
Lodi, WI
Rev. Greg Kaufmann
Assistant to the Bishop
Northwest Synod of WI
Charlene Rollins, Trinity Lutheran Church, Dover, NJ
Rev. Wolfgang W. Laudert
Pastor, West Union Lutheran Church
Cologne, MN
Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA
Erika Hiland, Minister of 4th and. 5th Grade Christian Education; St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi MN
Rev. Sean A. Miller
Pastor, St. Matthias Lutheran Church
Easley, SC
David Hamric
Youth Director
Ascension Lutheran Church
Willow Street, PA
Sally Riley
Youth Director
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Richmond, Indiana
Katy Grindberg
Assistant to the Bishop
Sierra Pacific Synod
Burlingame, CA
Karen Matthias-Long
Associate of the Bishop for Youth & Family Ministries
ELCA Resource Center Coordinator
Northeastern PA Synod
Allentown, PA
I concur. Our children are our future, needing guidance. What a great place is the church to provide that! Let’s offer support and guidance to those providing those relationships to our children.
Our youth are the church’s future. In order to continue the ministry of our Lord it is so important to support the youth and their leaders. Thank you
Jennifer Kalous
Director of Faith Formation
Shepherd of the Hills
Fort Collins, CO
Lori Gordon
Director of Youth & Family Ministry
Trinity Lutheran Church
Cook, MN
Children more now than ever need the guidance of our churches and ministries! Please send them and their leaders the support they need to continue!
Bambi
Building Coordinator & VBS Director
Weisenberg Luthern Church
New Tripoli, PA
Christin Fugate, Christian Education Director, All Saints Lutheran Church, Norwood Young America, MN
Many of our Children and Youth directors are not trained, but have heart for Christ and the youth/children of their congregations. They need guidance and resources.
Patricia E. W. Jabre, AiM
Minister of Discipleship and Youth
Christ the King Lutheran Church
Twinsburg, OH
Intentionally supporting the area of Children’s Ministry is being intentional about our belief that Children’s Ministry is a vital role not only in the congregation, but also in the faith lives of our families. We need to nurture this so that our children’s ministers can be faithful to their call, knowing that they are an integral part of God’s plan for our families.
Lisa Bouche
Family & Discipleship Ministries, First Lutheran Church, Gladstone, MI
Pastor Ivy Huston
Associate Pastor of Faith Formation
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, North St. Paul, MN
Many, many members of our congregation work so very hard to engage our youth in our ministry. They need your assistance to make their efforts fruitful. Please support all of us.
Debby Keba, Bear Creek Camp Ambassador representing Weisenberg Lutheran Church, New Tripoli, PA
Leon Philpot
Synodically Authorized Minister
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
New Orleans, LA
K9 Chaplain
Extra Mile Ministries
Deaconess Deborah Matern Graf
Trinity Lutheran Church in beautiful, downtown Reading, PA
Diane E. Shallue, AiM
Director of Christian Education and Small Group Ministries
University Lutheran Church of Hope
601 13th Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN
Past-President of the Lutheran Association of Christian Educators (now the Christian Education Network)
I support this request wholeheartedly!
Stephanie Luedtke, Associate in Ministry
Director of Cross+Generational Ministry
Greater Milwaukee Synod
Per Nestingen,
director of youth ministry,
Delano, MN
Light of Christ
Maria Tarpinian
Director of Children’s Ministries
Farmington Lutheran Church
Farmington, MN
Bryanne Hensley
Minister for Children
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Ankeny, Iowa
Anna Wencl
Director of Youth Ministries
Zion Lutheran
Stewartville, MN
Shannon Lauder
Director of Faith Formation
Bay View Lutheran Church
Sturgeon Bay, WI
Julie Vagle
Director of Youth Ministries
Grace Lutheran Church
Apple Valley, MN
Marilyn Sharpe
Marilyn Sharpe Ministries, principal
and 37 year volunteer in parent support and education at Mt. Olivet, Minneapolis
Minneapolis Area Synod
In baptism, we welcome children, not as the future of the church, but as the present of the church. We ask parents and sponsors to make promises to the child, to do faith formation in all of life. We as congregations make promises to support parents and children … and then we offer programs, often beginning at age 3 or older. Really? Help us equip all of the faith parents to all of God’s children to do faith formation 24/7, to recite the stories of God and their connections to our stories to the children in all of life together. All of us remember Jesus’ call to let the children come. Now is the time for the ELCA to support and equip all congregations and adults to do just that!
Mary “JJ” Keelan
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Manasquan, NJ
I concur
Susan Bentz
Youth & Family Ministry
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Stow Ohio 44224
Brian Middleswarth, Associate in Ministry
Member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church
Cedar Rapids, IA
Jennifer Boyd, Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church
Brewster, New York
[…] If you are in leadership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and would like there to be a staff role at churchwide related to children’s ministry, check out this letter and consider joining the signers. […]
Pastor Matt Staniz
Pastor for Youth, Family and Service
Saint Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church
203 North Valley Forge Road, Devon, PA 19333
(610) 688-0122 x107
mstaniz@saintlukedevon.org
Children aren’t the future of the church; they are the church – here and now. Children need all of our resources now. Please consider the request to add a staff person dedicated to children,
Peggy Carlson
1st Third of Life Ministries
Church of the Cross
Nisswa, MN 56468
Traci Vatne
Messiah Lutheran Church
410 H Street NE
Auburn, WA 98002
Susan Tucker
Director of Youth & Family Ministry
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
Claremont, NC
Brett Christensen – Associate in Ministry
Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Sun Prairie, WI
Now!
Ingelaurie Lisher,AiM
Director of Youth & Family
St. Mark’s LC by The Narrows
Tacoma Wa
Rev Mark D. Edwards
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Vienna, VA (Metro DC Synod)
Justin Snider, AIM
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Olympia, WA
Yes!
Joshua Kelly
Director of Youth+Family+Education
Grace Lutheran Church
Hockessin, DE
Caitlin Jensen
High School Youth Pastor
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
North St. Paul, MN
Char Leone, Children’s Faith Formation Coordinator at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church by The Narrows, Tacoma WA, and professional Youth & Family ministry specialist.
Lisa Herlocker
Director of Discipleship and Faith Formation
Bethel Lutheran Church
Roseville CA
Paul Davis
Director of Faith Formation
Poulsbo First Lutheran
Poulsbo, WA
Absolutely and as soon as possible!
Robin Kunkel
Director of Family, Children and Youth Ministry
Sharon Lutheran Church
Selinsgrove, PA
Christina Verbick
Director of Confirmation & Youth Ministries
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
East Bethel, Minnesota
Becky Cole
Children & Family Ministries Director
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Kirkland, WA
Danielle Dadashi
Director of High School Ministries
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Kirkland, WA
Mindy Tillberg, AIM
Lay Minister of Youth & Education
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Salina, Kansas
Emily Harrow
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Saint Andrew’s Lutheran Church
Bellevue, WA
Terry Anderson
Family and Children’s Ministry
Our Redeemer’s Lutheran
Ballard, WA
Sharon Holder – Youth Coordinator/Secretary
Bowman Lutheran Church
Dakota Prairie Lutheran Parish
Bowman, ND
Kayla Aspeslagh
Director of Youth Ministry
Christ the Servant Lutheran Church
Louisville, CO
Critical for faith formation in ther 21st century!
Critical for Faith Formation in the 21st Century!
deacon Charlie Germain, Trinity, Brewster, NY
Chair – Child Youth & Family Network – Metropolitan New York Synod
Jason Fisher
Director of Youth & Family Ministry
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Champaign, IL
And co-eater of biscuits and gravy with you Rev. Bouman at Lake Williamson near Carlinville a few years back.
Debbie Boyce
Pastor, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Issaquah, WA
Gina Vacura
St Johns Lutheran
Le Mars, IA
Youth Committee and parent of four
Allison Sutton
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church
Ballard, WA
Helping our youngest see and share the loving world of God is at least as important as educating our lay people to be able to fearlessly embrace God’s great Good News that God loves all of us perfectly and unconditionally!
Beverly Conway, Pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church, South Holland, il. Former Board member YMNetwork
Myra Fozard
House of Prayer, Aliquippa, PA
Southwestern PA Synod Christian Education Sub-Committee Chairperson
Network Advocate for the CE Network of the ELCA for Region 8
Elisabeth Pynn Himmelman
Student Ministries Coordinator
Bethel Lutheran, Madison, WI
I support the premise of this letter. Although I am retired, I served 28 years in education in congregational settings. Vbs was the best evangelism program of the church. It desperately needs revisionist and Lutheran resources.
Janice Stepp
Ebenezer Lutheran Church
Lake Stevens Washington
Northwest Washington Synod 1-B
Carol Seilhymer
Children, Youth and Family Coordinator
Lutheran Church of Peace
Maplewood, MN
Kathryn Perry, member of Luther Place Memorial Church, Washington, DC
Nancy Durie
Christian Ed Team
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Princeton Junction, NJ
We need dynamic resources for our volunteers. Please don’t make each busy working family re-invent the wheel. Let’s get the kids tuned in. But please hire someone who is not only an academic but who has taught kids themselves and knows what works.
Gracia Johnson
Youth & Christian Ed Coordinator
Trinity Lutheran Church
Bismarck, ND
Terri Robertson
Youth & Family Minister
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Whittier, CA
We need your help in ensuring that we can connect children and their families to the church – and help us work to build relationships and walk with children AND parents as they grow in their faith together. As much time and effort as we put into youth minister, we won’t be successful if we ignore or shortchange ministry to children and families.
Emily Clamser
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
St. Paul’s ELCA, Wilmington
Pastor Shelley Cunningham
Zumbro Lutheran Church
Rochester, Minnesota
As an instructor of elementary children for over 25 years, I realize the importance of shaping and guiding children at various stages. I would hope that you would take seriously this letter and take the necessary steps to providing our youth with adequate, positive role models to prepare them for what they will face in life. We look to these children for our future!
Maryland Mayer, Children’s Ministry Director, Clairemont Lutheran Church, San Diego California.
Meredith Matthews
Former Youth Director
First Lutheran Church
Redlands, CA
Dena M. Dahlman, RN, BSN
Faith Community Health Nurse
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Eldersburg, MD
To truly be Gods Hands, our ELCA must have an integrated approach (birth to adult) to making disciples. That requires equal attention to children, youth and young adults. Traditional Sunday School models have not been successful for 10+ years. We need leadership to help resource congregations in finding effective approaches to minister to and with young children and their families. Funding for a children’s ministry leader needs to be a priority.
Pastor Sandy Bentz
Sr. Pastor Hope Lutheran Church
Temecula, CA
Beth Smallbeck Minister of Youth and Family
Grace Lutheran Church
Wenatchee WA
Constance Mithelman, Youth Ministry Leader, Hope Lutheran Church, Temecula, California
As a member of St.Andrew Lutheran Church in Whittier, CA, I have seen how a trained Youth Pastor can help inspire the young . We treasure our Terri Robertson, and pray that all congregations will be able to share in the excitement of enthusiastic programs such as she has helped put together. Please do not let this vital part of congregational life be lost. Our youth are our future .
Gary Schaeffer (AIM)- Saint James Lutheran Church, Limerick, PA
Please support the struggling families today, especially in remote places like Salt Lake City, UT
Katy Lundeen
Youth and Children’s Music Director
Clairemont Lutheran Church
San Diego, CA
Christian Education Coordinator
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Kingston, PA
Youth Director
American Lutheran Church
Worthington, MN
As a mother of two teenage girls raising them in a church, and trying to surround them with friends of like-minded families it is very essential. I am also a teacher with in our churches Christian curriculum preschool for the past 11 years. I am served for the past 11 years in some capacity file my children were small then it turned into young teens. they now are at the age where mom and dad are no longer cool to be with. So other adults in their life to help guide and support them on their faith journey is huge. I have seen it all too often children are emerged in the church thru confirmation and all too often we don’t see them again until they are bringing their children to be baptized. So finding a way to establish even more securely their walk with the Lord during those young formative years will hopefully hope to bridge that gap that we see all too often.
Director of Youth and Family Ministry, Center Lutheran Church – Newville, PA and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Dillsburg, PA
The Rev. Julie Webb
Associate Pastor
Napa Valley Lutheran Church
Napa, CA
Jason Reed
Youth Ministry Specialist
New Jersey Synod, ELCA
Rev. Larry Henrichs, retired. Helen Henrichs; St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Waco, Texas
Well written. It’s easy to consider the most vocal now (adults), and ignore the silent (children), yet we’ll pay the price in the future.
Steve Aves
Young Adult Volunteer
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Bloomington, IL
Rev. Jared M. Parker
Lead Pastor
Christ Community Lutheran Church
Columbia, IL
Brent S. Palochonski
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
New Windsor, MD
Former ELCA Youth Ministry Network Board member
Ariel Williams, Director of Youth & Family Ministries – Emanuel’s Lutheran Church, Seguin, TX
Terri Elton
Luther Seminary
St. Paul, MN
Erin Haligowski
Director of Youth Ministries
Epiphany Lutheran Church, Dayton, OH
Catherine Anderson
Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
Director, Practice Discipleship Initiative
Duluth, MN
Lynn Leisen
Faith in the Home/Milestone Ministry
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, MN
Seminary Intern
St. John’s Lutheran Church
San Antonio, TX
Trixie Richter
Congregational Life Director
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Winter Park, FL
Mary Gorges
Youth Minister & Director of Children & Families Ministries
First United Lutheran Church
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Sarah Hausken, SW MN Synod Youth Ministry Coordinator
Rev. Kent Claussen Gubrud, Senior Pastor, Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Apple Valley, MN
Mary Kaye Ashley, pastor on leave from call BUT have provided early childhood faith formation parent support to parents of newborns for last 15 years out of personal funds and worked as a parent/family educator in MN’s Early Childhood/Family Education public school education programs for the last 27 years and lifelong volunteer in children, youth & family ministry, (any time I’m not employed to do so, and sometimes, in addition to), including coordinating a middle school ministry this summer as a volunteer at my home church, Oak Grove in Richfield, MN (Summer Stretch)
rostered in Saint Paul Area Synod
Please help us to connect with families from birth on to build the most comprehensive ministry we can. Jesus said “Let the little children come to me.” – shouldn’t we be helping them find this God of love?
Marcy Colvin
Director of Youth Ministry
Trinity Lutheran Church
Mason City IA
This is long overdue!
Shelly Thieman
Chair, Faith Formation and Spiritual Practices
Windsor Heights Lutheran Church
Windsor Heights, IA
Tracey Hirst
Chair, Family Life and Youth Committee
Windsor Heights Lutheran Church
Windsor Heights, IA
Debra Detweiler
Director of Christian Education
Trinity Lutheran Church
Perkasie, PA
Dick Dahle, Associate Pastor
Augustana Lutheran Church
Boone, Iowa
Kathye Hamm
Director of Children’s Ministry
Bethlehem Lutheran Auburn, CA
Sarah Gosma Parker, director of Children and Family Ministry at Christ Community Lutheran Church, Columbia, Il
Reblogged this on kwicks71 and commented:
this is a move our church needs to make
Faith Doerzbacher, Director of Family Life Ministries, Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Port Huron, Michigan
Nate Althoff, Children, Youth and Family Ministry Director, Valley of Peace Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, Minnesota.
Megan D. Moroff
Former Youth Team Lead & Director of Senior High Ministry
Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville, MN.
Current Boundary Waters Canoe Guide for Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry, Cook, MN.
Lauren Busey
Director of Faith Formation
Trinity Lutheran Church
Evanston, IL
Abby Triebel, Youth a Ministry Director, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie, NY
Deborah Poole
Minister of Children and Youth
Pisgah Lutheran Church
Lexington, SC
Scott Broam, member, council, Good News committee
Pisgah Lutheran Church, Lexington, SC
Thank you all for signing his letter! Including the board, we have collected over 240 signatures. The letter was sent on to Rev. Stephen Bouman yesterday.