EAST CENTRAL CONFERENCE DEAN’S REPORT

Grace to you and peace from God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.

The East Central Conference is pleased to welcome the West Central Conference to Camrose for the second Joint Conference Convention. We met at Good Shepherd Lutheran, Red Deer in 2013 for the first Joint Conference Convention.

The members and congregations in our conference continue to struggle through the changes and challenges that go along with being a rural agricultural/oil and gas area. In spite of challenges with finances and declining membership, our congregations continue to serve with a heartfelt love for God, their communities, and their fellow members. They look forward with the hope that is ours through Jesus Christ. We are very aware that it is only through the grace of God that we continue to serve within the communities we are part of.

Changes in the conference in the last year are as follows:

1. Rev. Jeff Decelle has resigned from Edberg, Edberg; Bethesda, New ; St. Peter, Bashaw; and Zion, Bashaw congregations to accept a call to Unity Lutheran, .

2. Mrs. Bev Swanson, Diaconal Minister, has begun her second year of her two-year contract with Messiah. Rev. Vincent and Mrs. Mary Ellen Eriksson and Rev. Laverne and Mrs. Marilyn Hoveland are on the Pastoral Care team and visit in the care facilities in Camrose.

3. Rev. Prema Samuel has been serving as interim pastor for the Parish (Scandia, Armena, and St. Joseph’s, ).

4. Rev. Kristian Wold resigned from Bethel Lutheran, Camrose to accept a call as second pastor at Hope Lutheran, . Rev. Bonnie Arends is serving as the interim pastor.

5. Rev. Benedicte Hansen Gormley resigned from St. John, and moved to BC. Rev. Bruce Zinken accepted a call to St. John, New Sarepta. He was installed on September 27.

6. Rev. Norm Lentz retired as Director of Pastoral Care and Mr. Murray Cowan retired as a chaplain for the Bethany Group.

7. Rev. Barry Vall has retired from his counselling position at the University of - Augustana Campus.

8. Rev. David Eriksson accepted the position of Director of Pastoral Care with the Bethany Group. He is co-ordinating the pastoral care needs for the Bethany facilities and serving as chaplain at the Louise Jensen Care Centre.

9. Rev. Prema Samuel accepted a call to serve as chaplain at Rosehaven with the Bethany Group.

10. Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson accepted a call to serve as chaplain at Bethany Meadows with the Bethany Group.

8. Mr. Colin Millang has been licensed to serve as the lay pastor for Redeemer Lutheran, Hanna. He was providing supply preaching services at St. John’s, Castor and Hope, Forestburg, twice a month. He served these congregations for over eight years.

9. Mrs. Gladys Rude, Pastor Arnold Hagen, and Pastor Stanley Rude have died. They were faithful servants of God throughout their lives. They will be missed by their family and friends. 10. Bethel Lutheran, Marwayne, has severed their relationship with the ELCIC. We wish them God’s blessings as they continue to serve God in their community.

Thank you to Pastor Norm Lentz for making the cross as our symbol for the Synod Convention. Many compliments were received at the convention on its uniqueness and beauty.

The current East Central Conference Council members are: Rev. Eleanor Ness (Dean), Mr. Horst Schreiber (Chairperson), Ms. Kathy Nelson (Secretary/Treasurer), Mrs. Eleanor Paulgaard, Deacon Signi Bruner, Rev. Bill Harder, and Mrs. Anne Roper. Horst Schmidt and Eleanor Paulgaard have completed their terms on the Conference Council. Thank you to all those who have served as members of the Conference Council during the last two years. Your dedication, willingness to serve, and wisdom in guiding the conference is appreciated. We are blessed as a conference to have such faithful people serving on our behalf.

God bless you all as you carry on the various ministries God has called you into.

Rev. Eleanor Ness Dean