A Daunting Privilege

Gathering together in the Saint Paul Area Synod conference room over lunch on the second Monday of every other month, the Iringa Committee is tasked with shepherding and shaping this network of relationship that we call "Bega Kwa Bega." Composed of administrators and educators and entrepreneurs and pastors, its members come from a variety of backgrounds and callings. Most have already traveled to East Africa. All have a profound respect for this celebration of life that we share, together, with our sisters and brothers in Christ in the ELCT Iringa Diocese.

At a recent meeting of the Iringa Committee, members were invited to review the Post-it Note timeline that was created at the Fall Festival in November. Stepping back and reflecting on their role as stewards of this great stream of relationship, committee members called it a "daunting privilege." Working largely behind the scenes and out of the spotlight, they provide governance and oversight of the relationship-at-large and are responsible for putting the bones in place that allow us to walk boldly in faith beside our global companions. They are the vision keepers, the tenders of details, the watchers of budgets, and the trackers of goals. And it is their patient and persistent work that has enabled us to make significant strides in the six years since BKB-SPAS was reorganized.

And so, let us all give thanks for those who have said ‘yes’ to the call to serve on the 2019-2020 Iringa Committee:

Voting Members:

• Kirsten Levorson, Chair (Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley)*
• Barb Lind, East Central Cluster Rep (House of Prayer, Oakdale)
• Karen Sawyer Smith, North Cluster Rep (St. Stephen, White Bear Lake)*
• Linka Holey, North Central Cluster Rep (Abiding Savior, Mounds View)
• Bo Skillman, South Cluster Rep (Christiania, Lakeville)*
• The Rev. Joy McDonald Coltvet, South Central Cluster Rep (Christ on Capitol Hill, St. Paul)
• Ginny Rudolph, Southeast Cluster Rep (Augustana, West St. Paul)
• The Rev. Sara Spohr, At Large Rep (Roseville Lutheran, Roseville)*
• The Rev. Lynda Thompson, At Large Rep (Incarnation, Shoreview)
• The Rev. Peter Weston Miller, At Large Rep (Trinity, Stillwater)
• Helen Yotter, At Large Rep (Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Heights)
• The Rev. Patricia Lull, Bishop (Saint Paul Area Synod)*
• The Rev. Peter Harrits, Director of BKB (Saint Paul Area Synod)*

*Denotes Iringa Executive Committee Member

Non-Voting Members:

• Jim Wolf, East Central Cluster Leader (St. Mark’s, North St. Paul)
• Brenda Taylor, North Cluster Leader (First, Rush City)
• Caryn & Jim Josephson, North Central Cluster Leaders (Prince of Peace, Roseville)
• The Rev. Karsten Nelson, South Central Cluster Rep (Our Redeemer, St. Paul)
• The Rev. Chris & Linda Becker, Southeast Cluster Leaders (Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Heights)
• Russ Hilliard & Jo Whiting, Non-SPAS Cluster Leaders (Holy Trinity, Newington NH)
• Dean Hoffrogge, Affiliates Representative (Easter, Eagan)
• Greg Triplett, Financial Administrator (Saint Paul Area Synod)