In 2019-2020, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America celebrates three significant anniversaries:
- 50 years of Lutheran women being ordained in the United States
- 40 years of women of color being ordained
- and 10 years of LGBTQIA+ individuals being able to serve freely
Click here for some statistics related to the 50/40/10 commemoration. The Saint Paul Area Synod recognized all of these during its 2020 Synod Assembly, especially celebrating the contributions of the many women pastors here in our synod. It was a pleasure to lift up the ministry of our ordained women with song, photos and panel discussions. We invite you to watch the recordings:
A tribute to the ordained women of the Saint Paul Area Synod in music and photographs.
Congregations in the Saint Paul Area Synod have permission to use the music "One With All in Christ" from this video in their worship services and events. This includes the printing of the lyrics and music for use in these settings. Please email communications@spas-elca.org to request these files.
Featuring the Rev. Marilyn Breckenridge (retired) and her daughter, the Rev. Sarah Breckenridge (St. Andrew's, Mahtomedi).
50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women:
"Where Have We Come From?"
50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women:
"Where Are We Now?"
50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women:
"On the Way Together - Supporting Female Pastors"
50 Years of Women in Ministry:
Full Recording
Other Observances
We continued our annual tradition of recognizing milestone anniversaries of rostered ministers and congregations, honoring those those who have retired, and remembering those who have passed away, and welcoming rostered ministers who are new to the synod. Watch the video here and/or check out the list below:
| Roster Anniversaries | |
|---|---|
| 25 years The Rev. Laurel Bernard The Rev. Anita Beste The Rev. Sarah Breckenridge The Rev. Nancy Lee Gauche The Rev. Brian Gutzmann The Rev. Barbara Lund The Rev. Jeffrey Ronning The Rev. Beth Stassen The Rev. Rebecca Thurman The Rev. Charles Trittin The Rev. Vicki VanderVegt The Rev. Scott Westphal 40 years Deacon Gloria Bengston The Rev. Nancy Connor The Rev. Thomas Jolivette The Rev. Richard Larson The Rev. Dennis Sepper The Rev. Jerry Storm The Rev. Stephen Sveom The Rev. Nancy Wigdahl 50 years The Rev. Michael Dobbins The Rev. William Larson The Rev. Richard Mork The Rev. Obed Nelson The Rev. Donald Oldenburg The Rev. Delbert Sailer The Rev. Lee Sather The Rev. William Straka The Rev. James Tonneson | 55 years The Rev. Kieran Darcy The Rev. Don Fultz The Rev. Robert Kriesel The Rev. Lawrence Lystig 60 years The Rev. Gordon Grimm The Rev. Glen Hanggi The Rev. Delmar Jacobson The Rev. David Nelson The Rev. Dean Swenson 65 years The Rev. Harvey Johnson The Rev. Roald Kindem The Rev. David Rokke The Rev. Harold Tollefson The Rev. Carl Vaagenes 75 years The Rev. Richard Nelson |
| Congregation Anniversaries | |
|---|---|
| 75 Years Calvary, Stanchfield St. Mark, Randolph | 150 years St. Paul, Stillwater |
| Retirements | |
|---|---|
| The Rev. Vernal Anderson The Rev. Doug Duin The Rev. Ronald Gerl The Rev. Brian Gutzmann The Rev. Thomas Hansen The Rev. John Henrich The Rev. Lon Larson The Rev. Joe Lees | The Rev. John Matthews The Rev. Bonnie Nash The Rev. Lynne Nelson The Rev. Timothy Nelson The Rev. Duane Paetznick Deacon Kimberly Rehfeldt The Rev. Peter Rogness The Rev. Richard White |
| In Remembrance | |
|---|---|
| The Rev. Charles Aase, September 11, 2019 The Rev. Rhuben Aga, August 20, 2019 The Rev. Marbury Anderson, April 14, 2020 The Rev. Charles Evavold, October 3, 2019 The Rev. Gordon Grimm, January 5, 2020 The Rev. Veryle Henriksen, December 21, 2019 The Rev. Robert Grant Jamieson, January 12, 2020 The Rev. Theodore Kalkwarf, May 19, 2020 The Rev. Herbert Kaste, July 4, 2019 | The Rev. Chris Kinney, December 28, 2019 The Rev. Lloyd Mart, August 19, 2020 The Rev. Earl F. Nelson, September 10, 2019 The Rev. Paul Ofstedal, October 13, 2019 Deacon Ruth Pallmeyer, January 22, 2020 The Rev. Arthur Rimmereid, June 24, 2019 The Rev. Duane Salness, August 20, 2020 The Rev. R. Ray Singleton, March 5, 2020 The Rev. Carol Stumme, July 10, 2020 |
| Welcome to the Synod | |
|---|---|
| Deacon Stephanie Anderson, St. Andrew’s, Mahtomedi Deacon Mary Kay Duchene, LeaderWise, New Brighton The Rev. Janice FitzGibbon, retired The Rev. Kirsten Fryer, Bethlehem, St. Paul The Rev. James Gustafson, retired The Rev. Sonja Hagander, St. Anthony Park, St. Paul The Rev. Fred Hanson, St. Paul, Stillwater The Rev. Thomas Hanson, retired The Rev. Philip Holtan, retired The Rev. Dirk Lange, Luther Seminary, St. Paul The Rev. Kristine Linner, Presbyterian Homes, Oak Park Heights | The Rev. Emily Meyer, United Theological Seminary, St. Paul The Rev. Karna Moskalik, Our Savior’s, Stillwater The Rev. Kai Nilsen, Incarnation, Shoreview The Rev. Lee Ann Pomrenke, All Saints, Eagan The Rev. Emily Rova-Hegener, St. Luke/St. Mark, St. Paul The Rev. Nestor Joel Rova-Hegener, Our Saviour’s, Hastings The Rev. Liesl Spitz, St. Timothy, St. Paul The Rev. Deborah Stehlin, Grace, Apple Valley The Rev. Grace Swensen, retired The Rev. Nouk Vagh, Hmong Central, St. Paul |