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You are cordially invited to attend
the 2005 Augsburg Pastor’s Retreat

Who:	Any pastor or layperson interested in the Augsburg Lutheran Churches and our discussion “on being a theologian of the cross.”
Where:	Old Sanctuary 910 Fourth Street Brookings, SD
When:	10:00 a.m. November 8, 2004 through 2:00 p.m. November 9, 2004
Focus:	The Heidelburg Disputation, 1518
Why:	To gather for fellowship, reflection, and the mutual conversation and consolation of believers. Our conversations will center on being a theologian of the cross.
Lodging:	A block of rooms have been reserved at the Staurolite Inn in Brookings. For the group rate mention “Augsburg Pastor’s Retreat at the Old Sanctuary” For reservations call : 605-692-3111

For more information about the retreat or to register for it, please contact Rev. Dick Smith at (701) 250-8558 or email dicksmith9@bis.midco.net

This year’s retreat is open to anyone who is interested in the Augsburg District. The event will be built on two of the marks of the church, namely, mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren.

It will focus on Luther's 28 theses of the Heidelberg Disputation of April 26, 1518. The theses are available in Volume 31 of "Luther's Works: American Edition." They are also the theme of Gerhard Forde's book, On Being A Theologian of the Cross (Eerdmans). The 28 theses will be available at the event. We will begin no earlier than 10 a.m., on Monday, and conclude no later than 2 p.m., on Tuesday. The registration fee is $10 to cover "coffee," photocopying, use of facility, etc.

Monday Lunch, Supper, and Tuesday Lunch will be taken together. Each will be responsible for his or her meals. A block of rooms at the group rate of $45 and $55 per night have been set aside at the Staurolite Inn under the title: "Augsburg Pastors' Retreat at the Old Sanctuary." Their phone number for reservations is 605 692 3111.

If you plan to participate, if possible, please let us know. My phone number is 701-250-8558; e-mail: dicksmith9@bis.midco.net

Your friend in Christ, "who is our life" (Col. 3:4),
Dick Smith, Augsburg Pastor

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REV. RON RASMUSSEN INSTALLED AT BETHLEHEM AND ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCHES Irwin and Jacksonville, Iowa The Rev. Ron Rasmussen was installed on July 24, 2004, as the senior pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Irwin, Iowa, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Iowa.  The congregations interviewed Rasmussen after the Augsburg Convention at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa, last year.  They issued a letter of call this spring.  Rasmussen is a member of the Augsburg List of Clergy.

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SECOND VOTE PASSES AT BETHESDA LUTHERAN
Dresser, Wisconsin

Sunday, September 26th, 2004, Bethesda Lutheran Church in Dresser, WI, held a Special Congregational meeting to vote a second time on our Resolution to terminate our relationship with the ELCA and join LCMC and the Augsburg Lutheran District. The vote passed with 75% of the voting members voting in favor of the Resolution.

The second agenda item was to vote a 2nd time on the Bethesda Constitution and By-law changes. 83% of the voting members present voted to pass the changes.

This meeting completed all of the requirements necessary from Bethesda's position for the changes to be complete and finished.

I would like to say how proud I am of everyone at Bethesda in learning about and becoming educated about the Called to Common Mission (CCM) document and the new Constitution.

This process has taken more than four years to slowly wade through. It has taken persistence, patience, understanding, and dedication. Sunday the 26th concludes this season for Bethesda. Now, together we look forward to the plans that God has for Bethesda. No matter what your position was at the time of the vote, we remain Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and together we will do our work at Bethesda to the Glory of God.

Thank you for your faithful work!
Teri Wallis, President
MTWallis@CenturyTel.net

Resolution to terminate affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and join the Augsburg Lutheran Churches of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

Whereas, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted Called to Common Mission (CCM) in August of 1999, thus repudiating the Lutheran understanding of the non-binding role of churchly oversight (episcope) and abandoning the historic Lutheran teaching of the priesthood of all believers;

Whereas, Luther declared that there is no mediator between God and human beings except Jesus Christ and thus criticized the institutional church of his day as offering a false means of grace centered in the church's hierarchy;

Whereas, the Augsburg Lutheran Churches have adopted a document entitled "Our Declaration," which states that the church cannot be considered a means of grace, that subscription to the Lutheran Confessions is a necessary part of the Lutheran faith, and that CCM violates the Lutheran Confession, specifically Article VII of the Augsburg Confession, which says,

“For it is sufficient for the true unity of the Christian church that the Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacraments be administered in accordance with the divine Word. It is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian church that ceremonies instituted by men should be observed uniformly in all places. It is as Paul says in Eph. 4:4,5, 'There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Whereas, we hold with the Word of God which states that whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36), and that CCM removes Christian freedom by substituting human hierarchy for the Lordship of Christ over His Church;

Therefore, be it Resolved that Bethesda Lutheran Church terminate its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, join the Augsburg Lutheran Churches of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), and participate in the mission life they carry out.

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BETHESDA LUTHERAN CALL COMMITTEE AT WORK

Bethesda Lutheran Church is in the process of calling a full-time pastor who will preach and teach the Gospel in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

The call committee continues to meet regularly, and candidates are being contacted for conference calls on a weekly basis. Members of the call committee have visited other congregations and we have had visitors come to worship at Bethesda during the last month, too. We are working to narrow the number of candidates.

The call committee is scheduling on-site interviews this month. Please continue to pray for the Pastor that God has prepared for us.

More information about Bethesda' constitution, our resolution to join Augsburg Lutheran Churches and LCMC, and our congregation profile is available on our website: www.bethesdalutheran.ws

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IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH SEEKING FULL-TIME PASTOR
Swea City, Iowa

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Swea City, Iowa, is seeking to call a full-time confessional pastors to serve this vibrant congregation in Northern Iowa. Immanuel joined Augsburg Lutheran Churches and LCMC with a 93% majority vote on August 27, 2004. The congregation has about 350 members and an active youth group of 20. Pastor Kent Wallace currently serves as the interim pastor.

Pastoral candidates interested in interviewing for the call are invited to send their colloquy packet (autobigraphical faith statement, paper on Our Declaration, and written answers to the Augsburg colloquy questions) to the call committee chair:

Mr. Craig Deim
P. O. Box 159
Swea City, IA 50590
cjdeim@netins.net

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GALATA PARISH LOOKING FOR PASTOR
Galata, MT

Open to call a confessional Lutheran pastor to serve a three-point parish in Northern Montana (along Highway 2). The Galata Parish consists of Galata Lutheran Church, Devon Lutheran Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church. These congregations are in the heartland of strong confessional Lutheranism (this is "Oliver K. Jones country") about 18 miles from Shelby, MT.

Please send your colloquy packet and questions to:

Mr. Art Adamson (speara@northerntel.net)
293 S. Devon
Shelby, MT 59474

"I'm nothing but a freeloader on the grace of God!"
Rev. Oliver K. Jones

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REV. LENAE RASMUSSEN CALLED AND ORDAINED BY GOOD SHEPHERD
Florence, Alabama

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FAITH LUTHERAN BUILDING PROJECT
Humboldt, SD

The following is a letter from Pastor Glen Peterson and the Church Council of Faith Lutheran Church:

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH
PO Box 273
Humboldt, SD 57035
Cell 605-359-3021

November 1, 2004

Dear Friends in Christ,

Faith Lutheran Church is an LCMC mission congregation, affiliated with Augsburg Lutheran Churches and the Heartland District, that began meeting for worship in July of 2003, in Humboldt, South Dakota, with 41 in attendance. Today, with about 80 active members, Faith is exited about where the Holy Spirit has led it and where He will lead in the future.

The majority of Faith's members are former members of an ELCA congregation in the same South Dakota town. After 1 ½ years of education and discussion of the issues facing the ELCA, the congregation voted to leave the ELCA with an 84% majority, in January of '03. However, after behind-the-scenes work by a small minority, and with help from former pastors and the Synod Office, the second vote to leave, in May of that year, failed. Feeling that he could no longer shepherd this church, Pastor Glen Peterson resigned later that same week, and affirmed that he would no longer be part of the ELCA. Many members of the congregation also affirmed that they would no longer be a part of a non-Biblical church or one of its congregations. Two months later, this group formed what later became Faith Lutheran and called Pastor Glen to be their shepherd.

During its 1 year and 3 month journey of faith, Faith Lutheran has maintained its core of members and has been blessed with some growth. However, the congregation, who meets for worship in the local American Legion Hall, came to realize that a worship facility of its own would be necessary to be in a position for continued growth. Such a facility will not only be more attractive to visiting potential members, but it will display permanency for a congregation that the community still sees as a splinter group.

To that end, Faith purchased a parcel of land in Humboldt, some months ago, with plans to build a simple structure. While those plans were in the works, however, our gracious Heavenly Father provided the congregation with news of a beautiful church building that could be moved into Humboldt. This building is in Yale, SD, a small declining community about 100 miles northeast of Humboldt, and belonged to a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregation that is disbanding and held its final worship service on September 26th. After discussions with the Yale congregation, Faith has been given the building, sanctuary furniture, kitchen cabinets and appliances.

Faith Lutheran is extremely excited about what God, in His providence, has provided, and the congregation is proceeding with plans for a basement and foundation, as well as moving the building. The budget for this entire project, Faith's current annual budget, as well as photos of the building and land, are attached. The members of Faith are firmly convinced that God, not them, has founded this LCMC congregation, provided this building, and commissioned the members to be witnesses for the Gospel to the searching and the unchurched, in Humboldt and the surrounding area. Humboldt is approximately 15 miles west of Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota. The rapid growth of Sioux Falls is causing new growth in Humboldt, as well the entire area between Sioux Falls and Humboldt. This allows for more than ample growth potential for Faith Lutheran.

Faith is asking its LCMC partners in ministry to help with the Lord's work, in Humboldt SD, in one or all of four ways: 1st, to pray for this ministry, that it might accomplishment the Lord's will, for His glory; 2nd, that you consider loaning funds to Faith Lutheran for this project. These funds would then be paid back to the loaning congregation or individual, with interest, to be used for the Lord's work again and again. Faith is proposing a monthly payment based on a 30-year amortization, at roughly 6% interest, with a balloon payment due, or at least a reassessment of terms, at 5 years. This would allow Faith time to build some credit history, borrow from a financial institution, and pay off these smaller notes, thereby freeing up those funds for other ministry options; 3rd, that you consider a one-time donation to this building project; 4th, that you consider Faith as an ongoing benevolence option, for some period of time.

The leadership of Faith Lutheran Church asks that you prayerfully consider what your congregation can do to be a partner in this important ministry of the Gospel in South Dakota.

God's grace and peace to each of you,

Faith Lutheran Church Council
Pastor Glen Peterson
 

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