Thank you to all who attended the 2021 St. Luke’s Annual Meeting. There was much to celebrate and even more to prepare for the year ahead. You can learn more by reading the 2021 Annual Report that includes highlights from our working teams, our finances, and other partnering organizations.
At the meeting the 2022 Council was voted in. St. Luke’s leadership includes:
Executive Team
Susan Sartell, President
Paul Klein, Past President and Personnel
Mark Bergherr, President-Elect and Nominations
Paul Sundet, Treasurer
Leah DeSchepper, Secretary
Council Representatives
Britt Halaas, Mission
Nancee Erickson, Worship and Music
Marc Dunham, Property
Diane LaFontaine, Community Life
Barb Roberts, Stewardship
Kerry Kollodge, Faith Formation
Al Buss, Member at Large
Staff
Members, Ministers of the Congregation
Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor
Julie Klein, Office Administrator
Heather Kambeitz, Minister of Finance
Cheryl Thiele, Office Support
Emily Schoeller, Dir. Children & Family Ministry
Lori Murray, Accompanist
Bernie Asher, Choir Director
Greg Anderson, Contemporary Music Leader
Gina Bjork, Dir. Social Media & Online Ministry
Susana Castillo, Custodian
Nancee Erickson, Wedding Assistant
Open Position, Dir. of Community Engagement
As Lutherans every member is a Minister. Luther’s doctrine of the priesthood of all believers; he didn’t want to bring pastors down, but rather wanted to raise the bar for congregation members. All of us are priests, and so we must exercise that function, especially in ministering the Word of God to one another, but also in praying for one another, hearing each other’s confession and assuring one another of divine forgiveness, serving one another including physical provision (Phil 4:18; Heb 13:16), ultimately offering our whole being as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1; notice the priestly language). Together we form the Body of Christ. We are called to be witnesses of Jesus, being his hands, feet, and voice in this world. We do that best as we create goodwill within and outside of our church walls. So our responsibilities as fellow members is to trust and support one another as we follow Jesus.
Denise Hughes from Missional Woman wrote a wonderful piece, 10 Ways to Support Your Church Leadership. She gave permission for use. There is no permission needed for us to live it out...
1. Pray for the leadership of your church
Pray that their fervor—for God and the Word—will increase daily. Pray for wisdom in their leadership and decision-making. Pray for their personal life to be strengthened and renewed. Pray for their families. Pray. Pray. Pray. Become an intercessor on behalf of them. We don’t need to know all the details of every matter to pray. The Holy Spirit already knows how to pray. Follow the Spirit’s lead.
2. Give permission for them to be to be less than perfect.
No one is perfect. Leaders are real people. Church leaders have a human nature they wrestle with too. And no one’s family is perfect either. A healthy leader leads from a posture of humility and doesn’t try to present a picture of perfection. And a healthy church will allow its leaders to be a little less than perfect too.
3. Understand the actual role of each leader and the function of the church.
Church members oftentimes place unreasonable expectations on their leaders. Yes, pastoral leaders are there to serve, to teach, to equip, and to protect the flock. But they’re not there to solve all our problems. They’re there to walk beside us through our valleys and celebrate with us on our mountaintops. But no one person can be everything to everyone — except, of course, Jesus.
4. Remember your lay leaders.
Remember that many of the Council members have jobs outside of this volunteer position. They aren’t available 24/7 for phone calls and meetings when they have to be at their places of work 40+ hours per week in addition to the time they serve at church. The next time you cross paths with one, tell them how much you appreciate the way they serve and their personal sacrifice of time and energy.
5. Honor your leaders’ commitment to confidentiality.
There’s a big difference between secrecy and confidentiality. Secrecy is the attempt to hide information. Confidentiality is the way to care for a person with grace and common courtesy. Pastors and Leaders are oftentimes in a position where they know about deeply personal and private matters that are occurring in the lives of church members, or even other staff members. Neither are church members entitled to know every detail that may have been behind a leadership decision. Such details are sometimes an HR issue. And all legal issues aside, there’s a common decency factor that leaders must abide by. These kinds of situations especially need discernment and sensitivity. That’s why the leaders are there. They’re there to lead with wisdom through difficult times.
6. Allow your leaders to worship on Sunday morning.
Do you have something you need to discuss with a pastor, staff member, or leader? Please don’t corner them in the narthex on a Sunday morning. Let them worship. Make a phone call or send an e-mail during the week to set up a time when you could meet. Choose the right time and place for you and them.
7. When you have a grievance with another church member or one of the leaders, follow Matthew 18 and go directly to that person after having given the matter much prayer.
Do not discuss your grievance with your small group as a “sounding board.” That’s gossip. Do not meet with a friend at Starbucks to “ask for their wisdom” on the matter. That’s gossip. Do not offer up a “prayer request” on the matter with your friends. That’s gossip. When you have a grievance, pray first; then go directly to the person your grievance involves. Follow the order set forth in Matthew 18.
8. Never send criticism in the form of an e-mail, or worse, an anonymous letter in the offering basket.
If you have a concern, do as #6 and #7 says: 1) Set up a time when you can meet, and 2) Go to the person directly. And, of course, #1 is always imperative too. Pray. Pray. Pray. Maturity involves a face-to-face conversation whenever possible. Difficult conversations should never happen in an e-mail or a letter.
9. In times of crisis, be present.
Sometimes the negative people draw the most attention because they’re the loudest. But instead of being loud, let’s be strong, let’s be courageous, and let’s be present. Your leaders need the body of Christ to surround them with love and encouragement, especially in trying times. A crisis either brings out the best in a person, or the worst. When a crisis hits your church, pray. Pray and be present.
10. Encourage your leaders with words of affirmation.
You’d be surprised at the burdens your church leaders often bear, and they bear them silently out of their desire to honor confidentiality—and sometimes they’re honoring the confidentiality of the very person who is slandering them! Be a positive presence in their lives. Speak words of encouragement.
Ongoing prayers and blessings, Rob
rob@stlukesbloomington.org / 952-881-5801 ext. 103
At the meeting the 2022 Council was voted in. St. Luke’s leadership includes:
Executive Team
Susan Sartell, President
Paul Klein, Past President and Personnel
Mark Bergherr, President-Elect and Nominations
Paul Sundet, Treasurer
Leah DeSchepper, Secretary
Council Representatives
Britt Halaas, Mission
Nancee Erickson, Worship and Music
Marc Dunham, Property
Diane LaFontaine, Community Life
Barb Roberts, Stewardship
Kerry Kollodge, Faith Formation
Al Buss, Member at Large
Staff
Members, Ministers of the Congregation
Rob Norris-Weber, Pastor
Julie Klein, Office Administrator
Heather Kambeitz, Minister of Finance
Cheryl Thiele, Office Support
Emily Schoeller, Dir. Children & Family Ministry
Lori Murray, Accompanist
Bernie Asher, Choir Director
Greg Anderson, Contemporary Music Leader
Gina Bjork, Dir. Social Media & Online Ministry
Susana Castillo, Custodian
Nancee Erickson, Wedding Assistant
Open Position, Dir. of Community Engagement
As Lutherans every member is a Minister. Luther’s doctrine of the priesthood of all believers; he didn’t want to bring pastors down, but rather wanted to raise the bar for congregation members. All of us are priests, and so we must exercise that function, especially in ministering the Word of God to one another, but also in praying for one another, hearing each other’s confession and assuring one another of divine forgiveness, serving one another including physical provision (Phil 4:18; Heb 13:16), ultimately offering our whole being as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1; notice the priestly language). Together we form the Body of Christ. We are called to be witnesses of Jesus, being his hands, feet, and voice in this world. We do that best as we create goodwill within and outside of our church walls. So our responsibilities as fellow members is to trust and support one another as we follow Jesus.
Denise Hughes from Missional Woman wrote a wonderful piece, 10 Ways to Support Your Church Leadership. She gave permission for use. There is no permission needed for us to live it out...
1. Pray for the leadership of your church
Pray that their fervor—for God and the Word—will increase daily. Pray for wisdom in their leadership and decision-making. Pray for their personal life to be strengthened and renewed. Pray for their families. Pray. Pray. Pray. Become an intercessor on behalf of them. We don’t need to know all the details of every matter to pray. The Holy Spirit already knows how to pray. Follow the Spirit’s lead.
2. Give permission for them to be to be less than perfect.
No one is perfect. Leaders are real people. Church leaders have a human nature they wrestle with too. And no one’s family is perfect either. A healthy leader leads from a posture of humility and doesn’t try to present a picture of perfection. And a healthy church will allow its leaders to be a little less than perfect too.
3. Understand the actual role of each leader and the function of the church.
Church members oftentimes place unreasonable expectations on their leaders. Yes, pastoral leaders are there to serve, to teach, to equip, and to protect the flock. But they’re not there to solve all our problems. They’re there to walk beside us through our valleys and celebrate with us on our mountaintops. But no one person can be everything to everyone — except, of course, Jesus.
4. Remember your lay leaders.
Remember that many of the Council members have jobs outside of this volunteer position. They aren’t available 24/7 for phone calls and meetings when they have to be at their places of work 40+ hours per week in addition to the time they serve at church. The next time you cross paths with one, tell them how much you appreciate the way they serve and their personal sacrifice of time and energy.
5. Honor your leaders’ commitment to confidentiality.
There’s a big difference between secrecy and confidentiality. Secrecy is the attempt to hide information. Confidentiality is the way to care for a person with grace and common courtesy. Pastors and Leaders are oftentimes in a position where they know about deeply personal and private matters that are occurring in the lives of church members, or even other staff members. Neither are church members entitled to know every detail that may have been behind a leadership decision. Such details are sometimes an HR issue. And all legal issues aside, there’s a common decency factor that leaders must abide by. These kinds of situations especially need discernment and sensitivity. That’s why the leaders are there. They’re there to lead with wisdom through difficult times.
6. Allow your leaders to worship on Sunday morning.
Do you have something you need to discuss with a pastor, staff member, or leader? Please don’t corner them in the narthex on a Sunday morning. Let them worship. Make a phone call or send an e-mail during the week to set up a time when you could meet. Choose the right time and place for you and them.
7. When you have a grievance with another church member or one of the leaders, follow Matthew 18 and go directly to that person after having given the matter much prayer.
Do not discuss your grievance with your small group as a “sounding board.” That’s gossip. Do not meet with a friend at Starbucks to “ask for their wisdom” on the matter. That’s gossip. Do not offer up a “prayer request” on the matter with your friends. That’s gossip. When you have a grievance, pray first; then go directly to the person your grievance involves. Follow the order set forth in Matthew 18.
8. Never send criticism in the form of an e-mail, or worse, an anonymous letter in the offering basket.
If you have a concern, do as #6 and #7 says: 1) Set up a time when you can meet, and 2) Go to the person directly. And, of course, #1 is always imperative too. Pray. Pray. Pray. Maturity involves a face-to-face conversation whenever possible. Difficult conversations should never happen in an e-mail or a letter.
9. In times of crisis, be present.
Sometimes the negative people draw the most attention because they’re the loudest. But instead of being loud, let’s be strong, let’s be courageous, and let’s be present. Your leaders need the body of Christ to surround them with love and encouragement, especially in trying times. A crisis either brings out the best in a person, or the worst. When a crisis hits your church, pray. Pray and be present.
10. Encourage your leaders with words of affirmation.
You’d be surprised at the burdens your church leaders often bear, and they bear them silently out of their desire to honor confidentiality—and sometimes they’re honoring the confidentiality of the very person who is slandering them! Be a positive presence in their lives. Speak words of encouragement.
Ongoing prayers and blessings, Rob
rob@stlukesbloomington.org / 952-881-5801 ext. 103