Join us in remembering the people, ministries and places our work impacted in 2012. You can skim the list, or make some hot chocolate and catch up on stories you missed from the year.
Read what YOU helped achieve in 2012.
Proclaim:
Proclaim, a professional community of Lutheran rostered leaders and seminarians who publicly identify as LGBTQ. has grown to 117 members in a year and a half.
We had a number of Proclaim members guest blog. Below is a sample of their stories:
Sara Cogsil: Home in the Body of Christ
Brenda Bos: Why Our Message Matters
Rebecca Seely: LGBTQ student alliance groups on seminary campus
Cindy Crane: Spirit Day 2012 & bullying
Craig Minich: Reflections from New Orleans ELCA Youth Gathering
Cary Bass: A reflection on my wedding and marriage equality
The 2012 Proclaim Retreat: ¡Vamos Tod@s! was an important gathering of over 70 LGBTQ rostered leaders, seminarians and their families. The group met for reflection, learning, worship and community-building. Read more about that gathering here.
Registration opens Monday, January 7 for the 2013 Proclaim Retreat: Wade in the Water. The keynote speaker for this year is Bishop Yvette Flunder.
2012 Mission Support:
With your help ELM donors have given away over $912,000 to ministry since the program began.
Some highlights from the Mission Support you provided this year:
East Bay Lutheran Youth Program, Pastor Craig Minich
EcoFaith Recovery; Portland, OR; Innovative environmental ministry; Pastor Robyn Hartwig
Grace Lutheran Church; Houston, TX; Pastor Lura Groen
St. Luke’s Lutheran of Logan Square; Pastor Erik Christensen
Pastor Cindy Crane, Anti-bullying ministry in South Central Synod of Wisconsin
Set-Aside for 2012 Seminarian Internships– Brenda Bos, Cary Bass & Charles Edwin Weber.
For more about our Ministry Grants program go here.
Candidacy Accompaniment:
This year the program leaders made connections with all ELCA seminarians and a growing number of partner theological and divinity schools. They area working with nearly 40 future leaders in the Lutheran church.
Because of your support we will be able to help some of the 20-30 seminarians looking for an internship congregation in Fall 2013.
We’re glad to announce the ELCA has provided us with a grant to develop resources materials for ELCA synodical and Churchwide staff and volunteers. Based on our history of working with LGBTQ candidates for ministry and the direct experiences of the Proclaim community.
For more about our Candidacy Accompaniment program go here.
2012 Workin Scholars:
Each year ELM names a Joel R. Workin Memorial Scholar to honor the life and ministry of Joel Workin. Joel was one of the three gay seminarians who were refused ordination in 1989 after coming out to their candidacy committees.
Because of a special gift we named two Scholars this year: Rebecca Seely and Asher O’Callaghan read more here.
This year a new, updated 2nd edition of “Dear God, I am Gay — thank you!” by Joel Workin was released.
Noteworthy Highlights:
First United Lutheran Church in San Francisco rejoined the ELCA. After calling openly gay pastor Jeff Johnson, First United was suspended in 1990, then expelled in 1995. Their actions, along with those of St. Francis Lutheran Church began the movement that became Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministries, then the Extraordinary Candidacy Project and eventually to the formation of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries.
Joe Graumann, member of Proclaim, was named an ELCA Fund for Leaders recipient. He wrote about his experience on Living Lutheran and the ELM Blog.
Bradley Schmeling began his call at Gloria Dei in St. Paul. Gloria Dei is now the largest Lutheran church in the nation with a pastor who is openly gay.
When Proclaim reached 109 members, Brenda Bos of the Proclaim Communications Duo wrote about the journey to become a Proclaim member.
Ordinations of Julie Boleyn, Tyler Rasmussen and Caleb Crainer took place in 2012. Jen Rude was received by the ELCA roster and John Roberts was reinstated.
We celebrated our 5th year as Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries! Amalia Vagts, Executive Director reflects on the organization’s history and looks to the future here.
All this good work and good news could not have been possible without your support. Thank you!
We have a great deal of work to do in the coming year – we look forward to your involvement.