Alumni/ae News

Updated November 17, 2009

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Browse by Decade:	00s | 90s | 80s | 70s

The 00s - back to the top

Emily Myallis, '08, Emily Myallis was Consecrated as a Diaconal Minister on August 30, 2008 in Lebanon, Penn., Lower Susquehanna Synod.  She is called to Eldercare, a day-program for older adults, and to Zion's Lutheran Church in Jonestown, Penn.  (submitted 9/4/2009)   Julie Anderson, '07, was ordained on May 20, 2007 at Bethany-Elim Lutheran Church in Ivanhoe, MN by Bishop Jon Anderson of the SW Minnesota Synod.  She was then installed as a team minister with Stephen P. Rasumusson M.Div.('81), D.Min ('00) as they were installed as team minsters for Winds of the Prairie Ministry.  The multiple area parish is made up of five churches in the communities of Arco, Ivanhoe, Lake Benton, Minneota and Ruthton Minnesota with Rev. Gary Veit leading the pastoral team.  (submitted 2/4/2008)   Craig Nehring, '07, was ordained on December 15, 2007 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Hawkins, WI by Bp. Jon Anderson, SWMN synod. Was installed at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Auburn, MN on January 13, 2008  (submitted 4/24/2008)   William Nelsen, '07, was ordained on June 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Peter, Minn. He serves as pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran Churches, Gaylord, Minn.  (submitted 9/2/2008)   Alvina Olstead, '07, has accepted a call to First Lutheran in Opheim, Montana. Ordination will be Oct. 12, 2008 at Ferndale, Wash.  In addition to serving as a pastor Alvina is the music teacher at the Opheim K-12 school  (submitted 9/28/2008)   Christopher Byars, '07, and Dawn Byars, was ordained February 17, 2008 at Advent Lutheran Church in Boca Raton, FL.  He was then installed as Pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Dade City, FL. on March 30, 2008.  (submitted 12/11/2008)   Thomas Lip Tet Tsen, '07, and Laura Susianty Hindrianto, '08, Thomas is being elected as the Bishop of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (A Lutheran Church in Malaysia) for the term 2008 to 2011. Laura has been appointed as the Dean of Students of Sabah Theological Seminary in Malaysia and teaching as pastoral care and counseling professor in the seminary starting in January 2008.  (submitted 5/31/2008)   Rachel (Oldfather) Stout, '06, was called on June 24th to serve at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wadena MN as the Associate Pastor. Rachel and her husband Ryan and son Soren live in New York Mills MN.  (submitted 7/25/2008)   Ingelaurie Lisher, '06, was commissioned as an Associate in Ministry at St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows, Tacoma WA on Sunday, June 14th 2009 where she serves as the Director of Youth and Family Ministry.  (submitted 6/11/2009)   Steve Bliss, '05, accepted a call to serve as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo Lake, Minn. He began serving on Jan 10, 2009. He had previously served from Aug 2005 to Jan 2009 as pastor at St Olaf Lutheran in Grenora, ND and United Lutheran in Zahl, ND.  (submitted 1/15/2009)   Amy Fondroy Eich, '05, will be installed as the new pastor at Joy Lutheran Church in Prescott, Wis. on Sunday, August 2, 2009 at both the 8:15 and 10:00 a.m. worship services.  She will be installed by Pastor Amy Odgren, Assistant to the Bishop of the Northwest Wisconsin Synod of the ELCA.  Fondroy Eich will be moving to Prescott from Jefferson, Iowa, where she has served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church since 2005.  (submitted 7/31/2009)   John Okan, '05, and Liza Okan, '96, have been called to serve as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Whatcom County, Wash.  John previously served as pastor in Vining, Minn. at a four point parish, since 2005.  Okan and his wife, Liza, were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Eleanor Rose, on June 27, 2009, three weeks after he conducted his first service at Immanuel Lutheran.  They also have a daughter, Sophia, who turned 2 on July 19.  A complete news article regarding his new call can be found at www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/827795.html  (submitted 8/4/2009)   Sara Yotter, '04, accepted a new call as Assistant to the Bishop of the South Central Synod of Wisconsin.  (submitted 3/10/2008)   Paul Finley, '04, has accepted a second call as lead pastor of Lutheran Church of Hope in Westminster, Calif.  He will be installed by Pacifica Synod Bishop Murray Finck on March 15th, 2009.  (submitted 2/25/2009)   Scott McAnally, '04, has accepted and begun a new call as Pastor of the Lutheran Church of Hope in Broomfield, Colo.  He will be formally installed on October 11, 2009.  (submitted 7/18/2009)   Scott Johnson, '03, has accepted a call at the University Lutheran Center at Iowa State University, Ames, IA.  (submitted 2/4/2008)   Jon Gallatin, '03, and Tabitha Gallatin, '04, have accepted calls to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Neenah, Wis.  (submitted 5/13/2008)   Kris Snyder, '02, and Randi Snyder, began work with Waterville Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Waterville, IA with Kris as pastor since December, 2007 and Randi as organist since August, 2008. Visit watervillelutheran.org for updates on us. Kris also works for LSI as a family counselor. We and big sister Kjersti look forward to our Christmas blessing of a baby sister this winter.  (submitted 9/15/2008)   Jennie English, '01, has accepted and begun a new call as the pastor at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL.  (submitted 7/21/2008)   Karl Hester, '01, has been serving as an associate pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon since November 2007.  The call has an emphasis on youth and family ministry.  Also, Karl and Sue have divorced which became effective in February of 2009.  Nick and Natalie will share time between both of their loving parents.  (submitted 2/23/2009)   Melinda Melhus, '01, has accepted a new call to serve as associate pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in West Salem, Wisc. She previously served as pastor at Ostmark Lutheran Church in Watkins, Minn.  A complete news article regarding her call can be found online at www.couleenews.com/articles/2009/10/08/features/00apastor.txt  (submitted 10/19/2009)   Elizabeth Eide, '01, has accepted a call to serve as one of the three pastors at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minn.  She formerly served as solo pastor at St. James Lutheran Church in Barrington, R.I. for the last seven years.  Elizabeth, along with her husband Nick, and their twins Jackson and Sophia, are excited to be back in the Midwest, close to family and friends.  (submitted 10/19/2009)   Laurie Arroyo, '00, has been selected for the position of Assistant to the Bishop, Southwest California Synod, for Lay Mission Leadership. Arroyo, who currently serves as Associate Pastor at St. Timothy, Lakewood, Calif., will join the staff on September 1, 2008. She is well known to many from her years of service on the Southwest California Synod. There will be a Service of Installation for Pastor Laurie Arroyo on Sat., Sept. 6, 3:00 p.m., at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 15950 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, Calif.   (submitted 6/20/2008)   Chad Christensen, '00, accepted a call to serve as pastor of Vermont Lutheran Church, Black Earth, Wis. and began serving there on Jan. 15, 2009.  He is the first pastor to serve full-time at Vermont in their 153-year history.  (submitted 3/15/2009)   Chris Enstad, '00, began a new call as Pastor of Faith Formation at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth, Minn. in March of 2009.  (submitted 6/9/2009)

The 90s - back to the top

Laura Duffee, '99, accepted a call at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minn.  Laura was installed on Oct. 21st as Associate Pastor of Children and Family Ministries and Adult Education.  (submitted 11/1/2007)   Katy McCallum Sachse, '99, accepted a call at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Kirkland, Washington.  She was installed as Associate Pastor on April 6, 2008.  (submitted 5/2/2008)   Tessa Moon Leiseth, '98, has been called to join the Campus Ministry staff at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. She is a 1992 grad of Concordia College.  (submitted 5/6/2008)   Shauna Hannan, '98, joined the faculty of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary as the homiletics professor.  (submitted 9/3/2008)   Paul Gao, '97, (Gao Feng) was recently elected as the Chairman of the China Christian Council. This is the top position in the officially sanctioned church in China.  (submitted 2/5/2008)   Deanna Wildermuth, '97, will be installed as the new pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Mercer Island, Wash., during a special service on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 at 3 p.m. She most recently served as pastor at Sharon Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, N.D. Wildermuth also served as associate pastor at Saint Luke's Church in Bellevue, Wash., as well as other positions in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.  She is married to Keith, her husband of 25 years.  They have two grown sons, Alan and Daniel.  (submitted 9/24/2009)   Jonathan Todd Bruning, '97, and Jamie Segaran Bruning, '97, celebrated the high school graduation of their daughter Kaitlyn Renee Bruning from Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Mich. in May 2007. Ten days later, on their 12th wedding anniversary, the family moved to Texas, where Todd was called as the senior pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas.  (submitted 6/13/2008)   Jamie Segaran Bruning, '97, and J. Todd Bruning, '97, Jamie was called by the Northern Texas Northern Louisiana Synod in the newly created position of Synodical Youth Ministry Coordinator, starting August 1, 2008.  She is also teaching at The Ark Preschool at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Plano, TX, where her son, Nikhil, also attends.  (submitted 8/30/2008)   William Rindy, '92, was elected April 6 to a six-year term as bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod at the synod assembly April 5-6 at the Fargo Civic Center. Rindy's formal installation as bishop will be Aug. 16 at Hope Lutheran Church, South Campus, Fargo. He and his wife Louise, a registered nurse, are the parents of two daughters.  (submitted 6/24/2008)   Dorcas Wang, '92, has received a call to serve as pastor in China under the Global Mission Unit of the ELCA with a partnership of Beijing International Christian Fellowship (BICF).  This is a newly created position of the ELCA. Dorcas wants to thank Luther for giving her the faith formation, academic training, and challenges she received during his four years of seminary life that have prepared her for this mission, and she invites all of you to be a partner in this new, exciting ministry in China through prayers.  If you would like to contact her, please contact the Global Mission of the ELCA for information.  (submitted 8/26/2008)   Cheryl Corneliussen, '91, began call as Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, Stockton, CA in February.  (submitted 11/13/2008)

The 80s - back to the top

Thomas Aitken, '85, was elected May 4 to a six-year term as bishop of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. Aitken will be installed as bishop in a service Aug. 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brainerd, Minn.  (submitted 6/24/2008)   Arne Bergland, '85, has been selected as the Director of Church Relations for California Lutheran University. Bergland has 28 years of experience working with youth. He has served in leadership positions at the synod, regional and national levels. He recently completed three years as board president for the Associated Ministries of Pierce County in Washington. Bergland will work to sustain and expand CLU's relationships within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. His main focus will be the five synods and 731 congregations in Region II, which includes California, Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and parts of Wyoming and Texas. Bergland will also work closely with CLU's Campus Ministry, Segerhammar Center for Faith and Culture and Religion Department. Bergland and his wife Susan have two college-aged daughters. Their daughter Grete is a junior at CLU.  (submitted 9/2/2008)   Mark Holmerud, '84, was elected on April 26 to a six-year term as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA at the synod assembly in Oakland, Calif.  (submitted 6/24/2008)   James Arends, '81, La Crosse (Wis.) Area Synod of the ELCA at the synod assembly at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa.  (submitted 6/24/2008)

The 70s - back to the top

Morris Vaagenes, '79, will begin pastoral duties at Lutheran Church of the Master in Brooklyn Center, Minn. on July 1, 2008. Dr. Vaagenes is Pastor Emeritus of North Heights Lutheran Church in the northern suburbs of St. Paul, where he served as Senior Pastor from 1961 to 1999. He has served in leadership in the Lutheran charismatic renewal movement nationally and internationally, and as chairman of the International Lutheran Conference on the Holy Spirit for over two decades. If you are interested in hearing Dr. Vaagenes speak, you may contact the church to find out when he will be preaching (763-561-5852, Ext. 200).  (submitted 7/11/2008)   Robert Sachs, '78, received a D.Min. (CML) with the first cohort at Luther Seminary in May 2007 and will be installed April 2008 as a missional redevelopment pastor to Trinity LC in Evanston, WY, which received a two year revitalization grant from the ELCA-Rocky Mountain Synod-Wyoming Conference.  (submitted 2/25/2008)