Pacifica Synod - ELCA
1801 Park Court Place,
Bldg. C
Santa Ana, CA
92701-5010
Phone: 714-692-2791
Fax: 714-692-9317
E-mail: Office@pacificasynod.org
Thanksgiving for the Rev. Dr. Gordon Peterson…What's Next… Mission Support Update

hanksgiving… We met many years ago, in Atlanta for the first time, when we both attended an Assistant to the Bishop's gathering in those early days of the ELCA. I gravitated toward Gordon Peterson for several reasons… one being that he served the synod wherein most of my relatives lived. Also, an assistant who served with him in that synod was from my hometown and that person and I had gone to school and
church together as children and youth. Gordon and I had a few common connections from the first time we met. Over the years our paths continued to cross. Seven years ago he accepted the offer and heard the call to come to the Pacifica Synod where he focused primarily in the areas of discipleship (teaching, leadership education, council retreats, etc.) and reconciliation (conflict resolution and transitional ministry.

Since those beginning days in the Pacifica Synod, Gordon became very engaged in this synod's mobility and the call process, interim ministry, the establishment of PALLMM (Preparing Adult Lay Leaders for Mission and Ministry), Lutheran Social Services, outreach ministry and new starts, ethnic ministry, coaching ministry and other areas of the work that is overseen or resourced by synod staff members. He covered a great deal of territory, worked very efficiently and effectively and brought an enormous amount of experience and expertise to the office of the Pacifica Synod. I was always very thankful we were colleagues together!

As Gordon takes on a new position in another part of the church, he will be greatly missed by this synod, especially by the synod staff and me. Thank you, Gordon, for serving our Lord Jesus, his Church, and this part of it so well for these past seven years. Godspeed as you travel to
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith …
I am sure, lives in you.
II Timothy 1:5
Minnesota, take the new position with the congregation in St. Paul, live so much closer to family members and begin a new adventure in ministry for the sake of the Gospel. We will miss you and your gifts for ministry in this part of Christ's Church and we are thankful that many of the areas of ministry into which you poured yourself will carry on and be blessed by your work in our midst these seven years past. I am sure, for many of us, our paths will cross from time to time and that will be a good reconnection.

What's Next? As I write this page, we are just getting used to the idea that Gordon is taking a new position elsewhere and by the time you read it, we will be at work with the transitions, the delegations and reconfigurations of synodical responsibilities, and the assessments of staff, finances and ministry needs in this synod. Already we have received input and ideas for which we are always grateful. It will become the task of the leadership of the synod to look at the "whole picture" as we move forward at this time of change and challenge within the mission and ministry of this synod. We ask for your ongoing prayers and support.

Mission Support… Finally a needed word as we head into these critical months of our life together. As we study the mission support of this synod congregation by congregation, we see four categories…
Those who are fulfilling their support as they indicated and intended.
Those whose giving is down and consequently their percentage of mission support is also down.
Those from whom we have received nothing this fiscal year.
Those who have indicated that they will be withholding or redirecting giving to this synod.
I thank those congregations and leaders who are doing all you are to continue to support the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and this synod. I encourage those congregations and leaders who have given little or nothing for our work together this year to re-engage with us for the work of the whole church and allow the last half of the year to be stronger than the first half. I invite those who have decided intentionally to withdraw support to reconsider those decisions and truly be part of the mission and ministry of this church. It is such an important time in the life of the synod and ELCA. It is a very challenging time with more opportunities than we have ever had before. Only by moving forward together will we be all that Christ Jesus intends us to be. I pray that this synod will discover new ways to work and support our life together as we did in the past. Thank you to all who share that prayer and who share in our day-by-day and week-by-week and month-by-month ministry together.
Let there be light and life in our support and care for each other,
—Murray D. Finck†, Bishop

More Bishop's Journals: July 2010 -The Word