Social Ministry Committe

18A—The Reverend Rebecca Gordon w Nativity, Wonder Lake (northeast conference)

Occupation: Pastor

Areas of special leadership and interest in the congregation: Nativity has been actively involved in mission discernment through the NIS T.I.M.E. mission planning process. Through this process the mission focus of education was identified through a congregational mission of "Growing in faith, living in God's love."  A Mission Health Team has now taken over the goals of establishing a broad-range of discipleship growth experiences at all age levels in the congregation.

Areas of special leadership and interest in the community: Nativity is in the process of growing the ministry of its food pantry into a multi-congregation and community-wide service agency as the Wonder Lake Neighbors Food Pantry.  This involves creation of a pantry Board that will include leadership from three Wonder Lake congregations as well as key business and professional leaders.  While the primary intention of this board will provide structure and leadership for the food pantry, it will have a secondary goal of community organization and awareness.

Reason I wish to serve this area of ministry in the synod: Because of our call to love our neighbors and our role as stewards of the world God created, I believe every congregation has a role in planned, intentional social and environmental awareness and action. The ELCA’s statement on the environment states, “Caring, serving, keeping, loving, and living by wisdom--these translate into justice in political, economic, social, and environmental relationships. Justice in these relationships means honoring the integrity of creation, and striving for fairness within the human family.” As the church we do a fair job of ministry to people who face injustice. Yet we often neglect the systemic connections between these political, economic, social, and environmental relationships. This is the perspective I will bring to this ministry in a second term.

My priorities for this ministry: Fostering an awareness of systemic injustice in the congregation and community. Empowering people of faith to use the resource of citizenship to advocate for positive change through necessary channels. Encouraging the use of resources to create action and solidarity with people and the earth.

My faith statement: I believe that God created me, the earth, and everything living and non-living.  Everything belongs to God, and God cares for all creation with love, mercy, and compassion.  God created humans in God’s image as special beings with a role to care for each other and the earth.  God loves us despite our sin and brokenness, and in Jesus restores all creation to a right relationship with God.  We are called by God into community with others where we can live in the grace and mercy we know in Jesus Christ.  Through our new life in baptism, we can commit ourselves to lives of gentle service to others and the earth.

18B—vacant

19A—The Reverend David Vidler w First, Mount Carroll (northwest conference)

Occupation: Pastor

Areas of special leadership and interest in the congregation: Rebuilding hope, confidence, and vision.

Areas of special leadership and interest in the community: Renewing small churches and communities - economic development.

Reason I wish to serve this area of ministry in the synod: This is my second term. I want to continue to work with the Social Ministry Committee.

My priorities for this ministry: Enabling congregations to carry out their mission to the communities they are called to serve.

My faith statement: Jesus calls us to serve/minister to the communities or neighborhoods where He lives.

19B—vacant

20A—The Reverend Gene Peisker w Trinity, Ottawa (south conference)

Occupation: Retired Clergyman

Areas of special leadership and interest in the congregation: Prison Ministry

Areas of special leadership and interest in the community: United Way Board

Reason I wish to serve this area of ministry in the synod: Experience in multi-cultural living/working.

My priorities for this ministry: Encouraging the body to recognize and celebrate and exercise its diverse self.

My faith statement: I believe that God is not only interested in community. He is community! And so are we in Him.

20B—The Reverend William Swarbrick w Trinity, Mt. Morris (central conference)

Occupation: Retired Pastor

Areas of special leadership and interest in the congregation: Preaching and conducting worship services on a supply basis when needed.

Reason I wish to serve this area of ministry in the synod: I don't necessarily. After 40 years of serving on various committees and 20 years of retirement, I have no ambition to be on any more committees. But social justice, human rights, and hunger issues have to be concerns of all Christians as they were for Jesus. My activities with Amnesty International and my previous membership on synodical and churchwide World Hunger Committees seem to be indicators that I might well be useful on the synod's social ministry committee, so I said Yes to the request to be nominated.

My faith statement: Faith is as much action as it is profession of belief, it involves commitment. As James wrote, "Faith apart from works is dead."