Bishop’s Office Message for Sept, 2005

Dear Partners in Ministry,

September marks the big transition into the fall programming season for most of us. The laid-back summer schedule is behind us, and the adrenalin begins flowing as we re-engage new beginnings in many areas. The ELCIC convention (as well as the ELCA convention) this summer reaffirmed our present understanding of sexuality, marriage and the family, and I trust we will all work together to become as welcoming as we can be to all in our

society who long for the peace that can only come through a relationship with Jesus.

As school begins, we need to be reminded of the wonderful opportunities we have for ministry on the many campuses across our synod. Our established campus ministries at the University of Alberta, Richard Reimer, Chaplain, the University of Calgary, Klaus Ohlhoff, Chaplain, the ecumenical shared campus ministry in Lethbridge, Erin Phillips, Chaplain, all need our prayers and support. The recently begun campus ministry in Lac La Biche

with Pastor Mac DeWaal provides a model for other congregations in communities with campuses of higher learning. This fall we welcome Craig Wentland as Chaplain to the Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta in Camrose. This is a new model of campus ministry flowing out of the transfer of Augustana from the ELCIC to the University of Alberta. Watch for further details as this ministry develops. Please keep all our campus ministries in your prayers, and remember to share with the campus chaplains the names of students from your congregation who are attending any of these universities.

+Stephen P. Kristenson, Bishop

Synod of Alberta and the Territories

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

10014 - 81 Ave.

Edmonton, AB T6E 1W8

Phone 780-439-2636 Fax 780-433-6623

Email: SKristenson@elcic.ca

http://www.albertasynod.ca