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Elections

2005 Churchwide Assembly
Orlando, Florida

[At-Large || Central || Eastern || Mamuee Valley || North Central || Southeast || Southwest || Toledo]

MAUMEE VALLEY CONFERENCE – CLERGY:
ELECT ONE

Keith A. Hunsinger
Serving: St. Paul, Defiance

Congregational Service: Pastor

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Member ELCA Churchwide Assembly 1997, 2001; past member of Synod Executive Committee; past member of Synod Council; past conference dean; intern supervisor

Community-Related Service: President Defiance Clergy Fellowship; Chaplain, Defiance Sheriff, Police and Fire Departments; Board of RAVENS; Local FEMA Board

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: As a prior member of the Churchwide Assembly, I would like to see to completion the work earlier assemblies began. As a regular participant in the Institute for Liturgical Studies, I believe I am well qualified to consider and vote on the upcoming national worship decisions.

Steven W. Knape
Serving: Hope, Hamler

Congregational Service: Pastor, St. Luke’s Lutheran, 1996 – 2000; Pastor, Hope Lutheran, 2000 - present

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Synod Board for Higher Education and Schools, 1996 – disbanded

Community-Related Service: Board of Directors, Lutheran Homes Society, 1997 – present; Executive Committee Lutheran Homes Society, 2001; Hamler Volunteer Fire Department

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I have been blessed to be a part of several different deliberative and decision-making bodies. I offer this experience along with my own dedication to scripture and reason and unceasing prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If elected, I bring all the above, so help me, in the decision making process as the Assembly decides the course of the ELCA in 2005.

Robert McNamara
Serving: Zion’s, Defiance

Congregational Service: 29 years ordained ministry

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Conference officer

Community-Related Service: Lutheran Social Service Board; Habitat for Humanity

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I have served the church for almost 35 years and I bring an awareness and a wide range of experience in a variety of areas.

Mary Beth Smith-Webb
Serving: St. Paul, Paulding

Congregational Service: Parish ministry for 10+ years; awareness of small town concerns

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Involvement as an active clergy in conference and synodical gatherings at which various issues confronting the ELCA were discussed and studied.

Community-Related Service: Caring and Sharing Food Pantry, Paulding, OH; Steering Committee, Paulding County Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Task Force

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I am able to hear clearly both sides of various issues and decide which stance to take after all information has been presented. I enter situations looking for “win-win” outcomes and work intentionally to bring these about.

MAUMEE VALLEY CONFERENCE – LAY FEMALE:
ELECT ONE

Carol Dille
Member: Emanuel, Napoleon

Congregational Service: Church Council Secretary – 3 years; Board of Education – 4 years; Worship and Doctrine Board (Church Elders) – 4 years – still serving as an auxiliary member. Women of Emanuel – Mission Growth; Mission Action, vice president and president – served in each two terms of two years each

Synodical or Churchwide Service: NW Ohio Synod Council – now serving 2nd term; NW Ohio Synod Women’s Organization – Maumee Valley Conference Board Member – 4 years

Community-Related Service: Henry County Board of Elections – 31 years; Filling Home Guild Officer – several times – currently president; Riverview Terrace Board – secretary; volunteer – Lutheran Home, Napoleon; volunteer – LSS, Archbold

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: Being a member of NW Ohio Synod Council, I am aware of what is on the agenda for churchwide, and with all of the information available, will be able to make good judgments when voting. I ask questions and am a good listener. I will also get out and visit the churches in our conference prior to the convention, so that I may better represent them.

Patricia A. Peter
Member: St. John, Hicksville

Congregational Service: I have served on Church Council for 7 years – four of those years as president. I have had experience on the following committees: Bridge Builders; Social Ministry; Worship Planning; Child Care; Christian Education and Stewardship.

Synodical or Churchwide Service: I have served on the synodical stewardship and nominating committees. Presently, I am serving on the Mutual Ministry Committee and the Synodical Authorized Ministry Board. In 1997 I served as a churchwide voting member.

Community-Related Service: I serve as the lead teacher with the Williams County Opportunity Center service projects.

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: As God has called to serve in this Church it is my obligation to listen, learn, pray and search for His meaning in my life and in the church of the ELCA, living by reflecting Romans 12:3-8 is very important to me as I serve others through Christ.

Diane Sonnenberg
Member: Trinity, Wauseon

Congregational Service: Adult Sunday School teacher; conformation instructor; church vision committee; Evangelism Committee; monthly prayer group leader; participant in congregational study on sexuality; synod assembly voting member 1993, 1998, 2000, 2004

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Bishop’s Mutual Ministry Committee; Global Mission Board, Chair; Churchwide Assembly voting member 2001; attended synod seminars on sexuality (2002-2004); member of synod delegation to Tanzania 2003; presenter to Tanzanian pastors regarding issues of HIV/AIDS, domestic abuse and other social concerns

Community-Related Service: I was a participant to Tanzania for a churchwide study on women and children’s issues in 2000, then I gave 25 presentations to local churches and community groups regarding these issues; panelist for annual Hospice seminar on grief; workshop presenter for unwed mothers; organized and facilitated support group for families of the mentally ill

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: As a social worker and active member of my congregation, I find policy-making and social issues to be extremely significant to the future of the church. As a clinical therapist for Lutheran Social Services, I work with homosexual clients and their families and feel drawn into these current issues facing the church.

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