2005 Churchwide Assembly
Orlando, Florida

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

TOLEDO CONFERENCE – CLERGY:
ELECT ONE

Mary Lou Baumgartner
Serving: Salem, Toledo

Congregational Service: 14 years of Word and Sacrament ministry

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Toledo Area Lutheran Coalition; Central – Downtown – North Mission Area Strategy Team; Coalition Steering Committee (two terms); Toledo Lutheran Colleagues Planning Task Force; Task Force on Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons; Northwestern Ohio Synod Council (2000 – 2004); Mission Partners Committee; Stewardship visitor; ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2001 and 2003; ELCA Horizon Internship Supervisor 1996 – present; Alumni-in-Residence, Luther Seminary 2001; member of churchwide urban summit 2003; missionary to Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1980 – 1985.

Community-Related Service: President, North Toledo Network; Steering Committee, North Corridor Coalition; St. Vincent’s Hospital Pastoral Care Advisory Team; Pastoral Education Advisory Council; Maumee River Crossing Task Force Land Use Subcommittee; Toledo Area Council of Churches Advisory Committee

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: As a long-term pastor in a central city congregation serving with neighbors of diverse socioeconomic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds, I am qualified to offer an urban voice in the discussions before us. I bring a deep commitment to participating in God’s mission in the world, and attentiveness to those who live on the margins of our society and the practice of bringing together people from a wide variety of settings.

Chuck Campbell
Serving: All Saints, Toledo

Congregational Service: 28 years as parish pastor

Synodical or Churchwide Service: National Communication Board – ALC and ELCA; Synod Communications Committee; ELCA Vision for Communication Task Force; Vice president of Toledo Coalition Steering Committee; Toledo Coalition Vision Task Force; Beautiful Feet Planning Committee; Reformation Service Planning Committee

Community-Related Service: Chairperson – Community Shares of Northwest Ohio; Chairperson – LSS Northern Ohio Advisory Committee and a board member; board member and vice president of Toledo Metropolitan Ministries – ELCA representative

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I have served in a wide variety of church and community organizations. I believe that I have a clear understanding of the workings of the church, but I am most concerned about how this affects the people I the pew. It is of prime importance to me that all voices be heard and respected as we consider our faith and where that leads us in our ministry within the Lutheran tradition.

James A. Dumke
Serving: Lutheran Homes Society

Congregational Service: Pastor of Saint James, Toledo; Saint John, Groton Township; Saint John, Union Corners; Bethlehem, Pemberville

Synodical or Churchwide Service: NWOS Synodically Authorized Ministries Advisory Committee; NWOS Board for Ministry; Ohio Multi-Synodical Candidacy Committee; Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Trinity Seminary

Community-Related Service: Board of Trustees, Lutheran Homes Society; adjunct faculty – Winebrenner Seminary; adjunct instructor in New Testament – Trinity Seminary; Faculty – St. Olaf College and Methodist Theological School in Ohio; Board and Chair – Otterbein Portage Valley; Corporate Board – Otterbein Homes; Pemberville Public Library Board; Pemberville Historical Society; faculty – Owens Community College

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: As a representative of the Northwestern Ohio Synod I would bring to the churchwide assembly a breadth and depth of perspective drawn from many years of parish ministry, college and seminary teaching, and social service in both Lutheran and ecumenical settings. Such gifts I believe are essential as the church faces difficult issues and the many challenges of ministry.

Merlin Jacobs
Serving: Grace, Toledo

Congregational Service: Involvement in all areas of congregational life as pastor for three different faith communities

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Past service on Toledo Coalition Steering Committee; presently serving on Mission Partners Committee and University of Toledo Lutheran Campus Ministry Board

Community-Related Service: Scouting; ecumenical clergy groups; Toledo Interfaith Network Blood Drive

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I desire to learn more about the mission of the ELCA (local, synod, churchwide) and act with others seeking to be faithful to “making disciples of all nations.”

Roger K. Miller
Serving: St. Paul’s, Maumee

Congregational Service: Senior pastor

Synodical or Churchwide Service: 30 years of ministry in rural, small town, city and suburban congregations. Served on Board for Lutheran Memorial Camp; attended Capital University; 2 children attended Wittenberg University; served on the Ohio District Council of the ALC and served on many committees and boards of both the ALC and ELCA. I have served as Consecration Sunday Leader for a dozen congregations.

Community-Related Service: A member of Maumee Rotary with various committee responsibilities; helped establish Maumee Churches United that has yoked 9 churches to provide a variety of ministries to Maumee – one of which domestic violence ministry serves as a model for Lucas County.

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: “Experience” is one word that serves as a qualifier for this position. “Passion” for the church, the Body of Christ, is another. The church is God’s imperfect means for accomplishing His perfect purpose in the world today. Discernment and leadership would also be used to serve this church well.

Larry Smith
Serving: Epiphany, Toledo

Congregational Service: 30 years in ordained service

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Past chair of synod evangelism committee; delegate to 2 ALC assemblies

Community-Related Service: Rotary; Habitat for Humanity; AIDE Resource Center Volunteer

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: With three decades of ordained ministry I have an understanding of the ELCA. I also worked closely with the ELCA through being a pastor of a mission congregation that was the first to break ground within weeks after the ELCA was formed. My work as chair of another synod’s evangelism committee also placed me in regular contact with ELCA staff.

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TOLEDO CONFERENCE – LAY FEMALE:
ELECT ONE

Nancy Lee Atkins
Member: St. Paul, Toledo

Congregational Service: Nominating Committee Chair; member of Friendship Committee; former Sunday School and Bible School teacher

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Chair of Outreach Board and Church in Society Board; churchwide service as member of Division for Service and Mission in America (ALC); member of Transition Team for the Synod; staff assistant to the Bishop (Michigan District ALC 1977 -79); program planner Michigan District 1974-77; member of the Mission for 21^st Century Task Force

Community-Related Service: Former Executive Director for Toledo Metropolitan Ministries and administrator of Toledo Area Council of Churches (14 years); current board member of YWCA; Lucas County Mental Health Board; Ability Center of Greater Toledo and Neighborhood Health Association

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I have extensive work and volunteer experience in church and community-related areas with special interest and ability in setting goals, priorities and discerning the real issues. Can confront complex problems with an open mind, considering all sides and possible consequences before making a decision.

Diane K. Ninke
Member: St. Paul’s, Maumee

Congregational Service: Director of Christian Education; stewardship and worship activities; congregational president

Synodical or Churchwide Service: Lay representative to synod assembly

Community-Related Service: Toledo Homeless Task Force; Salvation Army Food Drive, Owens Community College

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I have years of experience working within the church. I also have worked in education and have worked with varied populations and in varied educational venues.

Sue Rufenacht
Member: Bethel, Toledo

Congregational Service: 36 years directing choirs and playing organ / keyboard for worship service; piano for Sunday School and music for VBS; currently serving as Minister of Music; over the years I have played or sung at least once, often many times, subbing at all but two of the churches in TALC.

Synodical or Churchwide Service: As a youth representative at synodical and national conventions; chaperoned national youth conventions; served on planning committee for “district” convention of the ALC

Community-Related Service: Formerly on board of Old South End Lutheran Ministry (OSELM); fill-in organist at Lutheran Village Wolf Creek; play at several area funeral homes; foster parent; member of Lutheran – Episopal Multicultural Choir

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I understand the “language” of these kind of meetings and am interested in them. I meet people easily and believe I can represent our synod well. I am articulate and, if enthusiasm counts, I really want to do this.

Marjorie A. Reas
Member: Redeemer, Toledo

Congregational Service: Church Council vice president; worship assistant; prayer minister; established partnership with Tanzanian congregation; established children’s ministry; established Safe Haven for Children; visitation and communion distributor to shut-is; Redeemer Computer Lab volunteer; Thrivent Coordiantor

Synodical or Churchwide Service: NW Ohio World Hunger Committee; Multicultural Ministries Committee; Tanzanian Partnership Committee; Toledo Coalition Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Lutherans Concerned

Community-Related Service: Steering Committee – Interfaith Justice and Peace Center; Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development; Jobs with Justice; NW Ohio Peace Coalition; Toledo Are Committee on Central America

Personal Statement:
Why you are qualified and what particular gifts you possess for this position: I feel that I am qualified because I love my church and am so blessed to be a member of the body of Christ. I am an independent thinker and always seek to look at the larger picture – long-term/short-term consequences of actions. Votes I would cast would be based on the Gospel. I am deeply concerned about how my church reflects Christ’s love and the good news of salvation.