Central District Convention wraps up

Dr. Gimbel presents on prayer at the 2015 Central District Convention (Photo: Rev. Jason Schultz)

SASKATOON – Thursday, April 15 marked the close of the Central District’s 2015 Convention.

The day brought to an end to Rev. Dr. James Gimbel’s three-part keynote address on prayer. Dr. Gimbel, President of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, spent three days exploring prayer in the Old Testament , in the ministry of Jesus and His disciples, and in the Lord’s Prayer respectively.

Earlier on April 14, the convention had studied the problem of vacant congregations unable to call a pastor. Following a presentation by Rev. Jeremy Swem on the nature of the pastoral office and its relationship to the congregation, as well as a report from The Task Force on Vacant Not-Calling Congregations, the convention turned to round-table discussions of the issue. Delegates considered the various options the Task Force had brought forward—multi-point parishes, deaneries, and circuit-rider ministry—as potential solutions to the problem of vacant non-calling congregations. The Task Force plans to report a full summary of these discussions at a later date.

Also on April 14, the Convention completed a number of final elections. Elected to serve on the District Committee on Nominations were Jamie Bosma, Rev. Todd Hoeffs, John Cullen, and Helen Riggs. Elected to serve on the Synod Committee on Convention Nominations were Rev. Rudy Pastucha and Rod Johnson.

The following were ratified to serve as Circuit Counsellors for the Central District:

• Assiniboine Circuit: Rev. Barry Wood
• Northland Circuit: Rev. Rob Grout
• Ontario Circuit: Rev. Keith Blom
• Portage Circuit: Rev. Adrian Toms
• Qu’Apelle Circuit: Rev. Gerry Andersen
• Red River Circuit: Rev. Jim Schnarr
• Saskatoon Circuit: Rev. Randy Heide
• Southland Circuit: Rev. Randy Kleemola
• Wascana Circuit: Rev. James Chimirri-Russell

On the final day of the convention, delegates considered two final resolutions. They passed a resolution to thank all those involved in planning the District Convention, and tabled a resolution to set the date of the next Central District Convention.

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