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Celebration Service Saturday for Melsie Waldner
SASKATOON, SK (June 26, 2002) - A special service of celebration will be held
at
11 a.m. Saturday for Melsie Waldner, well known throughout the
Evangelical
Covenant Church for her work on numerous committees, boards and
commissions.
Waldner died early Tuesday morning at her home of an apparent heart
attack.
The service will be held at Nutana Park Mennonite Church. Officiating
pastors include Covenant Pastor Craig Larson and Mennonite Pastor Vern
Ratzlaff.
Waldner attended College Park Covenant Church in Saskatoon. She chaired
the
Constitution Revision Commission that produced the revised Constitution
and
Bylaws approved during the 116th Annual Meeting last year in Rosemont,
Illinois (accompanying photo). The 16-member commission (including three
advisors) worked over a four-year period to complete the first major
revision of the denomination's governing documents since 1957. A number
of
proposed amendments to the constitution were scheduled for discussion
during this year's Annual Meeting, which is in progress in Keystone,
Colorado.
Among the major changes to the constitution was the restructuring of the
Executive Board from 14 to 31 members, transformation of four
administrative boards into Executive Board committees and increased
emphasis on ethnic and gender diversity.
Waldner described passage of the revised Constitution and Bylaws as the
culmination of a labor of love. "I've had many privileges in my life,"
Waldner said at that time. "The privilege of chairing the Constitution
Revision Commission - working with that incredible caliber of committed
people - has been the joy of my life. Service privileges come and go,
but
this one has really brought me more gratification than anything."
The proposed Preamble changes sparked considerable discussion, but
Waldner
saw that as a positive sign. "I think that really is our identity as an
Evangelical Covenant Church," she said of the Preamble. "And it shows
that
people truly treasure being part of the family of God and they want to
know
who they are and why they belong and what brings them together. Who we
are
as Covenanters actually seems to be more important to Covenanters than
how
we conduct our business."
President Glenn Palmberg reflected on Waldner's contributions to the
Covenant over the years, and in particular her work at last year's
Annual
Meeting as she stood on the platform to help shepherd the new documents
through the deliberation process.
"Her love for and commitment to Christ, and her love for and commitment
to
the church were an incredible thing to watch," Palmberg said. "I'm glad
as
I reflect on her life that she had that experience with the constitution
because I know that it meant a great deal to her - and her influence
will
continue in this denomination for a long time to come."
"She was the hardest working person I served with on any board," said
Bill
Clark of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who served on the Constitution Revision
Commission with Waldner. "She had an amazing attention to detail and she
was incredibly dedicated to the Covenant and its purposes."
Palmberg said the denomination will be represented at her celebration
service Saturday by former ECC President Paul Larsen and his wife,
Elizabeth, who have been close friends over the years.
Additional information on the family and memorials will be posted to
this
news site as it becomes available.
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