Covenant News

Midwest Conference Re-elects Kenneth Carlson

LINCOLN, NE (May 3, 2003) - Kenneth Carlson was re-elected to another four-year term as superintendent during the 117th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Conference held at First Covenant Church in Lincoln.

Glenn R. Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church and a child of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Aurora, Nebraska, was the guest speaker for the weekend. Palmberg greeted delegates, spoke at an evening conference banquet and met with the Conference Ministerium.

David Benedict, who previously served as pastor of the Covenant church in Pomeroy, Iowa, was recognized as a new associate superintendent of the conference. Under a new leadership paradigm, Benedict is expected to serve the Midwest Conference from the Kansas City area. Associate Supt. Rick Mylander will work out of Colorado and Carlson will continue his administrative duties from the conference's home office in Omaha. The regional leadership is beneficial for a conference that includes five states and a distance of more than 900 miles from end to end.

"It is exciting to continue to see the enthusiasm from our Midwest partners regarding our decentralization plan," Mylander said. "It's all about accessibility, availability and 'missionality.' New Associate Supt. Dave Benedict is a wonderful addition to the team, and the energy surrounding his installation was palpable. And President Palmberg's presence 'back home' here in the Midwest Conference was a true delight."

Delegates recommended the membership of Relevant Word Ministries, a congregation located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, under the leadership of pastor Promise Lee. The church began meeting in 1998 and currently worships at a local recreation center, said Mylander, who directs church planting efforts for the Midwest Conference. The congregation has purchased property and hopes to build a church in the near future.

Lee has made significant inroads with an organization called Hillside Neighborhood Association, which has assisted the city in revitalization efforts southeast of the downtown area of Colorado Springs. The church has ministered to the community through a neighborhood drop-in center, Soul Café, and through a relationship with Young Life, a youth ministry organization.

In other news:

• Delegates approved the proposed 2004 Midwest Conference budget
• Steve Johnson of Lindsborg, Kansas, was elected chair of the conference Executive Board, replacing Sharon Cairns Mann. Don Carlson of Loveland, Colorado, and Doug Eikenbary of Mason City, Iowa, were re-elected to the board while Ross Erickson of Wakefield Nebraska, Carl Nuss of Arvada, Colorado, and Garry Hintz of Pomeroy, Iowa, were newly elected
• The conference recognized the ministries of retired pastors Ralph Sturdy and Wes Swanson
• Delegates heard the testimonies of Jim Ressegieu of Community Covenant Church in Omaha, Nebraska; Ray Mabion of Victory Temple in Kansas City, Missouri; and Irene Mazler of First Evangelical Covenant Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ressegieu came to the ministry late in life and discussed how the Lord called him into his new role as pastoral intern. Mazler spoke about coming to faith through the ministry of a church-based women's group and how that has affected her life in light of her children's growth.

Along with Palmberg, Doreen Olson, executive minister of the Department of Christian Formation, provided denominational representation at the annual meeting. Kazi Joshua, director of Center for Justice Ministries at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, was among the workshop leaders as delegates were offered numerous options, including childcare in the church, worship enrichment, justice ministry, Covenant mission works in Africa, small town and rural ministry and the ministry of visitation.

The Midwest Conference includes 79 churches with a combined average worship attendance of 17,042. For more information on the conference and its recent annual meeting, call 403-334-3020 or email the conference office staff at MIDCONCOV@aol.com.

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