Walking Together - Our History

 

In 1990, the Northwest Synod became part of the ELCA Companion Synod Project, by establishing a relationship with (then named) Region VI, Igreja Evangelica de Confissao Luterana no Brazil. A first step in building the new relationship took place in 1992 when former Bishop Gerhard Knutson took a delegation of four to visit our Brazilian neighbors. A 1996 return visit brought Regional Pastor Martim Reusch and three others to this synod, and the following year Pastor Reusch returned with his wife, Karla, to northern Wisconsin. In the summer of 1998 three students and Pastor Armin Hollas visited the Northwest Synod. Through these journeys new connections have made, faith shared, and dreams born for future growth in ministry between the two synods. Something that will strike you as you read through the history is how mutual this face-to-face relationship has been.

In January of 2001, Sharon Magelssen, Diane Kaufmann, and Martin Kaufmann were invited to travel with members of our companion synod to the PPL gathering in Cuiba, located in central Brazil. It is similar to our Global Mission Festival, except that it focuses on the huge variety of mission outreach within Brazil itself.

Later in 2001, we joined Pastor Armin Hollas at the Latin American Consultation held in Chicago. Attending were Diane and Greg Kaufmann, Adeline Myhrwold, and Phyllis Beastrom.

2001

2002

Another outgrowth of this trip, was an invitation to Pastor Heloisa Dalferth and her daughter Christianna to join our synods November 2002 Women of Reformation study seminar in Germany.

In August of 2002, Diane and Greg Kaufmann returned to Brazil to continue building our relationship. In addition to meeting with synodical and national church leaders, they were able to visit the Bage area, in the far western edge of our companion synod. Bage is the home of Everton Senger. One outgrowth of this visit was the recognition of the central role the synod resource center could play in keeping our two synods connected. 

2003

A return exchange in 2004 combined a Sinodo Centro Campanha Sul visit as well as traveling to an IECLB National Youth Gathering. LYO Board members who traveled with Pastor Greg Kaufmann on this visit were Chris Olson, Ryan Kiekhoefer, Becky Carlson, and Jamie Robertson.

Marlon Dahlke, son of Hilton Dahlke, one of the 1996 travelers and Marlene Dahlke, part of the women’s delegation in 2005, has served many times as a translator for visitors to Brazil from our synod. He also was an intern at Osseo Evangelical in the years 2003-2004.

In 2005, eight Crossmark team members from Wapogassett Bible Camp spent three months in various parts of the synod. Team members were Tony Schaden, Kathy Fiedler, Kelli Lehmann, David Peet,  John Rassmussen, Eric Teig, and not pictured: Shaina Halverson and Alson Kileen.

Youth exchanges have been very important in this relationship. 2002 saw youth from Brazil visit and travel throughout the synod.

For the 2006 ELCA National Youth Gathering, the LYO Board sponsored two Brazilian youth, Camila Mai, Oseias Schneider, and their pastor, Mirian Ratz. Aaron Sturgis and Hope Lutheran Church in Eau Claire hosted them at the San Antonio youth gathering.

2005

2006

In June of 2005, four leaders of the women organization (OASE) travelled throughout the NW Synod of Wisconsin, and then travelled to the Triennial Gathering in San Antonio with women from our Synod Women's Organization.

In late 2006, Greg and Diane Kaufmann returned to Brazil to attend the graduation of Daniela Senger and visit parts of synod. Daniela spent a semester at Wartburg Seminary and then interned in Bristol, Connecticut. She also served as a translator for the Brazilian women who traveled to the 2006 San Antonio Triennial event.

2007

April of 2007 saw a team travel to Sao Leopoldo to participate in a Thrivent/Habitat for Humanity Build. The builders who survived unseasonably HOT weather were Bishop Robert and Roxie Berg, Rev. Greg and Diane Kaufmann, Vic and Jan Lothe, Howard Weber, Bob Lodahl, Kathy Shattuck, and Kay Erickson. Following the week of building, another week was spent in different congregations of Sinodo Centro Campanha Sul.

That visit was followed shortly by Pastors Waldir Trebien and Armin Hollas to Wisconsin, where they participated in the synod assembly where Bishop Duane Pederson was elected as bishop. This was a wonderful time for the two bishops to form a face-to-face relationship.

A Covenant between the two synods was also signed at this time. In this document we covenanted to participate in each other's life and mission through communication, learning, prayer, and sharing the gifts we have received from God. We give thanks for this relationship and the many ways God will use it to bless both synods.

2009

Following the visits of women from Brazil in 2005, 9 women from the synod visited three different areas of Sínodo Centro Campanha Sul and participated in a Women’s Assembly. Travelers were Diane Kaufmann, Carolyn Meinen, Phyllis Beastrom, Audrey Severson, Helen Anderson, Marilyn Danielson, Ruth Larson, Avalene Swanson, and Sharon Klabunde.

2010

1999

In June of 1999, a delegation of 8 people from the Northwest synod of Wisconsin visited our Companion Synod, now named Sínodo Centro Campanha Sul. Travelers were Edith Scultz, Pastor Jeanne and David Warner, Bishop Robert and Roxie Berg, Pastor Greg Kaufmann, Phyllis Beastrom, and Adeline Myrwold.

1992

Merle Michaelson, Bishop Gerhard Knutson, Synod Pastor Martim Reusch, and Richard Nelson were the first visitors to go to Brazil. Not pictured is Helen Kopchik.

1996

1998

Everton Senger, a Brazilian youth, was invited by the youth from Our Saviour's Lutheran of Chippewa Falls to join them at the ELCA's 2000 National Youth Gathering in St. Louis, MO. He and Martin Kaufmann are shown in the Interaction Center.

2000

2004 also saw Kathy Shattuck and Ardala Littlefield visit with many of the people from Brazil who had traveled here. Kathy and Ardala were participants in a Women of the ELCA Woman to Woman Exchange which traveled to Brazil.

The Lutheran World Federation held its assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. Marlon Dahlke and Daniel Richter traveled to the synod to participate in our Global Mission Festival following the assembly.

2004

2011