2014 NALC Convocation in Charleston, SC

The 2014 Annual Convocation of the North American Lutheran Church was held July 24-25 at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Earlier in the week was the Lutheran Core Convocation and Theological Conference.  Here are a few pictures.  Attending from St. Matthew's were Pastor and Mrs. Elliott and Pastor Saltzman. There were also representatives there from other churches in our Great Plains Mission District, including Peace Lutheran (Edmond, OK), Trinity Lutheran (Gothenburg, NE), Faith Lutheran at St. Peders (Dannebrog, NE), Evangelical Lutheran (Mankato, KS), Good Shepherd Lutheran (Wichita, KS), St. John's Lutheran (Westboro, MO) and Trinity Lutheran (Ava, MO).

The theme of the Convocation was “Standing With...to Withstand” (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Videos are available at  http://lutheran.wp.icblivetv.com/.

Oct. 5, 2013 Great Plains Mission District Annual Convocation

The Great Plains Mission District met on October 5, 2013 at St. Matthew's.  Elections were held for Board openings.  The Board consists of 3 clergy and 3 non-clergy, as follows:

Clergy Members:
     Dennis Beckmann, Evangelical Lutheran, Mankato, KS
     Keith Falk, Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK
     Bud Elliott, St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran, Riverside, MO

Non-Clergy Members:
     John Ross, Evangelical Lutheran, Mankato, KS
     Jill Schroeder, New Life, Paxton, NE
     Kirke  Kickingbird, Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK

The Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, NALC Missions Director, presented an inspirational Bible Study on Acts.

Sharing with the convocation about various activities of their ministries included Pastor Jeff Cottingham (Trinity Lutheran, Gothenburg, NE), Pastor Keith Falk (Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK), Pastor Fritz Brandenburg (St. John's Lutheran, Westboro, MO); Pastor Gerald Berggren (Freemount Lutheran, Lindsborg, KS); Pastor Tamara Keen (Good Shepherd Lutheran, Wichita, KS), Mr. John Ross (Evangelical Lutheran, Mankato, KS); and Pastor Bud Elliott (St. Matthew's, Riverside, MO), Pastor Mary Fast (Interim pastor for a LCMC church, Christ Lutheran Church in Blair, NE), and Pastor Richard Reumann. Faisa Atomsa (Oromo Evangelical Christian Church of KC) was also present and his ordination coming up the next day was discussed.

After a delicious meal served by the ladies of St. Matthew's, the convocation ended with worship, sermon by Pr. Russ Saltzman (Mission District Dean), and Holy Communion.

NALC Ordination of Faisa Atomsa

On October 6, 2013, Faisa Atomsa, of the Oromo Evangelical Church of KC, was ordained into the Holy Ministry of the North American Lutheran Church.  The ceremony was held at St. Matthew's, with the Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba (NALC Missions Director) preaching and presiding over the ordination.  Rev. Challa Baro, of the Ebenezer Oromo Evangelical Church in Minneapolis, MN baptized a little one from the KC Oromo congregation.  There was music by the Oromo choir from Minneapolis and the Micronesian Evangelical Church that meets at St. Matthews.  The service was followed with fellowship and Oromo food.  Click on the pictures to enlarge and see pictures as a slide show.

Pr Russ Saltzman opens the service

Pr Challa Baro baptizes a little one

Pr Russell E. Saltzman, Mission District Dean

Pr. Bud Elliott, St. Matthew's

Oromo music

2013 NALC Convocation

This year's events, held August 6-9, 2013 at the Sheridan Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA,  included the Lutheran CORE Convocation, Lutheran CORE/NALC Theological Conference,Women of the NALC annual gathering, and the 2013 NALC Convocation. This year’s Convocation theme was “Come to the Water of Life!” (John 4:14).   Thursday evening's beautiful worship/holy communion was at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh.

NALC worship service August 8, 2013

2013 Convocation Summary

NALC Convocation approves establishing NALC seminary. The 2013 NALC Convocation overwhelmingly approved establishing a seminary to provide for the theological education of future pastors for the North American Lutheran Church. The Convocation, which met Aug. 8-9 in Pittsburgh, Pa., approved two resolutions: The first authorized the establishment of the North American Lutheran Seminary. The second authorized raising $1 million to fund the seminary. More than 700 people attended the Convocation.


Elected to the NALC Executive Council were Matthew Burkhart, an attorney in Columbus, Ohio, and Pastor Amy Schifrin, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Monona, Iowa, and Mission in Christ Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Jon Evans, an attorney in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Pastor Jeffray Greene, pastor of American Lutheran Church in Rantoul, Ill., were reelected to the NALC Court of Adjudication.


An agreement with Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania was signed during the Convocation. The Memorandum of Understanding is a step toward an official Full Communion relationship. The NALC is already in Full Communion with the Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church Mekane Yesus.  These are two of the largest Lutheran church bodies in the world, each with more than 6 million members.

Signing Memorandum of Understanding with Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Pastor Herb Hafermann (pictured with his wife in the above picture-behind the Bishop) was honored for 50 years of missionary service in Tanzania. He also led a Bible study and shared his experiences in Tanzania.

1517 NALC congregations by 2017 was a goal set by the Convocation as a way to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation by reaching out with the Gospel and growing as a church body.


NALC budgets for 2014 were approved. The Convocation approved an operating budget of $1,525,927. Budgets were also approved for two of the NALC’s designated funds: $155,000 for the Great Commission Fund and $312,500 for the Theological Education Fund.

The NALC’s application for membership in the Lutheran World Federation continues to advance in the LWF process for membership, the Convocation was told in a report on the NALC’s 2012 decision. The membership application process takes time.

A Discipleship Partnership with Navigators was introduced to the Convocation. It will begin in selected NALC congregations and later expand throughout the NALC.

2014 NALC Convocation will be July 24-25 at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.


You may watch videos of the Convocation and the theological conference at the NALC website.

Great Plains Mission District Organizational Convocation, June 2, 2012

The Organizational Convocation of the Great Plains Mission District of the NALC, which includes churches in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska, was held at St. Matthew's Evangelical, Riverside, MO, on Saturday, June 2, 2012 to officially form the Great Plains Mission District.  Leading the proceedings were the NALC General Secretary, Mark Chavez, our provisional dean, Rev. Russell Saltzman, and the provisional dean for Nebraska, Rev. Cathi Braasch.

Represented at the meeting were:  Freemount Lutheran, Lindsborg, KS; Evangelical Lutheran, Mankato, KS; Trinity Lutheran, Ava, MO; First Lutheran, Rock Port, MO; St. John's Lutheran, Westboro, MO; St. Matthew's Evangelical, Riverside, MO; Faith Lutheran at St. Peder's-Nysted, Dannebrog, NE; Trinity Lutheran, Gothenberg, NE; Paxton New Life Lutheran, Paxton; NE; Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK; potential affiliate congregation Oromo (Ethiopian) Evangelical Christian Church of KCMO; and LCMC congregation Hope Lutheran, Kansas City, MO.

The Great Plains Mission District Charter was adopted and other business was transacted.  Rev. Saltzman was elected Dean of our Mission District.  The Executive Council was elected, including clergy Rev. Keith Falk (Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK), Rev. Jeff Cottingham (Trinity Lutheran, Gothenberg, NE), and Rev. Bud Elliott (St. Matthew's, Riverside, MO), and lay persons Kirke Kickingbird (Peace Lutheran, Edmond, OK), Joyce Hisel (St. Matthew's, Riverside, MO) and Jill Schroeder (Paxton New Life Lutheran, Paxton, NE).

Following a wonderful meal, cooked and served by St. Matthew's members, Rev. Chavez installed the Executive Council and gave a wonderful message, and Holy communion was served by Rev. Braasch and Rev. Saltzman.

First row: Joyce Hisel, Kirke Kickingbird, Rev. Russ Saltzman, Rev. Mark Chavez, Rev. Bud Elliott, and Jill Schroeder.  Back row Rev.  Jeff Cottingham (Rev. Keith Falk is not pictured).

"..all in one accord..."

Registering and getting acquainted

listening and learning

Installation of the Dean and Executive Council

Lunch and fellowship

Back to St. Matthew's website

Special Service of Installation January 8, 2012

On Sunday, January 8, 2012, the church was full as the Rev. Mark Chavez, NALC General Secretary, formally installed Pastor Bud Elliott as a pastor of the North American Lutheran Church and welcomed St. Matthew's Evangelical as a member congregation of the NALC.  Also representing the NALC at this service was the Rev. Russell Saltzman, the Provisional Dean for Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The other NALC churches in Kansas and Missouri sent greetings, which were read by Pastor Elliott.  Those churches include Freemount Lutheran Church of Lindsborg, KS: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mankato, KS; Trinity Lutheran Church of Ava, MO; First Lutheran Church of Rock Port, MO; and St. John's Lutheran Church of Westboro, MO.  Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose spoke about St. Matthew's place in the history of Riverside.  A number of our Micronesian members and their friends delighted us with two songs in their native tongue.

The members of St. Matthew's Evangelical are excited and happy to be a part of the North American Lutheran Church!

Back to St. Matthew's website

The church was full for this very special service.

Riverside Mayor, Kathy Rose, spoke about St. Matthew's history

Rev. Mark Chavez brought the message.

Rev. Chavez installed our pastor as an NALC pastor

Rev. Russ Saltzman, Rev. Bud Elliott, Rev. Mark Chavez

President of Consistory Steve DiObilda, Rev. Chavez, Rev. Elliott

Some music by St. Matthew's Micronesian members and friends!