MINNEAPOLIS, MN (August 19, 2011) – The Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church has restructured its staff and redefined roles among the leadership to better advance its three priorities of congregational vitality, church planting, and children, youth and family ministry, says new superintendent Mark Stromberg.
As part of the change, Jon Kramka, who has worked the past 10 years in mission development of the local church, will take on the role of director of congregational vitality. In his new role, Kramka will assume the major responsibility of working with existing churches in areas of church health assessment, revitalization, and strategic planning. He will continue to offer leadership in local mission development as well as compassion and justice ministries.
Ginny Olson was recently hired to fill the conference’s newly created part-time position of director of youth ministry. She most recently served as the co-director of the Center for Youth Ministry Studies and assistant professor of youth ministry at North Park University and Theological Seminary.
The conference also intends to hire a director of children and family ministry as soon as the finances are available, says Stromberg.
Other positions will remain the same.
Church Remodels Building for Community Use
SEATTLE, WA (August 19, 2011) – First Covenant Church will soon finish $450,000 in renovations to a 12,000-square-foot building that the congregation will rent to organizations for community use.
The church purchased the parking garage next door in the 1960s and has leased the commercial space. The building’s previous tenant was University Honda/Yamaha, which closed about two years ago.
The congregation sought community input about how the space might be used to serve area needs as well as needs of the church. Ideas have ranged from a food bank to children’s services.
No decisions have been made on future tenants, which also might be commercial businesses. Pricing for the space still needs to be determined, but church leaders say there probably would be a discount for nonprofits.
Work still needs to be completed on the parking garage before the storefront can be rented, but the church hopes to have the project completed in October.
