Pastor Christopher W. Martin's Page

Great to see you Chris. Now if we can get Roy, Mark and the others we can take over lol.

You bet. I was Director of Admission until 2006 when some changes were made and I really felt it was time to head to the parish. Best to you and yours. Scott

I'm glad you're enjoying the humor. I'm cracking up over here.

Thanks for your kind words. Blessings in the work of the Church.

Interesting threads you start, although I'm not sure you anticipated just where some of them would go!

I'll watch for more. :)

Pastor Martin I never heard of the ELCM before so I visited the link you posted; here in Topeka we have 5 LCMS, 2 ELCA and 1 WELS . What do you like best about being affilited with the ELCM ? I'm wondering if you might explain what a Centrist- Lutheran is, so I won't be in the dark about your branch of Lutheranism.

Uh-oh. Our crucifer joined the trail. I hope he doesn't see that cassock thread. LOL!

Hi Martin,

Thanks for following up on my comments about a reshuffling of
Lutheranism in such a positive way. Much appreciated.

Different times I have looked into the ELCM website. You folks
stand where you should be standing. I hope the Lord continues
to richly bless you in your ministry.

In Christ,

Dave Raetz

Things are going well. I got back to Afghanistan about a month ago from 18 days of R&R. I flew home to Germany then we visited Belgium followed by a week on the island of Mallorca. We're on the home stretch now about four more months to go. Keep us in your prayers.

Peace+++

I actually just finished in December and will walk in May. Originally in the DCE program and then at the beginning of Jr. year, I dropped the program and created my own with my advisor (Schuler), I got out in 3/5 years instead of 5. How about you? What's your story?

Lumpp! He was definitely one of my favorites. I took Philosophy with him my last semester and I am so glad I was able to have him before I got out. And the same goes with Carter. I will take my world religions class with him everywhere after those lectures.

DFL is just my title here at St. Paul's. I graduated with a design-your-own major that I titled Youth, Family and Congregational studies. It basically embodied all the things that a DCE would do, but I just found myself disagreeing with a lot of the things in the DCE program. I'm really glad I did it the way that I did.

Where's Audubon? We must be fairly close - Iowa isn't a huge state.

Currently Christ Lutheran Mission does not belong to any lutheran body. However, we have applied to the LCMS and are awaiting thier decision.

A few of us began meeting for bible study on Sunday nights in a house near the end of August of 2005. In Jan of 2006 we moved to a local telephone company's corporate office until March of 2007. We started holding services on Ash wednesday that year. So however you look at it, we've been going for 2.5 years or one year.

The reason why we are an independent lutheran church and not a LCMS mission...well I don't completely understand that one either. We started ourselves, and when we asked for the LCMS to adopt us, MN North's missions counselor refused. It had something to do with politics. They had us do a bunch of things that ended up to be useless. Finally, the district president had us get our 503C and write a constitution so we could apply as a regular congregation. We still haven't gotten the 503C (the Feds are really slow!), so in February we submitted our constitution. Recently we got it back, and we had to make a few changes. As far as I know those changes have been made and a committee is looking at it again.

My problems with the DCE program were more personal than anything, though I did have issues with things being taught, the way they were taught, etc. I ended up creating my major because getting out in 3.5 years worked 1000 times better for my "life schedule" and I could have more control of the theology that I was being fed. That was a big part of my issue. The DCE program just didn't have the theology in it that I wanted.

Steve is now the Dean of the College of Vocation and Ministry, though I hear that he's going to become the Chaplain of the school (he just went through his...CPA? Is that what it is to become a chaplain?) and someone else will take over as Dean. Currently it's Kevin Hall (formerly of Camp Omega in MN South district) who's the director of the DCE program. I wouldn't say that there is rivalry between the two programs, but that doesn't mean it's not there and I just don't see it.

Yeah, well, around my sophomore or junior year, the hired someone who was planning on becoming ordained as chaplain, and then he became a pastor, but there were still issues with that. They still have Campus Ministry Associate, and I'm assuming that's been there for awhile. I don't know, I guess there are always things that can be worked on.

Our congregation is fairly small - about 270 baptized members. But we do well, and I have had only wonderful experiences here in the two months that I've been here. Can't complain, that's for sure!

No, Pastor. not originally. I have lived here since August 2006. I came down to help out at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca as there had been a change in staffing. In November 2006 the camp BoD handed me the Program Director position here. This isn't typical Iowa over here though. Nice hills and a couple of state parks in the area. If you are looking to send youth in your congregation to a place where they can have fun and learn good things, send them our way. We are a 'distinctively Lutheran camp.'

Oh yes, we are not a LCMS only club. I would like to send you a brochure about our summer program. Unlike most camps, we practice liturgy and hymns rather than praise music. Our camp songs are simply fun and goofy where everyone can sing. Most boys don't like or sing to praise and many Lutheran's are simply not comfortable with them. We have a camp environment that reinforces what kids should be getting at their home congregation. May I have an address??

Thank you. I'm not sure yet, but probably labor and delivery or pediatrics.

Uhm... Yeah, that's actually why I am without a "call" per se. I refuse to receive "calls" and will only be contracted, whether it is for a DCE or a teacher role. When I graduated from CUNE the first time as a DCE, I was told that I needed to retract my view that women are not part of the Office of the Ministry as a DCE, and until that time I would never get a job as a DCE. So, I did my internship but never went on to work as a DCE full time anywhere. I went back and got my teaching degree from CUNE so that I wouldn't have to spend an additional three years at a different school to get my teaching degree. I got certified from CUNE, but dealt with the same sorts of problems through the placement office. SO... I actually work as a daycare teacher right now, but since I have a little difficulty with the whole daycare industry, I'm actually working to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. In answer to your question, then: YES! ;)