Rev. Greg Tennermann has begun serving Upstate New York Synod during the current transition period. Since February 2009 Pr. Tennermann has served as the Intentional Interim Pastor at St. Peter's, Verona. He will continue in that ministry while also serving on synod staff. Pr. Tennermann will be working with congregations served by Intentional Interim Pastors and will also continue to serve the Synod's Conflict and Healing Team.

Pr. Tennerman grew up in Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin, intending to become an engineer. Along the way, a semester exploring other opportunities lead him to a major in Psychology. During those years he also because to discern a call to public ministry. Pr. Tennermann attended the Hamma School of Theology in Ohio. Pastor Tennermann was ordained on January 18, 1976. He served his first call as an associate pastor on Long Island, NY. In 1980 he was called serve as the redeveloper of King of Kings, New Windsor, NY.

Pr. Tennermann has been trained by Peter Steinke as a Bridgebuilder and Healthy Congregations workshop leader. That training and work with systems theory has been influential on his ministry and his work with congregations. In 2007 he received training in Intentional Interim Ministry. Pr. Tennermann served as the Intentional Interim Pastor at Prince of Peace, Clifton Park, NY prior to his current ministry in Verona.

Along with the interim appointment of Patsy Glista, Pr. Tennermann's role on staff is part of an overall effort by Bishop Jerge and synod staff to ensure that important and necessary synod functions are carried out. The transition period, which is expected to last several months, is also part of an effort to move us to align staffing and responsibilities with our Synod's mission to be resurrection people, who pray first, walk together and change lives.

For more background on staff transitions read Synod Plans for Staffing Changes.

After seventeen-and-a-half years on synod staff, Rev. Dave Preisinger will be returning to serve part time in a congregation. He has accepted a part time call (40%) to serve as pastor of Holy Spirit in Albany. He will continue to serve part time (60%) on synod staff. Holy Spirit is part of the Albany cluster of congregations that have been actively working together for 15 years. Dave is excited and pleased to be going back into regular parish ministry. The people of Holy Spirit have been very welcoming and are equally excited about their future together as partners in ministry. The partnership begins February 1, 2010.

It will take some time to adjust to how the partnership will work. The tentative plan is two days a week and most Sundays Dave will be at Holy Spirit. One Sunday a month he will be available for synod work. He will always be available to the congregation and the synod for emergencies.

You can text LWR to 40579 to donate $10 to the organization's Haiti relief efforts. In addition, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has pledged to match donations of its members with $1 for every $2 donated, up to $3 million. Thrivent members desiring to have their gifts matched must make their gifts by calling 800-236-3736 from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central time, Monday - Friday.

ELCA Disaster Response continues to receive donations for Earthquake Relief in Haiti at elca.org/haitiearthquake. To donate by check or money order, send donations to:

ELCA Disaster Response, 39330
Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300,
write "Haiti Earthquake Relief" on your check's memo line.

To donate by credit card over the phone call 800-638-3522.

The outpouring of gifts from members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to ELCA Disaster Response has enabled a swift response on behalf of this church. As of Friday, January 22, 2010, financial support for disaster relief in Haiti totaled more than $1.6 million. Thousands of other gifts are still being counted. Thank you for your generous response.