Two Lutheran Volunteer Corps participants to join Minneapolis Area Synod staff for one year

By Bob Hulteen

August 8, 2017 — Bishop Ann Svennungsen is pleased to announce that the Minneapolis Area Synod will have two Lutheran Volunteer Corps participants joining the synod staff on August 14. The Lutheran Volunteer Corps places full-time volunteers in service or advocacy positions with nonprofit organizations in 14 cities around the United States. The volunteers receive a stipend for their contribution.

Grace Corbin, a 2017 graduate of Augsburg College, will serve as Project Associate for Synod Initiatives. With a degree in Youth and Family Ministry, Corbin will be splitting time between the synod’s environmental organizing program and office administration.

“I’ve grown up in the Lutheran church but I am excited to see how the ELCA functions at a larger level and make lots of connections with congregations,” Corbin explains.

“I have long been a supporter of the remarkable work of LVC,”
said Bishop Ann Svennungsen.

“Environmental sustainability and justice have been passions of mine for a long time. But now I am excited to organize in congregations and to talk to people about their relationship to the environment and inspire others to be active in ecojustice.

“I’m very excited to have part of Grace’s time working with me on ecojustice organizing,” responded Emilie Bouvier, congregational organizer on environmental justice. “Grace brings an impressive set of skills in leadership and environmental justice, an eagerness to engage the tools of community organizing in the context of congregational ministry, and a background in church and community service – I can’t imagine a better fit!

“Grace will have a unique opportunity to experience the wider church in our synod office,” added Dee Cole Vodicka, executive assistant to the bishop. “She clearly brings both passion and wisdom to this position. I’m excited about the creative gifts she will bring to synod projects and our synod office work.”

“As a synod we often talk about our commitment to raise up young leaders for vocational work – I see this kind of partnership with LVC we are deeply living into that vision,” Bouvier concluded.

 

ALSO A 2017 GRADUATE of Augsburg College, Emily Campbell will be Assistant for Communications and Public Voice.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Public Voice Committee and engaging with the community on issues of faith and justice,” Campbell mentioned. “Additionally, I’m excited to support the synod’s community outreach programs.”

“We are thrilled to have someone with writing experience joining us as an LVCer,” said Bob Hulteen, director of communications, mission support, and organizing. “Emily also brings experience with issues that face the church in the public sphere; she will be a great addition to our on-going work, particularly supporting our consideration of the upcoming social statement ‘Faith, Sexism, and Justice.’”

“Issues of gender have been an overarching theme throughout my undergraduate work and so I’m especially passionate about working the on a project for expansive language in worship and the development of the ELCA social statement on sexism,” added Campbell.

“As a synod we often talk about our commitment to raise up young leaders for vocational work. I see this kind of partnership with LVC we are deeply living into that vision,” concluded Emilie Bouvier.

“I have long been a supporter of the remarkable work of LVC,” said Bishop Ann Svennungsen. “I am thrilled that our synod office will be welcoming our first (two!) volunteers to serve with us.”

LVC volunteers spend a year living in intentional community, serving at social justice nonprofit groups and practicing simple and sustainable living, while exploring spiritual concerns. Founded in Washington, D.C. in 1979, LVC has been active in the Twin Cities since 1991.

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