April, 2003

Is Mindekirken ready for the challenge?
By Magne A. Hatlevik

Many of the Communicator readers have probably heard by now about the challenging questions and requests that have come to the attention of Mindekirken's congregational council.

At the congregational council meeting on February 11 this year, we had a visitor by the name of Saleshi Testaye. Saleshi is a Christian from Ethiopia who has been living here in United States for the past nine years. Saleshi has a goal, a vision to start a church for his Ethiopian people. Saleshi has approximately 50 people whom he leads in worship and study in the Christian faith.

The original proposal presented to the Mindekirken church council was to rent Mindekirken facilities to Saleshi and his group so they could meet here on Sunday afternoons. The adults would meet for worship in their native tongue of Amharic and at the same time, the children would meet for Sunday school instruction in English.

As part of our follow up from the February meeting, Vice President Cindy Peters contacted the ELCA Synod office, and was referred to an ELCA sponsored organization called Agora Ministry led by Pastor Cherian.

Pastor Cherian met with the Executive Committee and it turns out that Agora Ministry deals with exactly the issue we had been presented with. Their goal is bringing people together in neighborhood churches. That, Pastor Cherian says, would be a little glimpse of heaven.

Pastor Cherian noted that providing the group with a place to worship is a good thing, but recommended a more mission minded approach, one that will give Mindekirken an opportunity to join with this group of emerging Christians while each still retains their cultural identity.

At the March 11 congregational council meeting, Pastor Cherian presented these ideas. If we choose, Agora Ministry will facilitate the relationship between Mindekirken and Saleshi’s group for as long as needed. Pastor Cherian has met personally with Saleshi to counsel him as a Lay Leader as well as his church elders to mentor them in the process of forming a Christian church.

At this time, the congregation council is doing more research on the issue at hand. At the very least, it will be a great learning experience for us all and hopefully we will come to the best solution for both Mindekirken and Saleshi's group.

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