Living God’s Love in the World as ELCA Organization Board Members
St. John’s long-standing mission of Living God’s Love in the World is often embodied through serving our neighbors here in the greater Sacramento area. St. John’s members volunteer in worship and with our young people, help serve meals for our unhoused neighbors, and offer their spiritual gifts in music, leadership, and service. However, there are many St. John’s members who Live God’s Love in the World beyond Sacramento, serving in leadership positions within the greater Lutheran Church and with partner nonprofit organizations. This is one instrumental way St. John’s members are giving their time, talent, and treasure to benefit the greater Lutheran Church.
St. John’s member Ann Boynton serves on the Board of Regents at California Lutheran University, Vince Brown serves on the Board of Portico Benefit Services, Dave Cloninger serves on the Board of Saint John’s Program for Real Change, Kara Haug serves on the Board of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Lilly Kimmelshue serves on the Board of 1517 Media. Additionally, many St. John’s staff members serve the greater Church in various capacities; Pr. Frank Espegren serves on the Board of the ELCA Foundation, Pr. Amy Kienzle serves on the Board of Mt. Cross Ministries, Catherine Slabaugh serves on the Communications Team for the ELCA Youth Gathering and the Western States Youth Gathering, and Suzi Taylor serves on the Board of Lutheran Social Services of Northern California.
An important Lutheran education partner with longstanding relationships here at St. John’s, California Lutheran University (CLU) and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) help shape young adults and future church leaders for a changing world. Ann Boynton is entering her eighth year on the Board of Regents at CLU, previously serving as Secretary and now serving as Chair of the Board. The Board of Regents is responsible for the financial stability and strategic direction of the University.
As a CLU alumna, Ann believes that “serving as a Regent allows me to use the skills I developed through my professional life to support people…Living God’s Love in the World isn’t only through person to person contact, but can manifest in somewhat more abstract realms, such as governance…Education is a foundational element of Lutheranism: the strength and courage to inquire, to probe, to interrogate are in our theological DNA,” shares Boynton.
As a graduate school of CLU, PLTS is one of the seven seminaries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), located just one hour from Sacramento. Kara Haug, PLTS graduate, currently serves on the Vision and Strategic Planning Committee of the PLTS Board.
“My time at PLTS was transformative for me, so I want to help it be a place that is transformative to the wider church,” writes Haug.
PLTS is courageously stepping into challenging times in the Church; with a dire need for diverse faith leaders, PLTS launched a Master of Arts in Spirituality and Social Change, “combining spiritual formation and theological education with the training required to effect social change,” and continues to host a thriving Center for Climate Justice and Faith. With PLTS now physically hosting the Sierra Pacific Synod Office of the Bishop, and a recent National Championship win from CLU’s women's soccer team, both Ann and Kara are inspired and enriched through their service to these educational partners.
As members of the ELCA, St. John’s remains close partners with affiliate organizations like Portico Benefit Services, 1517 Media, and Lutheran Social Services of Northern California.
Portico Benefit Services is called to provide retirement and health benefits to rostered ministers, lay employees, and their families in the ELCA, serving roughly 46,000 members. Vince Brown began serving as a Trustee on Portico’s Board in August of 2019 and has since served as Vice-Chair of the Board and Executive Committee, Vice-Chair of the Ad Hoc Executive Search Committee, member of the Finance, Investment, and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, and member of the Audit Committee.
“Serving on the Portico Board of Trustees provides me with the opportunity “give back” to the ELCA and St. John’s because of the health and retirement benefits to Pastors in the ELCA, including Pastors Frank, Amy and Jon. As a Trustee, I have a fiduciary responsibility to all the members receiving benefits, which is a significant faithful responsibility,” shares Brown.
In 2024, the Portico Board of Trustees will center efforts around discernment and selection of a new President and CEO of Portico, as well as continue working in close partnership with the new ELCA Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church.
Similarly, 1517 Media serves as an instrumental ELCA-affiliated organization, one that St. John’s works with directly every week. 1517 is the parent organization for three publishing units, Beaming Books, Broadleaf Books, and Fortress Press, and two beloved church resources, Augsburg Fortress and Sparkhouse. Lilly Kimmelshue began serving on the 1517 Media Board about six years ago, currently serving her second of three, three year terms. She currently serves as the Board Secretary, member of the Development Committee, and member of the Executive Committee.
“Being a part of this board connects me more intimately to the greater Lutheran community. Collaborating with like-minded individuals dedicated to upholding Lutheran principles, strengthens my sense of belonging and involvement within the wider Lutheran family. I get to bring my skills and perspectives to the table and learn from others, building a stronger bond around our collected commitment. With over 200 new titles published annually, these resources significantly amplify Christian voices and teachings for worship, faith formation, academics, and professional development. It’s just one of the ways I can live out God’s love in the world,” writes Kimmelshue.
1517 recently launched a new book series called Mouth House, “helping people of faith navigate and respond to critical societal issues together”. Inspired by Martin Luther’s words, “therefore the church is a mouth house, not a pen house,” 1517 has launched the first three books of this new series. These books center around the Minneapolis uprising following George Floyd, allyship with leaders of color in congregations, and honoring land acknowledgments in congregations, all of which can be found here.
Finally, St. John’s Parish Nurse Suzi Taylor serves on the Board of
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Northern California, a Sierra Pacific Synod affiliated nonprofit who provides housing services from the Oregon-California border down to San Luis Obispo County. Suzi began serving on the LSS Board in 2019 and currently serves on the Executive Committee as the Secretary.
“Serving on the board of LSS has made me more aware of their philosophy and values that are rooted in a deep commitment to social justice. Promoting and supporting the mission and vision of LSS in providing supportive housing, employment counseling, job readiness training, money management, case management and other programs that ensure each person served receives the care and support they need to get their life back on track is one way I
Live God's Love in the World,” writes Suzi.
LSS launched two new housing programs at the end of 2023, an apartment complex in Vacaville for low-income seniors and veterans, and Mutual Housing on the Boulevard in Sacramento for formerly unhoused individuals and families. This month, LSS launched housing and supportive services for 30 students attending all three Shasta College campuses.
The St. John’s community greatly benefits from the service of our members to these local and national boards, entering into deeper community partnerships that ultimately benefit the entire ELCA. This act of service is just one way the people of St. John’s continue to
Live God’s Love in the World each and every day.
