LEADERSHIP

Pastor Avis R. Anderson

Pastor Avis has her roots in South Dakota, but has lived in Glendive since she moved here with her parents and brother Greg in 1954.  She has been a member of Zion Lutheran since that time and grew up in the congregation.  After a career in education, librarian and teacher at Dawson County High School in Glendive, she became involved in study and work as a Lay Pastor.

  She was commissioned in 1997 and served Zion with Pastor Paul Everett as Lay Pastoral Associate from 1996 - 2003.  After three years of study in the TEEM program (Theological Education for Emerging Ministeries) at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary at Berkeley CA, she was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on June 8th, 2003, and was called by Zion as Associate Pastor. 

After Pastor Everett's move in January 2005, she was interim for eight months before being called by the congregation to serve Zion as its single pastor in August.  She was installed September 25, 2005.   

         

                     

        Pastor Avis Anderson                     

Message from Pastor Avis

I am especially blessed to be serving Zion Lutheran Church.  As a "daughter of the congregation", a member for over 50 years, my faith life was formed by that "great cloud of witnesses" who have built and sustained this community of faith from the beginning. It is my hope we will always celebrate what has been, but also celebrate what we yet will become.  We worship the God who was, who is and who is to come.

     My summer sabbatical (2008) was refreshing and renewing, giving me time to visit with family and friends, work in my flower garden, and spend two weeks at Grunewald Guild in western Washington, a place where art and faith come together in a mix of classes, discussions, and interesting people.  It is good to be back and good to be a part of this congregation and the work of the gospel which continues on a day to day basis. This is a wonderful gift Zion congregation gives to its pastors every seven years.

 

    Faith is always in a state of transition. We walk in hope and trust in the Savior who has led the church throughout all time.  We pray we are the voice, the heart, and the hands of Christ as we work for the Kingdom of God in this time and in this place.  God's blessings.

Youth Directors:

Dave and Cherie Weidner

  Zion Council Officers 2008

President:  Bill Miller

Vice-President: Tracy Gabbert

Secretary:Charlene Haugen

Treasurer: Steve Kaul

 The present Council officers have strong ties to the community as well as the church.  Bill Miller is a former mayor of the City of Glendive, currently working with the Glendive School System as Computer Technician. Steve Kaul has served as a city councilman for several years.  Dr. Tracy Gabbert is a chiropracter and with his wife Cindy serves as a foster parent.   Charlene Haugen, a retired nurse, is mom and grandma.  She is a long-time member of Zion.   

Council members:  Verna Carpenter, Cammy Sue Oakland, Jackie Schlicht, Janette Bogar, Ralph Lenhart, Rich Rowe, Jerry Trangmoe, Dave Weidner, Georgina Hanson