Russian CorrespondentSeptember 2018

Have you ever been around someone who is almost too thankful? Someone who at every turn expresses how grateful he or she is? In May Roman, one of the participants of our seminar on men's ministry, literally 3 or 4 times a day would appraoch me to say 'thank you for inviting me to this seminar.' He spoke about how he could have never imagined taking part in such an event, and what a blessing it is that he can do so now. His feelings were understandable – the seminar (see 'Tuned Up' below) really was something special, a unique opportunity to grow in faith and service. Yet at the same time I felt uncomfortable being the recipient of such thankfulness. Eventually I was able to express to him that it was not due to some individual, heroic effort on my part that he ended up at this seminar; perhaps it was the Holy Spirit that inspired me to invite him in place of another after the latter's last-minute cancellation. In terms of the content of the seminar, I was only one of the three teachers. Church staff in Omsk helped with translation and other logistics; the retreat center staff provided a facility that worked well for our needs...and all of this would not have been possible without financial help from partners. I agreed with him - the seminar was very good. Nothing, though, is perfect. We are human, after all. Yet through Roman's words of sincere thankfulness and in his strong desire to provide similar spiritual experiences for others, I was once again convinced that we imperfect humans are the main instrument God uses in the world. You have heard that we are God's hands....but perhaps a still more fitting imagine (given to me by a contemporary Russian poet) – each of us can be God's pinky finger. It is wonderful that God acts...and that God acts through us! Yet, our pride is held in check if we remember that a pinky finger alone is pretty limited in terms of its usefulness. Extending (and modifying a bit) this metaphor, while it would be wrong to exclude from our thoughts the way that God works through each of us as individuals, it is much more interesting and productive to think about the way God acts through us as we work together in community. As you read this newsletter at the beginning of a new school year, I would like to wish you and the (local and church) communities of which you are a part the knowledge of the way God is wiggling the Divine pinky through each of your words and deeds...and using you together for still more significant things. Know that the support you give to your fellow Christians in this part of the world, even if you judge it to be just a pinky's worth, is making an impact. Your brother in Christ, Bradn

Annual Pastors' Meeting It is hard to over-emphasize just how much the enormous distances of Siberia tethered with the smallnumber of congregations in our church makes it of prime importance that ministers of the Gospel come together at least annually for mutual support. Face to face meetings, singing together, praying together – no amount of even today's amazing technology can take their place. Every year during the week after Easter, then, the pastors serving in the Urals, Siberia and Far East come together in Omsk for fellowship and learning. Having been installed in April 2017 Bishop Scheiermann is still relatively new to his position; for himit is useful to have all the ordained staff of the church in one place in order to build a common sense of mission and to provide continuing education. This yearpastors Martin Weingaertner (seminary professor) and SigolfGreuel(former Bishop) from the Lutheran Church in Brazilcame for these purposes. They spoke in particular about theirexperience in new ministry starts in urban settings of theirhome church. Because of common aspects of history and theircurrent situation as developing nations, the problem ofapplying the experience of others is less in this situation than iftrying to use models from Europe or America. Theserepresentatives of Brazilian Lutheranism, besides brotherlysupport, inspired us with an example of renewal, growth, and acontinued openness to new ways of being church. The otherdeans and I hope to follow up on this theme in events in ourcongregations in the years ahead.

Tuned Up! My first vehicle was a classic, 1962 Chevy Nova. My bodyshop-owning uncle picked it up for me at an auction. Having neither the money nor the mechanical skills (not to mention my parents' permission) to switch out the small, straight-six engine and tranny for something more powerful, the tune up was limited to a fresh coat of paint, rims and and a cassette deck. That was more than acceptable for a high schooler...yet that didn' t stop me from dreaming about what else could be done. I could see how tuning could be an attractive hobby, one where you get to see and touch concrete results of one's efforts. It must be this that justifies the great variety ofauto-tuning related shows on Russian cable TV.Here people do not have access to the great numberof used car gems that could be foundelsewhere...and even if they did they would have ahard time affording parts. Yet, like much in life herelocals adapt foreign costumes to their own situation– they get inspired to make their way over to theirlocal garage complex where their own old Zhiguli orMoskvich is stored (together with all their dachasupplies and lots of canned vegetables from theirgarden), and to try to get it running again. This image was the center around which we built our seminar for men's ministry for the Union of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (former ELCROS). It fit together rather surprisingly well with the Bible studies I led on the Joseph story, with the psychological/pastoral care lessons led by the Dean of Siberia, Vladimir Vinogradov, and the lessons on the specifics of men's ministry led by Christoph Baker, a representative from German partners.

As I have mentioned in previous newsletters, men's ministry is in its early stages in our church life here, but it is generating interest in a wide variety of places. Knowing this (and wanting toprovide a rare opportunity for representatives from the churchesin the former USSR to get together as brothers) we specifically sought out participants (which we had to keep limited because offinances) from a wide variety of areas. In the end we were unableto get a visa for the participant who planned to come from Tbilisi(Georgia), but pastors and lay leaders from Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Astana (Kazakhstan), Vladivostok (Russia, Far

East), Krasnoyarsk, Omsk (Russia, Siberia), Ulyanovsk (Russia, Volga), the Northern Caucasus (Russia), and Kiev (Ukraine) came together for four intense days of work and fellowship. The seminar was aimed at helping equip leaders with the skills to initiate and develop this ministryon the local level. We are convinced that if men feel that they play an important role in 'tuning up' themselves and the communities towhich they belong, the mission ofcongregations will be strengthened. We were very blessed to have a greatmix of men, a wonderful setting, and atopic that motivated and inspired tofind new and concrete ways to engageGod's love and power for the good ofthose around us. As mentioned above,the participants expressed their thanksto everyone who supports suchministry through their prayers andgifts.

Biblical Drama Lesson

Continuation of Pastoral Care Course Early this summer we were able to hold the second of a three course series as part of the Clinical Pastoral Education program that is a part of the training for chaplains and ordained pastors in the West. It takes a lot of dedication and the right circumstances in life to be able to set aside 10 days every six months in order to work intensely on this topic, but the Lord has blessed us with a good group of participants and with superb teachers who do just that. They met again in Novosaratovka, and this time were able to work without the distraction of the cold...even if it was difficult for those participants from the south of the country to get used to the fact that it never seemed to get dark! The third and concluding seminar in this series will be held in Volgograd in October. After finishing this basic training, it is hoped that one or two of the participants might continue their education abroad in order to run such training courses themselves in the future, while our teachers intend to use future visits to go more in-depth on narrower topics that are particularly relevant to the cultural context.

The Tension and the Joy of Partnership – Far East SeminarI was a bit worried as I embarked on my journey to the most distant of the deaneries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Urals, Siberia, and Far East for their annual summer seminar. There were good reasons for my feelings of unease.

I have attended these seminars in the past, and I know from experience that there is always at least a bit of turbulence. The seminar is difficult from an organizational point of view – there is the issue of the site (retreat center) and of transport there, of getting everything and everyone (including the 30+ participants from 9 congregations and guests from Germany and the U.S.) together, of paying for it all... Besides that, the people who attend the seminar are from various age groups and represent varying degrees of engagement with congregational life. Finally these yearly meetings are for some a great chance to see old friends, while for others they stir up more conflicting emotions.

Pastor and Dean Emeritus Manfred Brockmann once again (already for the 25th time!) found the time to plan the seminar program, to invite guests and found the finances to make sure that this central event of of the deanery's spiritual life took place. Treasurer Eduard Mischenko, Church Council President Konstantine Pavlenko and the team from the church council of St. Paul Lutheran in Vladivostok resolved many practical issues that came up along the way. And while in previous years I had observed all of this simply as an invited teacher, this time I was in a different position; as of July 1 I have the responsibilities of the Dean of the Far East. This seminar became a moment of transition during which we all started getting used to our new roles. This situation fit well with the questions that arose related to this years seminar theme – partnership. Representatives from the German partner ofELCUSFE, the Hannover Church, spoke about thehistory of the partnership, about finances, and,most especially about the nature of partnership aslife commonly shared around the story of ourencounter with the living Lord. Pastor Gary Teskefrom the Central States Synod of the ELCA leddiscussions on partnership that were not onlyabstract, but helped us all to think concretely aboutthe ways partner relationships between ourchurches could look in the future. While they had not planned this ahead of time, allof the guest teachers used the story of the discipleson the road to Emmaus (Lk 24) as their central

Biblical source. This story shows how the Good News about Jesus brings us closer to one another and makes us partners in mission.In addition to the guests, lessons were led by Dean Emeritus Brockmann (about the history of partnership in the congregations of the Far East), Pastor Alexander Lapochenko (about the experience and adventures of partnership with Americans), myself (about the history and theology of the concept of partnership) and Nina and Gennady Dmitrievy. These last two, who recently celebrated their 46 wedding anniversary, were to speak about women's and men's ministry, respectively, though they went beyond their narrow themes, with Nina meditating on the nature of prayer and Gennady leading us to think about why people come to church at all. During the deanery business meeting I as the new dean spoke about my plans for visits in the coming year. We ask you to pray for us so that our small congregations would be strengthened spiritually and that we be given wisdom in resolving those issues that are before us. Despite the very high heat and humidity this year, the participants of the seminar were happy to spend time both in class and in the wonderful nature of the Vityaz cove. There were times of tensionduring the seminar, but these were certainly outnumbered by the joy we felt in praying and singing together, in hiking and swimming, around the table or even in the bus.

We are still learning aboutpartnership with our brothers and sisters in faithboth near and far. But this summer seminar gave us the feeling that God Himself accompanies us on this path, and for that reason when I go the Far East the next time, I will not have so many worries. Iam continuing to get to know the people of the deanery better and in this sense I see more clearly how the Holy Spirit is working and guiding us so

that we might be worthy partners in the Gospel.

Prayer Requests Please pray for me as I take on the additional role of area Dean for the Far East, especially for the Spirit's blessing during my installation on October 8. I would also ask for your prayers for upcoming events in Kaliningrad (meeting of pastors from European Russia) Crimea (lay leader training), and Volgograd (CPE). Please pray also for the healing for Pastor Gleb Pivovarov and for his wife, Anastasia. Please pray for the the leaders of the Russia and its neighbors, as well as for the church here as it continues to seek the most effective way to serve its neighbors. As usual I would bethankful for your prayers for my wife (Natasha) and boys – Matvey (13), Martin (11) and Lukas (4) as they begin a new school year.

The basics.... I am an ELCA pastor serving through the Evangelical Lutheran Mission of Lower Saxony(ELM) in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia, where I am in charge of an educationalprogram entitled “Equipping for Service.”. I maintain relationships with partners (individualsand congregations) in the U.S. and in Germany; if you have any questions for me, please feelfree to write to me at: bradnbuerkle@gmail.com. You can read more at my personal blog:russiancorrespondent.blogspot.com or on the site with news articles on the church here:elcrosnews.blogspot.com