At a time when many congregations from different denominations are struggling with sustainability, this presentation shares the journey of Peace of Prince Lutheran Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Augusta, Maine. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the two congregations became a federated congregation, known as Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church, fully Lutheran, fully Episcopal. Led by Betty Balderston, lay leader at Emmanuel and the Rev. Suzanne Colburn, Episcopal Priest, formerly the Priest in Charge at Emmanuel. This presentation is intended to provide attendees with hope and guidance to discover where the Holy Spirit may be leading congregations for the future.
FACILITATORS: Betty Balderston currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Care in Maine for the New England Lutheran Synod. As a lay leader with Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church in Augusta, Maine, Betty has served in a variety of leadership positions within the congregation for more than 30 years, which included helping to lead the federation process of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in 2017. Betty resides in Leeds, Maine with her husband, Lloyd, who also serves as a lay leader at Emmanuel Church. They both enjoy the beauty of Maine by hiking, kayaking and visiting coastal areas throughout the state.
The Reverend Suzanne Colburn is a part-time Priest-in-Charge at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Wiscasset, Maine and a part-time Mentor Priest at Grace Lutheran Church in Auburn, Maine. Suzanne specializes in interim and transitional ministry as well as what she refers to as “blended ministry”- working with leadership and congregations exploring partnerships across the denominations. Suzanne served as Priest-in-Charge during the federation process that brought St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church together in 2017. Originally ordained and served in The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts with The Right Reverend M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Suzanne now lives and serves in Maine.
Event Timeslots (1)
Session One (9:45–11:15 AM)
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