AFLC elects new leadership, decides to study deaconess role and support teachers
The Rev. Lyndon Korhonen was elected president of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations at a June national conference. He succeeds the Rev. Elden Nelson of Rockford, Minnesota. Photo provided by the Association Free Lutheran Congregations
The Rev. Lyndon C. Korhonen, 55, was elected to a three-year term as the president of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC), during the denomination’s annual conference at the Association Retreat Center June 11-14 near Osceola, Wisconsin. The pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cokato, Minnesota, since 1990, Korhonen has previously served in leadership positions on the Board of Trustees of AFLC Schools and the Coordinating Committee.
Re-elected to serve a second one-year term as vice-president was the Rev. Peter Franz, pastor of Grace Free Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, Minnesota. The Rev. Brian Davidson, Dickinson, North Dakota, was re-elected secretary.
The conference, with a total registration of 502, heard reports from the outgoing president, the Rev. Elden K. Nelson, Rockford, Minnesota, and from each of the common ministries of the denomination. The reports, presented in writing, were orally summarized for the first time this year on the first day of the conference, while the remainder of the sessions dealt with resolutions.
The president’s report recommended an amendment to the Rules for Work which would limit the office to two consecutive four-year terms and create a full-time vice-presidential position. A resolution to this effect was accepted by the conference and will be submitted to the conference next year for final approval.
Other resolutions generating considerable discussion and debate addressed a proposed study on the office of deaconess, the encouragement of “Christian education alternatives” as well as Christian educators within the public school system, and review by the Coordinating Committee of the constitutions of all current AFLC congregations “to maintain our unity of confession.” The latter resolution was tabled indefinitely.
The 2014 Annual Conference will be held in Valley City, North Dakota.
Tags: AFLC, Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, Association Retreat Center, Bob Hulteen, Brian Davidson, Elden K. Nelson, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Cokato, Grace Free Lutheran Church Maple Grove, Lyndon C. Korhonen, Peter Franz, Rev. Brian Davidson, Rev. Elden K. Nelson, Rev. Lyndon C. Korhonen, Rev. Peter Franz
