|
Home
Nygren Honored, Book of Worship Presented
ROSEMONT, IL (June 27, 2003) - Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) President Glenn
R. Palmberg and delegates recognized Melton "Mel" Nygren of Torrance,
California, as the T.W. Anderson Award winner for 2003 as part of Friday's
morning business meeting at the 118th Annual Meeting of the ECC.
A total of 565 credentialed delegates representing 254 churches attended
Friday's business session. They approved the list of candidates for
ordination and commissioning (listed separately on www.covchurch.org)
brought by David Kersten, executive minister of the Department of the
Ordered Ministry.
A longtime member of Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Rolling Hills
Estates, Nygren was lauded for his notable work both in starting his church
and leading many mission efforts for more than 45 years. Nygren served as a
teacher, coach and guidance counselor for the Torrance Unified School
District while benefiting his church and the larger Kingdom as a lay
leader. Mel, his wife of nearly 48 years, Mary, and several family members
shared in the big moment. "I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this
T.W. Anderson Award, but it's my joy that I've had so many opportunities to
serve at Rolling Hills Covenant Church," Nygren said. More about Nygren and
the T.W. Anderson Award can be found in a separate article on this website.
Jane Hutchins-Peterson, representing the Music and Worship Commission,
presented the new Covenant Book of Worship to Palmberg, thanking her
commission colleagues and the Department of Communication for their efforts
in producing the new material. Special mention was given to Sally Johnson
of the President's Office and Jane Swanson-Nystrom of the Communications
staff for their work in editing the material, along with designer Steven
Luce and copyrights manager Vicky Watson, also of the Communications staff.
David Stockamp, representing the Department of World Mission, and delegates
recognized the academic work of Rev. Dr. Mossai Sanguma, a pastor for the
Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM). Dr. Sanguma recently completed his
doctoral work at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. In 1988, he and
his wife, Sabuli, came to North Park Theological Seminary as a student
being sent from the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM). He is a child of the
CEUM, having once been taught by CEUM President Gbuda Luyada, and said he
was a grateful product of 66 years of ministry to Congolese provided by
Covenant missionaries.
In summarizing his feelings about his accomplishment, Dr. Sanguma stated
that he had once killed an elephant in Africa, a group effort that involved
much danger and led to a group feast. He thanked Covenanters for the
support that allowed him to "kill an elephant" in such an arduous
educational quest. He also added that his efforts as he returns to Congo
will be in tribute to all those who have supported him.
In other news:
- Friday's meeting opened as delegates received the election results from
Thursday afternoon's delegate voting regarding Executive Board and other
boards (results are posted elsewhere on this news site)
- Delegates approved Dr. D Brent Laytham and Dr. Phillis I. Shepherd as
new faculty members at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. Laytham
is a professor of theology at NPTS while Shepherd is assistant professor of
Pastoral Care.
- Marti Burger, director of Youth and Families for the Department of
Christian Formation, detailed some of the plans for the denomination's
triennial high school event, CHIC2K3, which will be held July 31-August 6
at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
|
|
|
