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Services Planned Monday for Erma Chinander
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (September 26, 2003) - A memorial service for Erma G.
Chinander, executive secretary emerita of Covenant Women, will be held
Monday, September 29 at Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton, Minnesota
at 11 a.m. Chinander, who was eighty-nine, died Thursday, September 25.
She was born August 20, 1914, in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, and later
moved to Minneapolis with her family. After graduating from Augsburg
College in Minneapolis, she taught at Minnehaha Academy and then became
administrative assistant to Clarence Nelson, who was president of North
Park College and later president of the Evangelical Covenant Church. She
also assisted President Milt Engebretson.
From 1969 to 1971 she was president of the Covenant Women's Auxiliary
before becoming executive director and then executive secretary of
Covenant Women. In 1978, she joined the Covenant's council of
administrators, the first women to serve as part of that group.
Under her leadership, the Covenant Women Triennial events were started,
with the first Triennial held August 6-8, 1974 at Northwestern College,
Roseville, Minnesota. She also traveled to several Covenant mission
fields in her role at Covenant Women. She retired from Covenant Women in
1980.
"Erma was a woman of vision - she dreamed and believed that when Christ was
at the center, all things were possible," said Marti Burger, director of
Youth and Family Ministry of the Department of Christian Formation. Burger
served the Salem Covenant Church prior to assuming her youth ministry
duties. "In contrast Erma was a humble,
gentle spirit who walked beside so many people. Erma believed in mentoring
and being an example to all she met. Erma was a wonderful role model - she
reflected Christ is all she did. Erma is missed."
Those sentiments were echoed by Carolyn Pitezel, a former colleague of
Chinander's at Covenant offices, who recalls her as "a real lady" and
someone especially gifted by God. "My life has been richly blessed because
of my friendship and working relationship with Erma," she said. "I will
always be thankful to God for the privilege of knowing and working with
her."
Visitation hours will be held Sunday (September 28) from 4:00 to 7:00
p.m. at the Werness Brothers Funeral Chapel, 3500 W. 50th Street,
Minneapolis. There will also be visitation prior to the memorial
service, at 10 a.m. A lunch will be held at Salem Covenant following the
service. Burial will be held in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.
Peace to her memory.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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