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Dear Ones,
Please join me in welcoming Pastor Jen Henry as our Interim Steward of Mobility in the Northern Illinois Synod. I am excited to have Pastor Jen join us through this time of transition, and I know that you will all make her feel welcome as we walk together, loving Christ, loving all for the sake of the world.
Pastor Jen Henry might be new to the Northern Illinois Synod, but she is no stranger to the ins and outs of ministry. After serving with her husband, Jerry, as teachers in Qingdao, China, through the Division for Global Mission of the ELCA, Pastor Jen returned home and listened to the Holy Spirit’s call to ordained ministry. After graduating from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Pastor Jen was ordained in 1998 and served several different calls throughout Iowa. Throughout her ministry, Pastor Jen focused on relationships and building joy even through difficult times. Even though Pastor Jen retired from active ministry in November of 2020, she has continued to listen to where the Holy Spirit is calling her.
Although Pastor Jen has just started as Steward of Transition, she has already brought joy into her new role and is ready to work with congregations and rostered ministers through transition. Pastor Jen brings an inquisitive nature to her work and is ready to ask the hard questions that open us up to where the Holy Spirit is calling us next.
For Pastor Jen, serving in this interim lets her use her gifts in a new way. As Pastor Jen has started in her role, she reflected, “Two of my ministry loves are congregations and process. That I have the opportunity to enable and to encourage congregations while they are in transition is a privilege and a joy. I look forward to meeting many of God's beloved people in the Northern Illinois Synod.”
We are grateful for Pastor Jen saying yes to serving in this interim capacity, and we pray for her as she gets to know us and becomes settled into her role.
Through any transition, we know there are questions about what is coming next. Please know that we will be sharing more information on the process and what is next in the new year. As we continue to head toward the end of our Advent journey, we are committed to walking with our congregations and rostered ministers as they discern and as they listen to the Holy Spirit.
Advent Blessings,
