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Lutherans enjoy unique ordination

When Pastor Kristin Luana Baumann and Pastor Olaf Baumann were told they would be serving two Lutheran churches in the Greater Sudbury area, they had no idea where the community was.
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Pastor Kristin Luana Baumann and Pastor Olaf Baumann, who will be serving St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudbury and St. Timothy's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Copper Cliff, were ordained at a service at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany Dec. 11. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.

When Pastor Kristin Luana Baumann and Pastor Olaf Baumann were told they would be serving two Lutheran churches in the Greater Sudbury area, they had no idea where the community was.

Despite having to deal with more snow than they've ever experienced, Kristin said she thinks Sudbury is “just great.”

“The people are so welcoming,” she said.

“It seems to be such a relaxed atmosphere, and people are nice to each other. Sometimes, in places like San Francisco, it can be very busy, and people are just concerned about being places on time. We really appreciate the friendliness of the people in Sudbury.”

Olaf echoed his wife's statement.

“There are friendly, easygoing, welcoming people here in Sudbury and Canada,” he said. “We're really happy to be here.”

Between them, the married couple will be taking on the English congregations at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudbury and St. Timothy's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Copper Cliff.

The churches also serve Finnish community members. A Finnish-speaking pastor, Rev. Vehtori Leskala, who will be arriving from Finland in the New Year.

Pastor Kristin Luana Baumann and Pastor Olaf Baumann, who will be serving St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudbury and St. Timothy's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Copper Cliff, were ordained at a service at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany Dec. 11. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.

Pastor Kristin Luana Baumann and Pastor Olaf Baumann, who will be serving St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudbury and St. Timothy's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Copper Cliff, were ordained at a service at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany Dec. 11. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.

The Baumanns, who recently graduated from the Lutheran seminary in Berkeley, California, were ordained as pastors by Bishop Michael Pryse at a service attended by more than 100 people, Dec. 11.

The service, presented in a mix of Finnish and English, was held at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany in downtown Sudbury to make enough room for all those who attended.

Working as a minister is “a construction project unlike any other,” Pryse said.

“There isn't anywhere you can go to purchase plans and architectural drawings that are going to be just right for your ministry, with the people you have been called to serve with,” Coltvet said.

“As good as your seminary training has been, and your internships, and the things done to prepare for this day, the fact is, that pastoring, or shepherding, can only be fully learned in the doing.”

The couple said they're looking forward to leading the congregations, whether it's by doing outreach, or holding church services, Bible study sessions, youth ministry or confirmation classes.

Kristin was born and raised in Hawaii, but has spent most of her adult years in Germany. Olaf was born and raised in West Germany. The couple have a young daughter named Anna.

“We met on a small stage in northern Germany,” Kristin said. “I was a director's assistant, and Olaf used to be an actor.”

While in Germany, both developed a deeper connection to the church, and they decided to move to California to study to become ministers.

Posted by Heidi Ulrichsen 


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Heidi Ulrichsen

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