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Gary & MaryAnn Anderson betreuen seit Anfang September die englisch-sprachige lutherische Gemeinschaft im Rahmen unserer Kirchengemeinde.

Im folgenden stellen sie sich in englischer Sprache vor:

Introducing Pastor Gary and Mary Ann Anderson

 

Gary grew up inMorris, Minnesota, where his father was in agribusiness. After high school graduation, he went to Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter. At first he planned to go into one of the medical professions but discovered that he was enjoying the liberal arts more than pre-med classes. Soon he realized he was called to ordained ministry.

Gary and Mary Ann Carlson met at Gustavus where she was an elementary education major and were married one week after graduating. Then it was off to seminary at the Rock Island Illinois campus (the old Augustana Seminary) of the newly formed Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago. Gary interned in Grand Rapids Michigan Bethlehem Lutheran Church and after seminary went to Yale Divinity School New Haven Connecticut for further study, obtaining a Master of Sacred Theology degree with a special focus in systematic theology. During these years, Mary Ann taught elementary school using her gifts with children.

Gary was then called to serve their first congregation, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, in Ft. Worth. After four years in Ft.Worth where the Andersons adopted two children, Brian and Susan, they moved to HoustonTexas were Gary served St. Martin Lutheran Church as senior pastor for eight years.  He was then called to serve in an LCA church-wide administrative position in Philadelphia. After a short time in that position, All Saints Lutheran, Minnetonka MN called  Gary to be its senior pastor. He served there for 11  years. Mary Ann became director of a large pre-school that was part of the congregations ministry.

In 1993, Gary was called to serve as senior pastor of Incarnation Lutheran Church, North Oaks/ Shoreview, MN, suburbs north of St. Paul. After another 11 years with that large congregation, Gary retired in 2004. Soon he was filling a two year interim ministry as seminary pastor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul. After that he was asked to head up a $2 million special mission appeal called Crossing Bridges; for the St. Paul Area Synod of the EvangelicalLutheranChurch in America.

Over the years, Gary served on numerous boards, including various synod committees and boards, two ELCA division boards, and the Gustavus Adolphus College Board of Trustees. Three of the four congregations Gary served engaged in major building programs.

During their most recent retirement years, Mary Ann and Gary were busy remodeling their lake cabin, traveling a great deal, and spending time with grandchildren. In February/March 2009 they served for six weeks in Vilnius Lithuania as volunteer pastor and spouse at the international, ecumenical (English-speaking) congregation.