The Board of Directors of Lutherans Concerned/North America has selected a Treasurer, Youth Representative, and Chaplain from among the candidates for those positions. These board members join the board for the 2010-2012 biennium.
As Treasurer, the board selected Laura Lazar, a professor teaching in the MBA program at Augsburg College, a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. An MBA and PhD graduate of Indiana University, majoring in accounting, Laura has 20 years experience teaching accounting and business and extensive experience working in non-profit organizations, having been the treasurer for the Groveland Food Shelf, the Minnesota Literacy Council, and the Lutheran Deaconess Conference. She is currently treasurer for the DIAKONIA World Federation.
As Youth Representative, the board selected Charlette Beckler. Charlette is an 18-year-old, first-year student at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, beginning in August 2011. A graduate of College Park High School, The Woodlands, Texas, Charlette is looking forward to the work of the board, wanting to make a difference for those who come after as we move to full inclusion.
As Chaplain, the board selected the Rev. Dr. Katrina Foster, the pastor of Incarnation Lutheran Church, Bridgehampton, and St. Michael Lutheran Church, Amagansett, both on Long Island, New York. She served Fordham Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bronx, New York, for 16 years prior to her current call. She earned her Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina, and her Doctor of Ministry, Stewardship and Luther’s Theology of the Cross, from Lutheran Theological Seminary Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pastor Foster and her family were featured in the 2009 Goodsoil documentary, “One Baptism, Many Gifts: the story of three Lutherans called to ministry.” Pastor Foster, her wife and daughter live in Water Mill, New York, and go to the beach as often as possible.
The board welcomes these talented members, dedicated to the work for full inclusion, to full equality in the life of the Lutheran church and in the society in which both we as individuals and the church live and work.
Nicole Garcia, Co-Chair of Lutherans Concerned, said, “I am delighted to welcome Charlette, Katrina and Laura to the Board of Directors. The renewal of our strategy for the coming five years on a rolling basis is progressing well and we are looking forward to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Orlando later this month. Our work for full inclusion continues unabated and we are pleased to have these board members join their talents, energy and full inclusion commitment to the work of our excellent board, staff, regional coordinators, volunteers, Reconciling Lutherans, and Reconciling in Christ organizations throughout North America.
Phil Soucy
Director Communications LC/NA
communications@lcna.org