Area Lutherans Re-Elect Keller As Bishop
Bishop Robert M. Keller of Spokane was re-elected to a third term as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eastern Washington, Idaho and Jackson, Wyo., on May 6.
This will be Keller’s third and final term as bishop. He will serve the Inland Northwest for six more years.
Keller was elected by pastors and lay people from each of the 110 congregations in Eastern Washington, Idaho and Jackson.
Originally, three candidates, including Keller, were nominated for the position. However, the other two withdrew.
Keller was first elected bishop in 1987. He was re-elected to a second term in 1991.
The goal of his third term is to reach out to others living in the Eastern Washington, Idaho and Wyoming areas.
“We live in one of the most unchurched areas of this country,” Keller said. “We need to be open to reaching out to folks that are hurting and lonely who need to hear that people love them.”
He studied at Pacific Lutheran University and at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained in 1959.
Keller served as parish minister in Olympia and Othello, Wash., for 24 years before becoming an assistant to the bishop in Seattle, who appointed Keller as director of care.
“I was kind of the pastor of pastors,” Keller said.
His duties included anything from conducting workshops to resolving conflict within congregations, all of which, he said, prepared him for his current post.
African Children’s Choir
The African Children’s Choir will perform in Spokane on Sunday to raise money for suffering children in Rwanda. The group will sing at Northview Bible Church, 13521 N. Mill Road, at 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. and at Berean Bible Church, 10910 E. Boone, at 6 p.m.
The 26-member choir is composed of poor, orphaned Eastern African children ages 5 through 12.
In 1992 the African Children’s Choir was nominated for a Grammy for Best Gospel Choir.
On Sunday, the children will perform traditional African melodies, gospel hymns and wellknown children’s songs.
A portion of the money collected at the free concerts will be used to provide food and medicine for Rwandan children.
Workshop on teaching youth
A workshop for people who work with children in Sunday schools, vacation Bible schools, camps or choirs will be today from 9 a.m. to noon at Westminster Congregational Church, 411 S. Washington.
Participants will learn how to teach youngsters, mainly ages 6 to 12, ways to dramatize social concerns and to find empowerment through both a supportive group and God’s presence in daily living. The material can be adapted to younger and older children.
Margaret Taylor Doane, author of “Children Dancing Their Spiritual Challenges in Today’s Conflicts” and “Hymns in Action,” will lead the workshop.
Cost is $3.
Eckankar workshop
A workshop titled “Finding and Giving Your Special Gifts to Life” will be today from 1-3 p.m. at the Argonne County Library, 4322 N. Argonne.
The focus of the workshop is to help people advance on their spiritual journey by enlightening them of their past, present and future through the ancient wisdom of Eckankar, a religion based on the light and sound of God.