Grace Lutheran Church Pastors Removed from ELCA Clergy Roster

Bishop Duane Pederson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Northwest Synod of Wisconsin has removed the pastors of Grace Lutheran Church, Revs. Rolf Nestingen and David Irgens, from the ELCA’s roster of clergy. The decision followed the pastors’ actions and decisions, which Pederson stated were contrary to the ELCA’s constitutions and polity.

Pederson’s removal of Nestingen and Irgens came after a civil suit involving nearly 70 members of Grace Lutheran Church. The suit, filed in November 2011, sought court intervention in an internal church dispute over affiliation. Polk County Judge Molly GaleWyrick issued a decision eight days prior to Pederson’s action, enforcing a Synod Council decision from January 2012 that required Grace Lutheran to be solely affiliated with the ELCA.

The judge directed the parties to return to the Synod Council for further guidance on implementing the decision. She also instructed attorney Drew Ryberg, representing the plaintiffs, to draft an order in line with the decision for approval by Jay Heit, the attorney for the defendants, before submitting it for her signature. A motion hearing in the case is scheduled for April 23.

Anne Carter, president of Grace Lutheran Church, informed the congregation of Pederson’s action in a note. She expressed that the bishop’s decision did not align with the criteria for removing pastors as outlined in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin’s constitution.

Rev. Don Wisner, pastor emeritus at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Eau Claire, commented on the situation, stating that removing Nestingen and Irgens from the ELCA roster was “the only decision (Pederson) could make.” He described the situation as “sad” and noted that there are “no winners” in the matter.

Nestingen, senior pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, celebrated his 35th anniversary of ordination and 15th anniversary of his ministry at Grace in 2012. Irgens, associate pastor at Grace, was unavailable for comment. The decision to remove the pastors from the ELCA roster has raised questions about the church’s future affiliations and the implications of the legal proceedings.

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