Local ELCA churches share pastoral services

Pastor Sharon Fox Bogen serves Zion and Redeemer
By: 
Miriam Nelson
News Editor

WITTENBERG — The Lutheran congregations of Redeemer in Wittenberg and Zion in Tigerton have committed to a six-month contract to share the employment of Pastor Sharon Fox Bogen.

The two Evangelical Lutheran Church of America congregations have been in discussions since fall.

Redeemer has always had a full-time pastor and a parsonage, but last year changes were made when Pastor Amy Meyer Perron moved to Plover in June to accept another call.

Bishop Gerald Mansholt met with the Redeemer congregation in August to encourage them to share the expense of the pastoral position with another church or churches. According to Mansholt, there just are not enough graduates coming out of the seminary to fill all of the empty positions, and small town and rural churches are harder to fill. When he said the wait could be two years or longer for a full-time pastor, Redeemer made the decision to sell the parsonage.

Bogen became an ordained pastor in 2017 when she accepted the part-time position with Zion.

Bogen has been involved in many aspects of church work throughout her life. She served 25 years as a deacon. She’s been the director at Pine Lake Lutheran Camp, a hospital chaplain, a Christian educator, a retirement community specialist, a confirmation teacher and a youth group leader. Bogen has managed a fundraiser for a malaria campaign and has served on the synod global missions committee.

“It has been a joy and a challenge to serve God’s church — whether it is in a congregation, conference, synod or outdoor ministry,” said Bogen.

The youngest of 13 children, she grew up in Milwaukee and attended a Missouri Synod Lutheran grade school. She credits her older siblings and mother for being influential faith leaders.

“Early on, I learned to speak up to be heard, to be responsible, to work hard and to wait my turn,” said Bogen.

Bogen’s husband, Phil, has been an ELCA pastor for 27 years, and they make their home in Wausau. They have two adult sons. Aaron lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Adam is a recent graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and lives in Minneapolis.

Zion was established in 1891 and Redeemer in 1882. During the trial period, Redeemer will hold Sunday morning service at 8:30 a.m. with communion on the first and third Sundays, and Zion will hold Sunday morning service at 10:30 a.m. with communion every Sunday.

After the six-month trial period, the churches have the option to sign another six-month contract or take steps to make a permanent shared position.

AT A GLANCE
Redeemer Lutheran, W18205 College Ave., Wittenberg. 8:30 a.m. Sunday. 715-253-2590
Zion Lutheran, 511 Spaulding St., Tigerton. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. 715-535-2313