ELCA Updates
Portland Monthly magazine honors ELCA pastor
W.J. Mark Knutson, pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Portland, Ore., was named one of “The 50 Most Influential Portlanders” in the January 2012 issue of Portland Monthly magazine. The magazine noted the congregation’s growth in membership and that it’s a multiethnic, multicultural congregation dedicated to justice and peacemaking.
“I’m always glad to see faith leaders lifted up in the context of the wider community, churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, which are all vital in weaving just and fair communities where all have life. It’s why faith communities exist,” said Knutson in response to the acknowledgement.
Knutson has been pastor of Augustana since 1996. In 2009, he was honored as Ecumenist of the Year by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and received the Distinguished Ministry of Parish Pastor Award by Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, an ELCA seminary in Berkeley, Calif.
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on January 18th, 2012 at 10:36 am
I attended Augustana Lutheran in Portland last year during January. I was impressed with the inclusivity and spirit of this congregation. Oregon is famous for avoidance of religious practice. Augustana is bucking this tide.