British Columbia Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)

On March 3rd, 2013, during the 7th International Theological Seminar of the Lutheran World Federation, Pastor Patricia Giannelia (right, receiving the certificate from Pastor Hans W. Kasch, Director of the LWF Center Wittenberg) planted a honey locust tree on behalf of the British Columbia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

For many years there has been good contact among the Lutheran and Anglican Churches in Canada. Pastors from both churches shaped a festival worship on October 27th, 2013, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cathedral Church in Kelowna. The planting of the partner tree took place in the newly designed “Memorial Garden” of the Cathedral Church. Participating were Ms. Susan Palmer, Congregation President of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kelowna; Pastor Nissa Basbaum, Dean of the Cathedral Church; and Pastor Patricia Giannelia of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kelowna, who also planted the tree in the Luthergarten in Wittenberg on behalf of her synod. This tree planting is a beautiful sign of ecumenism and the shared commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.