Duane O. Salness
resident of southeast Como neighborhood, St. Paul, MN

Personal history:

  • Born in Fergus Falls, MN
  • Baptized in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
  • In 1955, moved with family to Moorhead, MN
  • Confirmed in faith in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Moorhead
  • Graduated from:
    • Moorhead High School
    • Moorhead State College (now U of M, Moorhead) with BA in English and Speech
    • Luther Seminary, St. Paul, in 1969
  • Married to Marilyn (Rossing) Salness
  • Two children, Jennifer and Mark, both of St. Paul
  • Three grandchildren: Kai, Kaedon and Flora, children of Mark and Krista Salness
  • Marilyn works part-time at Bear Patch Quilting Co., White Bear Lake, MN
  • Duane’s hobbies: golf, fishing, reading, travel, playing with grandchildren

Pastoral ministry:

  • Served the following congregations as an ordained pastor:
    • Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Kelliher, MN, 1969-1971, solo pastor
    • Zion Lutheran Church, Arlington, MN, 1971-1974, solo pastor
    • Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne, MN, 1974-1981, shared ministry with 2nd pastor
    • Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato, MN, 1981-1989, shared ministry with same 2nd pastor
    • Hope Lutheran Church, Fosston, MN, 1989-1993, solo pastor
    • St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cordova (Memphis), TN, 1993-1998, senior pastor
  • Served the following congregations as trained Intentional Interim Pastor:, 1998–present
    • Christ the King Lutheran Church, White Bear Lake, MN
    • St. Timothy Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN
    • First Lutheran Church, White Bear Lake, MN
    • Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN
    • Central Lutheran Church, Winona, MN
    • Christ Lutheran Church, Blaine, MN
    • House of Hope Lutheran Church, New Hope, MN
    • Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Maplewood, MN
    • Atonement Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN
  • Specialized training and experience for intentional interim ministry:
    • Facilitator and certified teacher of Healthy Congregations Workshops
    • Trained for congregational intervention as a Bridgebuilder (consultant)
    • Extensive study in Family Systems Theory of Bowen/Friedman/Steinke
    • Advanced training in Healthy Congregations Workshops

My faith statement, practiced in pastoral ministry:

I believe I have salvation by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This grace came to me as a free gift. My response to this gift of God’s love is thankfulness in all aspects of my life. My faith calls me to love and serve others. The foundation of my preaching is the Baptismal grace of God linking me with all believers in Jesus Christ. I attempt to proclaim how God is active in our daily lives, working for good, even in those seemingly hopeless situations in which we sometimes find ourselves. I am called by God to be in authentic relationships with others and to work for justice for all people.