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Edwin Stigen, pastor of The First Congregational United Church of Christ, came to Tomah in 1992, and it turned out to be a perfect fit.
Fifteen years later, Stigen continues to call Tomah home, and he also continues to be a major voice in ministerial and charity projects throughout the Tomah area.
Stigen, 56, was raised in La Crosse, and in 1985 he moved to Maine to attend the Bangor Theological Seminary. He served in two different churches as a student in Maine, but family issues called him and his family back to the Midwest.
“My mother-in-law was not doing well, and my wife (Cathy) and I were looking for something closer to home,” Stigen said. “I went through a search process, and looked here and Brainerd, Minn., and this church (The First Congregational United Church of Christ in Tomah) called and said if I wanted to accept the call, they would issue it.”
Stigen’s first service was held on April 5, 1992, and ever since he has enjoyed his time in Tomah.
“We have liked Tomah very, very much,” Stigen said. “We don’t consider ourselves ‘bigger city folks.’ Hunting and fishing is readily accessed, there is good music and theatre in the area, and Madison, Eau Claire, and La Crosse aren’t that far away.”
“My wife and I raised four children in this community and they all went through Tomah Schools, and they all got a good education here.”
Not only has Tomah been a perfect fit for Stigen, but The First Congregational United Church of Christ in Tomah has also fit his outreaching personality.
“One of the things that kept me here is that the members of this Church support my branching out with other organizations,” Stigen said.
Stigen has been reaching out with other churches and organizations throughout his tenure in Tomah, including his leadership involvement with the Ministerial Association.
“The past leader of the group had just moved on, and they put me, the new guy, in that position, and I’ve had it ever since,” Stigen said of the Ministerial Association. “Every year I think we should hold an election, but they tell me that it is fine the way it is.”
The Ministerial Association is an ecumenical gathering of interested clergy from around the Tomah Area. According to Stigen, there are eight to 10 members who gather monthly to discuss various needs of the community.
The Ministerial Association organizes and volunteers with certain projects such as the Crop Walk fundraiser and Salvation Army Kettle Campaign annually, provides chaplain service to the Tomah Hospital, and has brought gifts of music to the community through various churches.
“Mostly we raise funds locally through our bell-ringing campaign, and 80 percent will stay in the area,” Stigen said. “We put families first with our donations. We also donate to the St. Clare Health Mission in Sparta, and the local police get a chunk for if someone is passing through town with a special need. By working with these other organizations, we have tried not to duplicate services.”
Stigen remains listed as a contact chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital, and will serve when the Protestant chaplain is absent. He also serves on the Families First Board, which is a ecumenical youth group among the Methodist, Episcipal, and United Church of Christ. Throughout all of his work with service organizations, however, Stigen says that funding can be a significant problem.
“There is not a group that I am involved with that fundraising isn’t a major issue,” Stigen said. “Finances are the toughest part because there are always more needs than resources, and there are limited times that we can help.”
Despite the limited help he can give, Stigen plans to continue. For Stigen, the people are the best part of his job and the town he came to love.
“There are a lot of big-hearted people in this community,” Stigen said. “Even though we can’t solve every problem completely, we can get some positive effects in the end. I’ve ran into so many generous people. The people are definitely the best part.”
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