Ieva Graufelde
(née Greize, born 1950 in Nebraska, USA) – pastor and emerita dean
Baptized in the Lincoln church community, she received a gift of faith that still fills her soul with blessing and strengthens her in times of difficulty.
Surrounded by Latvian culture, Ieva grew up in Philadelphia and studied art history, English literature, and pedagogy while working at the American Lutheran Church. Since 1973, she has lived in Sweden, where she began theological studies in Swedish—a language new to her—while serving in the Stockholm Latvian congregation and gaining experience in Swedish church parishes.
In 1989, she was ordained in the Church of Sweden and accepted as a pastor in the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad (LELCA). Serving in both churches, Ieva held various important positions: she was the first woman dean in LELCA, a member of the Church Council, worked in Swedish church administration and ecumenical cooperation, edited the Church Yearbook (Baznīcas gadagrāmata, a publication jointly issued by both Latvian Lutheran churches—abroad and in Latvia—from 1993 to 2007), organized internships, and actively supported the ordination of women in Latvia. Ieva was also deeply involved in Latvian political and societal life in Sweden.
For her significant contribution to Latvia’s spiritual revival, she was awarded the Order of the Three Stars (Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) in 1996. Though emerita, she continues to serve in the Uppsala congregation.
Ieva’s foundation is family, but her faith is like oxygen—something she cannot live without. Prayer is her daily breath in and out. With love, she thinks of the congregations she has served and holds in her heart every soul she has had the honor to know, support, and pray for. She believes that with each person’s contribution, together we can build a harmonious community that cares for others—this is how the Church takes form beyond church walls.
Drawing “Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane,” gifted to Ieva Graufelde in 1987 in Sweden. Artist Jānis Kaķītis, original technique
At the 1987 Harvest Festival, an 89-year-old member of the congregation, Jānis Kaķītis, gave me a self-drawn picture titled Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. This work is especially dear to me; I call it a drawing that speaks in silence. Mr. Kaķītis always radiated kindness, warmth, and peace. I had the honor of leading him to rest three years later.
When I look at this image, I see not only Jesus—praying, reflecting, aware of his suffering. I also see Mr. Kaķītis himself, now in eternity, together with his Savior.
In my quiet prayers, a simple gaze at Jesus praying is enough for me, because I realize—God knows what is on my heart.
Is that what God tells you—the all-inclusive God of love who says: ‘Love one another as I have loved you’? Does God love me less because I am a woman? Who is the God you worship?
Church Yearbook,
which was issued jointly by LELBĀL and LELB from 1993 to 2006 as one of the ways of seeking unification after regaining Latvia’s independence. Ieva Graufelde was the editor.
Ieva Graufelde
(née Greize, born 1950 in Nebraska, USA) – pastor and emerita dean
Baptized in the Lincoln church community, she received a gift of faith that still fills her soul with blessing and strengthens her in times of difficulty.
Surrounded by Latvian culture, Ieva grew up in Philadelphia and studied art history, English literature, and pedagogy while working at the American Lutheran Church. Since 1973, she has lived in Sweden, where she began theological studies in Swedish—a language new to her—while serving in the Stockholm Latvian congregation and gaining experience in Swedish church parishes.
In 1989, she was ordained in the Church of Sweden and accepted as a pastor in the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad (LELCA). Serving in both churches, Ieva held various important positions: she was the first woman dean in LELCA, a member of the Church Council, worked in Swedish church administration and ecumenical cooperation, edited the Church Yearbook (Baznīcas gadagrāmata, a publication jointly issued by both Latvian Lutheran churches—abroad and in Latvia—from 1993 to 2007), organized internships, and actively supported the ordination of women in Latvia. Ieva was also deeply involved in Latvian political and societal life in Sweden.
For her significant contribution to Latvia’s spiritual revival, she was awarded the Order of the Three Stars (Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) in 1996. Though emerita, she continues to serve in the Uppsala congregation.
Ieva’s foundation is family, but her faith is like oxygen—something she cannot live without. Prayer is her daily breath in and out. With love, she thinks of the congregations she has served and holds in her heart every soul she has had the honor to know, support, and pray for. She believes that with each person’s contribution, together we can build a harmonious community that cares for others—this is how the Church takes form beyond church walls.
Drawing “Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane,” gifted to Ieva Graufelde in 1987 in Sweden. Artist Jānis Kaķītis, original technique
“At the 1987 Harvest Festival, an 89-year-old member of the congregation, Jānis Kaķītis, gave me a self-drawn picture titled Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. This work is especially dear to me; I call it a drawing that speaks in silence. Mr. Kaķītis always radiated kindness, warmth, and peace. I had the honor of leading him to rest three years later.
When I look at this image, I see not only Jesus—praying, reflecting, aware of his suffering. I also see Mr. Kaķītis himself, now in eternity, together with his Savior.
In my quiet prayers, a simple gaze at Jesus praying is enough for me, because I realize—God knows what is on my heart.”
Is that what God tells you—the all-inclusive God of love who says: ‘Love one another as I have loved you’? Does God love me less because I am a woman? Who is the God you worship?
Church Yearbook,
which was issued jointly by LELBĀL and LELB from 1993 to 2006 as one of the ways of seeking unification after regaining Latvia’s independence. Ieva Graufelde was the editor.
