It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)
Can you imagine memorizing an entire book of the Bible?
Today we heard Lutheran School of Theology Professor David Rhoads offer a dramatic presentation of the entire letter to the Galatians. It was like he became the apostle Paul!
Our first full day at Churchwide was like eating at Thanksgiving, so much that by the end you are stuffed.
Here are some of the highlights:
Bishop Hanson was re-elected on the second ballot this morning. With last night’s ballot, he received 765 votes, two shy of the votes required to meet the 75% minimum. On the second ballot, he received 888 votes. The closest candidate to Bishop Hanson was New England’s Karl Donfried, recently retired Professor at Smith College in Northhampton, Massachusetts.
Bishop Hanson was acclaimed with a long ovation, and received this election as a “call” with gratitude and humility, also grateful for his family.
Memorial resolutions approved included: Support for Veterans Returning from War; and Development of a Social Statement on Criminal Justice by 2013 (!).
ELCA Church Council recommendations approved included: the Book of Faith Initiative, developing resources for Bible reading; and reception of Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
We heard reports from the Vice-President of the ELCA Carlos Pena, with an overview of ELCA Church Council recommendations, and a preliminary introduction to the 2008-2009 budget by Executive for Administration Pastor Charles Miller. We were introduced to the new ELCA Director for Chaplains Peter Muschinski, who was received with ringing applause.
The plenary session closed by 4:00 pm, which was followed by two time slots for hearings on various subjects. I went to the one on Middle East Policy with Bishop Younan and others, and the one on the Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible initiative. Both were informative, and offered voting members opportunity to ask questions or make comments.
The evening featured receptions by the ELCA seminaries, and a reception for Bishop Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, sponsored by ELCA Companion Synods of Southeast Michigan and New England. Bishop Payne was up front and center in offering support and accompaniment for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East.
Tomorrow the New England Synod will host Bishop Younan, beginning with breakfast.
And there will be a full slate of agenda items, featuring issues related to public policy. It is an honor to be part of the church in this assembly.
And I am seeing so many old friends!
Tim Keyl
Christ the King Lutheran Church
Nashua, New Hampshire
Christ the King Lutheran Church, 3 Lutheran Drive, Nashua, NH 03063 (603) 882-6142
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