He was a world-class noticer. –New York Times obituary on Pulitzer Prize winner for literature, Saul Bellow
The above quote was one of many nuggets from our Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson today, who continued his theme of being a “sent” church in his bishop’s report today. Bp. Hanson wanted all of us to take notice of the world around us, and to speak the truth, and discern the truth for and with the community of faith.
He emphasized many of the goals that have been set for our church, noting that in our day-to-day conversations we can be evangelists. We saw an ELCA ad campaign that is being piloted in the Rocky Mountain Synod, with spots that end “God’s work. Our Hands.”
Bishop Hanson continues to hold the vision that we can double those who are persons of color and whose primary language is other than English in our church, because the great diversity of people will only enrich us.
Our presiding bishop is proud of the ways we can be a public church giving witness in the world, with our partnerships in the Lutheran World Federation, through the Middle East Initiative, and the proposed recommendations on HIV/AIDS.
He concluded with a quote from the late Archbishop Romero who said, “It helps now and then to step back and take the long view. We are prophets of a future not our own.”
Among other reports and recommendations, we heard a keynote address today from Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro of the International YMCA, and reports about the Evangelism Strategy from Pastor Kathryn Love, from the Director of Justice for Women Mary J. Struefort, the Treasurer of the ELCA Christina Jackson-Skelton, and the Mission Investment Fund.
We took action to approve a New England Memorial the genocide in Darfur (spoken to by New England Synod Voting Member Pastor Lisa Anderson), a memorial declaring opposition to escalation of war in Iraq, and the strategy on HIV/AIDS recommendation from the church council.
In a quasi committee of the whole, the assembly took 45 minutes to make comments about the memorials proposed on human sexuality without taking action. The time was filled with speeches from those who are approving the recommendations of the Committee for Reference to refer the memorials to the Task Force on Sexuality and those who wish to support a policy change to support rostered gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered persons in committed relationships.
Bible Study on Galatians 1:1-10 was led by Augsburg College Professor and New Testament scholar Dr. David Tiede, who asked “what is the will of God for us mortal sexual creatures?”
The first ecclesiastical ballot (meaning a nomination ballot) for ELCA Secretary was cast at the end of the plenary session in the afternoon.
Our delegation then had the opportunity to go out for dinner at Gino’s East, famous for its deep-dish pizza.
The evening also included a eucharist sponsored by Good Soil and Lutherans Concerned of North America, with Bradley Schmelling preaching and our own bishop Margaret Payne presiding. The Grand Ballroom was filled with over 500 people supportive of rostering gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered persons in committed relationships, or those who were listening in on this celebration and its show of support. Bradley Schmelling was removed from the ELCA roster through a discipline process in Atlanta, Georgia. There was heavy representation at this event from those wearing the golden fleece vests (NES Voting Members)!
Tomorrow we expect the debate on the Memorial Resolutions on Sexuality to begin, and to complete the second and third ballots for Secretary.
Pray for the ELCA in assembly.
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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