Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is the Father’s
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Though I write this while waiting at the airport, the words of Jesus spoken to fear-frozen disciples rings in my ears. With fellow assembly-goers who were anxious about making their flight, I shared the reassuring words that we heard in today’s closing eucharist, “do not be afraid.”
The preacher today was Susan Briehl, who acknowledged that everyone lives in fear. Like Abraham, who wondered if there would be an heir given to him, while still in his tent, we are often closed off to the promise just outside revealed in the broad sky with stars too numerous to count.
To all those who cling to fear, Pastor Briehl reminded us of the shared promise that is ours as heirs of the promise through Christ.
Each day our assembly has been centered in Word and Sacrament. Today our re-elected Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson presided with grace. He installed newly elected secretary, David Swartling, a lay person from Washington who received the church’s call through a series of five ballots, announced today after electronic ballot and receiving 611 or 62.54% of the votes. We gave thanks for Pastor Paul Schreck, Executive Assistant to the Secretary, who with Mr. Swartling was one of two candidates left.
Each day beginning with Tuesday, we have considered Memorials related to sexuality, three of which were submitted by the New England Synod, along with twenty other synods. Though debate was filled with impassioned pleas either to “wait for the good process of the Task Force” or to “allow gifted leaders to serve the church,” in the end I think we all need to be reassured that Christ is with us in all our fears. Items E1 and E2, related to changing policy for rostered leaders or blessing same-sex couples were both referred to the Task Force per the recommendation of Reference and Counsel, while substitute motions were defeated. Item E3 also recommended referral, but a substitute motion related to bishops refraining from or exercising restraint in discipline offered by outgoing Metro Chicago Bishop Paul Landahl was approved by a majority. Item E4 which related to adhering to the part of Visions and Expectations related to homosexual rostered leaders was referred to the Task Force, per the recommendation of Reference and Counsel. We all needed to hear Christ’s promise, “Do not be afraid,” as the Task Force and our whole church continues to seek how to be united and make faithful moral deliberation on issues of sexuality. The Task Force has been asked by this assembly to make specific recommendations in 2009, in consultation with the conference of bishops and the ELCA Church Council, on rostered leaders in committed same-sex relationships.
With this as our last day and time running out to conduct business, motions were made to limit debate and to “call the question” in order to make decisions on matters before the plenary.
We passed a Memorial, also submitted by the New England Synod, to engage in advocacy and accompaniment with our brothers and sisters in Palestine and Israel. Debate over an amendment related to economic initiatives, which included support of the Palestinian economy and refraining from economic support of Israeli settlements, was resolved when an additional sentence precluded divestiture was added and subsequently approved.
Bishop Margaret spoke eloquently about support for this Memorial.
We heard the report of the newly named Multicultural Ministry Division, and Lutheran Disaster Response.
Though I left early, considering on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Mission Support, thanksgivings for those leading us in assembly, and the announcement of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly were the few remaining agenda items.
I consider it a privilege to serve this church, to strive to be a leaven from New England for the ELCA loaf, and to have the experience of being a voting member who will continue to proclaim, “Do not be afraid little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!”
In Christ,
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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