This past week around 1,000 Lutherans gathered in Pittsburgh for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. If you don't know what an ELCA or a Churchwide Assembly is go here: #ELCACWA. In short, this is the highest legislative body of our whole denomination and where most of the major policy decisions and elections happen. So I thought it'd be helpful for Lutherans, and non-Lutherans who took pity on me and clicked on the blog link, to know what happened. This is not all inclusive, but three big highlights. For everything I skip, follow the link above.
1. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton becomes the first female Presiding Bishop of the ELCA!
For the first time we elected a women as Presiding Bishop. It's like being Pope without the wealth, international prestige, cool car or pointy hat. But it's awesome and a big deal for us. Bp. Eaton will be the public face of the ELCA for the next six years. There are currently nine female bishops leading synods of the church and Bishop Eaton was one of those, serving the Northeast Ohio Synod. That being my home turf, and having been a candidate for ministry while she was bishop, I can tell you she is a gifted, tough, brilliant leader who loves congregations, Lutheranism and sharing the gifts of our church and gospel with others. I hestitate to say she "defeated" the incumbent Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson because this is not what defeat and winning look like in the regular sense of our political culture:
While we have had female bishops before and we have had female clergy for over 30 years, it is still nice to recognizes milestones of gender equality in our church and I think this is one of them. However, my hope is that by the end of her time as Presiding Bishop(PB), we will be remember Rev. Eaton not only for being the first female PB but also one who helped lead the church through a time of renewed trust, energy, and growth both numerically and spiritually. PB Eaton is not simply a headline but a real leader and one I believe will be a great blessing to this denomination. She won't be the only one though because of #2
2.) Our youth were active, fierce and productive
The youth and young adults of this CWA were not observers or sideliners simply watching the adults and playing a religious version of model UN. They were active, aware and organized. When they saw that only $400K of an $80million dollar ELCA budget was dedicated to youth and young adult ministries they spoke out and loudly. On the floor and across twitter. When they saw that $0 were designated for youth and young adult ministries in the 25th anniversary campaign, they took action. Groups of young people met, and planned, and added an ammendment of $4million dollars solely for youth to the campaign. It passed handily. I know most young people aren't keen on Robert's Rules and long meetings, but I was inpsired by those in Pittsburgh who worked and worked until they saw their goal become a reality. They took ownership of their church and it's took the reins of leadership and that is encouraging. If their work & passion can be replicated in our churches, we may well have a bright future ahead of us. Now about that campaign.
3.) We are going to raise a ton of money (but for really good reasons)
The CWA approved a 5 year, $198 million campaign specifically for the ministries of the ELCA. We have never done this before, ever, in the history of the ELCA. In addition to $4 million for youth, there is $4million for minsitries to those with disabilities. There is also $4million for new church plants, $8 million for congregational renewal and $13 for overseas work with missionaries and international leaders. Full campaign details will come out near the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 outlining the many ministries that will be supported and the many ways this will help our church, spread the Gospel and spread the work of the kingdom of God. It may seem like a lot of money but consider this: If less than half our ELCA members, 2 million to be exact give $20 a year for five years, we will more than meet our goal. That breaks down to just over 38 cents a week. I think we can afford this.
Finally, This assembly felt good, not just happy, but good, hope filled and Spirit led.
This is the 3rd assembly I have watched online and followed closely, but it is the first that felt actually centered on our church and looking to the future. The others were sidelined by social issues, deep divides, anger, strife and sorrow. They may have needed to be because of all that has happened to our church over the last 4 years. However, this assembly, it seemed like we were ready to move on and look forward with hope and joy for the future of our church. We elected a new bishop without major divide, even those who voted for the incumbent did not seem angry. We started a new campaign that looks to the church and it's real needs to do ministry. We watched our young people step up and we watched the powers that be let them, with wonderful results. It gives me hope that the next 25 year of the ELCA will be good ones centered in Christ and in making disciples. I hope that as voting members settle back to their homes and churches they bring a sense of hopefulness with them and that the theme of "Always Being Made New" is one we use in our churches to draw more people to the Good news we have to share.
1. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton becomes the first female Presiding Bishop of the ELCA!
For the first time we elected a women as Presiding Bishop. It's like being Pope without the wealth, international prestige, cool car or pointy hat. But it's awesome and a big deal for us. Bp. Eaton will be the public face of the ELCA for the next six years. There are currently nine female bishops leading synods of the church and Bishop Eaton was one of those, serving the Northeast Ohio Synod. That being my home turf, and having been a candidate for ministry while she was bishop, I can tell you she is a gifted, tough, brilliant leader who loves congregations, Lutheranism and sharing the gifts of our church and gospel with others. I hestitate to say she "defeated" the incumbent Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson because this is not what defeat and winning look like in the regular sense of our political culture:
 |
| Bishop Hanson congratulating Bishop Eaton immediately following the election. |
2.) Our youth were active, fierce and productive
The youth and young adults of this CWA were not observers or sideliners simply watching the adults and playing a religious version of model UN. They were active, aware and organized. When they saw that only $400K of an $80million dollar ELCA budget was dedicated to youth and young adult ministries they spoke out and loudly. On the floor and across twitter. When they saw that $0 were designated for youth and young adult ministries in the 25th anniversary campaign, they took action. Groups of young people met, and planned, and added an ammendment of $4million dollars solely for youth to the campaign. It passed handily. I know most young people aren't keen on Robert's Rules and long meetings, but I was inpsired by those in Pittsburgh who worked and worked until they saw their goal become a reality. They took ownership of their church and it's took the reins of leadership and that is encouraging. If their work & passion can be replicated in our churches, we may well have a bright future ahead of us. Now about that campaign.
3.) We are going to raise a ton of money (but for really good reasons)
The CWA approved a 5 year, $198 million campaign specifically for the ministries of the ELCA. We have never done this before, ever, in the history of the ELCA. In addition to $4 million for youth, there is $4million for minsitries to those with disabilities. There is also $4million for new church plants, $8 million for congregational renewal and $13 for overseas work with missionaries and international leaders. Full campaign details will come out near the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 outlining the many ministries that will be supported and the many ways this will help our church, spread the Gospel and spread the work of the kingdom of God. It may seem like a lot of money but consider this: If less than half our ELCA members, 2 million to be exact give $20 a year for five years, we will more than meet our goal. That breaks down to just over 38 cents a week. I think we can afford this.
Finally, This assembly felt good, not just happy, but good, hope filled and Spirit led.
This is the 3rd assembly I have watched online and followed closely, but it is the first that felt actually centered on our church and looking to the future. The others were sidelined by social issues, deep divides, anger, strife and sorrow. They may have needed to be because of all that has happened to our church over the last 4 years. However, this assembly, it seemed like we were ready to move on and look forward with hope and joy for the future of our church. We elected a new bishop without major divide, even those who voted for the incumbent did not seem angry. We started a new campaign that looks to the church and it's real needs to do ministry. We watched our young people step up and we watched the powers that be let them, with wonderful results. It gives me hope that the next 25 year of the ELCA will be good ones centered in Christ and in making disciples. I hope that as voting members settle back to their homes and churches they bring a sense of hopefulness with them and that the theme of "Always Being Made New" is one we use in our churches to draw more people to the Good news we have to share.
It's great to hear such positive reflections on the assembly. I watched only a small part, and I felt the same way. After the division we've faced in the last few years and in the midst of how onerous our secular politics are, it's wonderful to have such an uplifting, vitalizing assembly take place that we can point to and say, "That's my Church!" Thanks for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It is a good feeling to be hopeful and proud instead of worried and saddened. :)
DeleteGreat photo ~ thanks for sharing that plus your distilled comments
ReplyDeleteThanks. I wish I knew who took it. It's been floating around the twitter and facebook feeds.
DeleteThanks for a great article, Andy--sorry Rev. Bell. Even though, we barely know each other, I hear you referred to as Andy so much that it's hard to remember to use a proper title. (And greetings and blessings from Warren!)
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the name! You can go home again but you can't expect they'll actually believe you're an adult :).
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