Presiding bishop “ I
By Mark S. Hanson
Moving forward in mission New leaders, social statement, campaign point the way
am so grateful for your leadership, B i sh o p Hanson.” “I am so joyful over
Bishop Eaton’s call to serve as our presiding bishop.” Throughout the Churchwide Assembly and after, I heard those sentiments expressed often. Isn’t it wonderful that we can share gratitude for one person’s ser- vice and at the same time rejoice over another’s call for the same position? It is part of our witness that we are not bound by the divisive partisan- ship too often seen in society. We are Christ’s body. Unity is
God’s gift to us in baptism and at the Lord’s table. In Christ we each receive a variety of gifts from the Spirit to serve the gospel and participate in God’s mission of reconciliation. We steward those gifts in our varied call- ings among families and friends, in our congregations and communities, in the workplace, as citizens and as inhabitants of God’s creation. How we best use our gifts is not only for us to decide but also for the community. In Pittsburgh the Churchwide
As I reflect upon our Churchwide Assembly, I am grateful for the signs of our unity in Christ.
Assembly voted to call Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton of the North- eastern Ohio Synod to serve as the ELCA’s fourth presiding bishop and Wm Chris Boerger, a former synod bishop, to serve as its third sec- retary. The church called two pastors with marvel - ous gifts for leadership.
50 The Lutheran •
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Eaton is a passionate proclaimer of the gospel. She is a wise theologian com- mitted to a strong Lutheran evangelical confessional witness, and she sees great opportunity for such a teaching moment in the 500th anniversary of the Refor- mation in 2017. I appreciate her love for God’s people, her constant attentive- ness to healing divisions, and her focus on our unity in God’s mission. She has a strong commitment to the flourishing of congregations and leaders. As secretary, Boerger will be clear that good order serves the gospel. He will interpret our governing documents with openness to change in service of God’s mission. He will help us explore what is good governance in an increasingly complex and connected society. Both are committed to growing a church culture of collaboration and trust. As I reflect upon our Churchwide Assembly, I am grateful for the signs of our unity in Christ. As an assembly, Christ is present for us at the center of our work in worship and Bible study, where the word of Christ dwells in us richly in word and water, bread and wine. Together we are moving forward in God’s mission. We are renewing con- gregations and planting the church in growing and changing communities. Together we are raising up leaders for the church we are becoming. We are supporting partner churches in ending malaria through education, interven- tion and treatment. Together we are growing in our commitment to end hun- ger, to respond to disasters, and to build sustainable communities in places of poverty, hunger and disease.
The presence of our global, ecumenical and interreligious partners on one day at the assembly testifies to our commitment in the past 25 years that we define ourselves in relationship to others. Our ecumenical partners are opening us to new ways of doing ministry together. From a growing global communion of churches we are learning so much about being everyday evangelists engaged in holistic mission. In building interreligious relationships we give a powerful witness in a world that too often sees and fears religious extremists. The social statement on criminal justice witnesses how together we engage
complex issues in church and society. When in a marvelous moment the assembly approved the ELCA’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, it opened an opportunity to build upon the foundational strengths of this church and to increase our support for renewing congregations, planting new ministries, and raising up leaders here and in global churches. We will expand our commitment to relief and devel- opment and the ending of malaria. Global churches will have new opportuni- ties to grow in mission because of your generosity. Before, during and after the assembly, we have been a church in prayer.
Today my prayers are of thanksgiving to God for the amazing privilege it has been to serve the gospel as presiding bishop. I pray for Eaton, Boerger and all who serve throughout the ELCA. May they continue to be anointed with the power of the Spirit through the promise of the gospel.
A monthly message from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. His email address:
bishop@elca.org.
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