Witness to the gospel ‘deep in the bones’ of Lutherans
M
artin Junge (left), gen-
eral secretary of the Lutheran World Federa- tion, greeted the Churchwide Assembly with gratitude for the ELCA’s partnership.
As the ELCA meets, he said, it embraces and embodies 70 million Lutherans and 145 member churches around the world. “You are not alone, for we jour- ney together with other churches, grounded on foundations of Lutheran theology, joining together to give wit- ness to the gospel in our world,” he said. “This awareness of being part of the global church is deep in the bones of the ELCA. Simply said, we would not have the Lutheran World Federa- tion without the leadership of Ameri- can Lutherans.”
Junge, a pastor from Chile, had just returned from the Horn of Africa, where 12 million suffer from fam- ine. He visited the Dadaab Camp in Kenya, the largest refugee camp in the world, which is managed by LWF. Being the church means to see the world’s pain and get involved, he said. He invited the assembly to look with him toward 2017, the 500th anni- versary of the Reformation. Churches “from Siberia to Sumatra” will celebrate the meaning of Lutheran insights into the gospel, he said, call- ing Lutherans to not only celebrate but be self-critical about the church’s wit- ness. “We are churches in an ongoing process of reforming,” he said.
Micah Leslie, from the Northwestern Minnesota Synod, speaks during the assem- bly in Orlando. Some 13 percent of voting members were 30 or younger.
A great week, and a great challenge A
Perspective:
ttending the ELCA Churchwide Assembly for the first time brought the business of our denomi- nation alive. By the weekend, two themes had indelibly woven them- selves together: unity and youth. I will not forget the warm embrace Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson shared with Sayyid M. Sayeed, sec- retary general of the Islamic Society of North America, after his remarks to the assembly. Nor will I forget the spirit of unity shared by all ecumeni- cal partners who brought greetings. As one young adult said, “That’s how we will advance greater understand- ing in our world.” The ELCA young adults who par-
ticipated as voting members this year fully participated in the issues dis- cussed: genetics, ecumenism, immi- gration, communication structures, agricultural policies, environmental stewardship and more. They came because they wanted to. They will remain because they want to shape the future we share. While voting members of all demographics overwhelmingly affirmed the work done to keep the
ELCA viable, I sensed a feeling of unease over one general unknown: Will the new structure allow for members to remain engaged? I hope and believe so.
Only 1,025 voting members of the
ELCA’s 4.2 baptized members carry legislative authority; that only occurs biennially, and after 2013, triennially. The remainder of the church year local congregations and synods guide the ministries of our church, along with the ELCA Church Council on the churchwide level. How it all fits together can be witnessed best, I believe, at the Churchwide Assembly. It’s easy to feel disconnected to the church at large. That’s why I am grateful for a week that bore wit- ness to who Lutherans are and what we do. I hope to attend another, but if not, I’ll do what my husband does—watch every plenary and wor- ship via webcast. After all, we live a connected future. I want to remain plugged in.
Joy M. Newcom Newcom is chair of The Lutheran’s advisory
committee and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, Iowa.
September 2011 29
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