in both parish and synodical minis- try. We look forward to his leader- ship during this time of transition.” Nycklemoe previously served as bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. He replaces Craig Johnson, who resigned to take an interim call at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, following the death of its pastor, Paul Youngdahl, in June (August, page 8). A new bishop will be elected at the synod assembly in February.
Focused on wellness
The Slovak Zion Synod met June 24-26 on a cruise from New York to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. In addition to synod business and elec- tions, enrichment centered around the themes of wellness and self-care, including sessions titled “Healthy Leaders Enhance Lives” and “Healthy Leaders, Saint and Sinners on a Jour- ney,” reported Thomas Drobena, The Lutheran’s synod correspondent.
Tell us! Pure gift What’s the best gift (especially at Christmastime) you’ve ever given or received? Send your story (maximum 300 words) and contact information to
julie.sevig@
thelutheran.org by Oct. 1.
Recovery begins in Minot Minot, N.D., was devastated by record-breaking floods June 22. Among the damaged buildings were ELCA churches: First, Augustana and Christ in Minot and Peace in Burl- ington, N.D. Bishop Mark E. Narum of the Western North Dakota Synod said repairs to the churches would surpass $1 million, but greater pain is felt by thousands of Lutheran and non-Lutheran residents whose homes and businesses were irreparably dam- aged. At presstime, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota was helping residents rebuild, with Minot Mayor
Canadians open doors to gay marriage & pastors T
he National Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada widened the denomina- tion’s welcome for gays and lesbi- ans and restructured the national church at its July 14-17 meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The 152,500-member church will now allow same-sex marriages and the ordination of gays and lesbians. Following more than two hours of debate, delegates approved 213-134 a human sexuality social statement (available at www.elcic. ca/Human-Sexuality/default. cfm) that developed out of a four- year national study of sexuality. The statement calls the ELCIC to “denounce discrimination, includ- ing sexual discrimination, in all its forms.” The voting process for the social statement was contentious. Delegates defeated a motion that would have required approval by a two-thirds majority instead of the usual majority vote. In a statement, Lutherans Con- cerned/North America executive director Emily Eastwood, who attended the convention, said the ELCIC social statement is “more prophetic than that of the ELCA” and “a major turning point in the Canadian church toward full inclusion.”
Delegates also voted 192-132
Curt Zimbelman asking Lutheran Disaster Relief to help coordinate vol- unteer cleanup efforts.
Meeting with Obama
Despite committing himself fully to resolving the debt-ceiling crisis that dominated summer headlines, President Barack Obama took time to
10 Quote
Now we know the reality of so many others in the world where violence pierces the lives of the innocent.
Olav Fykse Tveit, a Norwegian Lutheran and general secretary of the World Council of Churches, following the domestic terror attacks in and around Oslo, Norway, that left 77 people dead.
September 2011 9
to allow ELCIC clergy to preside at or bless same-sex marriages, according to their consciences and the laws of their provinces. Canada legalized same-gender marriage in July 2005.
In a 205-114 vote, delegates rescinded past actions that banned noncelibate gay and lesbian people from ordination and call. The action states that sexual orientation is not in itself a factor that disqualifies a candidate for rostered ministry. Voting 204-133, they affirmed
a statement that church members who disagree with one another will remain in dialogue and unity, and refrain from church-dividing actions.
In other action, delegates:
• Approved in principle restruc- turing moves that reorganize the ELCIC’s five synods into three; move from biennial to triennial national conventions of reduced size; and reconfigure regional con- ferences into area congregational groupings supported by leadership teams. Delegates gave the ELCIC National Church Council the authority to implement the changes. • Re-elected Susan C. Johnson to a second four-year term as ELCIC national bishop.
Based on ELCIC news releases
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