This is my final blog from Orlando. Actually, it from my desk at home on Saturday morning. With the thunder storms last night, my flight did not come into Newark until 10:00. We were delayed 4 hours and took the scenic route from Orlando by way of Boston and Albany. Though delayed, I was very grateful for a safe trip.
The final morning was a whirlwind of activity. Besides getting ready to come home, there was still work to be done in the plenary session. Everything was accomplished in good order and the session was closed with only a 15 minute addition. We left the hall with many hugs and goodbyes and headed for the closing worship.
For one last time, we gathered around word and sacrament. Of all the services, this is the one that moved me the most. The sermon was exceptionally powerful. Among the many story shared, the pastor told of being in Haiti when the earthquake hit. Her husband was one of those buried in the rubble. He sang hymns as they tried to get to him, but they were unsuccessful. She spoke of the days that followed filled with the deepest sorrow, but also amazing grace. She spoke of witnessing the presence and power of God in the lives and faith of her Haitian brothers and sisters. In truth, she spoke the Gospel, death and resurrection. There are moments in these assemblies that take your breath away and renew your faith. This was one of those moments for me.
I return home weary, but deeply grateful. Grateful for the opportunity to attend the assembly. Grateful for the church, of which you and I are apart. And grateful, for the congregation I serve with my partner in ministry. It was a great week.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Orlando - Day 5
It's hard to believe that the assembly is drawing to a close. The day began with a breakfast meeting around immigration and refugees. It's hard to imagine that the Lutheran churches of all stripes first came together for mission after World War II to address the situation of Lutheran refugees in Europe.
After breakfast, the focus of the plenary session, both in the morning and the afternoon, was on the Social Satetement on Genetics and the numerous memorials that have been brought to the assembly for consideration. Having a committee of 1,025 made the process difficult at times, but I appreciated the end results. There is still more work to be done tomorrow. I was impacted by the number of people who spoke in favor of the social statement on genetics as being a real sign of hope. There was the woman with stage four cancer, the farmer from Iowa, and the genetic scientist each saying how proud they were of our church taking a stand. Their witness may me consider the social statement more carefully. The memorials also brought forward the voices of many people who feel forgotten in our times from those who are bullied, to native Americans, to our Islamic neighbors, to undocumented children. These individuals put a face and story to the actions we were taking. I will share those decisions when I return home.
Along with the legislative activity, their was still time for worship, Bible study, and fellowship. I had a wonderful lunch with my friend Gary Wollersheim and his wife Polly, who I haven't seen since seminary. It was good to catch up, share pictures of grandchildren, and talk about the joy of ministry. In the evening, the New Jersey delegation went out for dinner together to enjoy each others company and talk about the assembly. Oh course, we went to an Italian restaurant. All in all, it was another full and rewarding day. We will meet one more time in plenary session tomorrow morning, close with communion, and board our flights for home. It's been an incredible experience, but I will be glad to be home.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
After breakfast, the focus of the plenary session, both in the morning and the afternoon, was on the Social Satetement on Genetics and the numerous memorials that have been brought to the assembly for consideration. Having a committee of 1,025 made the process difficult at times, but I appreciated the end results. There is still more work to be done tomorrow. I was impacted by the number of people who spoke in favor of the social statement on genetics as being a real sign of hope. There was the woman with stage four cancer, the farmer from Iowa, and the genetic scientist each saying how proud they were of our church taking a stand. Their witness may me consider the social statement more carefully. The memorials also brought forward the voices of many people who feel forgotten in our times from those who are bullied, to native Americans, to our Islamic neighbors, to undocumented children. These individuals put a face and story to the actions we were taking. I will share those decisions when I return home.
Along with the legislative activity, their was still time for worship, Bible study, and fellowship. I had a wonderful lunch with my friend Gary Wollersheim and his wife Polly, who I haven't seen since seminary. It was good to catch up, share pictures of grandchildren, and talk about the joy of ministry. In the evening, the New Jersey delegation went out for dinner together to enjoy each others company and talk about the assembly. Oh course, we went to an Italian restaurant. All in all, it was another full and rewarding day. We will meet one more time in plenary session tomorrow morning, close with communion, and board our flights for home. It's been an incredible experience, but I will be glad to be home.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Orlando - Day 4
Today started bright and early with a plenary session at 8:00. We heard the report from the secretary, vice-president, and treasurer. I have a much better idea of what is happening around the church. Some synods have lost 16% of their congregations related to the 2009 decision on sexuality. The New Jersey synod has not lost one. Along with the financial downturn, the finances of the church have been deeply impacted, though we are trending up again.
While the news about our church's struggles was troubling, the report from the new head of the Lutheran World Federation was both exciting and powerful. Our church is making a real difference around the world for the sake of Christ. One example is what's happening in Somalia. The ongoing war and drought have been devastating. LWF is in charge of the largest refugee camp between Somalia and Kenya. 1,000 refugees a day arrive in the camp, and we are there providing food, water, shelter, and hope. The ELCA has contributed 1.5 million dollars to this effort. This is only one example.
Worship, bible study, and prayer continue to be at the center of our assembly. The worship again reflected the global nature of our witness. I thoroughly enjoyed the hymns from France. All of them were new to me. The preacher was from Haiti and the worship concluded with a great rendition of "Keep Your Eye on the Prize". Bible study is held every day for all 1,025 delegates. These are wonderful moments of renewal as we wade through the legislative work.
The legislative work filled the rest of the day. There are constitutional changes, memorials, and the LIFT document. Robert's Rules of Order have been a blessing and a curse. There are times when they clearly help us and times when they seem to frustrate our efforts. Again, I have been deeply impressed with the recommendations, arguments, and insights of the delegates.
I was very happy when we ended at 6:00 and we got the evening off. I had dinner with some of my fellow Jersey delegates and then went for a swim. You should see the size of the pool and I loved the hot tubs. That's right, hot tubs plural. I look forward to getting to bed a little earlier. The work will continue tomorrow. Please keep the assembly in your prayers. I'm sure I'll more stories to tell.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
While the news about our church's struggles was troubling, the report from the new head of the Lutheran World Federation was both exciting and powerful. Our church is making a real difference around the world for the sake of Christ. One example is what's happening in Somalia. The ongoing war and drought have been devastating. LWF is in charge of the largest refugee camp between Somalia and Kenya. 1,000 refugees a day arrive in the camp, and we are there providing food, water, shelter, and hope. The ELCA has contributed 1.5 million dollars to this effort. This is only one example.
Worship, bible study, and prayer continue to be at the center of our assembly. The worship again reflected the global nature of our witness. I thoroughly enjoyed the hymns from France. All of them were new to me. The preacher was from Haiti and the worship concluded with a great rendition of "Keep Your Eye on the Prize". Bible study is held every day for all 1,025 delegates. These are wonderful moments of renewal as we wade through the legislative work.
The legislative work filled the rest of the day. There are constitutional changes, memorials, and the LIFT document. Robert's Rules of Order have been a blessing and a curse. There are times when they clearly help us and times when they seem to frustrate our efforts. Again, I have been deeply impressed with the recommendations, arguments, and insights of the delegates.
I was very happy when we ended at 6:00 and we got the evening off. I had dinner with some of my fellow Jersey delegates and then went for a swim. You should see the size of the pool and I loved the hot tubs. That's right, hot tubs plural. I look forward to getting to bed a little earlier. The work will continue tomorrow. Please keep the assembly in your prayers. I'm sure I'll more stories to tell.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Orlando -Day 3
Today was another full day. The plenary session began at 8:00 on the dot. Bishop Hansen gave his report outlining his great sense of hope with the church. Lifting up one ministry after another, it was hard to disagree. What is amazing is the impact our church has globally. One illustration is how FEMA loves us. FEMA recognizes us as a community of faith that always resonds when there is a need and we stay until the work is done. That is true is Haiti, the Gulf Coast, and those areas devastated by the recent floods and tornadoes. I felt very proud to be a Lutheran.
After the Bishop's report, we took up our duscussion of the Lift report. Many questions were resided and we did not take any action and will wait until the next plenary session on Wednesday. We moved into worship, which was another rich experience. The music and liturgy had a real Asian feel. It was all new, but I loved every minute.
We had a bag lunch. Most of us headed outside. The hotel can be downright cold. The people from Minnesota may love it, but the rest of us didn't pack sweaters for Florida. After lunch, there was bible study with New Jersey taking the lead. Since we were all in our blue New Jersey shirts, it was good that we had a specific role to play. Once again, I enjoyed the conversation around the table with people from all across the country.
The bible study led to two mission encounters. Each one was a presentation of some of the exciting ministries taking place around the world and around the country. I almost didn't attend the second one since the first one was two hours. I'm glad I decided to attend the second. The music was amazing and the stories compelling. I'm sure some of those stories will make their way into a sermon or two.
Our dinner had a mission theme with a global choir singing songs of praise from around the world. The people at my table were from Nebraska, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma. It was difficult to speak over the music, but somehow, everyone could hear me.
Leaving the banquet hall dancing, our synod delegation met to discuss the days events and decisions and to work through the long list of nominations. I was very impressed with the conversation and feel very honored to be a part of this delegation. Our work concluded at 9:45 and I am once again sitting in the WiFi cafe writing this blog. They are still trying to serve me drinks, but I may be the only Lutheran in the cafe not enjoying the beverages. I will be heading to bed shortly. I continue to be grateful for this experience and look forward to bringing home what I have learned.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
After the Bishop's report, we took up our duscussion of the Lift report. Many questions were resided and we did not take any action and will wait until the next plenary session on Wednesday. We moved into worship, which was another rich experience. The music and liturgy had a real Asian feel. It was all new, but I loved every minute.
We had a bag lunch. Most of us headed outside. The hotel can be downright cold. The people from Minnesota may love it, but the rest of us didn't pack sweaters for Florida. After lunch, there was bible study with New Jersey taking the lead. Since we were all in our blue New Jersey shirts, it was good that we had a specific role to play. Once again, I enjoyed the conversation around the table with people from all across the country.
The bible study led to two mission encounters. Each one was a presentation of some of the exciting ministries taking place around the world and around the country. I almost didn't attend the second one since the first one was two hours. I'm glad I decided to attend the second. The music was amazing and the stories compelling. I'm sure some of those stories will make their way into a sermon or two.
Our dinner had a mission theme with a global choir singing songs of praise from around the world. The people at my table were from Nebraska, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma. It was difficult to speak over the music, but somehow, everyone could hear me.
Leaving the banquet hall dancing, our synod delegation met to discuss the days events and decisions and to work through the long list of nominations. I was very impressed with the conversation and feel very honored to be a part of this delegation. Our work concluded at 9:45 and I am once again sitting in the WiFi cafe writing this blog. They are still trying to serve me drinks, but I may be the only Lutheran in the cafe not enjoying the beverages. I will be heading to bed shortly. I continue to be grateful for this experience and look forward to bringing home what I have learned.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Monday, August 15, 2011
Orlando - Day 2
The assembly officially began today. I registered as a voting delegate. The first order of business was to attend a hearing on the social statement on genetics. I was very impressed with the people who developed the statement. My one question was very practical. How do you translate this document into parish life? Why is the question important for us as a church? It certainly has made a big splash in the genetic world. I was assured that they would address my concern in the study guide that is being developed for congregations.
An orientation was provided following the hearings. We learned how to use our electronic voting devices. They look like a remote control for your TV. They certainly make voting easy. After learning the ropes, lunch was served in one of the four ballrooms. I enjoyed meeting people from other parts of the ELCA. I also had the chance to catch up with an old friend from seminary, Gary Wollersheim. He is presently the bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod. He spoke of the challenges in connection with the social statement on sexuality, which has led to a number of congregations leaving the ELCA in his synod and the financial downturn impacting Illinois. Amidst our talk about the future of the church, we also had the opportunity to share stories about our grandchildren.
The first plenary session was held in the afternoon. The budget was presented. The projected income is down 24% from 2009. This is forcing some difficult choices in the life of the church. Staff has been reduced significantly and programs have been cut. However, Even with the downturn, the church does amazing work.
The LIFT study was then introduced. LIFT is Living into the Future Together: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA. The purpose of the study is "to recognize the evolving societal and economic changes of the twenty years since the formation of this church and to evaluate the organization, governance and interrelationships among this church's expressions in the light of those changes". I have a concern that the study and recommendations do not fully capture the challenges facing the church. At dinner, we had conversation around the table in connection with LIFT. So many congregations and pastors are struggling. As I listened, I remain so grateful to be serving a congregation that is alive, active, and engaged.
Between the plenary session and dinner, we had our first communion service. There's nothing like 1,025 Lutherans singing. The worship was wonderful. They had a full range of insruments, a beautiful choir, amazing banners, and the Bishop delivered a great sermon. The focus was the disruptive nature of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people and the church that opens up new opportunities and growth. I felt renewed.
In the evening, we met again in plenary session. There was an additional presentation on LIFT and then a presentation on the Malaria Campaign. The assembly voted to support the campaign through 2015. We will be joining forces with many other organizations to help eliminate malaria in Africa by 2015. Malaria remains the leading cause of death in Africa and it is both preventable and treatable. A number of synods have already launched efforts. The session closed at 9:45 and I'm writing this blog before I go to bed. If people are interested in following the assembly, they can go to ELCA.org and follow the directions. If you visit the site, the New Jersey delegation is all the way in the back. Keep the assembly in your prayers and I'll write again tomorrow.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
An orientation was provided following the hearings. We learned how to use our electronic voting devices. They look like a remote control for your TV. They certainly make voting easy. After learning the ropes, lunch was served in one of the four ballrooms. I enjoyed meeting people from other parts of the ELCA. I also had the chance to catch up with an old friend from seminary, Gary Wollersheim. He is presently the bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod. He spoke of the challenges in connection with the social statement on sexuality, which has led to a number of congregations leaving the ELCA in his synod and the financial downturn impacting Illinois. Amidst our talk about the future of the church, we also had the opportunity to share stories about our grandchildren.
The first plenary session was held in the afternoon. The budget was presented. The projected income is down 24% from 2009. This is forcing some difficult choices in the life of the church. Staff has been reduced significantly and programs have been cut. However, Even with the downturn, the church does amazing work.
The LIFT study was then introduced. LIFT is Living into the Future Together: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA. The purpose of the study is "to recognize the evolving societal and economic changes of the twenty years since the formation of this church and to evaluate the organization, governance and interrelationships among this church's expressions in the light of those changes". I have a concern that the study and recommendations do not fully capture the challenges facing the church. At dinner, we had conversation around the table in connection with LIFT. So many congregations and pastors are struggling. As I listened, I remain so grateful to be serving a congregation that is alive, active, and engaged.
Between the plenary session and dinner, we had our first communion service. There's nothing like 1,025 Lutherans singing. The worship was wonderful. They had a full range of insruments, a beautiful choir, amazing banners, and the Bishop delivered a great sermon. The focus was the disruptive nature of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people and the church that opens up new opportunities and growth. I felt renewed.
In the evening, we met again in plenary session. There was an additional presentation on LIFT and then a presentation on the Malaria Campaign. The assembly voted to support the campaign through 2015. We will be joining forces with many other organizations to help eliminate malaria in Africa by 2015. Malaria remains the leading cause of death in Africa and it is both preventable and treatable. A number of synods have already launched efforts. The session closed at 9:45 and I'm writing this blog before I go to bed. If people are interested in following the assembly, they can go to ELCA.org and follow the directions. If you visit the site, the New Jersey delegation is all the way in the back. Keep the assembly in your prayers and I'll write again tomorrow.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Orlando - Day 1
I have arrived in Orlando. The flight was uneventful and was only delayed by 1/2 hour. I had a delightful shuttle ride with a couple on their honeymoon. They were going to Disney World as Bonnie and I had done 38 years ago. He was back from Iraq and they were about to enjoy what they had postponed because of the war. They were so happy. It did my heart good to listen to their plans and obvious excitement. I wished them well in their life together. I told them that Disney World had been a very special place for Bonnie and me in our life together.
The shuttle arrived at the World Center, which turns out to be a five star hotel. I got lost in the lobby. I think they have eight restaurants. I set out for the Food Court. I'm assuming the church got a good deal in the middle of August. The delegates are arriving as I sit in the WiFi bar. They keep asking me if I want a drink. I have been a disappointment to the wait staff.
I have read through the material for the assembly. I am very impressed with the work that has already been done. There are so many memorials from the various synods, but all of them have been processed and recommendations have been made. I am very impressed with the consideration given to each memorial. Each recommendation is thoughtful, Biblical, and gracious.
Tomorrow the real works begins. Registration is bright and early. I can hardly wait to hear that many Lutherans sing. Well, I'm off to find my room again. I left bread crumbs. I will write again tomorrow night. Please keep the assembly in your prayers. I am excited about this opportunity to see the church-at-large at work.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
The shuttle arrived at the World Center, which turns out to be a five star hotel. I got lost in the lobby. I think they have eight restaurants. I set out for the Food Court. I'm assuming the church got a good deal in the middle of August. The delegates are arriving as I sit in the WiFi bar. They keep asking me if I want a drink. I have been a disappointment to the wait staff.
I have read through the material for the assembly. I am very impressed with the work that has already been done. There are so many memorials from the various synods, but all of them have been processed and recommendations have been made. I am very impressed with the consideration given to each memorial. Each recommendation is thoughtful, Biblical, and gracious.
Tomorrow the real works begins. Registration is bright and early. I can hardly wait to hear that many Lutherans sing. Well, I'm off to find my room again. I left bread crumbs. I will write again tomorrow night. Please keep the assembly in your prayers. I am excited about this opportunity to see the church-at-large at work.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)