I attended churchwide assembly August 17-23 in Minneapolis as a registered visitor.  That means you get a nametag and a seat way in the back (Jeff Ramm and Linda Douce also went).  It was a long drive, but I'm glad I went.  There are some images that will stick with me forever:

• We elect persons from our synod to attend the churchwide assembly.  They're called Voting Members, rather than delegates or representatives because they are to vote their conscience rather than their constituency.  All the voting members, and especially ours from Southern Ohio Synod, approached the task diligently and faithfully.  I'm honored to be colleagues with each and every one of them. We don't agree on every issue, but we serve the same God.  They bore witness to me.


• Bishop Mark Hanson is an amazing leader.  It's easy to see why he was re-elected bishop of the ELCA on the second ballot, and why he is the president of the Lutheran World Federation, representing nearly 70 million Lutherans on this globe.  Despite the physical and emotional toll of leading such an assembly, he spoke consistently in grace.  I highly recommend his closing words to the assembly which can be found on the ELCA website (under Saturday).  The extended standing ovation was heartfelt by all.


• Which made it exceedingly sad to see him with a security detail, even as he worshipped.  It was his only option in response to threats received.


• The prayer shawls forwarded to the assembly were well received.  The AC in the assembly made them in high demand and they spoke volumes about hospitality and inclusion.  Even I brought one home.


• There was no cheering or booing during debate, despite sharp disagreement on some issues.  A spirit of discernment pervaded the gathering. Very faithful.


• The assembly stopped for prayer every 20 minutes.  Big screens were cleared of resolutions as a camera focused on a burning paschal candle.  A large Tibetan singing bowl was clanged.  A bishop or member of the Church Council led the prayer.  Powerful!


• I watched a mother, roughly my age, sitting next to her gay clergy son.  When harsh words were spoken, she rubbed his shoulders.  When they heard words of affirmation, they looked at each other and smiled.  When the Sexuality Statement passed by its two-thirds super majority, tears ran down her face as she pecked his cheek.  I would have driven to Alaska just to see that!


• I was also moved by the sense of dejection and hurt some persons felt.  I don't think they had been on the "losing end" of an issue like this for some time. Having experienced that in assemblies before, I hurt with them and for them.  We are sisters and brothers.


• The worship was magnificent. We had communion every day.  But also healing prayers with anointing oil, foot washing, even African dancing as we were sent into the world as God's witnesses.


• It is odd to read accounts of an event you are at.  Everyone's got a bit of a slant to what they write.  I have to see that as a gift, rather than a problem.


• Phil Soucy wrote a daily blog for Lutherans Concerned.  On Saturday, it was very brief, "I woke up this morning with the thought that we start our journeys home from churchwide today.  Then it stuck me that we came home Friday night ... We came home Friday night ...  There is a hotel chain that says they'll leave a light in the window for us ... We too have been following a light left in the window for us - by Christ Jesus.  We came home Friday night ... Welcome home, everybody ... Welcome home..."


• It's gotten little press, but we voted for "full communion" with the United Methodist Church. Thirty-one years ago when I was ordained, my dear friend Bert Kite, now the Methodist Superintendent of the Indianapolis District of the United Methodist Church, participated in my ordination.  He joined my bishop, and a handful of Lutheran pastors as they laid hands on me.  It's taken thirty-one years to codify what Bert and I understood back in college, "There's one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." (Ephesians 3)

I give thanks for this church we are part of.  We're not the whole church, but we are a branch on the vine of Christ.  Others don't always agree with us and we often don't agree with each other, but God has knit us together in Christ.  That alone is the source of our unity.  To that God be honor and praise, always and everywhere!

But Wait, There's More!

Wasn't it great to be able to watch on streaming video?  Our national church leaders were able to connect everybody to the dialogues that were happening in Minneapolis.  You can still go back and watch some of the proceedings.

And ... our website continues to bless us!  So much so that I want to encourage you to do two things: 

1.  Subscribe to our newsletter by email.  On the website home page, scroll down the right hand side to view the options under the “eNewsletters” heading.  The postal service is changing their requirements in October.  You can save this church a significant amount of money and get your newsletter faster.  Our mailing practices will soon be changing.  If you are not a member and you wish to continue receiving our newsletter, this will soon be your only option

2.  Please contribute to the Technology Fund.  We have not yet fully funded the changes in our technology, and we will continue to have expenses related to technological tools for ministry.