News

Luther’s Table

Gloria Dei — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:08:14 +0000

Recently, Stephanie I went on a field trip to Renton, WA. to visit Luther’s Table. Luther’s Table is part of a unique ministry that has developed from Renton Lutheran Church. Renton Lutheran was at the end of its ministry but from the legacy of that ministry has arisen a veteran’s housing complex and Luther’s Table http://www.lutherstable.org/ Luther’s table is a coffee house, wine / beer bar, worship on Sunday evening outreach ministry of local congregations into the downtown core of Renton. It is a unique model of church presence.

Pamela Nel arranged the visit. Pamela, who now lives in Langley was instrumental in working with the congregation to bring about this project. Throughout the process the congregation was consistent in focusing on the question “What is God calling us to do in this time and place.” and on its vision statement which called it to meet the needs of their community. Pastor Kim.

A Letter to ELCIC Members on Structural Renewal

Gloria Dei — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:09:51 +0000

Winnipeg, 14 April 2012--In a letter to the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), National Bishop Susan C. Johnson urges delegates to upcoming synod conventions across the church to "carefully and prayerfully read all of the materials in your bulletin of reports. Come with open ears and hearts so we can listen together to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church."

Bishop Johnson's letter provides an update on the structural renewal process to-date and the proposals coming before all ELCIC synod conventions over the next few months. A copy of the letter follows. An accompanying video has also been prepared by Bishop Johnson. ELCIC congregations are encouraged to find an opportunity before or following worship to share the video with their members. The video can be viewed here: www.elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop

Dear Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada:

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Three years ago the officers of every synod and the National Church met in consultation. We looked at trends in the church including decreases in membership and finances. As a whole group we agreed that our church was not operating as efficiently as it could and asked National Church Council (NCC) to set up a task force to look at options.

NCC did just that, and the Structural Renewal Task Force worked for the next two years. They looked at all possible options from more synods, to no synods, and to no National Church. They consulted widely – at synod conventions, with the whole church via a survey, with conference meetings, with bishops and synod councils. And finally at last year’s National Convention they put a plan forward that the National Church adopted in principle.

The “in principle” part was because all of the details were not yet in place. Over the past eight months a National Implementation Team and three Synod Implementation teams have been working hard to try to put flesh onto the proposals that were brought to National Convention. There is a lot more “flesh on the bones”, but the reality is that synods will be asked to vote on proposals that are a “work in progress”. Proposals that will continue to be refined in the next two years. I know this means a leap of faith – trust in the direction of the work that has taken place and trust that the remaining work will be satisfactorily completed in the next two years.

For some this may cause anxiety. These are big changes and we will not be the same church as we move forward. We will work together differently as congregations, areas, synods, and as a National Church. There will be compromises made and some things that are dear to us will have to be sacrificed so that we can move forward. It’s painful.

But what St. Paul says is correct. We are all parts of the body and we need each part in order to function. I believe we all need to make these necessary changes so that we can continue to faithfully be part of God’s mission to love and serve the world.
The other great change taking place in our church is spiritual renewal. I’m so deeply excited about the way that this call to deeper discipleship is being picked up all across the church. I know this type of transformation does not happen overnight. But as we continue to grow as disciples in our spiritual practices and especially in our ability to share the good news of Jesus with those around us, we will grow as a church – in depth and then in numbers. Structural renewal allows us the time and redistribution of funding to allow this spiritual renewal to take place. It takes time to grow.

Let me speak very candidly to you. If we do not move ahead with structural renewal, including the amalgamation of synods, the reality is that synods will continue to be forced to make cuts to the National Church in order balance their own budgets. This is already happening. And it won’t take much more until the National Church will not be able to function.

Without a National Church structure, synods will lose their ability to be members of an international and ecumenical church through the Canadian Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, and the World Council of Churches. They will not have the ability to relate nationally to our full communion partner, the Anglican Church of Canada. They will lose the ability to work with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in areas like Global Mission. We will end up a small and very narrow-focused church, and I do not believe that is what God is calling us to do.

I urge you to pray for each of the upcoming synod conventions, that God will lead and guide us and show us the way forward. Dates for the upcoming conventions are as follows:

April 26-29: Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod Convention
· May 10-13: British Columbia Synod Convention
· May 24-27: Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention
· June 1-3: Saskatchewan Synod Convention
· July 5-8: Eastern Synod Assembly

If you are a delegate to a synod convention, I ask you to carefully and prayerfully read all of the materials in your bulletin of reports. Come with open ears and hearts so we can listen together to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Come prepared to hope and dream a bit together…and yes even to debate as together we make decisions for the ELCIC, this corner of God’s church that we call home.

This is God’s church! We know that no matter what decisions we make God will be with us to guide, bless and bring new life.

So let us commit ourselves to renewal – structural renewal and spiritual renewal – so that together we can grow in discipleship and truly be together a church In Mission for Others.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson
National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

ELCIC's Longest Serving Missionary to Retire

Gloria Dei — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:08:34 +0000

Winnipeg, 13 April 2012--After 23 years of dedicated ministry to the people of El Salvador, Rev. Brian Rude has announced that he will retire from active ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) at the end of this calendar year.

Rev. Rude began his ministry in El Salvador serving as chaplain in an orphanage and teaching Christian formation, as well as working in the communications department of the Lutheran church. His ministry was one of accompanying the El Salvadorian people during armed conflict which occurred within the country. Following the Peace Accords of 1992, and the closing of the orphanage in 1994, his ministry expanded to include people living with HIV/AIDS in prisons, parishes and hospitals. Brian co-founded the Quetzalcoatl foundation - an organization which seeks to understand gang violence by working with prison personnel and inmates (especially gang members) and at-risk youth in their neighbourhoods, with a focus on mental health and on increasing opportunities and reducing social violence. He was involved in this ministry until 2011. Currently he is involved in restorative justice ministry in the prison system throughout the country and surrounding areas.

The news of Rev. Rude's retirement comes following a difficult decision made by the ELCIC's National Church Council (NCC) at its March meeting. NCC members determined that due to severe budget constraints it would no longer able to sustain long-term missionaries. There were significant cutbacks in several other areas of ELCIC programming, however the ELCIC will continue to support the indigenous missionaries of the Amazon mission and in Argentina.

"This was a very painful decision for us," says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "Supporting ELCIC members in mission around the world has been an important part of the ministry of this church and its predecessors. Fortunately, through our partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Global Mission, ELCIC personnel can continue to serve."

Bishop Johnson commended Rev. Rude for his extraordinary service to the church. "He serves as a role model of being In Mission for Others for his accompaniment with the poor and marginalized in El Salvador," she says. "There are few in the ELCIC who have not heard of Brian and the stories, newsletters and messages which he has so graciously provided over the span of his ministry. We are grateful for the work he has accomplished in his years of ministry."

Reflecting on his ministry, Rev. Rude speaks of the seed that flourished into his becoming a long-term missionary which came following the hosting of two educational delegations to Central America (the ecumenical "Ten Days for World Development" focus at the time). "I was envisioning, with Salvadoran refugee friends in Calgary, the possibility of this longer-term mission to El Salvador after receiving enthusiastic affirmation from Lutheran Bishop Gómez in El Salvador," says Rev. Rude.

"As a church, we have been graciously welcomed into the orphanages, the war zones, the displaced peoples' camps, the campesino villages of repatriated refugees, the earthquake and hurricane disaster zones, the AIDS wards, the gang barrios, the prison dungeons and the back alleys of El Salvador, the land of The Saviour," continues Rev. Rude. "In these sacred spaces, we have discovered Jesus already present, loving God's crucified people, inviting us to join in his mission of incarnation, of solidarity. In mission with our sisters and brothers of El Salvador, we have been learning to follow Jesus ever more faithfully."

Rev. Rude expresses his sincere thanks to all throughout the church, "especially to those who have supported and enriched me and this ELCIC El Salvador-Canada ministry over these many years, in so many ways. To God be the glory!"

Peru Long-Term Missionary also to move on to new opportunities

Following four years of ministry in Peru, Rev. Fran Schmidt has decided not to renew her contract at the end of her term this June.

Rev. Fran Schmidt began her dedicated service to the Lutheran Church of Peru (ILEP) in 2008 following her ordination. She has provided ministry to the church of San Juan Camino de Esperanze and was an interim pastor to the congregation of Emaus. The ILEP churches were blessed to benefit from her music leadership as she taught music lessons, liturgy courses and conducted choirs. Rev. Schmidt returns to Canada at the end of June and will take part in four months of reorientation.

"We give thanks to Rev. Schmidt for her dedicated service to the church and to her missionary church," says Bishop Johnson.

Rev. Schmidt says she leaves Peru and the ministry there, "with an incredible sense of gratitude and humility. Being able to serve ILEP through its partnership with ELCIC has been a great joy and privilege and we have all learned so much in this journey together. We have worked side by side in God’s vineyard, accompanying one another, challenging one another, and learning what it means to be the body of Christ."

She extends her thanks to her brothers and sisters in Christ in the church in Peru for their generous hearts, open spirits, kindness and patience. "They have taught me, and us, as ELCIC, what it means to proclaim Gospel in the world," she shares. "We are richer for the experience of accompanying one another and meeting Christ in our journeying together. I also wish to thank the many ELCIC congregations and members who have regularly sent emails, cards and letters; their prayers and support have meant more to me than they can ever know! My prayers remain with ILEP as they vision and grow."

Ministry of long-term missionaries to be celebrated

ELCIC members will be invited to share their thanks for the ministry of Rev. Rude and Rev. Schmidt. Details will be announced shortly of ways that members can personally share their gratitude for this mission and ministry.

ELCIC Global Mission support and opportunities

Years ago, ELCIC churches in Canada had a vision to plant churches in many areas of the world. Long-term missionaries were supported by the faithful back in Canada and assisted in the establishment of many new churches. Today those planted churches, through their own efforts and the efforts of The Lutheran World Federation, are becoming sustainable as institutions. The way in which the ELCIC supports these churches has changed as the ELCIC moves into partnerships of accompaniment and responds to the invitation to be present.

"It is no longer as much about us sending people," explains Rev. Carla Blakley, assistant to the National Bishop for Global Mission. "The ministry of global mission continues to evolve. Many of our partner churches have established seminaries and are training local pastors. They are now asking us to partner with them in supporting their churches and their pastors. This is exactly what we see with our relationship within the Amazon mission and in Argentina."

ELCIC Global Mission (GM) remains committed to the full administration, funding and supervision of missions in Peru (Rev. Yoli Zavaleta in the Amazon Mission) and Argentina (Rev. Gustavo Gomez and Rev. Sergio Utz).

In Peru, ELCIC GM continues the work of Rev. Katharine Bergbusch through the financial support of a local pastor in the ministry at the mission congregation of Fiel es Dios (God is Faithful).

In Southern Argentina, ELCIC GM shares a joint mission with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU). Rev. Utz is a pastor at Esperanza del Sur (Hope of the South) congregation in Esquel and Cruz del Sur (Southern Cross) congregation in Bariloche and works with Mapuche aboriginals at Cushmen. Rev. Gomez is a pastor at San Juan Bautista congregation in Comodoro Rivadavia and oversees the congregation’s daycare.

The ELCIC also carries out its ministry of global mission through a key partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Global Mission. ELCIC members interested in serving as missionaries have access to opportunities through the ELCA Global Mission office.

ELCIC members who have supported the mission and ministry within the regions of El Salvador and Peru are asked to please consider continuing financial support to enable ELCIC Global Mission to be In Mission for Others through the ministry of other program areas. Further information on how to provide support is available online at www.elcic.ca/Global-Mission.

NEWS RELEASE From the National Office of the ELCIC

Gloria Dei — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:17:49 +0000

NCC members participate in visioning workshop and consider “the future to which God is calling the national expression of the ELCIC”

Winnipeg, March 16, 2012 -- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Church Council (NCC) members participated in a day-long visioning session as part of its recent spring meeting. Through a facilitated discussion process, NCC members considered where God is calling the national expression of the church.

During the vision process, NCC members evaluated the work of the national expression over the past four years. Council was asked to consider how fully strategies have been implemented and how effective the strategies have been. The review lifted up the development of the ELCIC’s five pillars of focus (spirited discipleship, effective partnership, focused framework, diverse faces, and compassionate justice), reaffirming the church’s mission in these areas and offering an expanded look at how to proceed over the next four years.

ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson stressed the importance of the council's work in this area. "Allowing time for visioning at this meeting is critical to how we move forward and adapt to our changing landscape," said Bishop Johnson. "The visioning process and reflecting on our future will help guide our mission and ministry over the next four years. I want to thank the members of NCC for rolling up their sleeves and working hard on this during our recent meeting!"

In addition to the one-day visioning session, council members also received reports from the National Bishop, Officers and Synod Bishops. An update was also provided by the National Implementation Team on the Structural Renewal work being done by the synods in preparation for their upcoming Synod Conventions. Some concerns about the Structural Renewal process were raised at the meeting; NCC members discussed and prepared plan to address the concerns. More communication about the implementation process is being communicated by synods in advance of their Synod Conventions and is also available on the ELCIC website (www.elcic.ca/Structural-Renewal). NCC's meeting agenda also included decisions on budgeting due to an unanticipated shortfall in benevolence from some synods in 2011 and the notice of a further reduction of support in 2012. More information will be communicated churchwide as details are finalized.

Worship is always an integral part of NCC meetings. For its spring meeting, new council member Jeff Buhse led the opening worship service – with Bishop Susan Johnson presiding. Buhse also opened each day of meetings with devotions. Several council members also shared their personal faith stories as part of a Dwelling in the Word component of the meeting. These personal faith stories will be available for viewing on the NCC website shortly (www.elcic.ca/National-Church-Council/Dwelling-In-The-World.cfm).

The NCC meeting took place in Winnipeg from March 8-10. The next meeting of the council is scheduled for September 6-8, 2012.

BC Synod Structural Renewal

Gloria Dei — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:10:11 +0000

As most of you are aware, the national church is in the process of structural renewal.
You are encouraged to read the letters from the BC Synod and the ABT Synod on working
together for structural renewal. You can find them at bcsynod.org. Pastor Kim will be leading
a forum on this topic after church on Sunday, March 4th.

Donations collected for the North Shore Lookout Shelter

Gloria Dei — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:54:25 +0000

George and Pr. Kim dropping off blankets, socks and a cheque to the North Shore Lookout Shelter.

Then David Newberry the community liaison worker gave Pr. Kim a tour.

Three things Pr. Kim learned on the tour:

1) NS Lookout provides 45 year round minimum barrier shelter beds, and offers up to 20 overflow sleeping mats in extreme weather.

2) The people who use this shelter view the N Shore as their home in exactly the same way as people who live in more affluent areas.

3) When the "big one" hits these folks with honed survival skills would be good to have around.