The Big News of the Day

What was the big news of the day? The answer would depend upon whom you asked and when you asked it.

This morning, all of the local news focused on one item. Brett Favre signed with the Vikings. At midday I found myself speaking with a Rockford TV news director regarding a tornado. By late afternoon our ELCA had adopted a social statement on human sexuality. This evening it was our colleges’ moment in the spotlight as they hosted a number of receptions. It was a big day and our voting members are tired this evening with much more hard work ahead.

From what I can tell, Minnesotans have mixed reactions to the Brett Favre story. About 2:00 p.m., the local news suddenly shifted to coverage of tornado damage in downtown Minneapolis. The tornado touched down just two or three blocks from the Minneapolis Convention Center where the Churchwide Assembly is meeting. Assembly participants were largely unaware of any problem before Bishop Hanson interrupted Dr. Diane Jacobson’s Bible study to announce the tornado warning. No evacuation of the plenary hall was necessary as it is one of the safest spots in the building. Dr. Jacobson met the challenge of teaching even while tornado sirens were sounding and PA announcements were being made. We were later informed that there had been some damage to the roof of the convention center, but nothing that would interfere with assembly business. There was also some damage to Central Lutheran Church, which lies across the street from the convention center. If you enlarge the top picture, you will see the damage to the 90 year old steeple. Paula Larsen and Mary Howe later checked out the damage.

Kurt Nordby and I happened to be at the right place at the right time to see lots of debris swirling through the air as we were returning to the convention center after lunch by way of skywalks. We were not terribly alarmed, but we wasted no time getting back to ground level! No severe weather had been predicted today, so this tornado surprised everyone. As I look out of my hotel window tonight, I see that the rain has resumed.

Our voting members took a moment following worship to have their picture taken as a group. We will have to find time to do it again because we were missing a few of the 19.

The assembly undertook a lot of very important business today, including immigration reform, beginning the election process for vice-president, the HIV/AIDS strategy, and of course the sexuality statement. Be sure to read all of the press releases on these actions. I do want to note the enthusiastic response given by the assembly to presentations made by the Rev. Harry Griffith, who represented military chaplains, and the Lutheran Youth Convocation.

Tomorrow promises to be another intense day for our voting members. Personally, I am hoping that assembly business does not run late so that we can keep our plans for dinner with our partner synod, the Lower Susquehanna Synod.

Continue to remember this assembly in your prayers. Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. --JC