Joyful. Inspiring. Hopeful.

These are the three words that Bishop Wollersheim has used to describe this year’s Synod Assembly. Joyful. Inspiring. Hopeful.

I think a joyful, inspiring and hopeful synod assembly is just what we needed. The past year has been very challenging for the synod. As a staff, we have ventured into uncharted territory as we have sought to help congregations in whatever circumstances they found themselves.

It has been a stressful year for congregations. Some faced conflict and division over the 2010 Churchwide Assembly decisions regarding sexuality and the rostering of gay and lesbian persons in committed relationships. Two of our congregations have suffered major losses of membership following unsuccessful votes to leave the ELCA. A small number of congregations have either already voted to leave or plan to vote. It is a painful process in every case. As a synod, we grieve every loss.

There have been other congregations in the synod who have been patiently waiting to celebrate the Churchwide Assembly decisions. Out of respect for those who disagree, those celebrations have either been muted or postponed.

The general state of the economy has been a cause of stress in virtually every congregation.

Such grief and concern, at times, has overshadowed the good news, yet there is much of it throughout the synod.

So we came to the assembly ready to be together to experience joy, to be inspired, and to be filled with hope for the future. I cannot describe the electricity in Centennial Hall as we received GPS (God’s People Serving) as a new congregation. It feels like a long time since we have celebrated an event like this. We were inspired in strong preaching in worship and in the various Bible studies led by the executives of our agencies and institutions.

The first ballot re-election of Bishop Wollersheim was also a positive sign. A spirit of unity pervaded the entire assembly. It was a great to hear the Rev. Sherman Hicks present our ELCA report with joy for who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

I always ask new voting members for their impressions of the assembly. I think it is easy for those of us who have experienced lots of them to become somewhat blasé. What I hear from these new folks are stories of how much they have learned about the synod and the ELCA. I hear about the joy of experiencing an ordination service. I hear about our bishop’s graciousness in leading discussions. I hear about the importance of the resolutions. I hear about how they wish everyone back home could experience the assembly.

I agree with our bishop. The Northern Illinois Synod has a bright future. I am anxious to see what God has in mind for us to do next. Whatever it is, we will be walking together.

Read Bishop Wollersheim’s thoughts and see Synod Assembly highlights at: http://www.nisynod.org/.

Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/ --JC

You Were There

The one hundred and forty-first commencement of Luther Seminary was held this past Sunday afternoon at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. It was a great event. There were 152 graduates who received degrees. Dr. Diane Jacobson, retiring professor of Old Testament, preached the sermon. Yes, there was a sermon, because seminary graduation is set within the context of worship. The student responder, Andy Behrendt, was terrific. Central Lutheran Church provided a magnificent setting and offered wonderful hospitality.

This event, as grand as it was, would probably not be considered a momentous one by most in the Northern Illinois Synod. After all, Luther Seminary is but one of the ELCA’s eight seminaries and most of our new pastors come from either Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa or Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. However, among Luther’s graduates were one who has been assigned by the church to serve in our synod and another who is my son.

As I waited in the pew for the service to begin, I paged through the program and I found my son’s name. Listed beneath his name were three congregations: First Lutheran Church, Prophetstown, Illinois; Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, Illinois; and, Trinity Lutheran Church, Mt. Morris, Illinois. At the bottom of the page, in small print, it read, “Names of churches are the candidate’s home and/or supporting congregations.”

In that moment, I was reminded that our pew was very crowded. I was surrounded by my family, my daughter-in-law’s family and the closest of friends. But, you were there too. The congregation that has nurtured my son since he was six years old was there. Two other congregations (one is my daughter-in law’s home congregation) that have also financially supported him in his seminary education were there. Other congregations that have prayed for my son and others in our candidacy process were there. Finally, every congregation of our synod that gives Mission Support for the work of the wider church was there. Our pew was quite crowded indeed!

Holy Trinity Sunday may have passed quietly for you. Perhaps it was lost altogether in the Memorial Day weekend. It was a joy-filled day for our family. Dare I suggest that it was a momentous day for our synod?

Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. Thanks for reading! --JC