The
other day I was asked about how our Synodically Authorized Worshiping
Communities (SAWCs) are doing. I am
happy to report that they are doing well!
Pastor Kurt Nordby, our Director of Evangelical Mission, has been
working closely with each SAWC and believes their potential for continued
growth and community impact is great.
When I
first wrote about our SAWCs (July 2010), we had four active
worshiping communities. Much has
happened in their lives since then.
Together
in Christ, Johnsburg had a short life and merged back into Joyful Harvest when
it returned to the ELCA. Its servant
leader, Doug Liston, has served Joyful Harvest during his internship and while
completing his seminary studies at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. We anticipate celebrating his ordination at
this year’s synod assembly.
Lord of
Love, Galena outgrew its original space and now meets at the Ramada Inn. Dennis Hill serves as its servant
leader. Hill, a former Baptist pastor,
will also likely be ordained at this year’s synod assembly. He is quick to remind everyone, “At Lord of
Love, when we say, ‘All are welcome,’ we mean it.” Lord of Love will be received as a
congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the synod
assembly in June. This will no doubt be
a highlight of this 25th anniversary assembly.
 |
| Open Arms' young musicians lead worship |
Freedom,
Oregon continues to meet at Lutheran Outdoors Ministries Center. Worship has moved from Freedom Tree Village
to the dining hall for the additional space that is needed. Pastor Frank Lay continues to serve Freedom.
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| Servant Leader Elizabeth Martin |
Open
Arms, Rockton has a new space to call home.
It is a storefront in the business district, providing worship,
fellowship, meeting and office space.
This replaces a school for Sunday worship and private homes for
everything else. Open Arms’ servant
leader is Elizabeth Martin. Elizabeth is
an associate in ministry and is currently studying in the M.Div. program at
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Each of
our SAWCs is serving as the ELCA presence in their respective communities and
bringing the good news of our resurrected Lord.
Other synods have looked to the Northern Illinois Synod for advice on
how to utilize the SAWC concept since we have used it in a way for which it was
not originally conceived. Our SAWCs were
first places of healing and solace and are now communities of faith, outreach
and service.
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