Various Docs.pub
2016 GRAND CANYON SYNOD ASSEMBLY JUNE 16-17
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Partners in Mission: If we are honest it would be easy to get discouraged
“So don’t lose a minute in building
by the trends of decline among Americans choosing
on what you’ve been given,
to par.cipate in any kind of organized religion, let
complemen,ng your basic faith with
alone our ELCA congrega.ons. As I travel the synod
good character, spiritual
and listen to leaders and disciples in local congrega-
understanding, alert discipline,
.ons many share concerns about the future viability
passionate pa,ence, reverent
of their local congrega.on as aging memberships
wonder, warm friendliness, and
and declining financial capacity cause worry and anx-
generous love, each dimension fi0ng
iety. Some really wonder if their beloved community
into and developing the others”.
will have a future place in God’s mission plan. Pastors and lay leaders seek out the next big thing that might turn things around. Some place their hope in
This transla.on captures the urgent incarna-
changing worship formats.
Some seek to call a
.onal call we have been given to reflect a liv-
younger leader believing others like them will flock
ing faith in our living Lord, Jesus Christ. That
to the community. Some seek to fill ministry calendars with mul.ple op.ons of Chris.an programming for individuals and families to pick, choose, and consume. Yet significant change is not no.ced. So what
reflec.on is revealed as we discover again and again the truth of our Easter proclama.on, “Jesus is not Dead, He is Risen, He is
are we to do? How might we con.nue to believe it
Alive.” Because Jesus Christ is alive and mov-
ma:ers to be a part of the Christ movement and the
ing among us through his body the Church,
body of Christ?
people around us are being transformed, being changed by demonstra.ng the quali.es of
Our Reforming for Mission Table has been charged
good character and inves.ng their lives in
with assis.ng congrega.ons wrestling with inten.onal
serving, caring for, and developing oth-
mission planning by helping them focus on learning
ers. That reflec.on is revealed in our congre-
what God is up to in their neighborhood and discover-
ga.ons and all members of the ELCA, maybe
ing what is God calling the congrega.on to be about. They have invited us to gather for our annual synod assembly around the theme of “Get Moving” with Eu-
not as clearly seen as we might hope, but it is there.
gene Peterson’s transla.on of 2 Peter 1:5 as our assembly verse:
At this assembly we will listen to four dis-
W
B
T
-2
ciples of Jesus from local Las Vegas congrega-
area ministries in which your vo.ng members might
.ons share their story of transforma.on and
volunteer and serve on behalf of the hungry, home-
how the Church plays a role in this. We will
less, and needy in the
also listen to the Rev. Albert Starr, Jr., director
Las Vegas area. We
for ELCA Ethnic Specific and Mul.cultural Ministries, share his story and stories he sees within the ELCA. During our breakout sessions, rather than topical workshops, each of these speakers will be available to dig further into their experience, their congrega.on’s experience, and encourage our par.cipants to discover what God is up to in their personal life and congrega.onal life. Members of our Reforming for Mission Table will also be providing a toolbox of resources that vo.ng members can
are keeping Thursday night free so vo.ng members from across the synod might get a sense of the larger Las Vegas community with
recommended
dining op.ons provided by our local leaders. We will again be using the Guidebook applica.on and have Wi-Fi available so assembly materials may be received and managed digitally.
take back to their local leadership to help them “Get Moving” into God’s desired future for their
I am looking forward to our two days together.
local context. Christ is Risen, For vo.ng members that will be in Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 15, we will provide informa.on of
Bishop Steve
W
B
T
Partners in Mission: If we are honest it would be easy to get discouraged
“So don’t lose a minute in building
by the trends of decline among Americans choosing
on what you’ve been given,
to par.cipate in any kind of organized religion, let
complemen,ng your basic faith with
alone our ELCA congrega.ons. As I travel the synod
good character, spiritual
and listen to leaders and disciples in local congrega-
understanding, alert discipline,
.ons many share concerns about the future viability
passionate pa,ence, reverent
of their local congrega.on as aging memberships
wonder, warm friendliness, and
and declining financial capacity cause worry and anx-
generous love, each dimension fi0ng
iety. Some really wonder if their beloved community
into and developing the others”.
will have a future place in God’s mission plan. Pastors and lay leaders seek out the next big thing that might turn things around. Some place their hope in
This transla.on captures the urgent incarna-
changing worship formats.
Some seek to call a
.onal call we have been given to reflect a liv-
younger leader believing others like them will flock
ing faith in our living Lord, Jesus Christ. That
to the community. Some seek to fill ministry calendars with mul.ple op.ons of Chris.an programming for individuals and families to pick, choose, and consume. Yet significant change is not no.ced. So what
reflec.on is revealed as we discover again and again the truth of our Easter proclama.on, “Jesus is not Dead, He is Risen, He is
are we to do? How might we con.nue to believe it
Alive.” Because Jesus Christ is alive and mov-
ma:ers to be a part of the Christ movement and the
ing among us through his body the Church,
body of Christ?
people around us are being transformed, being changed by demonstra.ng the quali.es of
Our Reforming for Mission Table has been charged
good character and inves.ng their lives in
with assis.ng congrega.ons wrestling with inten.onal
serving, caring for, and developing oth-
mission planning by helping them focus on learning
ers. That reflec.on is revealed in our congre-
what God is up to in their neighborhood and discover-
ga.ons and all members of the ELCA, maybe
ing what is God calling the congrega.on to be about. They have invited us to gather for our annual synod assembly around the theme of “Get Moving” with Eu-
not as clearly seen as we might hope, but it is there.
gene Peterson’s transla.on of 2 Peter 1:5 as our assembly verse:
At this assembly we will listen to four dis-
W
B
T
-2
ciples of Jesus from local Las Vegas congrega-
area ministries in which your vo.ng members might
.ons share their story of transforma.on and
volunteer and serve on behalf of the hungry, home-
how the Church plays a role in this. We will
less, and needy in the
also listen to the Rev. Albert Starr, Jr., director
Las Vegas area. We
for ELCA Ethnic Specific and Mul.cultural Ministries, share his story and stories he sees within the ELCA. During our breakout sessions, rather than topical workshops, each of these speakers will be available to dig further into their experience, their congrega.on’s experience, and encourage our par.cipants to discover what God is up to in their personal life and congrega.onal life. Members of our Reforming for Mission Table will also be providing a toolbox of resources that vo.ng members can
are keeping Thursday night free so vo.ng members from across the synod might get a sense of the larger Las Vegas community with
recommended
dining op.ons provided by our local leaders. We will again be using the Guidebook applica.on and have Wi-Fi available so assembly materials may be received and managed digitally.
take back to their local leadership to help them “Get Moving” into God’s desired future for their
I am looking forward to our two days together.
local context. Christ is Risen, For vo.ng members that will be in Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 15, we will provide informa.on of
Bishop Steve
