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Ascension Day Reflections April 29, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is almost Ascension Day, a Christian holiday celebrated mightily in many parts of the world, and almost ignored in the U.S. Ascension Day challenges us to look up, and then immediately reminds us that we have work to do here on earth. I always find the 10 days between the Ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost to be liminal time--time of remembrance and time of anticipation. There is a way in which we live in liminal time, no matter what the time of year. In the time between Jesus's first coming and his second, we are betwixt and between. Ascension simply highlights that both/and, already and not yet state of affairs that we live in.
I want to share a couple of items with you.
1. The United Methodists, meeting in their General Conference this week, voted to proceed with a full communion agreement with the ELCA. The ELCA will vote at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in August. Full communion is not merger, but it does allow even greater flexibility in exchange of clergy, in regularizing clergy of one denomination serving congregations of the other. A study document called "Confessing our Faith Together" was prepared in 2006 and is still available at www.elca.org. It is appropriate for Lutheran-Methodist joint conversation, or for use in Lutheran congregations/ministries.
2. The Montana Synod held 2 hearings on the ELCA's proposed social statement on human sexuality this past weekend. Over 75 people from 25 congregations gathered in 2 locations to make comments on the draft statement. Participants reflected the diversity of opinion that exists within our synod. And participants listened well, were cordial and respectful of others' opinions, even if they did not agree. The proposed statement is online at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney. You can make comments to the task force either by mailing in a survey, or by responding online. The statement will undergo revisions before being presented to the Church Council in March of 2009 and the Churchwide Assembly in August 2009.
3. The Lutheran Ministries of the Montana Synod (LMMS), the planned giving consortium within the Montana Synod, is no longer staffed and is no longer functioning. Funded by the ELCA Foundation, the Montana Synod, Christikon, Concordia College, Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, Immanuel Lutheran Homes, Luther Seminary, Lutheran Social Services, Lutheran Student Foundation, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Pacific Lutheran University, St. John's Lutheran Ministries, Sapphire Lutheran Homes, Valley View Lutheran Home, LMMS in its 10 years of existence facilitated planned gifts for many of its partner ministries, and for even more congregations of the Montana Synod, with gift totals in the millions of dollars.. First Pastor Gerry Rafftery and then Pastor David Ophus served faithfully in this important ministry. Congregations and ministries looking for planned giving services are directed to the resources of the ELCA Foundation, www.elca.org/fo. Individuals are also invited. The partner ministries of LMMS will continue to look for ways to cooperate.
4. Mark July 17 and 18 on your calendars for conversations with a churchwide team on the future direction of the Montana Synod. Listening teams will be in 4 locations across the synod, and will solicit your hopes and dreams for the Church of Jesus Christ in this place.
Peace and blessings to you! I thank God for you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bishop Jessica Crist |
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