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Words From the Bishop: 
Faith

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“Where is God in all this?!” I find myself asking this question a lot in recent times. Every day, we are constantly bombarded with the realities of human suffering caused by violence, climate, migration, physical and mental illness, unemployment, poverty, and hunger. Too many days we react to these realities with anger, hate, apathy, and escapism.

As we face the messiness of the world, where is God in all this and what is God doing? As we experience the anxiety, fear, and anger in the midst of change, what does it mean to follow Christ? As we discuss and disagree about things like “sanctuary” or “climate change” or the “ELCA,” what does it mean to be Church, the body of Christ, in this messy world?

These are important questions for us as followers of Christ to ask. But too often, we forget to ask them in the midst of our debates about this issue or that topic. Where is God in this? What does it really mean to follow Christ in this? What does it mean to be Christ’s Church in this? In other words, what often seems to be missing is faith, faith in the God of Jesus Christ.

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Painting given to the Synod House by retired pastor Steve Nelson in honor of Jessica Crist's years of service

Montana Synod Strategic Benchmarks

Our Mission: "Marked by the cross of Christ forever, abundantly blessed, we faithfully serve God and neighbor."

Our Vision: "Every person a witness, Every minister equipping witness, Every congregation and ministry, empowered for witness, serving faithfully."

The Montana Synod will measure its own faithfulness to our mission and vision and to the task of providing leadership to the Montana Synod by the following benchmarks:
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1. Meet the future boldly.
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart. (Jer 29:11-13)

We will take risks for the sake of the Gospel, remembering that Jesus said that whoever wants to save your life will lose it, and the only way to be a disciple is to pick up a cross and follow. We will learn from our conversations with  congregations and we will model faithful, visionary ministry that is more prophetic than safe.
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2. Serve the world, especially the poor and those who are in need.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)

We will be able to articulate how everything that we do, everything that we advocate, everything that we commit time and money to will serve the world, remembering that the Gospel of John tells us that God so loved the world as to give Jesus, for the whole world. Through direct action, advocacy and cooperative work, we will minister to the poor, the poor in spirit, the forgotten and neglected. Realizing that this mission field is limitless, we will encourage coalitions, cooperation and establishment of meaningful priorities.
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3. Deepen faith and witness.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have
commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt 28:18-20)

We remember that Jesus called us to go and make disciples of all nations. We will support and encourage congregations to remain faithful in worship, Word and Sacrament. We will support congregations as they encourage their members to grow in faith and to broaden their witness in their communities and beyond.
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4. Promote unity.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do  nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:1-5)

We remember Paul’s image of the body of Christ. We will maintain a clear sense of who we are and whose we are. We will celebrate our diversity within the unity that is ours in Christ. We will give thanks for our many gifts of the Spirit as we  explore our different responsibilities within the body.
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5. Strengthen congregations
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another
(Gal 5:13)

We are a resource to congregations and pastors. The Synod leadership, staff and volunteer, will provide support to congregations to empower them to live out their calling as centers of mission. We will encourage and support the development of networks among clergy, lay leaders and congregations.