ELCA, United Methodist Church Embark on New Relationship
(Full story)
A joint commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The United Methodist Church (UMC) held its inaugural meeting July 15. The commission is charged with assisting the two mainline denominations in fostering their new full communion relationship. This is the first such relationship for the 8-million-member UMC and the sixth for the 4.6-million-member ELCA.

"This new relationship of full communion marks a denominational milestone in the ecumenical history of The United Methodist Church," said the Rev. Stephen J. Sidorak Jr., general secretary, UMC General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

"We're really excited about it," said Sidorak.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, greeted the commission and expressed his enthusiasm about engaging in "theology together." He asked the commission to "be bold" in how it will help imagine the denominations' future mission and ministry.

The 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted a full communion agreement with the UMC and established a joint commission to oversee the relationship. In 2008 the UMC General Conference adopted the same proposal for full communion. The relationship is based on a common confessing of the Christian faith.

At the meeting leaders collaborated on guidelines for worship and recommendations for the interchangeability of ordained clergy.

"The joint commission is entrusted to coordinate the implementation of action taken by the two churches to achieve full communion, assist joint planning for mission, facilitate consultation and common decision-making through appropriate channels that the churches may face together in the future, and report regularly to each church," said the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, executive, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations.

A three-year plan was developed at the meeting to address "mutual programmatic areas for consultation and planning," said McCoid. "The plan addresses major areas of ministry in each church body, and how an exchange of information and mutual planning can strengthen our unified witness and service in Christ's church," he said.

Get it Online

• Information about the ELCA and UMC full communion relationship is at http://bit.ly/c9ibNf on the ELCA website.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Says Time for Immigration Reform is Now
(Full story)
The time has come for immigration reform in the United States, according to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Although issues surrounding immigration are "complex and not easily resolved," the biblical witness for reform is clear, Hanson wrote in a July 13 pastoral letter to the ELCA.

"The distinctions that so often divide humankind are overcome in Christ," wrote Hanson. "By grace through faith on account of Christ we are joined together in a radically inclusive community."

Hanson said most, but not all, Lutherans in the United States are the descendants of immigrants or are recent immigrants. "Our personal histories and faith stories are of an immigrant people moving in search of freedom, opportunity and safety."

Of the 41 new congregations the ELCA is starting in 2010, 23 will be in immigrant communities, Hanson noted in his letter. "More than 100 African national ministries have begun in the past three years," he wrote.

A 2009 Churchwide Assembly action...commits the ELCA and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) to work toward comprehensive immigration "reform that balances respect for the law with the recognition of due process and respect for humanitarian principles," Hanson wrote.

LIRS is one of the nation's leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and immigrants. LIRS works on behalf of the ELCA, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Get it Online

• The Rev. Mark S. Hanson's letter is at http://bit.ly/csvrYg and information about the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at www.ELCA.org/assembly on the ELCA Web site.
  
• The Church Council's social policy resolution is at http://bit.ly/akEW52 and the ELCA Message on Immigration is at http://bit.ly/ammk4X on the ELCA Web site.
  
• LIRS' Stand for Welcome is at www.lirs.org/sfw

Page 4 - Keep Engaged Online
Blogs, e-newsletters, and social networks.

By Katie Livingood, Synod Communications Director

If there are only 30 people at worship in your congregation, what is the chance that they are all interested in the same kind of ministry? Even if there are 300 people in worship, it is hard to stay informed and active in every possible area of interest in the church.

Thanks to technology, there are many ways to stay engaged, informed, and active through the internet. Below are just a few available through www.ELCA.org:

Blogs - blogs.elca.org

• Faith Lens (weekly Bible study for youth and young adults)
  
• Senegal: Christian-Muslim Engagement Immersion
  
• ELCA Disaster Response
  
• Hand in Hand Global Mission Support Blog Digest
• Hunger Rumblings (ELCA World Hunger)
  
• Women of the ELCA
  
• Lutheran Woman Today
  
• ELCA Archives Blog
  
• Association of Lutheran Resource Centers
  
• And more!

E-Newsletters - listserv.elca.org

• Administration Matters
  
• Daily Bible Readings
  
• Connecting bold women across the ELCA
  
• Friends of ELCA Campus Ministries
  
• Lutheran Disaster Response
  
• Ecumenical Life e-Newsletter
  
• ELCA News
  
• Equipping for Peacemaking
  
• Global Links
  
• Lutheran Association for Christian Educators (LACE) E-Newsletter
  
• Outdoor Ministries News
  
• ELCA Worship News List
  
• Youth Gathering News
  
• And more!
  

Online Networking

• Facebook - there are many ELCA groups/organizations on Facebook, search for any of the following names to find them:
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
    
  • Lutheran Social Service MN-Refugee Services
    
  • LIFT / Ecology of the ELCA
    
  • Cafe--Stirring the Spirit Within
    
  • Women of the ELCA
    
  • ELCA Justice Town
    
  • Lutheran World Relief
    
  • Lutheran Study Bible
    
  • The Little Lutheran
    
  • Lutheran Social Service of MN
    
  • ELCA World Hunger
    
  • The Lutheran
    
  • And many more! Try searching for "Lutheran" or "ELCA" to find one of interest to you.
• Ning - these social networks are like "mini-Facebook" networks around each respective topic:
  • Book of Faith - bookoffaith.ning.com
    
  • Imagine Yourself (young adults) - imagineyourself.ning.com
    
  • ELCA World Hunger - elcaworldhunger.ning.com
• Twitter - follow each of the following at www.twitter.com/_________ fill in the blank with the text for each item)
  • ELCA
    
  • ELCAadvocacy
    
  • ELCAmalaria
    
  • ELCAnews
    
  • ELCAyouth
    
  • ELCAYoungAdults
    
  • liftelca
    
  • littlelutheran
    
  • thelutheran
    
  • WomenELCA
    

Page 5 - Lutherans Remind New Orleanians that 'They are not Forgotten'
Full story, including how the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is engaged, is online at www.ELCA.org/news

The two largest Lutheran denominations in the United States are committed to helping rebuild the U.S. Gulf Coast following the 2005 hurricane season, which included Hurricane Katrina. Although two separate church bodies, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) are fixed on reminding the people of New Orleans that "they are not forgotten."

The ELCA is the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States with 4.6 million members.

The 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering "literally embodied God's mission through service" in New Orleans, said Heidi Hagstrom, director for youth gatherings, ELCA Vocation and Education. That year about 37,000 ELCA teenagers, adult leaders and others gathered in New Orleans, not only to paint and make home repairs, but to learn about and experience the faith of people who live there.

The ELCA Youth Gathering will return to New Orleans in 2012. Returning to a host city consecutively is unprecedented in the history of ELCA Youth Gatherings.

Two leadership events will precede the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering -- the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the Definitely Abled Leadership Event (DAYLE) will be held July 15-18. The ELCA Youth Gathering will be held July 18-22.

"In I Corinthians 12: 26 we read that when one person suffers we all suffer. ELCA youth understand the radical interconnectedness implied in that passage, a connectedness into which they were baptized," said Hagstom. "By returning to New Orleans in 2012, the ELCA Youth Gathering reflects the commitment of young people to relationships made real through and sustained by Jesus."

Get it Online

• Information about the ELCA Youth Gathering is at www.ELCA.org/youthgathering

Synod Hearing on Draft Genetics Statement

The Southeastern Minnesota Synod will host a hearing for members to comment on the text of the Draft Social Statement on Genetics on Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn.

This hearing is a key part in the development of the social statement. Representatives of both the synod and the Genetics Task Force will be present. A synod representative will be present to record all comments made by participants. This record of comments will be submitted to the task force and considered as they revise the text for 2011.

"I would hope that we could have as many members as possible participating in this important step of the process," stated Bishop Harold Usgaard of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. "Our social statements need to represent our best thinking as a church. The hearing is a place where those who have read the draft of the statement can come together to both speak and listen."

The draft social statement was written by members of the task force. Since 2005, the task force has been involved in discussions, panels, and consultations with individuals, ranging from scientists to theologians and biblical scholars. Embryonic stem cells, cloning, genetically engineered food are some of the issues highlighted in the draft.

The comments made at the synodical hearing are critical to the task force in the development of the proposed social statement to be brought to the 2011 Churchwide Assembly. Final responsibility for changes to and adoption of the text of the proposed social statement is the responsibility of the churchwide assembly.

A copy of the Draft Social Statement on Genetics is available for download at www.ELCA.org/genetics. Single hard copies may be ordered by calling a special resource line at 800-638-3522 ext. 2996.
Multiple copies for group study will be available from Augsburg Fortress Resource (800-328-4648); ask for Draft Social Statement on Genetics.

If you have any questions regarding this hearing, contact the synod office at 507-280-9457, 800-426-6376 in Minnesota, or livingood@semnsynod.org

Get it Online

• Background information, text of the draft, and online response form at www.ELCA.org/genetics

Page 6 - Book of Faith Fall Fesival

Click here to download the flyer/registration form.

Page 7 - Bishop's Column

Summer Is for Books: What are you reading?

Making Sense of Scripture (Augsburg Fortress) by David Lose:

Lose serves on the faculty at Luther Seminary and will be a presenter at our synod's Book of Faith Festival this September. This book is one of the newest in the Book of Faith initiative. He writes in a very conversational style and believes "asking questions is essential to the life of faith." This could be a very usable book for congregational study.

Managing Polarities in Congregations (Alban Institute) by Roy Oswald and Barry Johnson:

Oswald writes "I have noticed that thriving congregations are thriving in large part because they manage some key polarities well." This book seeks an alternative to settings in which both sides believe they are right. Chapters focus on topics such as tradition and innovation...strong clergy leadership and strong lay leadership...inreach and outreach...nurture and transformation.

The Shack (Windblown Media) by Wm. Paul Young:

Everyone else had read it, so I thought I would too. One of those books you continue to process...about forgiveness and healing, relationships, the image of God. There are some sermon quotes here pastors.

Where do you get your suggestions for reading? I have long been an observer of Martin Marty's reviews in his newsletter, Context...Martin Marty on Religion and Culture. I was disappointed to receive a notice that the Claretians are discontinuing its publication. The publishing industry is taking hit after hit. Hundreds of magazines are disappearing each year. I might add that includes denominational products...our own Lutheran is struggling to stay viable. So I shouldn't have been surprised by the Claretian's announcement. But how will I build my book list? Where do you find suggestions?

As I sort and shelve books during the summer, I enjoy looking inside to see the year purchased or comments I may have jotted after reading. But I also noted that on too many books, it was not my name but a friend's on the inside cover...at least they were friends when they first loaned the books to me. Perhaps they should have included this quote which comes from the Monastery of San Pedro in Barcelona, Spain:

"For him that stealeth or borroweth and returneth not this book from its owner, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with palsy and all his members be blasted. Let him languish in pain crying aloud for mercy, and let there be no surcease to his agony till he sink into dissolution. Let bookworms gnaw his entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final punishment, let the flames of Hell consume him forever."

Shalom,

Harold Usgaard
Bishop

Page 8 - Rev. Linda Gunderson's Column

Marks of a Missional Congregation: Leadership
By Rev. Linda Gunderson
Synod Minister

Leadership is the fourth mark of a missional congregation, based on a series from Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman, Executive Director for Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission, ELCA.

The central mark of a missional congregation remains constant – Resurrection: A missional congregation lives in the power of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In the Risen Christ all things are possible.

Missional congregations at their best are lead by healthy, Spirit-filled leaders who support one another and the mission of the congregation. Leadership means staff, elected leaders, and volunteers. It means anyone who takes on the work of life within a community of faith. Healthy visionary leadership is necessary for mission. Leadership grounded in the salvation of Jesus Christ is central to the work of discipleship.

Leadership is nurtured, leaders are trained and time is taken for leadership development in healthy missional congregations. This is true whatever the size of congregation. This is true whether the leadership is paid or volunteers. It can be as simple as taking time for learning at the beginning of a meeting. It certainly means praying together and engaging in Bible study.

There are expectations of leaders: regular attendance at worship and Holy Communion, prayer, Bible study, giving – stewardship, a commitment to the vision the congregation has for mission, dependability, and the ability to communicate and cooperate in a way that supports the congregation and its work.

There is more. Might it be that everything a congregation does is an opportunity for leadership development? Nurturing one another in faith and strengthening one another for the sharing of our faith is what we do as congregations. As missional congregations it is part of who we are that we grow leaders bold in proclaiming Jesus as Lord.

Peace,
Pr. Linda

Shirley Gangstad's Column

Baptism Transforms, Just Like Pickling!
Greetings!

We are all familiar with the ritual of baptism, and we all understand the concept of being dipped in the water of baptism to be washed and cleansed from our sin. Not quite as easy to understand and therefore not quite as familiar to us is the idea that in and through baptism we are transformed. A pastor recently shared some information with me that made the idea of our being "transformed" through baptism much easier to understand.

Among the early uses of the Greek bapto, which means "to dip in or under," was a recipe for pickles that tells in the instructions to "bapto" the cucumber in brine until it is completely transformed into a pickle. Now that is a concept we all can understand! We can readily see the differences between a cucumber and a pickle, and we understand the process of the brine working on the cucumber to transform every tiny bit of it into a pickle. It is totally transformed. No part of it remains just a cucumber. It is totally new and different. It may have essentially the same outer appearance—or at least a fairly similar one—but inside? Oh my! What a difference "bapto" has made! It can never go back to being a cucumber. It is a pickle forever.

In the sacrament of baptism we pray "that those who are washed in the waters of baptism may be given new life." Through the words and the water we are now a child of God. We say "You belong to Christ, in whom you have been baptized." We say, "You have been sealed by the Holy Sprit and marked with the cross of Christ forever." We have gone from being an ordinary human being to being part of the body of Christ, and we now share in the mission of "bearing God's creative and redeeming word to all the world."

And just as the pickle cannot go back to being a cucumber, so we will never again NOT b e a child of God!

Blessings in Christ,
Shirley

Page 9 - News from the Partners in Evangelical Worship
Contributors:
Rev. Siri Strommen Campbell and Bob Tewes, AIM

Rev. Siri Strommen Campbell, Mount Olive, Rochester, and Bob Tewes, AIM, Grace, Albert Lea, were among the group of Partners in Evangelical Worship (PEWs) from the ELCA's 65 synods gathered around Word and Sacrament, called and sent forth to be the Church in Houston, Texas, June 22-24. The PEWs were joined by the Directors for Evangelical Mission (DEMs) from each synod, including Rev. Linda Gunderson from this synod, for a training and experiential event focusing on renewing worship.

The event featured speakers, breakout sessions, song, scripture, preaching, the Eucharist, prayer, and even dance. Participants celebrated the diversity of traditions and at the same time still claim the Lutheran church's theological foundation that God calls, gathers and enlightens God's church each time the church gathers for worship around Word and Sacrament.

Professor of Worship Craig Satterlee posed several possible answers to the question of "What is the problem with Lutheran worship?" It could be that it is boring, it doesn't reflect the world's growing diversity, leaders never push or push too far, what we say about God (love, forgiveness, healing) doesn't match with what we are doing in the community, the preaching is bad, or we're not contextual enough. The conclusion Satterlee came to was that Lutherans offer a message and a Worship format of Word and Sacrament that is unique and needed in this world. This is a world where people are desperately seeking for truth, roots, identity, and God. We have these things. The only way to reach out and solve the "problem" is to seriously ask where God is working within our congregations. When God becomes the leader and we the followers, crazy things happen- first in Worship, and then in the life of the church.

Moving forward, Siri and Bob will be the advocates in this synod for asking questions about worship and providing tools and ideas for use in local congregations. There are presentations being planed for each conference, worship modeling for future regional and synod gatherings, and regular columns in River Crossings. Watch for ways you can continue the dialogue on renewing worship.

Bible Book of Faith

Book of Faith Fall Festival
By Rev. Jay Dahlvang
Synod Book of Faith Advocate

You are invited to join us on September 25, for the second Book of Faith Fall Festival, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Austin, Minn. Last year, 125 clergy and lay leaders came from all over the synod for a joyful day of opening Scripture, joining in conversation, and growing in our first language of faith.

This year's line-up is dynamic, and will offer you inspiration as well as practical and effective tools to bring back to the community of faith you love and serve as you encourage conversation around the Word.

David Lose is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, and the author of Making Sense of Scripture. In his newest book, Lose offers a Lutheran understanding of Scripture as high ground above the ditches of fundamentalism and relativism. Lose's accessible book invites the reader to a conversation around seven major questions of the Bible, with the hope that the Biblical text will be engaged with faith and intellect, and do what is promised -- reveal the God who comes to us in Jesus Christ. All in attendance will receive a complimentary copy of Making Sense of Scripture.

Dr. Diane Shallue is Director of Education and Small Group Ministries at University Lutheran Church of Hope, in Minneapolis, who will tell us about "No-Prep Bible Study." This method of opening the Word invites maximum participation without an "expert" to lead the group. Come and learn this helpful way of inviting even the quietest Lutherans to share how God is working in their lives.

Bishop Harold Usgaard is "This synod's pastor...who shall preach, teach, and administer the Sacraments in accord with the Confession of Faith of this church." We are pleased to welcome Huck, and invite you to a workshop called "Bible with the Bishop," a time of study and fellowship with Bishop Usgaard.

Registration has begun! See the flyer on page 6 of this month's River Crossings for more details.

Page 10 - Call Update - click here to view call update

Roster Update

On Leave from Call:

• Tamara Dahlvang, Round Prairie & Lunder, Glenville, July 18, 2010
  

Resigned from the Roster of the ELCA:

• Cary Larson, Vista & LeSueur River, New Richland, July 31, 2010
  

Transfer Out:

• Joy Gonnerman, on leave from call to Western Iowa Synod, 7/18/10
  
• Jeffrey Wallager, Spiritual Care Coordinator, Heartland Hospice, Rochester, to Southwestern Minnesota Synod, July 1, 2010

Upcoming Events - click here for all upcoming events

Page 11 - Bridge

Together We Grow Through Mission
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