Anderson Addresses "Initiatives for a New Century"

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- "When society is in a molten state, when everything is being 'reinvented,' the church has a matchless opportunity to be engaged in shaping whatever new society will emerge.  Communities that have a clear purpose and definite goals that will become the crystallization points for the world of the future," said the Rev. H. George Anderson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in his first report to the assembled body of the ELCA in Philadelphia on Thursday. Anderson's address received a standing ovation at the fifth biennial gathering of more than 1,000 voting members and visitors at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
     Anderson proposed seven key initiatives from the 5.2 million members of the ELCA, built upon five foundational strengths that he believes the ELCA can bring to a world in turmoil and transition.  "This not a cookie cutter, seven-point program for everyone, but a way to focus creative energy and a system to share the ideas that are working."
     The seven "Initiatives for a New Century" would be catalysts for the ELCA to deepen  worship life, teach the faith, witness to God's action in the world, strengthen one another in mission, help the children, connect with youth and young adults, and develop leaders for the next century.
     Anderson characterizes the ELCA as a global church; a church of grace and gratitude; a serving church; a realistic church; and as a teaching church.  The seven specific initiatives are offered for Assembly approval to "get us out into mission," Anderson said.
     The initiatives developed over the past three and a half years, emerging out of the Inquiry process begun during the leadership of the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom former bishop of the ELCA.  The formal listening process crisscrossed the country, and was continued by Anderson following his election in 1995.
     "I was struck with the sense of loss that many of our members and clergy feel," Anderson said of his year and a half of conversations across the country with Lutheran leaders and individual congregations and church members.  "The changes of the last decades have been disturbing or inconvenient for many of us; for others in our society they are devastating. At the same time, there are possibilities for mission in these changes, and occasionally they can even be cited as signs of hope."
     Anderson discussed universal issues of rootlessness, increased stress, marginalization, polarization, and widespread spiritual hunger and how Lutherans can respond.  "Congregations in rural areas and in urban settings often discover that they are the only institution left.  The bank's gone, the store's gone, the school's gone; the church is still there.
     "The church need not be afraid of being pushed to the edge of society. That is where the church was born.  It is genetically engineered to thrive in adversity and "tribulation."  It's in the church's DNA.  Or maybe we should call it DBA -- "Don't Be Afraid," Anderson said.
     The initiatives fit in with all the things Lutherans are already doing, Anderson stressed.  Using the example of "Connect with youth and young adults," Anderson said, "Everybody mentions that we need to involve the younger generation more effectively in the life of the church.  As Lutherans we have some outstanding successes in our work with youth -- a record 35,000 people gathered in New Orleans for the "River of Hope;" the strong catechetical tradition which means that almost every young person is given personal instruction in the basics of the faith; the excellent tradition of outdoor ministries, where thousands of young people have life-changing experiences in outdoor settings; and the systems of church colleges and campus ministries that continue to nurture and challenge students as they leave high school and go to college."
     "Connect  with youth and younger adults" could mean gathering people from each of these  activities to a summit meeting where they could be asked to imagine how these and other activities could work more closely together, forming a network of support and challenge for young people through age 21.
     "What synergy could we generate?" the bishop asked.  "How about offering stimulating opportunities that respond to the rising generations interest in meaningful service?  Could we intentionally develop a whole database of summer service options?
     "That's what the initiatives aim at: to spotlight an area that needs immediate attention; to specify a project that would have a multiplier effect on existing programs; to set realistic goals so we can know what we've accomplished and when we've accomplished it; and to invite synods, congregations and other parts of the church to think up their own ways of contributing to the same goal."
     Three hearings Friday further underscored the catalyst concept underlying the initiatives, outlined the development of the seven initiatives, and offered voting members and visitors an opportunity to comment  and present their own local concerns and situations.
     Anecdotes and issues focussed on ways to energize mission, to recognize the ongoing  work of congregations,  to reach out for assistance and inspiration, and to strengthen community among the members and congregations of the ELCA.
     Kenn Inskeep, director of the ELCA Department for Research and Evaluation, told those in the  hearings; " We are sensitive to the fact that people are already doing these things.  We want to hold up what people are already doing and to link people, using the initiatives to give focus to the work we do."
     About $1.5 million can be made available to put money into these initiatives if they are accepted by the assembly Monday afternoon, noted the Rev. Michael Cooper-White, director of the ELCA Department for Synodical Relations.  Congregations, synods, and organizations could present proposals to the churchwide offices to obtain funds to further initiative proposals.
     "We must tell our stories to each other," noted Bishop Donald Parson, Alaska Synod.

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