ELCA Bishops Look to Millennium

LOS ANGELES (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, suggested that the bishops of the ELCA write a pastoral letter to congregations on the relationship of the church and the millennium.
Anderson spoke to the Conference of Bishops meeting in Los Angeles March 6-12. He is thinking about "how the church relates to an entirely new world" and he would like the bishops to consider "the matter of the church in time" and how the church will relate to the world and the society that is coming into being, he said.
The bishops voted "to prepare a pastoral letter(s) or message (s) on the occasion of the millennium." The Rev. Guy S. Edmistron, Harrisburg, Pa., bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, commented that the Roman Catholic Church has a three-year plan for observing the millennium and a Lutheran presence in the ecumenical arena would be welcome. The Rev. Howard E. Wennes, Phoenix, bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod, called the millennium "a teaching moment to name the issues for the future critical to the life of the church."
Anderson introduced the next draft of his "Initiatives." He said he hopes this spring's ELCA synod assemblies will discuss them and view them as belonging to the whole church. Anderson said that while there are no bold new ventures here, these six key initiatives are meant to call the ELCA to the basic, essential tasks of the church: deepen our worship life, teach the faith, strengthen one another for mission, help the children, connect with youth and young adults and develop leaders for the next century.
Anderson asked the bishops to lead the discussion of these initiatives in the synods, to encourage pastors and congregations to dream about how they will live them out in mission and ministry. His goal is to have a series of "we will" statements under each of the initiatives when they are presented to the churchwide assembly in August.
Presidents of the ELCA's eight seminaries joined the bishops for discussion of the future of theological education. The Rev. Richard N. Jessen, bishop of the Nebraska Synod, pointed to key issues: recruitment, the relationship of seminaries and candidacy committees, the first-call process, pastoral attention to those not suited for the ministry, students' and seminaries' financial challenges, and the church's ability to support eight seminaries.
The Rev. Dennis A. Anderson, president of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, said effective leadership is critical for theological education, and seminaries, bishops, synods, pastors, and laity should combine their efforts. Anderson expressed appreciation for synodical support, but suggested that it will become more difficult in the future to pass on to seminary students the increased costs of seminary education.
The Rev. Phyllis B. Anderson, director for theological education in the Division for Ministry, said the seminaries and the church have a partnership, "sharing a sacred trust which contributes so mightily to the mission of the church." The primary question, she said is how to make this partnership more effective for the changing mission of the church in the 21st century.
Bishop Anderson noted the 150th anniversary of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod during 1997 and asked whether he should send official greetings to that church body upon this occasion. The conference voted to authorize Anderson to extend anniversary greetings to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on its behalf.

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