ELCA Council Hears New Presiding Bishop's Concerns, Reflections

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, people are experiencing a time of "searching questions" and "haunting fears," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Hanson also said members of the ELCA have remained "rooted in our baptismal calling as Christ's people."
Hanson made the comments in his first report to the ELCA Church Council, which met here Nov. 9-11. The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide assemblies. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
Hanson began a six-year term as presiding bishop Nov. 1.
The events that occurred Sept. 11 changed the climate and context in which Lutherans are called to do ministry, Hanson said.
"We now live in a time of searching questions as people ask about the presence of God, the reality of evil and the suffering and death of innocent people," he said. Hanson compared today's questions to the questions the disciples asked of Jesus before his ascension.
"We are also surrounded by haunting fears," he said. "Opening an envelope can bring an end to life." He compared today's fears to the fears of the disciples when Jesus was crucified, wondering if they too faced a similar fate.
Jesus' answer to questions and fears was a command with words of promise, Hanson said. "'Receive the Holy Spirit,' Jesus said. Our ministry is grounded in the command to be God's witnesses," Hanson said.
The experience and aftermath of Sept. 11 has taught the ELCA a great deal about itself, he said. Hanson focused on five characteristics of the ELCA:
+ A worshiping church: "People have flocked to our congregations to hear the Good News," he said.
+ A praying church: People have been unified in prayer, he said.
+ A witnessing church: The church stands "humbly together" and has helped sustain Lutherans in the metropolitan New York area, Hanson said.
+ A gifted and giving church: The church has responded generously to people in crisis both domestically and internationally, he said.
+ A discerning church: ELCA members are called to "moral deliberation" as we discern an appropriate response to terrorism and other dangers that threaten the word. Hanson said.
In his report, Hanson commented on the church's mission in the world.
"My mantra is that we will always have to hold in tension three things," he said. "They are scripture, scripture within the context of the church and the context outside the church, and strategic thinking."
Hanson said he wants to move from good planning in the ELCA to developing an overall strategic plan for mission. Hanson said he hoped to bring such a plan to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
"I'm interested in leading a church that is focused and has determined what kind of organization it needs, he said.
Among his chief concerns is the four-year study of homosexuality mandated by the 2001 Churchwide Assembly. Completing the study and building trust, while not having it "consume" the church for four years is important, he said.
For the first two months of his term, Hanson will meet with employees in churchwide units and listen, he said. After that, he will begin a series of visits to the 65 synods of the ELCA, "listening and articulating a vision for church," he said.
Hanson introduced to the council his new executive administrative assistant, Liza Egekeze. She formerly was employed as a coordinator for the Europe and Asia team in the ELCA Division for Global Mission. She succeeds Patricia Hoyt, who retired when the Rev. H. George Anderson, former ELCA presiding bishop, completed his six-year term Oct. 31.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html