ELCA Churchwide Assembly centers its work in daily worship

PITTSBURGH (ELCA) -- In this time of the world’s history, with the
greatest capacity to be instantly and constantly connected through means
of communication unimagined 25 years ago when the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) began, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson said, “We seem
unable, unwilling to listen to others, to speak respectfully, to build
community within our diversity.”
Preaching on the Book of Ezekiel during worship Aug. 12 at the 2013
ELCA Churchwide Assembly, ELCA Presiding Bishop Hanson asked, “Where is
God leading us? It is a question that belongs to the work of every synod
and Churchwide Assembly.”
Members of the ELCA are gathering Aug. 12-17 in assembly at the
David L. Lawrence Convention Center here. The 4-million-member ELCA is
celebrating its 25th anniversary this year under the theme “Always being
made new,” which serves as the theme for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly --
the highest legislative authority of this church.
“One of the most troubling and revealing findings in [an ELCA study]
was the sense of disconnection we feel from each other in this church,”
said Hanson. “We feel like dry, scattered bones. But not only in the
ELCA. I think it is also descriptive of our civic disconnection from each
other as citizens. We are acutely aware of how polarized we are.” Amid
the proposals and questions to be considered this week Hanson
asked, “What if the question God most urgently is asking us is,'Can these
bones live?”
There is good news this evening, Hanson told worshipers. “What
Ezekiel and you and I are called to prophesy, to preach, is the promise
of what God will do,” he said.
“The boneyard of our disconnectedness becomes a place of life, of
relationships restored. It happens in the very speaking and hearing of
God’s promise, ‘I will put my spirit within you, and you will live.’ It
happens as God’s promise is proclaimed and received in faith.
“I believe we came to Pittsburg to make some news,” said the
presiding bishop. “What noise will be heard as we gather for worship each
day? What noise will you describe in your Facebook postings, your tweets,
emails and phone calls? May the sound that resounds be a rattling noise,
the sounds of bones coming together,” he said.
Through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, ”We dwell no longer
in a boneyard of disconnectedness, but God’s Spirit restores us to a
living community of faith. A new creation in Christ, rivers of living
water flowing out of the believer’s heart as we are ... Always being made
new.”
In addition to preaching Hanson served as presiding minister of
worship. Assisting minister was ELCA Vice President Carlos Pena and
readers were ELCA Treasurer Linda Norman and ELCA Secretary David
Swartling. Daily worship and all plenary sessions are available through a
live video stream at www.ELCA.org/livevideo.
The election for ELCA presiding bishop is one of many key actions
that the 952 voting members of the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will
consider. Other actions include the election of ELCA secretary;
consideration of a proposed social statement on criminal justice; a
proposal for the ELCA’s first major fundraising campaign. If approved the
five-year campaign, to begin in 2014, is designed to increase this
church’s capacity to renew and start new congregations, educate and
develop its leaders, bolster its global mission efforts and expand the
impact of its relief and development work.
The assembly will also consider a series of proposals (known as
memorials) from the ELCA’s 65 synods. Topics include gender identity
discrimination, the Uniting American Families Act, community violence,
ministering to same-gender couples and their families, immigration
reform, hydraulic fracturing, and the Middle East.
An assembly schedule is available at www.ELCA.org/assembly and up-to-
the minute news entries at http://blogs.ELCA.org/assemblynews.