Site Admin, Author at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

ELCIC members encouraged to prayerfully support the meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nation leaders through prayer

January 10, 2013 Site Admin

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are encouraged to join in solidarity with KAIROS and other denominations across Canada in support of the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nations leaders.

Indigenous leaders will meet with Canada’s Prime Minister on Friday, January 11 to discuss treaty relationships, aboriginal rights and economic development. The ELCIC joins with KAIROS and our Full Communion partner, the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), along with other denominations across Canada, in inviting people to observe a day of prayer on Friday. KAIROS has asked that people pray for a successful meeting, "one that will mark the beginning of a genuine, collaborative process for resolving the long-standing injustices on a nation-to-nation basis."

Resources relating to supporting participation in this day of prayer can be found on the KAIROS website and on the Anglican Church of Canada website.

ELCIC Bishop’s Commissary, Rev. Paul Gehrs — who also serves as chair of the KAIROS Board, offers the following prayer:

God of all creation, source of light and hope: Make your justice and peace known in this land.
Support, encourage and guide First Nations leaders and Government leaders as they meet this day
to address important, difficult and systemic issues of rights and responsibilities.
Open our hearts and wills to see opportunities before each of us to increase respect, renew relationships and
create more just communities. Send your spirit of wisdom and understanding, that we may walk the days ahead
as faithful covenant people. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At the 2011 ELCIC National Convention, delegates committed the ELCIC to encouraging right and renewed relationships between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples within Canada. Through the motion approved by delegates, the ELCIC affirmed, "that we are all treaty people, and we will find ways to mature in our living together" through means such as "remembering the rights, responsibilities and dignity that are bestowed by God and lived out with one another" and by affirming that "recognizing and implementing indigenous rights is essential to being the kind of society Canada strives to be."

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 145,376 baptized members in 594 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

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For more information, please contact:
Trina Gallop, Director of Communications
302-393 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

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Looking back and looking ahead: an Anglican-Lutheran Christmas message

December 14, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 14 December 2012 — In their 2012 Christmas video message, Anglican and Lutheran national leaders give a nod to the past and the future. The video messages are a tradition enjoyed by the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, two churches that are in full communion.

In the short greeting, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate, Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), and National Bishop Susan C. Johnson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), first recall their May 2012 visit to Jerusalem where they fostered Anglican-Lutheran cooperation in the region.

Archbishop Hiltz and Bishop Johnson then look forward to the joint national assembly of their two churches, to be held in Ottawa July 3 to 7, 2013, under the theme Together for the Love of the World. The video message this year was recorded in Ottawa during a break in joint planning meetings.

Bishop Johnson says that at the assembly, we hope to act out and act upon the gift that we have received through the birth of Jesus.

Jesus calls us to people of love, people of hope, and people of peace, adds Archbishop Hiltz.

Since 2001, the ACC and the ELCIC have been in a full communion relationship. This means that each church maintains its own autonomy but cooperates in many ways, including using each others liturgies and serving as clergy in each others churches. Several joint Anglican-Lutheran parishes and cooperative ministries have sprung up across Canada.

· Watch the Christmas message online (https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/default.cfm)

· Learn more about our Full Communion relationship (https://elcic.ca/ecumenical/anglicans.cfm)

· Access Anglican-Lutheran Epiphany devotions

· Follow the Anglican-Lutheran prayer cycle

Appeal issued to assist Syrian refugees in Jordan

November 27, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 27 November 2012 — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), through its partnership with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), is appealing to its members for financial support to assist Syrians who have fled their homes due to ongoing violence in their home country.

Funds will go to provide warm clothing for 10,000 children, winterized shelters, and heaters for refugees living in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, located about 70 km from the Syrian border. There is an immediate need for these items. Winter has begun, which brings driving rain and temperatures that fall to nearly zero at night. Many refugees left their homes in the summer with only the clothes on their backs, travelling under cover of darkness to avoid being shot. Many are now living in shelters with little protection from the cold. It costs $200 to provide a family with warm clothing, a winterized tent, and heaters.

Funds will also help provide mental health care and social support, with a focus on children. Many refugees have witnessed intensifying violence and are enduring the loss of homes, jobs, and loved ones. In the coming months, The Lutheran World Federation will help refugees organize community-based groups that will take roles in co-managing the camp.

ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and CLWR Executive Director Robert Granke visited the Zaatari camp earlier this week. They witnessed firsthand the need for relief. They met with people who lost all they owned due to rocket fire destroying their homes and livelihoods.

Winter is coming quickly. It will mean sub-zero temperatures and rain, said Bishop Johnson. Warm clothing for children and winterized shelters are critical to people in Zaatari so they can endure the coming winter.

The extent of this humanitarian crisis is deepening with every passing day. The stories I heard of the danger and hardship faced by these people broke my heart, said Granke.

ELCIC members are encouraged to support the appeal through financial donations.

Donations may be made in the following ways:

By making a designated offering donation at any ELCIC congregation.
Online at clwr.org/donate. Click on Emergencies, and select Syrian Refugee Relief 2012.
By calling CLWR’s toll-free number: 1.800.661.2597 or locally at 204.694.5602.
By sending a cheque made payable to CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6. Please indicate that you wish to contribute to Syrian Refugee Relief.

A video from Bishop Johnson sharing her reflections on her experience at the Za’atari refugee camp can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rLP9qOiPR0&feature=share&list=PLF19F6C2B235F6877

Anglican, Lutheran churches produce Epiphany devotions

November 15, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 15 November 2012 — A new series of Epiphany devotions showcases the growing cooperation between Anglicans and Lutherans on both sides of the 49^th parallel.

Leaders of the four participating churchesAnglican Church of Canada (ACC), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), The Episcopal Church (TEC), and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)have launched the devotions with a pastoral letter, designed to be read in churches on Reign of Christ Sunday, Nov. 25.

Vivid and creative, the devotions feature diverse imagesfrom the foggy fields of the Salinas Valley, California, to a meditation on what it would be like to be a drop of water transformed into wine.

The series of six follows the weeks in Epiphanyfrom Jan. 6, 2013, Feast of the Epiphany, to Feb. 10, Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord. The imaginative contributors are members of the Lutheran-Episcopal Coordinating Committee, USA, and the Joint Anglican-Lutheran Commission (JALC), Canada.

I like that this resource involves so many writers, said the Very Rev. Peter Wall, contributor and Anglican co-chair of JALC. Weve got geography, scholarship, laity, clergya lot of different people involved in a way that encompasses all that were talking about.

Devotions can be used in parish study groups or for personal reflection. They follow the gospels of the season, held in common among all four participating churches.The ACC and ELCIC have been in full communion since the signing of the Waterloo Declaration in 2001. The churches maintain autonomy but share in joint life and mission, including sharing in Eucharist and using each others liturgies. A similar agreement, Called to Common Mission, was signed by TEC and ELCA in 2001.

At a time when there are so many forces in the world that are trying to create further division among people of faith, this developing partnership, with all of its attendant growing pains, is really quite extraordinary, said Bishop Michael Pryse (Eastern Synod), ELCIC co-chair of JALC. That story needs to be broadcast much more effectively.

The Rev. André Lavergne, assistant to the bishop, ecumenical and interfaith, for the ELCIC, said the relationship has matured a great deal since the Waterloo Declaration.

Our relationship offers us a richness of response as together we seek to embrace Gods mission and move this forward, said Rev. Lavergne. We are richer offering a joint response than were we simply to go it alone.

A major example of this joint response is the ACC and ELCIC joint national assembly, to be held in Ottawa, July 3 to 7, 2013.

Next month, leaders of the four churchesBishop Mark Hanson (ELCA), the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz (ACC), the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori (TEC), and National Bishop Susan Johnson (ELCIC) will hold their annual meeting in Chicago to discuss how to grow together in unity and mission.

· Read the Nov. 25 pastoral letter from the four national leaders

· Download the 2013 Epiphany devotions

· A new Anglican-Lutheran cycle of prayer (Advent 1 2012 to Epiphany 2013) is also available.

· Learn more about Anglican-Lutheran full communion in Canada

Responding to Hurricane Sandy

October 31, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 31 October 2012 — Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) members wishing to donate funds to assist people affected by Hurricane Sandy can do so by donating through ELCIC’s partner, Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR).

From the Caribbean to the North Atlantic Coast, millions of people have evacuated their homes and communities due to Hurricane Sandy. Strong winds and torrential rains have led to loss of power, flooding and mass destruction. The storm sent trees crashing down and left neighbourhood streets looking like rivers.

In Haiti, severe flooding has blocked roads, damaged or destroyed homes and agricultural fields, and killed livestock. There is significant damage in rural communities, and hundreds of families are living in temporary shelters. New outbreaks of cholera have been reported. Donated funds will support relief including water and sanitation, cholera treatment and prevention, and shelters for people affected by the hurricane.

ELCIC members wishing to make a donation can do so as follows:

By making a designated offering donation (indicate "Hurricane Sandy Relief") at any ELCIC congregation in Canada.
Online at www.clwr.org/donate. Click on Emergencies, and select Hurricane Sandy Relief.
By calling CLWR’s toll-free number: 1.800.661.2597 or locally at 204.694.5602.
By sending a cheque made payable to CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6. Please indicate that you wish to contribute to Hurricane Sandy Relief.

(With files from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ACT Alliance, Primates World Development and Relief and Canadian Lutheran World Relief.)

ELCIC Synod of Alberta and the Territories Elects New Bishop

October 30, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 30 October 2012 At a special convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canadas (ELCIC) Synod of Alberta and the Territories (ABT), delegates elected Rev. Dr Larry Kochendorfer to the position of Synod Bishop.

The special convention was held on Saturday, October 27 in Red Deer, Alberta. The election came on the second ballot with Bishop-elect Kochendorfer receiving 143 out of 186 ballot cast.

Incumbent ABT Synod Bishop Ron Mayan announced in September his resignation and retirement effective October 31, 2012. As per ABT Synod Bylaws, special conventions can be held for specified purposes when called for by the chairperson of the synod and with at least two-thirds majority vote of the synod council.

In his acceptance of the call, Bishop-elect Kochendorfer shared with delegates what he considers to be his three core values: servant leadership, affirmation and involvement, which he says shape his family life, personal life and ministry. This is who stands before you, he said.

The Bishop-elect then invited delegates present at the special convention to enter into a covenant with him. I take this very seriously, he said.

Taken in part from the affirmation of Baptism, Bishop-elect Kochendorfers covenant called on the delegates to: move together into Gods future, journey together in mission, work and serve together, live among Gods faithful people, hear the word of God and share in the Lords supper, proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, serve all people following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

Bishop-elect Kochendorfers acceptance of the call to Bishop was met with applause and a standing ovation.

Prior to his election, Bishop-elect Kochendorfer served as commissary and assistant to the bishop for the ABT Synod. He and his wife Cathy have four adult children. He graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, in 1989 and received a Doctor of Worship Studies from the Institute for Worship Studies in 2008.

The ordination service for Bishop-elect Kochendorfer will take place on January 26, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran, Edmonton, Alberta.

Reformation Day Liturgical Material Available

October 23, 2012 Site Admin

October 23, 2012 – Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) congregations are invited to use liturgical material prepared by The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to celebrate Reformation Sunday.

The materials can be downloaded in English, German, French and Spanish at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/reformation-day-liturgy.html

Reformation Sunday is celebrated annually on (or around) October 31 to mark the beginning of the Reformation, launched when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg in 1517.

ELCIC congregations are invited to use these materials. Alternative prayers, Bible readings or hymns can be substituted to adapt the liturgy to respective contexts.

LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF now has 145 member churches in 79 countries all over the world representing over 70 million Christians.

The ELCIC is an active member of the LWF. At the 11th LWF General Assembly held at Stuttgart in 2010, ELCICs National Bishop Susan C. Johnson, was elected to the LWFs Council where she serves as Vice-President for the North American Region.

Synod of Alberta and the Territories Bishop announces retirement; Special convention to be held in October

September 15, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 15 September 2012–In a letter to members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) Synod of Alberta and the Territories, Bishop Ronald Mayan announced his resignation and retirement effective October 31, 2012.

Bishop Mayan was elected to the position six years ago. In his letter he shared that he felt uplifted in his ministry as Synod Bishop by the "genuine love, respect and consideration" he felt from throughout the synod. "It has been an honour to serve you as your bishop."

"The piece of leadership of the Synod which was mine to do and which I assuredly know was Gods will for me has now been completed," said Bishop Mayan as an explanation of his retirement which comes two years before his current four-year term is complete. "I have been convinced by the counsel of mentors, friends, and trusted associates that ‘I have no more mountains to climb’ in behalf of our beloved Synod. It seems good to the Spirit and to us that now is the time for me to step down from responsibilities as bishop."

"The whole church joins the Synod of Alberta and the Territories in giving thanks to God for the ministry of Bishop Ron Mayan, and in wishing him and his wife Dianne all the best in retirement," said ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "I ask all members of the ELCIC to join me in praying for the Synod as they prepare to gather in special convention and elect a new bishop."

In a meeting of ABT Synod Council, members shared their deep gratitude for the service of Bishop Mayan and officially granted him retired status. A book of gratitude will be circulated throughout the Synod’s upcoming conference conventions for members to add their messages of appreciation.

As a way of moving the Synod forward "as quickly and seamlessly as possibly," Synod Council approved a motion to meet in special convention on Saturday, October 27, 2012. The motion comes in compliance with ABT Synod Bylaws, Part V. Section 10a : Special conventions for specified purposes shall be called by the chairperson of the synod within ninety days of receiving in writing a request for such a convention from: i. The synod council by at least a two-thirds majority vote, ….

As per Synod Bylaws, delegates to this special convention will be, "the lay delegates who were seated in the preceding regular convention provided that they have not been disqualified by termination of membership in the congregation they represented; Ordained ministers on the roster of the Synod at the time of the special convention; and Diaconal ministers on the roster of the Synod at the time of the special convention."

Synod Council announced that the agenda for the special convention will include: "election of bishop; and an amendment to the synod bylaws which would allow for a triennial convention of the Synod rather than a biennial."

The Rev. Timothy Posyluzny, chair of ABT’s Synod Council asked members of the synod to, "continue to hold Bishop Ron and Dianne in your prayers as they begin this new chapter in their lives and ministry; and, please remember in prayer our Synod as we move into the future Our Lord is preparing for us."

Highlights from National Church Council’s fall meeting

September 12, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 12 September 2012 — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canadas (ELCIC) National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg from September 6-8. Council members conduct the business of the church between National Conventions. The following is an overview of highlights from the meeting.

Long time national office staff person retires, thanked for service to the church

NCC members were advised that Faye Schultz, long time national office staff person, recently retired after 13 years of service. Most recently, Schultz served as Executive Assistant to the Office of the Bishop. I would like to publically thank Faye for her service to the church, said ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "Her warm and welcoming presence at the National Office will be greatly missed."

World Interfaith Harmony Week endorsed

NCC members endorsed a request from The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to observe the first week of February every year as World Interfaith Harmony Week. ELCIC members are encouraged to participate in this observance.

World Interfaith Harmony Week was adopted unanimously by the UN General Assembly in New York in October 2010. The adoption was based on the recognition of the need for dialogue among different faiths and religions, and highlights that the moral imperative of all religions, convictions and beliefs calls for peace, tolerance and mutual understanding. At its meeting in June 2011, The LWF Council adopted a resolution to encourage LWF member churches to observe the first week of February every year as the World Interfaith Harmony Week.

‘Supporting Families’ resource commended to ELCIC congregations and members

At the invitation of the Coalition on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth, NCC members endorsed a ‘Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children
and Youth,’ and commended the Joint Statement to the congregations and members of the ELCIC as a tool for living out the call to ‘Support Families’, one of the focuses contained in the 2011 ELCIC Social Statement on Human Sexuality.

In the ‘Doing Ministry’ section of the ELCIC Social Statement on Human Sexuality, the ELCIC commits to Support Families. The Joint Statement outlines both the negative aspect of physical punishment, and advocates for effective discipline. The call for parenting education is parallel to the ELCIC call to teach values. Legal protection from assault is a specific policy that intends to name violence as violence, and to draw a line that encourages people to look for alternative discipline measures.

The Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth has been recently endorsed by The United Church of Canada and the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.

Update on structural renewal

Sheila Hamilton, chair of the Structural Renewal National Implementation Team provided NCC with an update on the structural renewal process. Members also heard from Synod Bishops on motions pertaining to structural renewal that came forward at their conventions.

NCC members passed a motion that will see them move forward, with changes that are in the purview of the National Church. This includes constitution and bylaw changes to affect the reduction of size of National Convention and NCC, the election of National Convention delegates by Synods, payment of delegates expenses to be the responsibility of the Synods, and the move to triennial conventions. During this meeting, NCC worked on proposed constitutional and administrative bylaw changes. These changes will come before the 2013 Joint Assembly for a first reading. If they pass, will come to the 2015 National Convention again for final approval.

As a follow up to several motions at Synod Conventions inviting further discussion among synods, NCC passed a motion to encourage the Synods to convene a consultative process. The motion invites synods to have further discussions on structural renewal in the areas of synod amalgamation and area strategy teams.

NCC members also passed a motion asking the National Church to, communicate information about the planned changes to be presented at the 2013 National Convention for synods, rostered leaders and congregations.

2013 Joint Assembly planning

Council received an update on preparations for the 2013 Joint Assembly. Next year marks the first Joint Assembly of the ELCIC and the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC). The event, which takes place in Ottawa from July 3-7, 2013, will gather more than 1000 Christians for worship, fellowship and important ministry decisions. Both the ELCIC and ACC will hold their full national business sessions (National Convention and General Synod, respectively) at this event. During the five days together, Lutherans and Anglicans will gather jointly and separately under the assembly theme of Together for the love of the world.

NCC members participate in ELCIC Praise Appeal

An offering was held during the closing worship service of NCC. Over $1,300 was received and will be directed to the ELCIC Praise Appeal. This national appeal supports the ministry of the wider church.

National Bishop invites prayers for peace on September 21

September 6, 2012 Site Admin

Winnipeg, 6 September 2012–Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson invites members of the church to pray for the global community on September 21. In a letter to the church from Bishop Johnson, she encourages ELCIC members to add their prayers "to those of our sisters and brothers around the world" and pray for peace. The World Council of Churches marks September 21 as International Day of Prayer for Peace.

The full text of the letter follows.

Dear members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada:

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

I write to you, this early fall day, to ask for your prayers. Pray is one of the seven action words associated with the call to spiritual renewal and deeper discipleship that I am encouraging throughout our church. I invite your prayers in two directions.

First, Id like you to pray for your leaders, for the members of National Church Council (NCC) and for those who support this work. NCC will meet in Winnipeg September 6-8 and have a busy and full agenda ahead of them. Please hold your leaders and your church in your prayers.

Second, I want to invite you to pray for the global community. The World Council of Churches (WCC) marks September 21 as an International Day of Prayer for Peace. Let us add our prayers to those of our sisters and brothers around the world. Let us pray for peace.

The following are two links, which you might find helpful to you and to your congregation or community. The first is a link to the WCC International Day page and to further resources. The second is the website of Project Ploughshares, a Canadian Council of Churches agency sponsored by nine Canadian churches, including the ELCIC.

· www.oikoumene.org/en/news/events/ev/se/article/1634/international-day-of-pray-10.html
· www.ploughshares.ca

I would be grateful if you would join with me in praying for our church, as well as joining with me and with Christians around the world in praying for peace.

Please know that every day my staff and I uphold you and our whole church in prayer.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson,
National Bishop,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

View a PDF copy of the letter: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/20120904WCCPrayers.pdf

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