National leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) will visit their counterparts in Jerusalem May 15 to 21 to discuss the development of full communion ministry in the Middle East.

National Bishop Susan C. Johnson (ELCIC) and Archbishop Fred Hiltz (ACC) will describe how the Anglican-Lutheran partnership evolved in Canada and encourage Bishop Munib Younan (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land) and Bishop Suheil Dawani (Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem) as they take their own steps towards a similar relationship.

The trip was first suggested by leaders of their respective international bodies, the Lutheran World Federation and the Anglican Communion.

“We know the benefit both personally and as churches of this form of deeper partnership and are excited about sharing our experiences as we have travelled this road together,” said Bishop Johnson.

“It is especially important that in Jerusalem, the birthplace of Christianity, we do all that we can to support and encourage the remaining Christian population."

Christians are a minority in the Jerusalem region. They struggle to work towards peace with justice in Palestine and Israel. They also struggle with declining numbers as Christians emigrate elsewhere.

Joint mission work is one way to respond to their challenges. In Canada, Lutherans and Anglicans have been in a full communion partnership since 2001. This means mutual recognition of baptisms, interchangeability of clergy, and many areas of cooperative mission work, including joint advocacy against homelessness and global poverty.

In 2013 the denominations will hold their first joint national assembly in Ottawa.

Lutherans and Episcopalians (Anglicans) in the Middle East are just starting to explore the potential of such joint work. Bishop Younan and Bishop Dawani worked alongside each other as local ministers in Ramallah, Palestine. Now they have started to chart steps for larger-scale cooperation. Recently they appointed co-chairs of a joint Anglican-Lutheran Commission for their regions: the Rev. Sven Oppegaard (Lutheran) and the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson (Anglican).

Canadian Lutherans and Anglicans have longstanding, deep ties to the Middle East. Bishop Johnson and Archbishop Hiltz have both visited Jerusalem and their denominations have passed national resolutions that pledged to journey with Christians in that region through prayer and other means of support.

Recently Canadian Anglicans have started the Companions of the Diocese of Jerusalem group to raise awareness and funds for the diocese, which extends over Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. A companionship relationship is also emerging between Ottawa and Jerusalem.

Canadian Lutherans are active in the region through their partners, Canadian Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which support a hospital and a vocational training centre in East Jerusalem. Bishop Younan has served as president of LWF since 2010.

With such rich and complex histories undergirding the trip, the Canadian delegation hopes that this visit will deepen a sense of joint mission for all involved.

“We’re really going there not to tell them how to do it,” said Archbishop Hiltz. “We want simply to share the Canadian story—the significant moments in our journey, some of the high points, the challenges, and the realities of what it’s like to live in full communion.”

The Canadian delegation also includes the co-chairs of the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission Bishop Michael Pryse (Lutheran) and the Very Rev. Peter Wall (Anglican) as well as the Anglican Church of Canada’s Director of Resources for Mission and Communications and Information Resources Vianney (Sam) Carriere.

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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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson provides an update on the structural renewal process in her latest message to the church. A video of her message can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/VH3xYi8NCaA. Congregations are encouraged to share this message with their members.

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

Many of you have been wondering since the Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod Convention what’s going to happen with the future of structural renewal.

Well, I first want to assure you that although MNO did not vote to amalgamate, they are very interested in picking up many of the ideas from structural renewal and moving towards implementation of those items.

In terms of the other synods and moving forward, it is business as usual full steam ahead!

The National Implementation Team and the Synod Implementation Teams think that this is still the best way to help our church move forward and become a structure that is flexible, affordable and sustainable.

The flexibility part may be challenging us a little bit at this time but we think that with all the synods we can work together towards a church that is in renewal both structurally and spiritually.

I ask you to pray for each of the synod conventions as they unfold over the next couple of months, and keep our whole church in prayer.

Thank you and God bless you!

Further information on the ELCIC’s structural renewal process can be found online: https://elcic.ca/Structural-Renewal/default.cfm.

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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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

The Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario (MNO) Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) is meeting in convention April 26-29 in Beausejour, Manitoba. The 2012 MNO Synod Convention commenced on Thursday evening with opening worship. MNO Synod Bishop Elaine Sauer preached and presided.

On Friday, delegates had a full agenda of business before them. Brian Lorch, incumbent synod council chair was re-elected on the first ballot. Allan Francis, incumbent synod council treasurer was re-elected also on the first ballot.

ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson addressed delegates in her Report of the National Bishop, sharing highlights of the National Church’s ministry in each of the five strategic priorities (effective partnerships, spirited discipleship, focused framework, diverse faces and compassionate justice). Delegates also received greetings from Bishop Don Phillips, Diocese of Rupert’s Land, Anglican Church in Canada; Rev. Dr Kevin Ogilvie, President, Lutheran Theological Seminary; Rev. Roger Haugen, President, Lutheran College Bible Institute; and Robert Granke, Executive Director, Canadian Lutheran World Relief.

Friday morning, delegates heard presentations regarding structural renewal from the National and Synodical Implementation Teams. The ELCIC has been in discussions regarding structural renewal for over three years when at a February 2009 meeting of officers and bishops of every synod and the National Church it was agreed that they should ask NCC to set up a task force. The Structural Renewal Task Force worked for two years to look at possible options. Last year at the ELCIC National Convention, a plan was adopted by the National Church in principle.

Friday evening, delegates considered the following motion on structural renewal, “be it resolved that the MNO Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada be wound up and dissolved effective the 29th day of May, 2014.” Delegates prayerfully considered the motion. Following almost an hour of discussion in which arguments were presented both for and against, the vote was called. Conducted by written ballot, 114 votes were cast. The motion needed two-thirds in favour to pass. The motion received 44 yes votes, 69 no votes, 1 spoiled ballot. The motion did not pass.

On Saturday, delegates will participate in a day-long renewal event on the topic of the convention theme, "Receive the Spirit – Be the Witness". The renewal event picks up on the ELCIC’s Call to Spiritual Renewal which calls us to Pray, Read, Worship, Study, Serve, Give and Tell.

Over 120 rostered and lay delegates are in attendance at the MNO Synod Convention, as well as many volunteers from the Beausejour region.

Photos and further highlights from the convention can be viewed on the ELCIC’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CanadianLutherans

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 145,276 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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

In a letter to the members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), National Bishop Susan C. Johnson urges delegates to upcoming synod conventions across the church to "carefully and prayerfully read all of the materials in your bulletin of reports. Come with open ears and hearts so we can listen together to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church."

Bishop Johnson’s letter provides an update on the structural renewal process to-date and the proposals coming before all ELCIC synod conventions over the next few months. A copy of the letter follows. An accompanying video has also been prepared by Bishop Johnson. ELCIC congregations are encouraged to find an opportunity before or following worship to share the video with their members. The video can be viewed here: www.elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop

Dear Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada:

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

Three years ago the officers of every synod and the National Church met in consultation. We looked at trends in the church including decreases in membership and finances. As a whole group we agreed that our church was not operating as efficiently as it could and asked National Church Council (NCC) to set up a task force to look at options.

NCC did just that, and the Structural Renewal Task Force worked for the next two years. They looked at all possible options from more synods, to no synods, and to no National Church. They consulted widely – at synod conventions, with the whole church via a survey, with conference meetings, with bishops and synod councils. And finally at last year’s National Convention they put a plan forward that the National Church adopted in principle.

The “in principle” part was because all of the details were not yet in place. Over the past eight months a National Implementation Team and three Synod Implementation teams have been working hard to try to put flesh onto the proposals that were brought to National Convention. There is a lot more “flesh on the bones”, but the reality is that synods will be asked to vote on proposals that are a “work in progress”. Proposals that will continue to be refined in the next two years. I know this means a leap of faith – trust in the direction of the work that has taken place and trust that the remaining work will be satisfactorily completed in the next two years.

For some this may cause anxiety. These are big changes and we will not be the same church as we move forward. We will work together differently as congregations, areas, synods, and as a National Church. There will be compromises made and some things that are dear to us will have to be sacrificed so that we can move forward. It’s painful.

But what St. Paul says is correct. We are all parts of the body and we need each part in order to function. I believe we all need to make these necessary changes so that we can continue to faithfully be part of God’s mission to love and serve the world.

The other great change taking place in our church is spiritual renewal. I’m so deeply excited about the way that this call to deeper discipleship is being picked up all across the church. I know this type of transformation does not happen overnight. But as we continue to grow as disciples in our spiritual practices and especially in our ability to share the good news of Jesus with those around us, we will grow as a church – in depth and then in numbers. Structural renewal allows us the time and redistribution of funding to allow this spiritual renewal to take place. It takes time to grow.

Let me speak very candidly to you. If we do not move ahead with structural renewal, including the amalgamation of synods, the reality is that synods will continue to be forced to make cuts to the National Church in order balance their own budgets. This is already happening. And it won’t take much more until the National Church will not be able to function.

Without a National Church structure, synods will lose their ability to be members of an international and ecumenical church through the Canadian Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, and the World Council of Churches. They will not have the ability to relate nationally to our full communion partner, the Anglican Church of Canada. They will lose the ability to work with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in areas like Global Mission. We will end up a small and very narrow-focused church, and I do not believe that is what God is calling us to do.

I urge you to pray for each of the upcoming synod conventions, that God will lead and guide us and show us the way forward. Dates for the upcoming conventions are as follows:

·        April 26-29: Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod Convention
·        May 10-13: British Columbia Synod Convention
·        May 24-27: Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention
·        June 1-3: Saskatchewan Synod Convention
·        July 5-8: Eastern Synod Assembly

If you are a delegate to a synod convention, I ask you to carefully and prayerfully read all of the materials in your bulletin of reports. Come with open ears and hearts so we can listen together to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Come prepared to hope and dream a bit together…and yes even to debate as together we make decisions for the ELCIC, this corner of God’s church that we call home.

This is God’s church! We know that no matter what decisions we make God will be with us to guide, bless and bring new life.

So let us commit ourselves to renewal – structural renewal and spiritual renewal – so that together we can grow in discipleship and truly be together a church In Mission for Others.

Yours in Christ,

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

A pdf version of the letter is available here: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/1204LetterfromtheBishop.pdf

Further information on the structural renewal process, including resources for congregations use, can be found here: www.elcic.ca/Structural-Renewal

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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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

After 23 years of dedicated ministry to the people of El Salvador, Rev. Brian Rude has announced that he will retire from active ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) at the end of this calendar year.

Rev. Rude began his ministry in El Salvador serving as chaplain in an orphanage and teaching Christian formation, as well as working in the communications department of the Lutheran church. His ministry was one of accompanying the El Salvadorian people during armed conflict which occurred within the country. Following the Peace Accords of 1992, and the closing of the orphanage in 1994, his ministry expanded to include people living with HIV/AIDS in prisons, parishes and hospitals. Brian co-founded the Quetzalcoatl foundation – an organization which seeks to understand gang violence by working with prison personnel and inmates (especially gang members) and at-risk youth in their neighbourhoods, with a focus on mental health and on increasing opportunities and reducing social violence. He was involved in this ministry until 2011. Currently he is involved in restorative justice ministry in the prison system throughout the country and surrounding areas.

The news of Rev. Rude’s retirement comes following a difficult decision made by the ELCIC’s National Church Council (NCC) at its March meeting. NCC members determined that due to severe budget constraints it would no longer able to sustain long-term missionaries. There were significant cutbacks in several other areas of ELCIC programming, however the ELCIC will continue to support the indigenous missionaries of the Amazon mission and in Argentina.

"This was a very painful decision for us," says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "Supporting ELCIC members in mission around the world has been an important part of the ministry of this church and its predecessors. Fortunately, through our partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Global Mission, ELCIC personnel can continue to serve."

Bishop Johnson commended Rev. Rude for his extraordinary service to the church. "He serves as a role model of being In Mission for Others for his accompaniment with the poor and marginalized in El Salvador," she says. "There are few in the ELCIC who have not heard of Brian and the stories, newsletters and messages which he has so graciously provided over the span of his ministry. We are grateful for the work he has accomplished in his years of ministry."

Reflecting on his ministry, Rev. Rude speaks of the seed that flourished into his becoming a long-term missionary which came following the hosting of two educational delegations to Central America (the ecumenical "Ten Days for World Development" focus at the time). "I was envisioning, with Salvadoran refugee friends in Calgary, the possibility of this longer-term mission to El Salvador after receiving enthusiastic affirmation from Lutheran Bishop Gómez in El Salvador," says Rev. Rude.

"As a church, we have been graciously welcomed into the orphanages, the war zones, the displaced peoples’ camps, the campesino villages of repatriated refugees, the earthquake and hurricane disaster zones, the AIDS wards, the gang barrios, the prison dungeons and the back alleys of El Salvador, the land of The Saviour," continues Rev. Rude. "In these sacred spaces, we have discovered Jesus already present, loving God’s crucified people, inviting us to join in his mission of incarnation, of solidarity. In mission with our sisters and brothers of El Salvador, we have been learning to follow Jesus ever more faithfully."

Rev. Rude expresses his sincere thanks to all throughout the church, "especially to those who have supported and enriched me and this ELCIC El Salvador-Canada ministry over these many years, in so many ways. To God be the glory!"

Peru Long-Term Missionary also to move on to new opportunities

Following four years of ministry in Peru, Rev. Fran Schmidt has decided not to renew her contract at the end of her term this June.

Rev. Fran Schmidt began her dedicated service to the Lutheran Church of Peru (ILEP) in 2008 following her ordination. She has provided ministry to the church of San Juan Camino de Esperanze and was an interim pastor to the congregation of Emaus. The ILEP churches were blessed to benefit from her music leadership as she taught music lessons, liturgy courses and conducted choirs. Rev. Schmidt returns to Canada at the end of June and will take part in four months of reorientation.

"We give thanks to Rev. Schmidt for her dedicated service to the church and to her missionary church," says Bishop Johnson.

Rev. Schmidt says she leaves Peru and the ministry there, "with an incredible sense of gratitude and humility. Being able to serve ILEP through its partnership with ELCIC has been a great joy and privilege and we have all learned so much in this journey together. We have worked side by side in God’s vineyard, accompanying one another, challenging one another, and learning what it means to be the body of Christ."

She extends her thanks to her brothers and sisters in Christ in the church in Peru for their generous hearts, open spirits, kindness and patience. "They have taught me, and us, as ELCIC, what it means to proclaim Gospel in the world," she shares. "We are richer for the experience of accompanying one another and meeting Christ in our journeying together. I also wish to thank the many ELCIC congregations and members who have regularly sent emails, cards and letters; their prayers and support have meant more to me than they can ever know! My prayers remain with ILEP as they vision and grow."

Ministry of long-term missionaries to be celebrated

ELCIC members will be invited to share their thanks for the ministry of Rev. Rude and Rev. Schmidt. Details will be announced shortly of ways that members can personally share their gratitude for this mission and ministry.

ELCIC Global Mission support and opportunities

Years ago, ELCIC churches in Canada had a vision to plant churches in many areas of the world. Long-term missionaries were supported by the faithful back in Canada and assisted in the establishment of many new churches. Today those planted churches, through their own efforts and the efforts of The Lutheran World Federation, are becoming sustainable as institutions. The way in which the ELCIC supports these churches has changed as the ELCIC moves into partnerships of accompaniment and responds to the invitation to be present.

"It is no longer as much about us sending people," explains Rev. Carla Blakley, assistant to the National Bishop for Global Mission. "The ministry of global mission continues to evolve. Many of our partner churches have established seminaries and are training local pastors. They are now asking us to partner with them in supporting their churches and their pastors. This is exactly what we see with our relationship within the Amazon mission and in Argentina."

ELCIC Global Mission (GM) remains committed to the full administration, funding and supervision of missions in Peru (Rev. Yoli Zavaleta in the Amazon Mission) and Argentina (Rev. Gustavo Gomez and Rev. Sergio Utz).

In Peru, ELCIC GM continues the work of Rev. Katharine Bergbusch through the financial support of a local pastor in the ministry at the mission congregation of Fiel es Dios (God is Faithful).

In Southern Argentina, ELCIC GM shares a joint mission with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU). Rev. Utz is a pastor at Esperanza del Sur (Hope of the South) congregation in Esquel and Cruz del Sur (Southern Cross) congregation in Bariloche and works with Mapuche aboriginals at Cushmen. Rev. Gomez is a pastor at San Juan Bautista congregation in Comodoro Rivadavia and oversees the congregation’s daycare.

The ELCIC also carries out its ministry of global mission through a key partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Global Mission. ELCIC members interested in serving as missionaries have access to opportunities through the ELCA Global Mission office.

ELCIC members who have supported the mission and ministry within the regions of El Salvador and Peru are asked to please consider continuing financial support to enable ELCIC Global Mission to be In Mission for Others through the ministry of other program areas. Further information on how to provide support is available online at www.elcic.ca/Global-Mission.

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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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

In a new online video, National Bishop Susan C. Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Archbishop Fred Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) offer a joint Easter message to the two churches.

The two leaders share the message of the Easter story in this two-minute video; including in their greeting a reading from Luke 24:1-12.

"With Peter and all the disciples, we are still amazed at the glorious resurrection of Jesus from the dead," says Archbishop Hiltz. "For us it is no idle tale. It is the heart and hope of our faith."

"We wish you a joyous celebration of the resurrection this Easter," says Bishop Johnson.

2011 marked the 10th anniversary of Full Communion between the ELCIC and ACC, and among Anglicans and Lutherans in the United States. In 2001, the ELCIC and ACC signed the Waterloo Declaration. The same year the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Episcopal Church (TEC) signed Called to Common Mission. A joint celebration of the 10th year anniversary took place on May 1 with parallel services in Fort Erie, Ont. and Buffalo, N.Y.((

This year, Lutherans and Anglicans will host a joint National Worship Conference (www.nationalworshipconference.org) and Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth (CLAY) gathering (www.clay2012.ca).

Preparations are now underway for a July 2013 Joint Assembly of the ELCIC National Convention and the ACC General Synod in Ottawa, Ont. ((

View the Easter video message here: https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/default.cfm

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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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

As part of his March 2012 visit to World Council of Churches (WCC) member churches in Canada, General Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit spent a day in meetings with the Anglican Church in Canada (ACC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). The joint meeting was to recognize the full communion relationship between the two churches and marked the first time that the General Secretary had met with two member churches at the same time. Time was spent in reporting details of the working of the ELCIC and ACC full communion relationship, and in hearing of the work of the WCC. Discussions were held on how to strengthen partnerships in the midst of increasing challenges including declining resources.

Of interest, the General Secretary noted a Canadian connection – his Great-Uncle Rev. Amund Tveit, was his pen-pal in his youth and was the first to encourage him to ordained ministry. His second cousins Marie Tveit and Beth Cowan are ELCIC members in Camrose Alberta.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Church Council (NCC) members participated in a day-long visioning session as part of its recent spring meeting. Through a facilitated discussion process, NCC members considered where God is calling the national expression of the church.

During the vision process, NCC members evaluated the work of the national expression over the past four years. Council was asked to consider how fully strategies have been implemented and how effective the strategies have been. The review lifted up the development of the ELCIC’s five pillars of focus (spirited discipleship, effective partnership, focused framework, diverse faces, and compassionate justice), reaffirming the church’s mission in these areas and offering an expanded look at how to proceed over the next four years.

ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson stressed the importance of the council’s work in this area. "Allowing time for visioning at this meeting is critical to how we move forward and adapt to our changing landscape," said Bishop Johnson. "The visioning process and reflecting on our future will help guide our mission and ministry over the next four years. I want to thank the members of NCC for rolling up their sleeves and working hard on this during our recent meeting!"

In addition to the one-day visioning session, council members also received reports from the National Bishop, Officers and Synod Bishops. An update was also provided by the National Implementation Team on the Structural Renewal work being done by the synods in preparation for their upcoming Synod Conventions. Some concerns about the Structural Renewal process were raised at the meeting; NCC members discussed and prepared plan to address the concerns. More communication about the implementation process is being communicated by synods in advance of their Synod Conventions and is also available on the ELCIC website (www.elcic.ca/Structural-Renewal). NCC’s meeting agenda also included decisions on budgeting due to an unanticipated shortfall in benevolence from some synods in 2011 and the notice of a further reduction of support in 2012. More information will be communicated churchwide as details are finalized.

Worship is always an integral part of NCC meetings. For its spring meeting, new council member Jeff Buhse led the opening worship service – with Bishop Susan Johnson presiding. Buhse also opened each day of meetings with devotions. Several council members also shared their personal faith stories as part of a Dwelling in the Word component of the meeting. These personal faith stories will be available for viewing on the NCC website shortly (www.elcic.ca/National-Church-Council/Dwelling-In-The-World.cfm).

The NCC meeting took place in Winnipeg from March 8-10. The next meeting of the council is scheduled for September 6-8, 2012.

—————————————————————–
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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are Ambassadors for Christ: In Mission for Others, says National Bishop Susan Johnson. In a letter to the church, Bishop Johnson thanks members of the church for their commitment and participation in the ELCIC Praise Appeal as it enables the church to be a witness in the world, responding in mission and ministry.

"We are Ambassadors for Christ as we are involved in mission with our Companion Synods and partner churches," Bishop Johnson highlights in the letter. "We are Ambassadors for Christ as we work towards a right relationship with Indigenous peoples. We are Ambassadors for Christ as we respond as a part of the Lutheran World Federation to train leaders, strengthen churches and respond to human need around the world."

"This is made possible through the commitment and support of ELCIC members to the ELCIC Praise Appeal," says Bishop Johnson.

ELCIC congregations are being asked to support this year’s Praise Appeal by designating a Sunday to highlight the appeal at a time that works best for local circumstances.

The theme for the 2012 Praise Appeal, Ambassadors for Christ: In Mission for Others, is based on the reading in 2 Corinthians 5, "we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us."

Resources for congregational use are available online.

Read the full letter from the National Bishop.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 145,276 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.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

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

Subscribe or unsubscribe to ELCIC Information by emailing info@elcic.ca with a short message.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan Johnson has prepared a message updating church members on the structural renewal process. The text of the message follows. She has also prepared a video message that can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9MrYIJ2GmQ. Congregations are encouraged to share this video before or after worship services, during annual general meetings, and at other opportunities as they are able.

Dear Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada:

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

This is the year that all five synods will be meeting in convention and will be considering next steps in the structural renewal process. Last summer the National Convention approved in principle the outline for structural renewal. Now we will be seeing specifics in terms of implications for synods and for congregations.

I have a confession to make to you. This process of restructuring began by being finance driven. There were concerns as we looked at the projections of declining membership, an increasingly aging church and decreasing financial resources that we were not going to be able to sustain our church’s structure for much longer without change. But as we started the renewal process, the Holy Spirit took control, and it has ended up being driven by mission.

As we have asked, how can we be a church In Mission for Others, we realized that the majority of the ministry of our church happens at the congregational level. The proposed changes create a structure to encourage and support mission at the congregational and area levels. It provides an opportunity for a new way of working together to reach out in witness and service to our local communities.

Will there be financial savings? Yes there will–-by having a reduced governance structure including fewer synods, fewer councils and committees, fewer offices, etc, there will be cost savings. But that money will be used to invest in supporting congregations and areas in ministry. We believe that by saving money to invest in mission we will expand our capacity for mission and outreach across the church.

But there’s more! Structural renewal, even if it’s Spirit-led and mission-driven will not make a difference in our church unless it goes hand in hand with spiritual renewal. The call to deeper discipleship as we pray, read, worship, study, serve, give and tell has to be answered alongside the call to structural renewal. These two strands must be interwoven if we are to grow as a church In Mission for Others.

In the next while you will be seeing further exciting announcements about the upcoming proposals for structural renewal that are coming to your synod convention. Please watch for them, read them, talk about them, and pray for our church and for the upcoming synod conventions.

God bless you all as we commit ourselves to renewal!

Yours in Christ,

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

A pdf version of the Bishop’s letter can be viewed here: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/2012JanRenewal.pdf

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 145,276 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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