Excitement is high for the upcoming gathering of hundreds of Canadian Lutheran and Anglican youth at CLAY 2014. From August 14 to 17, upwards of 600 of the most passionate and talented 14- to 19-year-olds from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada, will convene in Kamloops, BC.

CLAY is held every two years and is one of the strongest showings of full communion relationship between the ELCIC and ACC.

This iteration of CLAY features worship, fellowship over food, service-based learning events, inspiring keynotes, and late night high-energy and low-key social times. Youth will further work on a national youth project on the right to water among First Nations, explore their relationship with social media through the lens of faith, and discern together what church means in this time and place.

Participants will enjoy a range of experiences of God, church, and their faith from ancient forms of worship to collaborative multimedia explorations of issues of concern to youth.

CLAY 2014 invites all those who gather to consider the theme “Worth It.” This simple, but evocative, theme challenges participants to consider what secular culture considers ‘worth it’ and what a rich Christian faith might value instead.
 
Devon Goldie, the Anglican representative on the planning team, is thrilled CLAY 2014 is finally on the horizon, “I love reconnecting with the national Anglican-Lutheran youth community. It’s such a blessing to be able to learn, worship, work and play with like-minded people. Totally WORTH IT!”

Hannah Shirtliff, communications coordinator for the gathering planning team, shares in the enthusiasm for the upcoming gathering. “I’m excited to see CLAY 2014 is finally here,” says Shirtliff, who is also excited for what youth will take away with them from the gathering. “I hope youth will come away with a deeper relationship with God and a deeper appreciation of their own home church community and the wider church community. And I really hope it inspires them to get more involved with their own churches, and the wider church as well!”

It is not just the youth who are gearing up for CLAY! Sara Stratton, Member Relations/Campaigns Coordinator at KAIROS, is eager to join in as leader of a ministry project on responsible resource extraction. “Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the impact of Canadian mining on a community in Guatemala, to reflect on their role in it as consumers, and to think about how their faith compels them to challenge injustice,” she says. “That’s really what KAIROS is all about, and to get to do it at CLAY, with this engaged and dedicated new generation of church leadership is a fantastic opportunity.

To keep in touch with the happenings in Kamloops follow:

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/claygathering
Twitter: @claygathering
Instagram @claygathering
Storify http://storify.com/claygathering

Those who are interested can also search for social media content using the #clay2014 hashtag and read longer blog posts from youth participants at claygathering.ca.

—————————————————————–
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 Blank, Director of Communications
600-177 Lombard Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5
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 wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper today and called on the Government of Canada to provide leadership to end the crisis in Gaza. In her letter, Bishop Johnson urged the government to build a strategy on Gaza to address: "the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities; the protection of civilians ensuring respect for international humanitarian law, respecting the principles of distinction and proportionality; the need for humanitarian access for life-saving and emergency assistance which is urgently needed, among them medicines, water and repairing of electricity and water infrastructure; and the need for a long lasting solution to this conflict."

A pdf version of the letter can be viewed here: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/20140801ELCIClettertoPrimeMinisteronpeaceinGAZA.pdf

The text of the letter follows:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

August 1, 2014

Email: pm@pm.gc.ca

Re: Seeking your immediate attention to end the crisis in Gaza

Dear Prime Minister,

On behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), I am writing to ask for your attention and leadership to end the crisis in Gaza.

Reports from our partner churches and agencies indicate that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, and needs commitment from the international community to ensure protection and safety of civilians and all objects protected by international humanitarian law such as hospitals and clinics, schools and places of worship. To alleviate the suffering of people in this conflict, which has also seen fighting in the West Bank and Jerusalem, unconditional humanitarian access needs to be provided.

The world cannot remain silent; neither can it afford to be neutral when people are dying with little attention given to the international principles of distinction and proportionality in warfare. The number of casualties among women and children continues to rise every day. These are not just statistics; they are innocent and precious lives that need to be preserved. The people of Gaza continue to live in fear of their own lives. The war on both sides must end now. It seems likely that it will not happen without significant international pressure, pressure which the Government of Canada needs to provide.
 
The widening gap of the psychological barrier between the Israelis and the people of Gaza cannot be allowed to continue and be passed on to future generations. This is detrimental to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis and contributes to creating security risks of both regional and global proportions. There will be no peace in Gaza, if there is no peace in Israel, and vice versa.

We call on the government to build a strategy on Gaza in view of the following considerations:

The need for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The protection of civilians ensuring respect for international humanitarian law, respecting the principles of distinction and proportionality.
The need for humanitarian access for life-saving and emergency assistance which is urgently needed, among them medicines, water and repairing of electricity and water infrastructure.
The need for a long lasting solution to this conflict.

At our 2009 National Convention, the ELCIC adopted a “Resolution on Peace in the Holy Land” (https://elcic.ca/Public-Policy/documents/600.52009-ELCICResolutiononPeaceintheHolyLand.pdf.) that formally commits our church to promote peace in the Holy Land and to regularly pray for peace for all people in the region, especially the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). As National Bishop, I have personally visited the Holy Land several times. I count ELCJHL church leaders among my friends and I have been inspired by their vision for community development that leads to hope and peace. News of death, war and destruction touches my heart most deeply and lends urgency to my prayers.
I urge you to offer leadership for peace.

Yours in Christ,

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

c.c. The Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Thomas Mulcair, The Leader of the Official Opposition
Justin Trudeau, MP, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Elizabeth May, MP, Leader of the Green Party of Canada
Mario Beaulieu, Leader of the Bloc Québécois

—————————————————————–
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 Blank, Director of Communications
600-177 Lombard Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5
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 wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and expressed her deep concern for the people of Mosul. In her letter, Bishop Johnson urged the Government of Canada "to call for an end to violence, intimidation and expulsion," and provide humanitarian aid to those forced to flee as refugees.

A pdf of the letter to the Prime Minister can be viewed here: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/ELCIClettertoPrimeMinisteonMOSULexpulsion20140730.pdf

The text of the letter follows.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca

July 30, 2014

Re: Expulsion of Christians in Mosul

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

I am writing to express my deep concern for the people of Mosul, who are living with intimidation and violence. In particular, I hear of Christians being targeted with threats and expelled from their homes and communities.

I am also concerned about reports that the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is destroying holy sites. This represents an atrocious and long-term violation of religious freedom.

Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad, and Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, have called on Christians around the world to express their solidarity with those who are suffering. A report by Amnesty International indicates that violations of international humanitarian law are being carried out by all sides, including ISIS and Iraqi Government forces.

The world seems to be in danger of ignoring this tragic situation.

I urge the Government of Canada to take every opportunity to express its concern for the people of Mosul, and to call for an end to violence, intimidation and expulsion. And I encourage the Government of Canada to provide humanitarian aid to those forced to flee as refugees.

My prayers are with all who suffer the effects of war, violence and expulsion. And my prayers are with you and the Government of Canada as you seek to promote peace, human rights and religious freedom around the world.

Yours in Christ,

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

c.c. The Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Thomas Mulcair, The Leader of the Official Opposition
Justin Trudeau, MP, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Daniel Paillé, MP, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Elizabeth May, MP, Leader of the Green Party of Canada

—————————————————————–
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 Blank, Director of Communications
600-177 Lombard Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5
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 invited to join with the ecumenical global community and pray for peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula on Sunday, August 10.

At the World Council of Churches (WCC) Assembly in Busan, South Korean at the end of 2013, delegates adopted a Statement on Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula. This statement presents a mandate for the WCC to accompany the peoples of North and South Korea in their struggle for justice, peace and life.

“The World Council of Churches, of which we are a member, is the broadest expression of the Christian Church that comes together,” says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. “WCC’s recent efforts towards peace and reunification between North and South Korea are not something we can do on our own. Through the breadth of churches and organizations that partner with the World Council of Churches, this work is happening and we play a part in it.”

“I encourage all ELCIC members and congregations to lift up in prayer the peoples of North and South Korea,” continues Johnson. “We pray for all who live under the threat of violence.”

A 2014 South-North (North-South) Joint Prayer for Peace and Reunification on the Korean Peninsula has been prepared by the WCC. ELCIC members and congregations are encouraged to use this prayer, or others, on Sunday, August 10.

To find the prayer in PDF format, click here: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/JointPrayerforKoreanPeninsula.pdf

—————————————————————–
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 Blank, Director of Communications
600-177 Lombard Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

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

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) issue an appeal for prayers and financial support to treat Palestinian civilians injured as a result of hostilities between Palestinians in Gaza and Israel.

"We stand with all the people in the Holy Land and keep them in our prayers," says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "We pray for peace for all who are affected by this violence and devastation. Gracious God, comfort all those who live in fear. May you bring mercy, compassion and grace to all in need and strengthen the will of those who can impact negotiations and bring peace."

Donations will provide urgently needed medical supplies to civilians receiving treatment at the Augusta Victoria Hospital, a program of the Lutheran World Federation in East Jerusalem.

“Hospitals in Gaza are under great pressure as they suffer from an acute shortage of essential drugs, medical supplies and fuel to provide power,” said CLWR Executive Director Robert Granke. “The Palestinian health sector is relying heavily on the services of Augusta Victoria Hospital on the Mount of Olives,” he added.

Lutherans are encouraged to participate in the appeal through prayer and financial support.

Remember the people who live in the Holy Land and all those who yearn for peace in your prayers, especially on the 24th of every month (a date set aside for a regular global ecumenical call to prayer initiated by ACT Alliance), until a just and lasting negotiated resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict occurs. Please visit actpalestineforum.org/vigil/ to sign up and see worship resources.

Donations to the “Medical care for Palestinian civilians” appeal may be made in the following ways:

1. By making a designated offering donation through any ELCIC congregation.

2. By giving online at www.clwr.org/donate. Click on Emergencies and select “Medical care for Palestinian civilians.”

3. By calling CLWR at 1.800.661.2597 (locally at 204.694.5602) to donate by credit card.

4. By sending a cheque made payable to CLWR and mailed to CLWR, 600-177 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0W5. Please indicate that you wish to contribute to “Medical care for Palestinian civilians.”

Further information on the region can be found in a release by The Lutheran World Federation issued earlier today: www.lutheranworld.org/news/holy-land-lutheran-bishop-younan-pleads-end-revenge-and-bloodshed
—————————————————————–
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
600-177 Lombard Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

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

Lutheran and Anglican leaders wrote to the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada concerning the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act. National Bishop Susan Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and National Indigenous Anglican Bishop Mark MacDonald called on the government to acknowledge the need for building trust between First Nations and the Government of Canada, and to take bold steps in making additional funding available for Indigenous education immediately.

View a pdf version of the letter here (https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/201407-IndigenousEducationLetter.pdf)  – the text of the letter follows.

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
The House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

July 11, 2014

Dear Minister Valcourt:

With our ecumenical partners, we have followed the challenging debate and negotiations surrounding the First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, Bill C-33. We recognize in Bill C-33 a desire to address issues around Indigenous education. At the same time, we observe a troubling absence of trust between First Nations and the Government of Canada. We urge you to acknowledge the need for building trust and to pursue it with diligence and creativity in partnership with Indigenous peoples.

The funding announcements associated with Bill C-33 were a milestone – they serve as a clear and public acknowledgement that Indigenous education has been underfunded and that justice is required. The promise of $1.9 billion and the 4.5% escalator were a good first step towards addressing the pressing and unique needs of Indigenous students. We are thankful for this mark on the path of reconciliation and look forward to its implementation. Furthermore, we acknowledge the title of Bill C-33, The First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, as a symbolic step away from deeply rooted patterns associated with the legacy of colonialism and assimilation. Deepening commitment to the holistic principles of Indigenous control of Indigenous education by Canada and Canadians, is essential for the truth of this symbol to be realized. The integrity of words and symbols are built on tangible action towards justice.

It is our understanding that in the midst of current tensions, work on Bill C-33 has stopped and no new funding has been released. Yet, there remains a huge gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in per capita funding for education. We urge you to take bold steps in making additional funding available for Indigenous education immediately.  Such action would be a hopeful sign.

The history of Indian Residential Schools, along with insights from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), highlight how easily one culture can fail to respect another with devastating consequences. In order to build trust with Indigenous peoples, a new process for justice and equity in Indigenous education is needed. This will require patient dialogue and resolute action that respect the diversity and unique needs of Indigenous communities and learners. As the TRC concludes its mandate, we move into an important era of continued healing, new understanding and the reversal of historic wrongs. Education was at the heart of these errors; education will be an essential element of healing and reconciliation, and the forging of better relations with the First Peoples of this great land.  

We offer our prayers for the work of justice, reconciliation and equity in Indigenous education. And we pray for blessing and wisdom for you as you offer leadership on behalf of the Government of Canada.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Rev. Fred J. Hiltz             
Primate                     
Anglican Church of Canada            

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

The Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald
National Indigenous Anglican Bishop
Anglican Church of Canada

cc. Jean Crowder, NDP
      Carolyn Bennett, Liberal
      Peter Dinsdale, Chief Executive Officer, Assembly of First Nations
      Terry Audla, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

—————————————————————–
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 Blank, Director of Communications
600-177 Lombard Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

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

Delegates to the ELCIC’s Eastern Synod Assembly re-elected Rev. Michael Pryse as Synod Bishop to a fifth term. The election came on the first ballot for Bishop.

"It means a lot to me to receive this affirmation," said Bishop Pryse. "Every four years we get to re-evaluate this relationships. I receive your affirmation with great gratitute. I am in covenant with you to do my best."

Bishop Pryse was first elected as Eastern Synod Bishop in 1998.

The Eastern Synod met in Assembly from June 26-29 in Toronto, ON.

Highlights of the Eastern Synod Convention can be found as follows:

• ELCIC Facebook page
• ELCIC Twitter account
• Eastern Synod Website
• Eastern Synod Facebook Page

Delegates to the ELCIC’s Synod of Alberta and the Territories (ABT) Convention re-elected Rev. Dr.  Larry Kochendorfer as Synod Bishop for a second term. The election came on the first ballot for Bishop.

Following the announcement of the election, Synod Bishop Larry Kochendorfer asked convention delegates to join in covenant with him as he accepted the call to a second term.

"When you elected me in October 2012, I asked you to be in covenant with me," said Bishop Kochendorfer, "and I want to ask you again to be in covenant with me."

Bishop Kochendorfer was first elected to a two-year term in 2012.

The ABT Synod met in convention June 19 – 21, 2014 in Camrose, AB.

Highlights of the ABT Synod Convention can be found as follows:

• ELCIC Facebook page
  
• ELCIC Twitter account
• Alberta Synod Convention 2014 Facebook page

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) national publication, Canada Lutheran, received six awards at the recent Canadian Church Press (CCP) Convention held May 1-2, 2014 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

“What a wonderful accomplishment for our national magazine,” says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson. "Canada Lutheran has consistently been recognized for its high standard of content, photos and design. I encourage everyone in the church to check out this publication and consider a subscription.”

ELCIC Graphic Designer Catherine Crivici won first place in the Feature Layout and Design category for her work on the October/November 2013 issue Pain and Blessing: Autism and the Church. “You’ve made a compelling layout,” noted the judge’s feedback. “There’s structure, and a good narrative arrangement to the images.”

Crivici received second place in the Edition Layout and Design of a Magazine category for the October/November issue. Her work was also recognized with a third place in the Front Cover of a Magazine category for the January/February 2013 issue.

ELCIC Director of Communications and Stewardship Trina Gallop Blank won second place in the News Photo category for A View from the Peace Tower, July/August 2013. “A different perspective of the event,” said the judge. “It is good to take advantages of location; gives a bit of a surprise.”

Columnist Rev. Daranne Harris won second place in the Biblical Interpretation category for Facing our Fears, March 2013. “A first rate piece and a pleasure to read,” said the judge.

Writer Geoff Kirbyson won third place in the Magazine Features category for the September 2013 article Hockey Chaplain: God cares about the people playing hockey. “Good opening -gets readers attention,” noted the judge in his feedback. “Great use of a profile to bring to light an entire program. Nice writing style. Good flow.”

The annual CCP awards program recognizes excellence in publications and allows participants the benefit of feedback provided by judges on all submissions.

Find out more about the ELCIC’s national publication, Canada Lutheran here: www.elcic.ca/clweb/index.html

—————————————————————–
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 Blank, Director of Communications
600-177 Lombard Ave. Winnipeg MB R3B 0W5
204.984.9172
tgallop@elcic.ca

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