Delegates to the ELCIC’s British Columbia (BC) Synod Convention re-elected Rev. Dr. Greg Mohr as Synod Bishop for a second term.

Upon accepting the call to re-election, Bishop Mohr thanked delegates for their affirmation of his service. "And for your prayers, and for our journey together down this very winding river," said Bishop Mohr.

Bishop Mohr was first elected to a four-year term in 2010.

The BC Synod met in convention May 29 to June 1 in Prince George, BC.

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

• ELCIC Facebook page
  
• ELCIC Twitter account
• BC Synod 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

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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 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.

In the spirit of Full Communion, for the first time the Companion of the Worship Arts (CWA) Award will be presented to two recipients this year – one each from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC).

The CWA is awarded every two years in recognition of significant contributions to the worship life of the church. The honour recognizes ongoing inspiration and encouragement to others, and service to God, through worship, spirituality and the arts.

This year’s Lutheran recipient is Dr. Joy Berg, who has a “passionate desire to teach, share and model her faith through the gifts she has been given by God,” notes her nomination form. “She is an accomplished pianist, organist, vocalist and conductor who generously shares her talent with the church community.”
 
Dr. Berg serves as Lutheran Co-Chair of the 2014 National Anglican Lutheran Worship Conference and coordinates Concordia University’s Worship and Music Symposium each summer. She will present at the Hymn Society this year and leads workshops across denominations on sacred music with an emphasis on Canadian hymnody. Dr. Berg is past president of Region 4 of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (2010-12), served as ELCIC National Convention Musician (2011) and is a frequent musician for Synod Conventions. She served on the ELCIC Program Committee for Worship, the Synod Committee for Worship and the Arts, as a synodical trainer for the introduction of Evangelical Lutheran Worship, as a workshop leader for National Worship Conferences, and as a principle teacher in the Synod’s Leadership Program for Musicians. She was the Canadian representative for the development of the hymnal for the Lutheran World Federation Assembly in Winnipeg in 2003.

Dr. Berg is Associate Professor of Music, Program coordinator, Director of Choral Activities, and chapel cantor at Concordia University College of Alberta, Edmonton. She is a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Edmonton where she serves as choir director, musician and singer. And she is an active chorister in the professional choir, Pro Coro Canada.  

The Rev. Canon Dr. Graham Cotter is the inaugural Anglican laureate of the CWA. The award is in recognition of a lifetime of contributions by Canon Cotter to the worship life of the ACC in all its expressions. A lifelong student of religion and the arts and prolific writer, he is the producer of several liturgical dramas, an accomplished liturgical dancer, and has collaborated in the design and creation of a major altarpiece, vestments, and even labyrinths. He has dedicated much of his ministry to encouraging local worshipping communities to give expression to their faith through the arts.

In 1994 Canon Cotter and his late wife, Evelyn, donated the seed money for the Sacred Arts Trust, an endowment administered by the Anglican Foundation which continues to provide financial support for creative liturgical expression across Canada through worship and drama, liturgical dance, performing arts, music, and the visual arts. The Sacred Arts Trust has also helped support several National Worship Conferences.

“Graham’s encouragement and support of the liturgical, worshipful arts has increased public appreciation and visibility of the arts,” reads his nomination form, “and he plans to continue this work as long as he is able to breathe!”

Now retired, Canon Cotter lives near Warkworth, Ontario, and continues to serve as an honorary assistant priest at the parish of St. Mark, Port Hope.

The CWA recipients will be presented with their awards at the 2014 National Worship Conference, July 20-23 in Edmonton, AB by ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and ACC Archbishop Fred Hiltz.

Each recipient was selected by a jury of members from their denomination following an open call for nominations in both churches.

Find out more about the 2014 National Worship Conference and the Companion of the Worship Arts award online: www.worship.ca

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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 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 first ever annual report for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) is now available.

Read stories about our work as a church and a vision for how we can respond together to the call to be a church In Mission for Others.

Copies of the publication are available at all Synod Convention and National events across the church this year. Individuals and congregations wishing to recieve a hard copy can request one from the National Office (orders@elcic.ca).

A PDF version is available online.

A statement from the heads of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Anglican Church of Canada, and The Episcopal Church, on Friday, May 9, 2014. To find this document in PDF format, click here.

The situation in South Sudan continues to be extremely difficult, and news of it in North American media is minimal. Violence has been fomented and stirred by political leaders for their own ends. Although the mainstream media portrays the conflict as ethnic, its roots, as with any conflict, are varied and complicated. Regardless, there can never be a rationale for the suffering that has been wrought.

Our partners in South Sudan have suffered massive casualties. Their people have been murdered, raped, tortured, and burned out of their homes. Churches and entire villages have been destroyed. In spite of extensive displacement, Anglicans/Episcopalians and Lutherans continue to be active in relief and peace-making efforts through our partners in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan, and the Lutheran World Federation.

We urge you to join in prayer for the people of South Sudan and Sudan, for a lasting and meaningful peace, and for immediate aid and response to the needs of the myriad of displaced persons.

As we celebrate the feast of the Resurrection, we urge you to help make the risen body of Christ evident to those who labor through the valley of the shadow of death.

Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz
Primate
Anglican Church of Canada

Bishop Susan Johnson
National Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) members are invited to explore the current reality for congregations in Canada with respect to Word and Sacrament ministry and reflect on how our Lutheran understanding of Word and Sacrament ministry might shape future options for the provision of ministry.

In the fall of 2012, the Faith, Order and Doctrine Committee (FOD) of the ELCIC’s National Church Council (NCC) was asked to consider the question of licensing lay people for sacramental ministry. The underlying concern was for under-served communities desiring more regular access to a full ministry of Word and Sacrament. The FOD terms of reference were later to “the study of Word and Sacrament Ministry in the ELCIC.”

This Word and Sacrament Ministry Study Guide (available online: https://elcic.ca/faithorderdoctrine) is designed specifically for small groups, and church-wide participation is encouraged.

Deadline for responses is Monday, December 15, 2014.

Further information on the work of the Faith, Order and Doctrine Committee – and a copy of the study guide – is available online: https://elcic.ca/faithorderdoctrine/default.cfm.

On the fourth ballot for Synod Bishop, delegates to the Saskatchwan Synod Convention elected Rev. Dr Sidney Haugen to a four-year term.

Bishop-elect Haugen has served as pastor of Our Saviour’s and Central Lutheran Churches, Regina, SK for 18 years. He has also served as chair of the Saskatchewan Synod Council.

The new bishop will take office on August 1, 2014. 

Incumbent Saskatachewan Synod Bishop Cindy Halmarson addressed convention delegates following the announcement.

"Great thanks for all those who have worked with me over the years to lead this synod in ministry. Thank you very much," said Bishop Halmarson. While her plans for the future are opened-ended at this time, Bishop Halmarson says that she and her husband are looking forward to their own time of rest and renewal.

Bishop Halmarson served as Saskatchwan Synod Bishop for 12 years.

The Saskatchewan Synod Convention met May 2-4 in Regina, SK.

ELCIC members and congregations are invited to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter – May 11, 2014 – as a Day of Prayer for Vocations to Rostered Minstry.

A resource suitable for congregational bulletins to assist in your celebrations can be found here: https://elcic.ca/Leadership/VocationalSunday.cfm

Delegates to the ELCIC’s Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario (MNO) Synod Convention re-elected Rev. Elaine Sauer as Synod Bishop to a third term.

The MNO Synod met in convention April 24-26 at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Winnipeg.

The agenda for the business session of convention included the election of a Synod Bishop.

Bishop Elaine Sauer, elected to a four-year term in 2006 and re-elected in 2010, was re-elected to a third term on the second ballot.