Senior management from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Mennonite Church Canada (MC Canada) met at the ELCIC National Office in Winnipeg on December 15.

Nine leaders attended, including national leaders—Willard Metzger (MC Canada) and National Bishop Susan C. Johnson (ELCIC)—as well as staff with oversight in the areas of witness, church engagement, communications, finance, justice and other departments. They shared their current work, challenges, strategic plans, and mapped out their relationships with partners.

Relations between the ELCIC and MC Canada have been renewed since July 2010, when The Lutheran World Federation offered a historic apology to Mennonites for past persecutions. The move to formally apologize comes out of a seven year dialogue between Lutherans and Mennonites, which resulted in a study document that presents a shared understanding of what happened during the Reformation.

The ELCIC and MC Canada have worked to apply this global statement of reconciliation in local churches and jointly prepared a congregational study guide, Healing Memories, Reconciling in Christ, which offers a study process primarily for groups of both Lutherans and Mennonites to understand the context of the apology and the new relationship between the churches.

The study guide was intended as a first step with the hope that there would be further places to foster dialogue and leadership. The December meeting of senior staff is another step in building relationships. Further areas of cooperation emerged from the discussions, particularly in the area of indigenous ministries.

The leaders agreed that bilateral conversations in specific work areas should take place in the coming months, with a follow up meeting planned in late 2012.

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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.

The Lutheran-Anglican-Episcopal leadership of Canada and the United States met on December 8 at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City.

Attending were:

The Rev. Mark Hanson
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The Rev. Don McCoid
Assistant to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA

The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz
Archbishop, Anglican Church of Canada
Archdeacon Paul Feheley
Principal Secretary to the Primate of Canada
The Ven. Dr. Michael Thompson
General Secretary of the Anglican Church of Canada

The Rev. Susan Johnson
National Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Rev. Andre Lavergne
Assistant to the National Bishop

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church
The Rev. Dr. Canon Charles Robertson
Canon to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The members have issued the following report:

The Second Annual Gathering of Lutheran-Anglican-Episcopal leaders from the United States and Canada met in communion, collegiality and with the spirit of our Lord.

Our four churches have a common understanding and commitment to the Gospel. At this meeting, we explored a deepened commitment to the witness that we share together and looked at new possibilities working together.

We were in conversation on a series of topics of mutual interest and common concern. Among the topics discussed at the one-day meeting were:

·Immigration reform, environmental issues, poverty, First Nations, and refugees. From those issues, we are encouraging the senior staff of all our churches who have responsibility in these areas to work collaboratively as we believe these are important issues.

·Ecumenical and interfaith issues. We discussed ways in which to share our resources.

·Middle East: We support our partners, and we are respectful of addressing the realities of the Middle East policies of our countries while respecting dreams of our partners.

·We raised possibilities of areas of partnership, focusing on common experiences as well as things we do in different ways. For example, some of our ministry work is addressed on the national or churchwide level, while the same work is addressed on a diocesan or synodic level. We are looking at bi-lateral or tri-lateral partnerships in these areas.

·Relief and development work, global mission, United Nations advocacy: We are seeking a better alignment of these challenges.

·We reviewed the possibilities of producing materials, study guides and resources that parishes and congregations in all four churches could use in various seasons of the liturgical year.

·We addressed the challenges of church planting and how we need to strategize with our full communion partners

We decided to:

·Form a subcommittee to further consider how we can make our bi-lateral full communion relationships effective among the four churches.

·Plan for our 2012 meeting to be held in Chicago and 2013 in Winnipeg (2010 was held in Toronto). At those meetings, our staff will be asked to provide updates on the collaborative work.

·Discuss the upcoming February meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario where the co-chairs of the Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Committee (LECC) will attend the regular session of the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission (JALC).

We worshipped together at noon, with Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori celebrating and Archbishop Hiltz preaching. We met with Bishop Stacy Sauls, Chief Operating Officer of the Episcopal Church, and with senior management members of Episcopal Relief & Development, Episcopal Church Foundation, and Episcopal Migration Ministries.

We believe that this meeting and our work together are hopeful signs for the church.

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 152,500 baptized members in 607 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 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson wrote to The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment, to express her "disappointment and concern" over the recent decision of the government to withdraw Canada from participating in the Kyoto Protocol.

In her letter, Bishop Johnson urges the government to set a national target to cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 25 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020, implement an effective national plan to reach this target, and help developing countries reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change.

"Climate change is very real," writes Bishop Johnson. "It is urgent that we reduce green house gas emissions in order to limit the effects of climate change."

The letter references a decision made by delegates at the 2009 ELCIC National Convention which affirmed, "that global warming is the greatest threat to life on earth–that entire populations and ecosystems are threatened by devastating impacts such as drought, heat waves, fires, floods, storms and rising sea levels."

Bishop Johnson urges the Canadian Government to match the commitment made by members of ELCIC congregations and reduce emissions by 25 per cent, and to support a national plan that helps reduce emissions.

Read the full text of the letter here: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/documents/2012December14Lettertoenvironmentministerkyoto.pdf

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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 their 2011 joint Christmas video, National Bishop Susan C. Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), share the story of the birth of Jesus as told in Luke 2:4-14.

"We wish for you that peace and that joy as you celebrate the birth of our Lord," says Bishop Johnson in the video.

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 Anglican-Lutheran cooperation was also highlighted by joint ELCIC National Church Council and ACC Council of General Synod meetings at the beginning of April, signifying an important step in deepening the Full Communion relationship between the two churches.

In 2012, 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 meeting of the ELCIC National Convention and the ACC General Synod in Ottawa, Ont.

View the Christmas video greeting here: https://elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/default.cfm
—————————————————————–
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 Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (LAMP) community is mourning the death of Rev. Steve Dreher, a pastor and pilot of the association. Rev. Dreher was killed when his plane crashed in Colorado, late Thursday afternoon.

Rev. Dreher was piloting LAMP’s Cessna Skymaster 337 when it went down shortly after take off Thursday in Alamosa, Colorado. Rev. Dreher was the only person on board and died in the crash.

"We at LAMP are all in a state of shock and disbelief. We are coping with the help of God’s word," said Rev. Bill Ney, a fellow pastor and pilot with the association. LAMP is asking for prayers for Rev. Dreher’s wife Sarah and daughter Katie, as well as extended family and LAMP staff.

LAMP is a non-profit organization located in Edmonton, Alberta, with a US office in New Haven, Michigan. The organization provides spiritual witness and nurture in communities in northern remote areas of Canada through the ministry of pastor/pilots, and short and long-term volunteers-in-mission. LAMP currently works in 60 communities. Each year over 6,000 children, youth and adults are positively impacted by the ministry of LAMP staff and volunteers.

More information on LAMP, as well as a link to a condolences page for Rev. Dreher, can be found on their website: www.lampministry.org

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 152,500 baptized members in 607 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.

ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson has written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, urging, "the Government of Canada to provide resources for the protection of victims of sexual exploitation."

The full text of Bishop Johnson’s letter to Prime Minister Harper can be viewed here.

ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson has written to the Goverment of Canada, urging the government to "work collaboratively with indigenous peoples to fully and effectively implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."

The full text of the letter can be viewed here.

Meeting on scenic Thetis Island, B.C., 24 Anglican and Lutheran regional youth coordinators planned the future of their joint ministry work at Stronger Together 2011, Sept. 13 to 16. The consultation emerged from grassroots energy to support and connect youth coordinators who work at the levels of dioceses (Anglican) or synods (Lutheran).

“This was a really great way to gather folks together to focus specifically on their role of equipping,” said Andrew Stephens-Rennie, director of youth ministries for the (Anglican) Diocese of Ottawa and event organizer. “We also dreamed big dreams for youth ministry in our church.”

Regional coordinators essential
Regional youth coordinators are an essential, but often invisible, part of the youth ministry universe. Serving either as staff or volunteers on committees, their job is to support local church programs while staying connected to national initiatives.

These jobs look different across Canada. Tasks may include planning regional gatherings, offering pastoral support to church youth leaders, or developing resources. Some serve in densely populated cities while others drive hours between churches.

Yet coordinators share a common passion. They work to nurture the spiritual lives of young people and to get others engaged in this good work, even as some regions face budget and communications challenges.

The Stronger Together participants shared these stories with the help of facilitators Mark DeVries and Jeff Dunn-Taylor from Youth Ministry Architects of Nashville, Tenn. These men also helped direct the focus to the deeper purpose of youth ministry as well as future plans.

At one point all participants shared stories of leaders who had influenced their faith development at a young age. It was a moving exercise that helped refocus the group.

Anglican-Lutheran cooperation key
Several new initiatives are emerging from the Stronger Together gathering, and all include enhanced Anglican-Lutheran cooperation at a regional level.

This focus was a highlight for the Rev. Kristen Steele, a Lutheran pastor in Langley, B.C. and a member of the B.C. Synod Youth Ministry Committee.

“It was a great opportunity to meet with (Anglican) diocesan youth people to see how we can meet together,” she said. “It’s always nice to put a face to a name, to connect and to talk about what’s happening.”

She looks forward to working together on the Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth (CLAY) gathering, which met for the first time in August 2010. This event, started by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, attracts approximately 1000 young adults every two years.

Similar cooperation has also been celebrated at Ask and Imagine, an Anglican-Lutheran youth leadership development program and Common Ground, an ecumenical youth ministry forum that met in May 2011.

Youth ministry belongs to whole church
In a statement released from Stronger Together, participants emphasize that youth ministry not only requires coordination between Anglicans and Lutherans, but among many elements of church communities.

“Youth ministry is the ministry of the whole church,” summarized Judy Steers, General Synod’s youth initiatives coordinator (Anglican).

“We’re understanding youth ministry as a thing the church does, not a thing that happens on the side, that it’s a central and core part of the ministry of the community.”

With this momentum still rolling, organizers are starting plans for Stronger Together 2012. For more information on how to support or get involved, email:

– Judy Steers, General Synod youth initiatives coordinator (Anglican Church of Canada)
– The Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the Bishop, justice and leadership (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)

Links
– Read A Statement Reflecting the Visions and Conversations at Stronger Together (https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/StrongerTogether2011.pdf)

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 145,400 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 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg from September 8-10. Council members conduct the business of the church between National Conventions. The following is an overview of highlights from the fall NCC meeting.

Orientation
At the 2011 ELCIC National Convention in July, ten new council members were elected to replace outgoing members, including two new officers of the church. On Thursday evening, following the council’s opening worship, National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and Vice President Sheila Hamilton provided an orientation to all council members on the constitution, administrative bylaws and structure of the ELCIC, as well as the role of NCC, its governance model and strategic plan.

Telling Our Faith Stories
Usually detailing a personal experience, the telling of one’s personal faith stories – also known as Dwelling in the Word – has become a regular part of NCC meetings. These reflections are one of the ways NCC is responding to the new Call to Spiritual Renewal initiative (www.elcic.ca/csr), which encourages deeper discipleship within our church through a practice of: pray, read, worship, study, serve, give, tell. At the fall meeting, Rev. Jeff Smith, Rev. Matthew Diegel and Rev. Trish Schmermund shared their reflections with council. Videos of their reflections can be viewed online: www.elcic.ca/National-Church-Council/Dwelling-In-The-World.cfm

Convention Review and Outstanding Business Items
Council members spent time on Friday reviewing feedback from the 2011 ELCIC National Convention and attending to unfinished business from the gathering. Overall, council felt that the feedback from the convention was positive. Concerns regarding visitor fee rates will be addressed at the spring 2012 NCC meeting when delegate fees for the 2013 National Convention are presented for approval.

Council members received correspondence regarding balloting and elections at this year’s National Convention. NCC members approved a motion to have, “the officers of the church review the process of how elections and balloting are conducted at National Conventions.” A report will be brought to the September 2012 NCC meeting.

A review of the motions passed at convention was part of the meeting’s agenda. Council members walked through each motion affirmed by delegates to identify next steps for the ELCIC and NCC. In addition, council members also reviewed motions that the convention did not have time to address during the proceedings. These included the following:

• A resolution on addressing sexual exploitation and human trafficking. This motion was affirmed by NCC members as an NCC policy and will be brought to the 2013 ELCIC National Convention for endorsement by the whole church.
• From the Committee on Reference and Counsel: that the ELCIC, in partnership with the Synods, make provision for congregations to celebrate Holy Communion on a weekly basis. NCC referred this motion to the Conference of Bishops.
• NCC affirmed a motion on exploring ways to be more environmentally friendly at the 2013 National Convention.

Structural Renewal
At the 2011 ELCIC National Convention, delegates approved the recommendations of the Structural Renewal Taskforce in principle (www.elcic.ca/Structural-Renewal) and authorized NCC to move forward with the implementation process. Council members heard that Synods are currently working to develop their implementation teams. Sheila Hamilton, chair of the Structural Renewal Taskforce, provided an overview of the implementation work from a national level. Council members also approved a motion to appoint a National Implementation Team that will work with the Synod Implementation Teams. The national team is comprised of several members of the existing Structural Renewal Taskforce, communications and constitutional expertise, and representation from the five ELCIC Synods and NCC.

Ongoing Strategic Planning
NCC received two papers at their fall meeting. Global Mission and Accompaniment and The Ecumenical Journey were presented to council members for review. These papers provide context of the current realities in these two areas. NCC will further consider these papers at its spring 2012 meeting when members will spend time on strategic planning and visioning.

NCC meetings in 2012
The next National Church Council meeting will held March 8-10, 2012 in Winnipeg. The fall meeting will take place September 6-8, 2012.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 145,400 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’s (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson is urging the Prime Minister to, "respond effectively and generously" to appeals from the United Nations and NGOs for aid to countries in the Horn of Africa, and calling for support from the Canadian Government so that the "important work of facing this crisis can continue."

In an August 24 letter to The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Bishop Johnson notes that a long term commitment by many people and agencies is required as the crisis, "will not end quickly and immediate disaster response is not enough."

"The effects of the drought will be ongoing at least until December, and will likely spread further through the region," says Bishop Johnson. "Even after the drought is over, we have to prepare for mid-term and longer-term solutions for rehabilitation, climate change adaptation, and disaster preparedness. As well, the ongoing violence and instability in Somalia need to be addressed."

Addressing the request for financial assistant in light of current economic realities Bishop Johnson says, "we are aware that vast amounts of money were raised to rescue the global financial industry. It is now time to rescue human beings in the Horn of Africa."

Read the full text from Bishop Johnson’s letter to the Prime Minister here: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/LettertoPMonHornofAfrica201108.pdf

The lack of rain in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya has created food and water shortages that threaten the lives of 11 million people. The World Food Program reports that tens of thousands of Somalis have died from starvation. Thousands more Somalis suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, and exhaustion arrive in Kenyan and Ethiopian refugee camps every day seeking aid, swelling the camps far beyond their capacity and causing a major strain on resources.

In July, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) issued an appeal, through its partnership with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), for financial support to assist relief efforts for drought affected people in East Africa.

To date, Lutherans across Canada have donated almost $220,000 to the appeal. All donations designated for East Africa Drought Relief received by CLWR before the end of the day September 16, 2011 will qualify for matching federal government grants.

CLWR has worked in Africa for years on food and water security projects. Funds donated to the CLWR appeal will provide support in the region in the following ways:

• Distributing over $1.5 million of food (1,900 tons) in Ethiopia in partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Ethiopia. This large-scale emergency food aid project is responding to immediate needs for relief in the drought stricken district of Goro, a district in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Over 18,000 people will benefit from the distribution.
• Through their partnership with the LWF, in supporting refugee camps in the region. The LWF-managed Dadaab camp in Kenya is hosting over 1,300 new arrivals per day, most from Somalia. LWF camp interventions include the distribution of nine tons of flour mix for supplementary feeding of children and the elderly; the distribution of clothes, slippers, and sanitary wear for women; and regular water deliveries using a 7,000-litre truck.
• Providing assistance to people still in Somalia, specifically to newly displaced people in Mogadishu and to those affected by drought in the Gedo region. This support is administered through partnership with the ACT Alliance and will include the distribution of food, water, sanitation, and shelter.

Donations can be made in the following ways:

1. ELCIC members are asked to donate to the appeal by making a designated offering donation for “2011 East Africa Drought” through their ELCIC congregation.
2. Online at www.clwr.org/donate. When completing the form, you will come to a pull-down menu that allows you to designate a specific project. Choose “2011 East Africa Drought.”
3. By calling CLWR’s toll-free number: 1.800.661.2597 or locally at 204.694.5602.
4. By sending a cheque made payable to CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6. Please indicate that you wish to contribute to East Africa drought relief.

—————————————————————–
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 152,500 baptized members in 607 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.