Walk with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land this Advent

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), together with the Church of Sweden, invites you to walk with them this Advent. Their online Advent Calendar, Fear Builds Walls – Hope Builds Bridges includes daily Advent YouTube greetings from young people in Palestine and Sweden.

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ELCIC Establishes Women of Faith Fund

In recognition of the “significant contribution of the women of the Evangelical Lutheran Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)”, a new ELCIC Women of Faith Fund has been established.

The ELCIC Women of Faith Fund will provide grants for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating, “the Christ-centred ministry of women within [the ELCIC] and In Mission for Others.”

“The ELCIC Women of Faith Fund will honour the work of women in our church in the areas of faith and spiritual growth, fostering supportive communities, developing leadership skills and working towards justice and peace,” says ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson.

The initial contributions to the fund will come from the residual amount remaining after the dissolution of Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. (ELW). The contribution comes as per ELW bylaws. Individuals or groups may also make additional donations to the fund.

Grants for the ELCIC Women of Faith Fund will be available on an annual basis. Applicants will submit their proposals for review and consideration by an advisory committee appointed by the ELCIC’s National Church Council.

Further information on the fund is available on the ELCIC website: https://elcic.ca/Womens-Desk/default.cfm

Contributions to the ELCIC Women of Faith Fund can be made by sending a cheque made payable to the ELCIC (please indicate ELCIC Women of Faith Fund in the memo portion) to: ELCIC, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3N 3H6.

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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.

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Joint Anglican-Lutheran Pastoral Letter Highlights 10th Anniversary of Full Communion; Offers Encouragement and Suggestions for Deepening Full Communion Relationship

On July 6, 2001, Canadian Anglicans and Lutherans proclaimed their full communion relationship with the signing of the Waterloo Declaration. 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of this historic and holy moment. Signed by members of the House of Bishops (Anglican Church of Canada) and Conference of Bishops (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada), the following pastoral letter offers a word of encouragement to our churches and suggestions for deepening our full communion relationship. Congregations are encouraged to read the pastoral letter during worship on the weekend of November 21, Christ the King / The Reign of Christ Sunday.

The text of the letter follows:

To the faithful of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada:

Grace and peace to you.

On July 6, 2001, in the Waterloo Declaration, we Lutherans and Anglicans proclaimed our full-communion relationship. Next year marks the tenth anniversary of this historic and holy moment.

In many parts of Canada, we are already seeing a variety of expressions of full communion —from occasional joint services in adjacent congregations to parishes sharing a building, program, priest or pastor. Perhaps your community enjoys one of these expressions of full communion. Wonderful! Perhaps your community is looking for some encouragement in that direction. Here it is!

Does your community have an accessible, neighbouring full-communion partner? Consider…
regular shared Bible or Lectionary study (The three-cycle begins anew this year!);
a joint youth group or shared women’s or men’s ministries;
occasional pulpit or other leadership exchanges;
joint worship in Advent or Lent, during the summer or at other times;
a joint web presence or Facebook page;
a program of shared community outreach (eg. food bank, litter-walk..);
joint participation in the 2012 Canadian Lutheran-Anglican Youth Gathering (Saskatoon);
joint participation in the 2012 National Anglican-Lutheran Worship Conference (Winnipeg).

Perhaps your community does not benefit from the presence of a neighbouring full-communion partner. At very least, every congregation, whether Lutheran or Anglican, could be invited to pray its way through the Anglican-Lutheran Cycle of Prayer. Copies are posted on our national websites and are available from synodical and diocesan offices. Your bishops would be grateful for your prayers!

Perhaps your community might even think of some manner of full-communion expression others haven’t dreamed of. Let us discern the possibilities… together!

As we look forward to the 10th anniversary of Anglican-Lutheran full communion with a great celebration on May 1, 2011, and to the joint meeting of General Synod and National Convention in Ottawa in July, 2013, may God who is bountiful, merciful and gracious empower us, encourage us and lead us in our faithful journey… together.

With our prayers for a holy and blessed Advent.

A pdf version of the letter is available at the following link: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/documents/Pastoral-ReignofChrist2010.pdf

Produced by the Joint Anglican-Lutheran Commission, the Anglican-Lutheran Cycle of Prayer (2010-2011) is designed for use in communities of the Anglican Church of Canada and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. For each Sunday, there are intentions for specific dioceses, synods and/or groups. While we pray for our world and neighbours without ceasing, we are invited to pray especially for our Anglican sisters and brothers with whom we are in full communion. The Anglican-Lutheran Cycle of Prayer can be found online at the following link: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/Anglican-LutheranCycleofPrayer2010to2011-October2010.pdf

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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.

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October November 2010 Issue Of E-Communique

The October/November 2010 issue of E-Communique is now available. In this issue you’ll find information on stewardship resources, relief efforts in Haiti, World AIDS Day resources, Gifts from the Heart Catalogue, Lutheran World Federation, KAIROS and more!

Getting these resources delivered directly to your email inbox is easy! Just email communique@elcic.ca with the word Subscribe in the subject line.

 

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ELCIC National Bishop Encourages Members and Congregations to Observe Reformation Sunday with Special Emphasis

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson encourages members and congregations of the ELCIC to place a special emphasis on observing Reformation Sunday, which is celebrated October 31 or the last Sunday in October.

The call comes following The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Acting General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge’s invitation to LWF member churches to recognize this year’s anniversary, “with a special sense of gratitude as they reflect on the contemporary significance of the Reformation’s witness to the gospel.”

“We welcome this invitation by the LWF’s Acting General Secretary to approach our Reformation identity both with a spirit of repentance, and a spirit of expectancy for the future,” says Bishop Johnson. “I urge all ELCIC congregations to use the resources for LWF Sunday.”

In his letter to LWF member churches, Junge reminds the Lutheran communion of the need to reaffirm God’s gift of grace especially in anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017. “It is precisely because we live by grace that we have the confidence to look with honest eyes at the traditions we cherish and to seek God’s healing hand to make them live anew. Such a spirit is one for which our contemporary world thirsts,” writes Junge.

On October 31, 1517 Luther nailed his “Ninety-Five Theses” to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, calling for reform in the Catholic Church of his time. Today Lutherans observe the date as Reformation Day.

Junge reminds churches of the July 2010 LWF Eleventh Assembly “Action on the Legacy of Lutheran Persecution of Anabaptists,” in which Lutherans asked Mennonites for forgiveness for the former’s violent persecution of Anabaptists in the 16th century, and for the subsequent harmful depictions of the latter to the present day.

“In coming with repentance even to our own special festival, we are acting from the heart of our faith. We are recognizing that the Spirit of God who called the reformers is still active among us now,” writes Junge.

He notes that Luther’s actions marked “a crucial turning point, a beginning of the Reformation,” and that observing this day has become a practice not only for Lutherans but also for many other churches.

“We recognize that the Reformation is not ours alone; reformation is a continuous need of the Church in every age, including this one. And we continue to work to address painful divisions among Christians, including those which date from the time of the reformers,” he stresses.

ELCIC congregations are encouraged to use the “Service of Repentance” prepared for LWF Sunday 2010. Liturgical materials can be downloaded at: http://www.lwf-assembly.org/uploads/media/Liturgy-Service_of_Repentance.pdf and adapted as needed for local contexts.

(With files from Lutheran World Information.)

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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.

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Canadian Lutherans Visit Relief Efforts in Haiti

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) Director of Communications and Stewardship Trina Gallop is currently travelling in Haiti along with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) Executive Director Robert Granke and Community Relations Director Tom Brook, as well as Lutheran Church-Canada Mission and Social Ministry Director Rev. Dr Leonardo Neitzel. They have been spending the last week visiting relief and development projects of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) which are supported by funds raised during CLWR’s Appeal for Haiti.

Lutherans throughout Canada donated almost $1.2 million following the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January of this year.

Reflections on the trip can be viewed via the following links.

ELCIC:
Video Reflections – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS3sHBZkiJ4
Blog posts – http://elcic.posterous.com/
Photos – http://www.flickr.com/photos/53229836@N04/sets/72157625062498368/

CLWR:
Video Reflections – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-G5UAhWdso&feature=related
Video on the Development of Schools in Haiti – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08PWRSp0CnU
Blog posts – http://clwr.wordpress.com/

—————————————————————–
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.

Read more

ELCIC’s National Church Council Holds Fall Meeting; Focus on Strategic Priorities and Work of the National Office

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg, September 9-11, 2010. Council members conduct the business of the church between National Conventions.

With committee meetings taking place on Thursday morning and afternoon, the formal portion of the meeting began on Thursday evening with an Opening Worship Service including Holy Communion. ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson presided at the service, Rev. Trish Schmermund (Synod of Alberta and the Territories ordained member) preached and was also the meeting chaplain.

Council Welcomes Representatives and Guests
In addition to NCC members, Synod Bishops, and National Office senior staff in attendance at the meeting, the council welcomed Cynthia Haines Turner who serves as the new representative from the Anglican Church of Canada’s Council of General Synod (COGS). Else Thompson, executive director of human resources, from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) was present for the meeting on behalf of the ELCA. Also at the meeting were the officers from the Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod who attended as part of the preparation for the joint COGS-NCC meeting that will take place in the spring of 2011. Officers from the ELCIC will attend the COGS in November 2010.

Dwelling in the Word
Four individuals led Dwelling in the Word (DITW) sessions where each shared a memory or reflection on a scripture passage that is important to them. Usually detailing a personal experience, DITW is a regular component of NCC meetings and are one way NCC lives out its vision to foster a climate of spirited discipleship and share personal faith. At this meeting NCC members heard DITW reflections from: Ken Hartviksen, treasurer; Saskatchewan Synod Bishop Cindy Halmarson; Carl Sorenson, lay representative from the Synod of Alberta and the Territories; and Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the Bishop, Justice and Leadership. Videos of the DITW sessions can be viewed online: www.elcic.ca/national-church-council/default.cfm.

Strategic Priorities and Work of the National Office Top NCC Agenda
A significant portion of the agenda for the fall NCC meeting was devoted to reviewing the work of the National Office and how it aligns with the strategic priorities of the church. Council spent time in small and large group discussions discerning priorities and key areas of focus among the work. The council also spent time discussing the many partnerships of the ELCIC and passed a motion directing the National Bishop to review current partnerships based on a set of criteria identified by NCC and report back at the March 2011 meeting. The council will do further work on priority setting before the Spring 2011 NCC meeting by using an online survey tool and holding an e-meeting.

Evaluation Affirms National Bishop’s Leadership
ELCIC Vice President Sheila Hamilton reported on a review conducted by NCC Officers on the work of the ELCIC’s National Bishop. The review was completed through questionnaires distributed to NCC members, Synod Bishops, and National Office staff, and one-on-one interviews which included seven of the ELCIC’s ecumenical partners. The evaluation focused on: what the Bishop is doing well that should be continued, what needs to be changed, what needs to be stopped or delegated, and what more could be done. Hamilton reported that the manner in which the National Bishop, "executes her role as the public face of the church is well respected and applauded, and that reflects well on [the ELCIC] as a whole." NCC unanimously approved a motion to affirm the leadership and ministry of Bishop Johnson and commended her for her service to the church.

Next Meeting
The next meeting of NCC will be held concurrently with the Anglican Church of Canada’s Council of General Synod. That meeting will take place March 31 to April 3, 2011.

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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.

Read more

A Pastoral Letter from ELCIC National and Synod Bishops

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National and Synod Bishops issued a pastoral letter to the church and to the Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach Centre, Gainesville, Florida. In the text of their letter the Bishops urged that, "anyone who would contemplate such actions as would be hurtful and painful to people of other faiths, and which would call into question our own pledge to love our neighbours as ourselves, to seek a more excellent way as we engage people of other faiths." The following is the text from the letter:

A pastoral letter to our church and to the Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach Center, Gainesville, Florida

Grace be yours and peace.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever
is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

In a world wherein conflict and enmity are the bread and butter of the evening news; in a world wherein conflict and enmity are ancient realities; in a world wherein hurts and pains too deep for words are etched in the faces of sisters and brothers everywhere; in such a world as this the burning of the sacred writings of any people is an affront to all that is honourable, just and pure.

Our own ancient scriptures teach us that we are to love our God above all and our neighbours as ourselves (Luke 10:27).

As Christian leaders, we urge anyone who would contemplate such actions as would be hurtful and painful to people of other faiths, and which would call into question our own pledge to love our neighbours as ourselves, to seek a more excellent way as we engage people of other faiths.

Let us love one another as we have been loved. Let us refrain from the language of hate and hurt. Let us refrain from such actions as would not be honourable, just or pure.

As we have opportunity, let us pledge ourselves to honest inquiry and open dialogue with our neighbours of every faith.

Yours in Christ,

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

The Rev. Dr Greg Mohr
Synod Bishop
British Columbia Synod

The Rev. Ron Mayan
Synod Bishop
Synod of Alberta and the Territories

The Rev. Cindy Halmarson
Synod Bishop
Saskatchewan Synod

The Rev. Elaine Sauer
Synod Bishop
Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod

The Rev. Michael Pryse
Synod Bishop
Eastern Synod

A pdf version of the letter is available online: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/PastoralLetterSept2010.pdf

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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.

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Dont miss the September 30 deadline to share your feedback on the Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality

The September 30 deadline for members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) to provide feedback on the Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality is quickly approaching. Feedback provided on the document will be carefully considered by the ELCIC’s Human Sexuality Task Force and used to make further revisions to the document which will be brought before National Church Council (NCC) in February 2011.

“We are once again going back to our members and partners and asking for feedback, this time on the draft social statement,” says Judy Wry, chair of the Human Sexuality Task Force. “Feedback is critical to the process. On behalf of the members of the task force, I would like to thank everyone who has or will be taking the time to review the draft social statement and provide us with their thoughts and suggestions. The task force will be reviewing, compiling and considering all the feedback that is provided."

ELCIC members were first invited to respond to the draft when it was released on April 15, 2010. The draft social statement follows a church-wide initiative that saw ELCIC members participating in an ELCIC Study of Human Sexuality. The study, which was also prepared by the task force, engaged members of the church in dialogue and respectful conversation as part of a consultative process to generate feedback and inform the process of drafting a social statement.

Following a review of the statement by NCC, it is intended that it will be presented to the 2011 ELCIC National Convention. Delegates to the convention must endorse the final document if it is to become a social statement.

Within the ELCIC, "a social statement is a theological and ethical document that provides a foundation for understanding God’s living word in the light of the changing realities of the modern world. A social statement seeks to provide the social analysis and theological basis for the collective ELCIC understanding of a continuing crucial issue that arises out of the mission of the ELCIC." The social statement seeks to explore what it means to live faithfully when facing a variety of sexuality matters, such as identity, personal relationships, gender discrimination, marriage, family life, abuse and human trafficking. The draft of the Social Statement on Human Sexuality seeks to find words that the ELCIC holds in common regarding human sexuality.

To view the Draft Social Statement on Human Sexuality, visit the following website: https://elcic.ca/Human-Sexuality/default.cfm

—————————————————————–
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.

Read more

Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute Announces New President

Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute (LCBI) announces the appointment of Rev. Roger Pannell Haugen to the position of president.

Rev. Haugen comes to LCBI from his position as Assistant to the Bishop, Saskatchewan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), where he has served for 6 years. Rev. Haugen has a long history with LCBI and is an alumnus of the school himself. He has also served on staff previously in the academic department.

"These are exciting times for Christian education. Leadership development is an ever increasing need for the church and the community,” says Rev. Haugen. “LCBI is wonderfully placed to nurture discipleship for the church and God’s world. I look forward to working with such wonderful young people who want to be active in God’s mission in the world."

Rev. Haugen will begin on October 1, 2010.

LCBI, located in Outlook, Saskatchewan, has been a school of the ELCIC since 1916 and is a co-ed residential school offering grades 10-12. LCBI began in 1911 and is celebrating 100 years in 2011.

Further information on LCBI is available online: http://www.lcbi.sk.ca/begin_index.htm

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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.

Read more