The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) Eastern Synod is meeting in assembly June 24-27 in Toronto, Ontario. The 2010 Eastern Synod Assembly commenced Thursday afternoon and Opening Worship Service was held in the evening.

The first ballot for the election of Synod Bishop was cast on Thursday afternoon with the results presented Friday morning as the first order of business. Bishop Michael Pryse, was declared re-elected on the first ballot after receiving over 75% of the votes. Bishop Pryse was first elected as Eastern Synod Bishop in 1998.

Further information and highlights from the Eastern Synod Assembly are available online: http://www.easternsynod.org/index.php

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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 following is the text from a letter to the church from ELCIC National and Synod Bishops.

Dear Friends and Colleagues in Christ:

Last week, we were incredibly saddened to learn of the decision by the ELW national board to dissolve Evangelical Lutheran Women, Inc. and to immediately conclude their operations. This decision has come as a shock to many and left a host of unanswered questions regarding the future for women’s ministries in the ELCIC.

Since the time it was established, Evangelical Lutheran Women has played a significant role in the life of this church. They have been a valued partner, whose resources and programs have encouraged Lutheran women to grow in faith and mission. Moreover, ELW has also made a substantial contribution, each year, to the operation of the national church.

Perhaps ELW’s greatest gift, however, has been in the opportunity it provided for Lutheran women, from across Canada, to be joined together in common cause. Whether it was gathering for national, synodical, or conference ELW events, participating in ELW Bible Studies, or learning about social justice issues, ELW provided a network of relationships which knit Lutheran women together in a sense of common mission.

There is no denying that the national and synodical units of ELW have played an important role in nurturing the ministry of our church. However, ELW’s greatest strength has always been where it remains, in the women of local congregations who gather together for study, prayer, and ministries of service and hospitality.

While we join with the many women and men from across Canada who grieve the loss of ELW, it is our hope and prayer that the ministries of women in local congregations will continue as a bold and faithful witness to the faith we share!

The bishops of our church want to do all we can to support the ongoing ministry of women within our church, and we will work with the board and staff of ELW as they move through the dissolution process, and work with the continuing congregational expressions of Evangelical Lutheran Women to support them in their mission and ministry. This will be made possible, at least in part, by a fund that ELW is establishing, which will continue to encourage and facilitate the important ministry of women within our church.

Friends, these are not easy times to be “church”; these are not easy times to be about the mission and ministry of the church. Still, while we grieve the dissolution of ELW, we do not grieve as those who have no hope! In every community of the church, the work and witness of faithful women continues and evolves in response to the needs of God’s people.

Please be assured that the board, staff, and members of ELW and indeed our whole church are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time of transition. Where we grieve what has been, let us nonetheless pledge ourselves to a faithful contemplation of what might be and a hope filled journey into God’s future, together!

Yours in Christ,

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

The Rev. Gerhard Preibisch
Synod Bishop
BC Synod

The Rev. Ron Mayan
Synod Bishop
ABT Synod

The Rev. Cindy Halmarson
Synod Bishop
SK Synod

The Rev. Elaine Sauer
Synod Bishop
MNO Synod

The Rev. Michael Pryse
Synod Bishop
Eastern Synod

A pdf version of the letter is available online at: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/PastoralletterJune2010.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.

The following is a letter from Ruth Magnuson, Executive Director of Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. (ELW) and Pam Radunsky, National ELW President, regarding the recent National ELW Board meeting.

Last week an ELWe-news indicated that the National ELW Board was meeting regarding the future of the organization. At a very spirit-led meeting, after prayer and discussion, the National Board determined that the most responsible path is to enter into a process of dissolution.

Evangelical Lutheran Women Inc. has been a leader in biblical reflection, learning about social justice issues and service within the ELCIC.

Pam Radunsky, National ELW president states, “ELW has offered me and countless others unique opportunities to grow as women of faith within this church. We have spent many hours as a Board prayerfully considering what God is calling us to do. Our mission and vision have been clearly before us and we have listened carefully to what ELW women and our staff have said to us. While this decision has been difficult, we believe it is responding faithfully to the realities with which ELW is faced. We step out in faith, for ‘We know that in everything God works for good with those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose.’ Romans 8:28.”

There are several reasons for dissolution of the organization. For years we have watched the average age of key supporters go up. Five years ago a demographic survey revealed that 80% of women participating in ELW were over the age of 65 with most being over 70. Less and less of the material produced for the organization was being used.

A natural consequence is that income, primarily through Grace Gifts, was not increasing. Giving levels have remained steady with a slight decrease in giving since 1996. At the same time costs associated with running an organization have increased significantly.

Over and over, ELW board and staff have heard women say that they would continue to gather even if the organization didn’t exist. And that is what we hope will happen.

By deciding to dissolve now, ELW will be able to leave a legacy by setting up a special fund within the ELCIC. The terms of the fund have yet to be determined, however, its purpose will be to continue to support the ELCIC and women’s ministry.

"I was incredibly saddened to learn of the decision to dissolve Evangelical Lutheran Women," said ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson, "but at the same time I admire the courage of the board in facing difficult realities and making this very hard decision. The ELCIC has always valued and, indeed, treasured our partnership with Evangelical Lutheran Women. We are honoured to be the recipient of a fund that will continue to encourage and facilitate the ministry of women within our church."

The decision to dissolve is effective immediately. We know there will be many questions. A FAQ sheet will be prepared and posted on the ELW website within the next two days. However here are a few immediate answers.

There will be gradual lay off of ELW staff over the next few months beginning in July. The Fall edition of the Esprit will not be published; a decision about the 2011 Bible study has yet to be made and will be announced shortly; there will be no Fall Event materials distributed.

Grace Gifts: ELWs are asked to be as generous as they can with Grace Gifts so that ELW can meet its financial obligations as an organization. For now, continue to send these gifts to your Synodical Treasurer. A date will be given later when gifts will need to be sent directly to the ELW office.

Praise Offering: The ELCIC has budgeted for this money for 2010. We ask that Co-ELWs continue to hold their services and send money to their Synodical Treasurers. Similar to Grace Gifts, a date will be provided later when these funds should be sent directly to the ELW office.

We know that women across Canada will grieve the loss of this organization. We encourage you to gather together and celebrate the ministry it has provided to you. If you would like to connect with women across Canada there are two ways to do this.

1. Send a comment to any one of the ELW staff and a page will be started at where your thoughts, good wishes, memories will be posted. Please allow the staff a couple of days to get this activated.

2. You may go to Facebook and look up the group “hear, speak and act—Communicate” and post comments.

The following was shared by Ruth Magnuson with the board on Saturday after the decision was made, tears flowed, joys and sorrows of life and death discussed:

‘We are now at the beginning of our pilgrimage, the time for departure has come. To be a pilgrim is to be on one’s way—on one’s way towards a goal….A pilgrimage, however is not an escape from life itself, to alienate us from it. Rather, it is a pilgrimage with God in order to dare to be in life. The pilgrimage in an old tradition reminds us that life is a walking from birth to death with God—of, by and to God. Life is a process with God, with ourselves and with other people…When we now, in the hands of God, venture ourselves into new territory, let us remind each other of God’s promises on the journey of life.’ (from Sinfonia Oecumenica, Pilgrimages, pg. 345-346.)

May the peace of God be with you all.

Ruth Magnuson
Executive Director

Pam Radunsky
National ELW President

A frequently asked question (FAQ) sheet will be placed on the ELW website in the next couple of days. Feel free to check that out for answers to your questions. Many details are being figured out and some things will take some time. Please feel free to contact Pam (705. 525.0816) or Ruth if you have any other questions.

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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.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) Synod of Alberta and the Territories (ABT) is meeting in convention June 3-6 at the University of Alberta, Augustana Campus in Camrose, AB. The 2010 ABT Convention commenced on Thursday evening with opening worship where ABT Synod Ron Mayan presided and ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson preached.

On Friday, delegates had a full day’s agenda of business before them, including a second ballot for the election of synod bishop. Bishop Ron Mayan, who was first elected to synod bishop in 2006, was re-elected on the second ballot.

Highlights from the ABT Synod Convention are available in their Convention Moments circular which is posted on the synod’s website at http://www.albertasynod.ca/convention/convention_moments_2010.

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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) Program Committee for Worship is pleased to announce Robyn Simpson Mohr has been chosen as recipient of the 2010 Companion of the Worship Arts Award.

The Companion of the Worship Arts Award is presented biennially in recognition of significant contributions to the national worship life of the ELCIC.

In her work as assistant for Campus ministry at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta in Camrose, AB, Simpson Mohr has mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of worship. Former students praise her influence, noting:

“At the center of this (worship life) was Robyn, filled with creativity, filled with welcome, filled with a love of worship, and above all filled with a love for the students who came to her door.

“Robyn and her passion inspired me as I found myself being drawn back to church at a time when I found the church meaningless. She was influential, not only in my spiritual journey but in my call to ministry.

“From her I learned about attention to detail in worship planning and the importance of beauty in the worship experience. Robyn knows how to feed all the senses in her creative worship planning.

“In all things Robyn exhibits grace, dignity, and humility… Robyn Simpson Mohr is a woman of deep faith in Christ and commitment to the church. I am honoured to know her as a mentor, friend, colleague, and parishioner.”

Simpson Mohr has served on the worship committees of numerous national and synodical conventions, most recently as Liturgical Director for the 2009 ELCIC National Convention in Vancouver, and the 2010 Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention in Camrose. She has also served on the worship committees of national worship conferences and youth gatherings, and as a synodical trainer for the introduction of Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

The 2010 Companion of the Worship Arts Award will be presented to Simpson Mohr by ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson at a public ceremony during the National Anglican Lutheran Worship Conference at the Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, BC, July 4-7, 2010. Further information on the event can be found online at: http://nationalworshipconference.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.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) encourages its members to join with faith communities around the world in prayer, education and advocacy activities during World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel from May 29 to June 4, 2010.

Initiated by the World Council of Churches (WCC), of which the ELCIC is a member, World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel is a call for WCC member churches and related organizations to join in a week of advocacy and action for just peace in Palestine and Israel and send a clear signal to policy-makers, interested publics and communities about the urgent need for a peace settlement that secures the legitimate rights and future of both peoples.

The call for participation among ELCIC members comes following a motion passed at the 2009 ELCIC National Convention titled, "An ELCIC Convention Resolution on the Holy Land." The resolution encourages the ELCIC to, "call on its members to regularly pray for peace for all people in the Holy Land, especially the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land."

Further information on World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel is available on the WCC website (http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/wwppi.html) and through KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (http://www.kairoscanada.org/en/rights-and-trade/news-list/news/archive/2010/05/article/world-week-for-peace-in-israel-palestine-may-29-to-june-4/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=115&cHash=ffc847ca9c)

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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 following is the text from a letter to the church from Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson:

Dear friends in Christ,

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

I am writing to encourage you to participate in the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). The TRC is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement with a mandate to understand the truth and inform all Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential Schools (IRS). On June 16-19, 2010, the TRC will host in Winnipeg the first of seven national events to promote awareness and public education about the IRS system and its impacts. In the coming years, the other six events will be held in different regions across Canada. The TRC will document the truth of survivors, families, communities and anyone personally affected by the IRS experience, and hopes to “guide and inspire Aboriginal peoples and Canadians in a process of reconciliation and renewed relationships that are based on mutual understanding and respect.”

Even though our church was not involved in the operation of residential schools, it is important that we participate in this process. It is important to support the healing process for survivors. It is important for us to participate so that we can support our sister churches, including our full communion partner, the Anglican Church of Canada, as they work towards healing and reconciliation. It is important for all Canadians to be honest about our history and to be renewed in relationship. And our participation will help us, as the ELCIC, to enrich and expand our relationship with Aboriginal peoples.

We will be looking at this more closely at the 2011 ELCIC National Convention which will be held in Saskatchewan, the province with the largest Aboriginal population in Canada. The theme of that convention will be “Covenant People: In Mission for Others.” It will be an opportunity to explore how our Baptismal covenant is at the root of our call to be In Mission for Others. In addition, the word “treaty” is a synonym for “covenant,” so the theme “Covenant People: In Mission for Others” gives us the opportunity to explore how we as a church and as Canadians are treaty people.

You can find more information about the TRC process at their website, www.trc-cvr.ca. The Anglican Church of Canada website also has information on IRS and the apology process: www.anglican.ca/rs. If you are in Winnipeg on June 16-19, I encourage you to attend at least a part of the event. If you are from a different part of the country I encourage you to watch for future events, and to take part in any local opportunity to engage the TRC process.

May God continue to bless you as we strive together to be a church In Mission for Others.

Yours in Christ,

ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson

A pdf version of the letter is available at the following link: https://www.elcic.ca/Documents/PastoralletterMay2010.pdf

—————————————————————–
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.

Delegates to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) British Columbia (BC) Synod Convention elected Rev. Dr. Greg Mohr to the position of Synod Bishop. The announcement came on Friday, May 14 following the third ballot for Synod Bishop. The BC Synod is meeting in convention May 13-16 at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Victoria, BC.

Incumbent BC Synod Bishop Gerhard Preibisch announced he would not be seeking re-election when his current four-year term was up at this year’s Synod Convention.

BC Synod Bishop-elect Mohr was ordained in 1983. He has served at Lutheran Church of the Master in Airdrie, Alberta, King of Life, Coquitlam, BC and most recently as Assistant to the Bishop of the BC Synod.

In accepting the convention’s call the sever, Bishop-elect Mohr thanked delegates for placing their confidence in him and noted, "I feel honoured, humbled, and a little bit scared."

Further information on the convention can be found on the BC Synod’s website: http://www.bcsynod.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.

The Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario (MNO) Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) is meeting in convention April 22-25 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. The 2010 MNO Synod Convention commenced on Thursday evening with opening worship.

On Friday, delegates had a full-day’s agenda of business before them, including the election of Synod Bishop. Bishop Elaine Sauer, elected to a four-year term in 2006, was re-elected on the first ballot.

On Saturday, delegates will participate in a day-long renewal event on the topic of the convention theme, "In Mission with Others – Led by God’s Word". Using the vision and mission articulated by the Synod’s council, delegates will be introduced to: new ways of engaging in the Book of Faith initiative and God’s Word, sharing their faith with one another, and being inspired to go out and serve.

Highlights from the MNO Synod Convention are available on online at: http://www.mnosynod.org/convention2010.html

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 162,100 baptized members in 611 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 following is the text from a letter to the Church from ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson:

Dear Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada:

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

In September I wrote to you regarding National Church Council’s (NCC) evaluation of the 2009 ELCIC National Convention. For the majority of delegates the experience of convention was a positive one – the worship, learning, celebration and business contributed to their experience of a church In Mission for Others: Signs of Hope. Yet others expressed a very different experience of convention, one in which the business sessions of convention, and in particular the governance procedures used, left them feeling frustrated, isolated and silenced.   

At that time I informed you of NCC’s commitment to engage in a process to review Convention governance practices, in particular practices regarding petitions from congregations and the terms of reference for the Committee of Reference and Counsel, in time for implementation for the 2011 ELCIC National Convention.   

As part of their review, NCC noted that each Synod of our church uses a different procedure for their Reference and Counsel Committee which contributes to the confusion regarding National Convention governance. NCC affirmed that as per Bylaw Part VI, Section 8, convention petitions received will not be published in the Convention Bulletin of Reports, but will be referred to the Committee on Reference and Counsel. NCC also developed new guidelines for the work of Reference and Counsel including the options available regarding the presentation of petitions/resolutions to the convention. The most notable of these is removing the option of a recommendation of “no action”. For further information regarding the recommendations for Reference and Counsel please go to: https://www.elcic.ca/In-Convention/2010RC.pdf

I ask for your continued prayers for the leadership of our church as together we strive to be a church In Mission for Others. Let me again leave you with the blessing which was used as one of the theme verses for this past convention.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 15:13)

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada – In Mission for Others

For a pdf version of this letter, please view online at: https://www.elcic.ca/From-the-Bishop/documents/2010April22BishopsLetter.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.