Following a Friday evening session punctuated by passionate dialogue, delegates of the 2009 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Convention passed a multi-point resolution to support peace in the Holy Land. ELCIC’s Twelfth Biennial National Convention is taking place June 25 to 28 at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

“This resolution seeks peace with justice for both Israelis and Palestinians and the continuation of the Christian witness in the Holy Land,” said Tom Brook, National Church Council (NCC) member, who introduced the resolution. “The National Church Council feels it’s important that our church community express our support to continue our journey with our partners at this special moment of possibility and opportunity.”

The resolution recognized the ongoing divisions between Muslims, Jews and Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. It lamented violence and oppression in that area, and directed the ELCIC to support a secure state of Israel and a viable state for Palestinians. The resolution also called for all ELCIC members to work for peace by praying, educating, and accompanying peace builders.

In 1948, the United Nations established the State of Israel, leading to war and displacement of 700,000 Palestinians. The Six Day War in 1967 marked the beginning of Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, which continues to expand. Several peace processes have stalled, and extremism is increasing in both Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

ELCIC’s resolution called for the Government of Canada to play a more active, constructive, and balanced role in creating conditions for peace in the Holy Land. Among other points, the resolution called for the government to support a shared Jerusalem, oppose Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, and to support aid and policies that build the Palestinian economy.

The Rev. Dr. David Pfrimmer, a public policy expert who also introduced the resolution, noted that the resolution affirmed policies already stated by the Canadian government. He also remarked that the ELCIC’s resolution is in line with similar statements made by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The resolution inspired much discussion on the convention floor. Some delegates spoke against the resolution, stating, among other things, that its comments on Israeli and Palestinian statehood were beyond the scope of the ELCIC. Many others spoke for the resolution and described personal trips to the Holy Land where they had witnessed injustice.

The ELCIC has many relationships and partnerships with the Holy Land, specifically with the 12 congregations and 6,000 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), which is a member of the LWF, alongside the ELCIC.

The bishop of ELCJHL, the Right Rev. Dr. Mounib Younan, is a special guest at the convention. Bishop Younan was consecrated as the third Palestinian bishop of ELCJHL in 1998, and serves as vice president of the LWF, Asia Region, and the president of the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches.

During a morning Bible study, Bishop Younan spoke passionately about the church’s role in promoting peace and justice in the Holy Land. He described the work of organizations, including Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem, which address the needs of Muslims, Jews, and Christians in the area.

Bishop Younan also addressed two afternoon forums where he shared challenges of living in Palestine. He said he spends half of his time organizing permits so that Palestinians can work in Israel, visit family members, and even attend funerals. He also stated his concern about the declining number of Christian Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories.

When asked what the ELCIC could do to support peace in the Holy Land, Bishop Younan replied, “You have to speak the truth. I did not come here so that you would become pro-Palestinian. It’s not my aim that you would become pro-Israeli. We want you to be pro-truth, pro-justice, pro-reconciliation.”

Over 400 Lutherans are meeting in Vancouver at the ELCIC’s National Convention. Full agenda details and a live link to the proceeding are available on the National Convention website: https://elcic.ca/In-Convention/2009-Vancouver/default.cfm

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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.

“What bold step can our churches take together?” Archbishop Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) asked delegates at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) National Convention to consider during an evening Bible study on June 25. The Bible study is the first of three Bible studies taking place throughout the convention, which is being held June 25 to 28 in Vancouver, BC.

The Primate led delegates through Luke 4:16-21, where Jesus reads parts of Isaiah aloud in a Nazareth synagogue. It begins, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.”

Archbishop Hiltz said the text sets out a framework for mission, and he encouraged delegates to describe how they saw related signs of hope in their congregations. Then he challenged them to imagine the next “bold step” that ACC and ELCIC could take in their mission together.

ELCIC and ACC have been in a full communion relationship since the Waterloo Declaration of 2001. The declaration outlines how the two denominations are similar and allows for clergy to lead each other’s churches. Confirmations have been mutually recognized since 1995.

Both Archbishop Hiltz and ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson have worked to deepen cooperation between Anglicans and Lutherans since they were elected leaders in 2007. They organized a joint meeting of their churches’ management teams and a joint meeting of relief and development staff. Their churches also work cooperatively through KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives and the Canadian Council of Churches.

Already the churches have started to collaborate. Archbishop Hiltz and Bishop Johnson have written joint letters on issues of poverty and homelessness. They also issued joint Easter and Christmas webcasts, including a “blooper” reel showing their personal connection, fostered in monthly check-in phone calls.

“We were elected on the same day and we began our work on the same day,” Bishop Johnson told the convention. “It has been incredibly helpful to me to have someone to share joys and miseries and struggles with.” Archbishop Hiltz said the same was true for him.

Archbishop Hiltz asked delegates to write down and share their ideas for “bold steps.” He will review and forward them on in time for the next meeting of the Joint Anglican-Lutheran Commission, which he previously co-chaired.

Anglican presence is strong at this Twelfth Biennial ELCIC National Convention. Archbishop Hiltz is attending as a special guest, and Anglican Bishop Colin Johnson of the Diocese of Toronto is attending as a member of the National Church Council. Two ACC staff—Web Manager Brian Bukowski and Web Writer Ali Symons—have also been seconded to help out with convention communications.

In her report to convention, Bishop Johnson described several joint projects with the ACC. In July 2008 she attended the Lambeth Conference, the meeting of all Anglican bishops in the Anglican Communion. As well, in September 2008 she and Archbishop Hiltz led an Ottawa, Ont. march in support of the Millennium Development Goals.

Over 400 Lutherans are meeting in Vancouver at the ELCIC’s National Convention. Full agenda details and a live link to the proceeding are available on the National Convention website: https://elcic.ca/In-Convention/2009-Vancouver/default.cfm

—————————————————————–
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.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) National Bishop Susan C. Johnson recounted a whirlwind of “firsts” and shared her signs of hope for the church as she delivered her Report of the National Bishop to delegates, special guests and visitors attending the Twelfth Biennial National Convention taking place June 25-28 at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Bishop Johnson recalled her work over the last two years which saw her visit South America, the Holy Land, and Canterbury, England, to strengthen relationships with partner churches. To five synod conventions and the Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering, so she could listen to members’ hopes and concerns for the church. And to council and organizational meetings that revealed the need for economizing and restructuring in the face of financial challenges.

“This biennium has been an amazing new experience of learning and growing,” Bishop Johnson said. “Some of it has been inspiring, fun, joyful, and wonderful. But there have been lots of challenges.”

One challenge facing the ELCIC is a sheer matter of numbers. The church today has roughly 24 per cent fewer baptized members than it had when it was formed in 1986. Another challenge has to do with financial realities which are affecting the church on many levels.

“The National Church is running on about a third of the purchasing power we received in 1986,” Bishop Johnson reported to more than 400 voting delegates and visitors. “The synods and the National Church have continued to try to do all the same mission and ministry with fewer dollars and fewer staff. But we know that we can’t go on like this.”

Noting that there were many signs of hope, the theme of this year’s convention, Bishop Johnson noted that the church is looking at ways to restructure and partner with other churches and organizations so the ELCIC can continue to fulfil the mission to which God is calling the church. Strategies being considered or underway include: talking with the Anglican Church of Canada about possible collaboration in program areas; joining the administration of the ELCIC and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Global Missions programs; and the appointment of a Resource Generation Task Force charged with developing strategies for increasing revenue. In addition, the National Office has cut staff by 30 per cent in the past two years.

“We are trying to address our challenges with as much creativity and courage as we can muster. But this convention is about signs of hope, and there are abundant signs of hope for our beloved church!” Bishop Johnson said. “All across the ELCIC, I see examples of individuals, congregations, and ministries trying new and exciting ways of being In Mission for Others. We are partnering with Canadian Lutheran World Relief to tackle development work and refugee concerns. The youth of our church have made Stewardship of Creation the National Youth Project, challenging themselves to be leaders in their communities.

“In spite of the difficulties and challenges, I am full of hope because I know that this is God’s church and that it is God’s leadership and vision and faithfulness that will see us through our challenge and help us to grow into the vision for ministry that God has for us. And because of this, we will be a blessing to our hurting world.”

Over 400 Lutherans are meeting in Vancouver at the ELCIC’s National Convention. Full agenda details and a live link to the proceedings are available on the National Convention website: https://elcic.ca/In-Convention/2009-Vancouver/default.cfm

—————————————————————–
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.

Bold singing, droplets of water, and parasols with chiming bangles provided a joy-filled levity to opening worship at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) Twelfth Biennial National Convention taking place June 25-28 at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver.

ELCIC National Bishop Susan C. Johnson and Bishops from each of the five Synods processed among worshippers with cedar branches sprinkling water on delegates and visitors as a celebration of Baptism. The parasols, decorative in nature, drew focus to the altar, the font and the ambo, and also offered a frame to the worship space in the UBC War Memorial Gymnasium. Later in worship the parasols would serve as stations for the Eucharist.

The convention choir, comprised of volunteering delegates and visitors, was directed by Lorraine Reinhardt from Augustana, Vancouver. The group ably provided special music and leadership in singing to the gathering. Energetic piano and cello music accompanied the assembly.

Bishop Johnson preached at opening worship and reflected on the church as family with all the related joys, sorrows, hopes and tensions that families carry with them. Preaching on the Gospel of Mark 10:35-45, the Bishop reflected on the story of the disciples James and John who asked to sit at the right and left hands of Jesus.

“James and John were asking for personal recognition,” she says, “It is a big temptation to serve ones self rather than God. We need to be recovering one day at a time from the human condition of self serving.” That self serving attitude created animosity among the disciples and caused jealousy and envy. Noting that God was able to use James and John, who were flawed and imperfect people, the Bishop declared that God can use us too. “We are called to serve God by serving others.”

Also highlighting the festive service was the presence of Martin Luther’s side-kick, “Philipp Melanchthon”, delightfully portrayed by Rev. Richard Hergesheimer from First Lutheran, Vancouver. Respectfully interrupting the service from time to time, “Melanchthon” would read a section of the Augsburg Confession, related to the portion of the worship service being celebrated. Melanchthon, who died in 1560, was the author of the Augsburg Confession, which is foundational to the Lutheran Church.

The exuberant opening worship set the tone for the rest of the convention to fulfill its thoughtful theme, “In Mission for Others – Signs of Hope”.

Over 400 Lutherans are meeting in Vancouver at the ELCIC’s National Convention. Full agenda details and a live link to the proceeding are available on the National Convention website: https://elcic.ca/In-Convention/2009-Vancouver/default.cfm

—————————————————————–
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.

As Lutherans from across Canada prepare to meet in Vancouver for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s (ELCIC) Twelfth Biennial National Convention, final preparations are underway at the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus where delegates will gather. Over 400 delegates, visitors, staff and special guests will be a part of the convention business meetings and worship services, which will officially start on Thursday, June 25 and conclude Sunday, June 28.

Special guests in attendance will include The Right Rev. Dr. Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land, The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, The Rev. Robert Bugbee, President of Lutheran Church-Canada, and The Rev. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and President of the Lutheran World Federation. Special guests bring greetings from their churches and represent just a few of the church bodies with whom the ELCIC shares ministry and history. Younan, Hiltz and Hanson will also each lead delegates in a Bible study as part of the convention agenda.

Delegates will have full agendas ahead of them once the National Convention is underway. Business on the agenda will include: approving national budgets for 2010 and 2011; a resolution on the Holy Land which would see the ELCIC supporting and working for justice and peace in the region through prayer, education, advocacy and accompanying; as well as additional motions from congregations and individuals that are presented at convention through the Committee on Reference and Council. Elections will also take place for vacancies on National Church Council, Group Services Inc. Board of Directors and for individuals to the Court of Adjudication and Nominating Committee.

Other highlights at the National Convention include forums which will take place as part of the Friday afternoon agenda. The workshops, which centre on each of the ELCIC’s five organizing pillars (Effective Partnerships, Compassionate Justice, Spirited Discipleship, Focus Framework and Diverse Faces) adopted by National Church Council in March 2008, are designed to be interactive and include strategies for helping members express faithful mission through their congregations and in their local context.

Information and highlights on the National Convention, as it happens, can be found online at: www.elcic.ca/In-Convention/2009-Vancouver

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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 / 204.782.8618
tgallop@elcic.ca

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

Some final highlights and information about the 2009 ELCIC National Convention before it’s start next Tuesday, June 25 in this week’s Countdown to Convention.

Just two weeks to the start of the 2009 ELCIC National Convention. Find out how to get there, how to keep in touch and what will be taking place while we gather. It’s all in this week’s Countdown to Convention.

Three weeks to the start of the 2009 ELCIC National Convention. Countdown to Convention has all the highlights to keep you up-to-date on what’s taking place at this year’s gathering.

With just four weeks to the ELCIC’s National Convention, be sure to tune in to the new Countdown to Convention e-newsletter to read highlights of our upcoming gathering!

Just five weeks to convention! Find out about volunteer opportunities, how Bible study will be central to this year’s convention and why you should attend the church’s national gathering in this week’s Countdown to Convention e-newsletter.