“Freed in Christ to Serve”

“Freed in Christ to Serve” – This was the theme of the 2011 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I was honored to have been elected as a voting delegate to attend the Assembly this last week in Orlando, Florida. Sunday, Aug. 14th, I said “Go in Peace, Serve the Lord” and immediately got in a car to be taken to the airport for a 2:00 PM flight to Orlando! I joined some 1,500 ELCA delegates and staff people as the largest legislative body of our church met for the work of God’s mission in this world. 

It’s a good thing that I am a parliamentary procedure nerd because our meetings began at 8:00 AM and usually Bishop Hanson was getting permission to extend the meetings into the supper hours and several nights until 9:00 PM. We had worship with communion every day, bible study every day, and reports every day. I loved it! 

We officially began the ELCA Malaria Campaign of which we were a pilot synod, and of which our synod raised an overwhelming $125,000 (we even wore red shirts bragging of the fact and were asked to stand!) 

We voted in a new mission strategy and management plan called LIFT (Living Into the Future Together) that takes  seriously the call of mission and ministry of the local congregation and synod strategy. 

We officially adopted the “Genetics, Faith and Responsibility" social statement. 

I sang in the choir, went to gatherings of Global Mission and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, where I met with old friends that I served in Slovakia with! I met with my prayer partner, a pastor from Ohio! It was great! 

At our closing assembly, Bishop Hansen said:  “I came to the 2011 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) more grateful for the mission of this church than I have ever been. My sense of hope and my gratitude only increased throughout the week.”

This is your church and I’m so blessed to serve! 

With abiding love,

Pastor Lynnae