2003 Synod Assembly
For the Healing of the World
The Southeastern Iowa Synod 2003 assembly was held at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa on June 6 & 7.
Click here for photos from the 2003 Synod Assembly
Bishop's report highlights
The ELCA: Global, ecumenical, catholic, evangelical
At the beginning of his report to the Synod Assembly, Bishop Philip Hougen introduced members of the synod staff and their roles in the synod. Along with saying, "it is a joy to come to work in the synod office," the bishop highlighted the work of the staff as a way to highlight the ministries of the synod.
Hougen then spoke of the sense of connectedness that he feels by serving as bishop.
"The ELCA is a global and ecumenical church, which is a gift from God-bigger than our own congregations," Hougen said. "We need to nurture this relationship."
It is "wonderful that we are gathered into a community of Christians that truly is global," Hougen said, noting that he will attend the Lutheran World Federation meeting this summer where the ELCA will represent one of 126 Lutheran church bodies.
This is a "powerful way we find our connectedness to our brothers and sisters in Christ," he said.
Hougen said we are global, ecumenical, catholic, and evangelical.
"We are most evangelical when we are most Lutheran," he said. "I don't believe 16th century theological truths only apply to the 16th century."
We need to be who we are and not be afraid to share it, he said.
The healing power of God for our broken world comes through the congregations of the SE IA synod.
"If people went home with the sense of the treasures to be shared and to share them," Hougen said, "we'll make a difference. Our communities would be well served."
Hougen also talked about the challenges facing the ELCA, noting in particular the homosexuality studies. He said that some congregations have decided not to talk about this issue and that may mean they are going to "miss the train."
He said that the members of the assembly are the leaders in our synod and are the "gatekeepers for what gets talked about."
If the ELCA goes ahead and makes decisions and changes policies, he said, then people will ask, "Why wasn't this discussed in our congregations?"
"We're afraid if we start talking about sexuality, someone might ask us about ours," Hougen said. "That's pretty frightening. That's pretty personal."
But the challenge, Hougen said, is to "not lock ourselves into a position too soon" and to find ways to talk about this in our congregations.
ELCA rep talks about racism, evangelism
"The ELCA is becoming a Pentecost church," said The Rev. Frederick Rajan, ELCA representative the synod assembly. To make his point, he announced that 34 different languages are spoken in ELCA worship services each Sunday.
The ELCA has one of the most comprehensive racial justice ministries among denominations, he said. "Others want to use our model."
To challenge people to look at their racism, we have to work together ecumenically, Rajan said. "Racism is not only a challenge in United States, but in the whole world," he said.
Rajan also said that last year the focus of ELCA representatives to assemblies was strategic planning. This year, evangelism is the emphasis.
Rajan asked assembly members to divide into small groups and discuss the ways in which God is present in our own lives and in the lives of our congregations.
Rajan will address the assembly Saturday in a question and answer session. Questions for the ELCA representative can be left in the box on the staff table at the front of the assembly hall.
Simple things the heart of the church
Using the story of the bell from the West Denmark Lutheran Church of Luck, Wisconsin, Dr. Gordon Lathrop of Philadelphia Seminary called members of the assembly to do what that bell did.
The bell's inscription, written with the purpose of telling those who heard it what they were hearing, was "To the bath and the table, to the prayer and to the word, I call every seeking soul." This profoundly Lutheran statement is a good way to describe worship in word and sacrament, which is also the heart of ecumenical worship, he said.
After discussing the words bath, table, prayer, and word, Lathrop focused on the line, "I call every seeking soul." He noted that the bell was not intended to call some segregated group and THEN some seeking soul. All people are seekers. That bell called all who sought God.
Lathrop said we are all seekers side by side with other seekers: pastors, long-time members, church council members, and those who never darkened the door of the church.
"The world is not full of lucky insiders who have personal fulfillment," he said. The human condition-marked by thirst and mortality, the search for meaning, life, authentic community, forgiveness, for God-is in all people.
"To come into Christ in these ways is to come into God," Lathrop said. "That is why the bell calls us to come."
It may seem obvious that church is about coming to faith in the midst of our need. But we need to be reminded that such simple things are the heart of the church, Lathrop said.
"We are all beggars, who experience God's grace," Lathrop explained.
"Be the bell for someone," Lathrop challenged the assembly. "And let someone else be a bell for you."
Keynote speaks on elements of worship
By Pr. Michael Stadie
Co-Editor
After telling of his Iowa roots, Dr. Gordon Lathrop continued his theme of the "call of the bell" in his second keynote presentation to the assembly on Saturday. He asserted that we should take seriously the call of the bell to "bath, table, prayer, (and) word" because that is the classic Lutheran understanding of the Church.
Dr. Lathrop then went into greater detail on his understanding of bath, table, prayer, and word.
The bath, which was the bell's word for baptism, is the way all of us come to the whole Christian church. Lathrop reminded the assembly of the quote of Martin Luther who said when we hear of forgiveness, we are "creeping back to font." It is baptism that brings all of us, young and old, together.
In order to strengthen the power of the bath, Dr. Lathrop urged the practice of congregational sponsors serving as mentors for each person baptized. Doing so would encourage the coming to Jesus Christ in the company of a congregation.
Next, when speaking in terms of table, Lathrop strongly encouraged weekly celebration of Holy Communion. Weekly celebration of the sacrament clearly addresses the need and the hunger of society.
Knowing this was a controversial practice, he told the assembly members, "compulsion to change worship practices doesn't work." Rather, leaders must set out Jesus Christ so people will want to change.
In terms of the bell's use of the word "prayer," Lathrop asserted most likely it meant the Lord's Prayer. The prayers of the church are to come not just from the pastor, but from the people of the congregation, reflecting their joys and concerns that need to be voiced.
Dr. Lathrop then turned his attention to the last call of the bell, the word. The key words of the Bible, according to Lathrop are, "you have died with Christ in order that you might be raised with him," and "This is my body, this is my blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins," which is what we are to proclaim at each worship service.
He then encouraged the use of the lectionary which is a gift for the community of faith. The texts it prescribes for use are able to hold our stories as well as the biblical stories. "The Bible is a dangerous, lively book; not boring, not as pious as we might imagine," Lathrop said. It is "full of forgiveness and mercy."
He concluded this portion of his presentation by sharing the story of one congregation which starts every meeting with reading one of the lectionary passages for the coming week. And by doing so, it became a lively place because of the regular sharing of the stories.
Dr. Lathrop then spoke about the place of music in worship. After reminding the assembly, "the sound of the bell IS musical," he asserted, "the entire event is musical, (it is) how we all become involved." But the "center of the meeting is not the organ or the praise band but bath, table, word, prayer-with Jesus in the center."
"Worship is not the pastor's, the organist's, or the band's show." Because of this, it is important for worship leaders to "back off from performance in order to serve a participating people."
In conclusion, Lathrop asserted, "All worship is contemporary and traditional at the same time-labeling services turns worship into a 'shopping mall' of individual selection, and not an assembly where Christ is known through bath, table, prayer, word."
Bremwood expresses gratitude
Hundreds of toiletry bundles received
What a tremendous weekend it was for us at Bremwood. Thank you so much for allowing us to have a reception Friday evening. We had two staff members riding the buses and, if their count is correct, there were approximately 420 people who came to Bremwood's campus. That is an indication that almost all the delegates came for the reception. What a tremendous response! What makes it so meaningful for us is that many of these people had never been on Bremwood's campus before. Thanks for making it happen!
I also want to say thank you for the wonderful response regarding our need for towels and toiletries. Once again, the Southeastern Iowa Synod amazed us with their generosity. I made four trips over to Bremwood and, according to our count, there were approximately 260 towels and bundles given. This is a very special way of showing that the church cares about those who do not have much in the way of material things. Towels and toiletries are a reminder to the youth we serve that there are people who care about and respond to their needs. Once again, thank you for this gracious response.
| In His Service, Rev. Jim Knudson Church Relations Bremwood Lutheran Services Waverly, Iowa |
Martha Bonte to serve as synod secretary
Martha Bonte, a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton, was elected to serve a four-year term as secretary of synod council.
Bonte is a History, Geography, and Humanities Instructor and Humanities/Social Science Department Coordinator at Clinton Community College. She previously worked as a school counselor at Waynesville, Missouri schools and was a teacher and counselor in Denison, IA.
At Zion, Bonte serves as a Social Ministry Committee member, Rebecca Circle member, communion assistant, lector, and greeter. Previous service to her congregation includes being a Sunday School teacher and co-superintendent, council member, bell choir member, Mutual Ministry Committee member, and Call Committee member.
Bonte has also served the synod in various areas including the Bishop's Mutual Ministry Committee, Program and Structure Committee, and the Cabinet for Congregational Life.
Bonte has provided service to her community by working with the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute and the Clinton County Historical Society.
Bonte replaces Sharon Hill, a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Marion, who retired from the position after a four-year term.
Assembly asks for continuation of anti-racism education
One resolution passed at the Southeastern Iowa Synod Assembly held at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, last week, resolving that "the 2003 Southeastern Iowa Synod Assembly memorialize the 2003 Churchwide Assembly to adopt as one of the strategic directions in the document Faithful Yet Changing: ELCA Planning for Mission, these words: "Assist this church in the continuation of anti-racism education and in its movement towards becoming a more multicultural church."
