(Aug. 10, 2007)
Delaware-Maryland area Lutherans visit Chicago for major gathering
This has been a busy week for 1,500+ Lutherans gathered at Chicago's Navy Pier for the 20th Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. DE-MD Synod Bishop Jerry Knoche led a delegation of 19 other synod members to the six-day event.
Mr. George Bowden, St. Stephen Church, Arbutus, MD
Mr. Bob Budnicki, Zion Church, Williamsport, MD
The Rev. Joan Copeland, St. John Church, Creagerstown, MD
Mr. Jason Day, St. James Church, Rockdale, MD
The Rev. Mark Dill, St. John Church, Cumberland, MD
The Rev. Michael Dubsky, St. Luke Church (Hampden), MD
The Rev. Bill Gohl, Epiphany Church, Baltimore
The Rev. William Hayman, St. Timothy Church, Dundalk, MD
Ms. Kathleen Kazmar, St. Paul Church, Newark, DE
Ms. Donna Kent, Immanuel Church, Manchester, MD
Mr. Welton McCready, St. John Church (Pimlico), Baltimore
The Rev. Carl Myers, Grace Church, Lutherville, MD
Ms. Peg Sheeler, Holy Spirit Church, Eldersburg, MD
Mr. Richard Sherrill, Holy Communion Church, Fallston, MD
Ms. Yolanda Tanner, St. Philip Church, Baltimore
Ms. Yvonne Tanner, Christ Church (Inner Harbor), Baltimore
Mr. Mick Thistle, St. Martin Church, Annapolis, MD
Ms. Paula Thistle, St. Martin Church, Annapolis, MD
Ms. Vicky Whetstone, Salem Church, Catonsville, MD
Several voting members brought family along to take advantage of Chicago's many attractions while the business of the assembly was conducted in a series of plenary sessions each day. In addition, other synod staff and synod members came along as visitors and congregational observers.
Most of the voting members and visitors are staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, a twin-towered part of Chicago's stunning skyline. Because the hotel is about 1.5 miles away, a large fleet of buses runs from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m. (or later) each day to accommodate assembly-goers who are already weary from walking through the vast Navy Pier.
To give you an idea of how much walking is involved, the plenary hall is actually just part of the main area of the Pier. The hall itself accommodates more than 1,000 people at long narrow tables, a wide dais, separate areas for public media, Lutheran media, and special guests, and a large area for general visitors. Even with all that, even with an additional large area for technical crews and equipment behind the dais' curtained backdrop, there remains another quarter of the room unused. That's just one of two large areas that abut each other lengthwise, and it doesn't take into account the long walk from the plenary hall through several terraces to the far end of the building where lunch is served. The shuttles depart from the opposite end of the hall, down several sets of escalators.
The mood of the synod's delegation has been positive, despite what is for many unaccustomed exercise and the long lines for shuttle buses (and elevators once they get to the hotel). Throughout the week, they've been visiting the E-Mail Center (EMC) where 25 computers with Internet access are free for their use. At least two voting members have been taking advantage of the wireless Internet provided free in the EMC. Lining the EMC on both sides is Augsburg Fortress Publishers, which has set up an on-site bookstore with lots of demonstrations and even a kiosk where hymn books can be engraved on the spot. Several DE-MD folks took advantage of the book signings today to meet authors like Norma Cook Everist, Nelson Strobert and Bishop Stephen Bouman. Tonight, the assembly's voting members join together for a banquet celebrating the ELCA's 20th anniversary.
A major worship service takes place every day at 11 a.m., using the new worship resource, Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Each day's sessions also feature a Bible study, greetings from distinguished international and ecumenical visitors, and briefings by various ELCA ministries.
Of course, there's plenty of business to be taken care of as well. Incumbent Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson was re-elected to a second six-year term on the second ballot on Tuesday. Voting members also are charged with electing a new secretary for the ELCA, as the Rev. Lowell Almen, who was elected secretary at the formation of the ELCA in 1988 has decided to retire. Three ballots have been taken so far, with no election occurring. Discussion has extended over several days regarding more than 100 memorials presented to the Churchwide Assembly for action by the 65 synods of the ELCA.
In what may well be one of the most significant, long-lasting, far-reaching actions of this assembly, voting members enthusiastically adopted the proposed initiative on the ìBook of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible.î According to an ELCA news release of June 8, this is ìa renewal initiative for the church aimed at helping members to engage the Scriptures.î It also supports the ìintentional teaching, understanding and use of Lutheran approaches to Scripture.î Still to come is action on the proposed ELCA Social Statement on Education, a major piece which will help direct the ELCA's actions in the coming years.
One of the joyous moments of the assembly took place Thursday night, when folks from the DE-MD Synod and our Partner Synod, Northern Great Lakes Synod, went out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant, Vivere. DE-MD Synod Bishop Jerry Knoche and NGLS Bishop Tom Skrennes co-hosted the evening, at which people from both synods could get acquainted and share their ministry and faith stories in an informal, laughter-filled setting.
In many respects, that's the heart and soul of the Churchwide Assembly ñ people meeting people and sharing their faith. It's astonishing to discover how many similarities there are among people of faith, even though they're from the far ends of the United States and Caribbean, of wildly differing socio-economic and educational backgrounds, of different ages and different cultures. As is made so clear at events like this, the only thing that counts is that we are all children of the same God.