from Bishop Rindy
Freed in Christ to Serve was the theme around which we (22 voting members from the synod and myself) gathered, worshiped, deliberated, and prayed as your voting members at Churchwide Assembly in Orlando, Florida August 14-19. During the opening worship, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson asked the question, “Is this church ready to move forward in mission?” The answer he received at the closing worship on Friday was a resounding, “YES!” Continue reading…
Remember Eastern North Dakota Synod’s voting members to the Churchwide Assembly in your prayers as they gather as God’s people during the week of August 15. Continue reading…
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I greet you in the name of Jesus, our hope and salvation.
Whether or not you are able to join us for the assembly in Orlando, I invite you and your congregation to watch the business sessions and worship via live video streaming at www.elca.org/assembly (external link). You will witness a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace and believes the good news that we are freed in Christ to serve our neighbors at home and around the globe. Continue reading…
Submitted by Sarah E. H. Lovas, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church – Hillsboro, ND
» Download: Humans as Stewards Letter (download .pdf file)
I am writing this letter in response to the ELCA Proposed Social Statement on Genetics (external link) which was released on Friday, February, 25th.
I first became invested in this issue last summer when this social statement was still in draft form. At the time, I was working as an agronomist and genetic technologies were a part of my recommendations for management of crops. I also farm with my husband near Hillsboro, ND, and we raise 100% GMO crops on our farm. Currently, I am a student at NDSU pursuing a Master of Science in Soil Science.
My response to the draft was to read it and create a letter of response to the ELCA Task Force on Genetics. My response letter outlined 7 specific items that I appreciated, and it also outlined 2 items that I thought the ELCA needed to work on. Continue reading…
In response to feedback regarding the draft statement on genetics, the ELCA is preparing to release the revised document: A Proposed Social Statement on Genetics (external link). All are invited to gather for coffee, bars and discussion regarding this proposed statement:
7:00 pm
Our Saviors Lutheran – Colfax, ND
1:30 pm
Trinity Lutheran – Binford, ND
If you could ask Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson a question about the ELCA, what would it be? Submit your question (external link) at our next live online Town Hall Forum with Bishop Hanson. Participating is easy and convenient. Whether or not you have a question to ask, you’ll be part of a nationwide conversation with other ELCA members about issues that matter to all of us. Continue reading…
This is the season in which gratitude is most often expressed: for harvest, for a beautiful fall, for life. I want to add my thanks to you for your support during what is for many of you challenging times. The good work we’ve done together for many years continues through your support, in both prayer and finances. Thanks.
The Today Show recently ran a series of stories on the death of civility (external link). It lifted up email, blogs, and the lack of accountability for what one says as commonplace in our society… and for the worse. In theological terms, it could be framed as the death of the eighth commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Martin Luther encouraged us to speak well of our neighbor and explain their actions in the kindest possible way, rather than cutting, ripping, and tearing our neighbors to pieces.
Over six years ago, a congregation seeking moral guidance asked a synod assembly if our church, the ELCA, could create a document to help us think through the moral implications of our new abilities in the area of genetics: human, animal, and plant. We have powers never available to previous generations. We all know that with power come both opportunity and responsibility. A churchwide assembly agreed that such guidance could be helpful to the church, especially to those who live and work in areas surrounded by genetics. Continue reading…
Synod Hearings (external link) provide an opportunity for participants to share with the task force their concerns, appreciation, and suggestions about the draft of a social statement. A record of comments from each hearing is shared with the task force, who will consider this feedback while developing a revised document called a “proposed” social statement. The proposed statement is scheduled to be finished in February of 2011, which will be considered by the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly (external link).
Hearings are a very important step in the social statement process because the goal is broad participation in the development of social teaching and policy documents. Please encourage farmers and other interested folks to attend. We often complain about “not being heard”; hearings give us a chance to offer the task force a North Dakota perspective! Continue reading…
EaND Synod Office
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We are a synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 223 congregations and a variety of ministries.
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