Churchwide Assembly Blog

2011 Theme: Freed in Christ to Serve

Humility in Action

Posted on August 21, 2009 by

Debate may abound on the floor of the plenary hall, but attendees of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly still come together in worship each morning as one body.  In reflection of that unity in Christ, the attendees are offered the opportunity to act out Christian humility by washing one another’s feet.

This demonstration is made possible by the ELCA Deaconess Community, one of the four areas of rostered leadership in the ELCA.  “This is a symbol of the ministry we offer,” said Sister Anne Keffer of the ELCA Deaconess Community.  “It’s powerful.  Kneeling before someone and washing their feet is body.  It is diakonia.  That is our ministry.”

Learn more about the ELCA Deaconess Community, which recently celebrated its 125th anniversary.

Opening Sermon

Posted on August 18, 2009 by

Texts for Bishop Hanson’s opening sermon: Joel 2:28–32 + Romans 8:18–27 + John 20:19–23

Grace to you and peace in the name of Jesus. Amen.

What shall be our witness this week? This is not an insignificant question.

In more than one media interview prior to the assembly, the reporter’s questions made it seem that the story of this assembly had already been written. The story is one of anxiety and dissension leading to division. But the story of this assembly has not been written. You will be one of the many witnesses who tell the story. Your witness — the story you tell — will contribute to the shaping of what others hear and believe about our life together this week.

So, then, what shall be your witness?

Will you tell how we gathered in fear behind the closed doors of the Minneapolis Convention Center, just as Jesus’ disciples gathered that first Easter evening?

Almost matter-of-factly, John describes the doors being locked “for fear of the Jews.” But wait a minute. The disciples, like Jesus, were Jews. Had it come to this for the disciples? Could it be that they were literally scared of themselves — that they feared their own shadows, the shame of their own identity, their own failure to follow Jesus to the end?

I am convinced that, as we begin this week, it is important to recognize our fears and acknowledge them honestly.

When I do not name the fears I hold — be it the anxiety that somehow it’s my sole responsibility to hold the ELCA together or that I will not give you evidence that I’ve been faithful in memorizing all 704 pages of Robert’s Rules of Order — when you and I do not name the fears we hold, then too often our fears end up holding us captive. We then become our fears, and fear — not faith — becomes our witness.

Click “Continue Reading” for the full text of Bishop Hanson’s sermon.