Church leaders (bishops, presidents) from many (most?) of the LWF’s 140 member churches gathered with the LWF Council, its advisors and many consultants to share insights and listen to concerns and hopes from across the world. The plenary sessions are interesting to be sure, but even more stimulating are the side conversations.
A staff person from the Church of Sweden shared insights with me about stewardship — this from a national church that until 2000 received its funding through church taxes only. She said that congregations need to share their offerings with the synod and national church as a sign of their commitment to belong. Hmm.
The General Secretary of United Evangelical Mission, a Communion of Churches on Three Continents (Europe, Asia, Africa), talked with me about the need to say who we are and what we do as we define our mission. I shared with him our hope in Saskatchewan Synod that all congregations will do the same – ask themselves what gifts God has given them to discover how mission has for that congregation in that particular community.
The Bishop of Iceland shares a concern about how congregations might grow in their passion for mission and outreach in their own communities. The church president in Peru sought me out to tell me that Katharine Bergbusch told many good and encouraging stories about the church in Canada while training local people in Peru to be pastors and deacons.
Bishop Medardo Gomez thanked me for my speech encouraging the LWF to honor its commitment to ensure meaningful participation by women in all staff and program areas, but especially when the LWF is in dialogue with other church denominations. The Orthodox Metropolitan from Finland spoke with me about the role of women in the early church and acknowledged that even today the Orthodox refer to Mary Magdalene as “equal to the apostles” because of her witness about the empty tomb to the disciples.
There’s nothing like face-to-face conversation with faithful leaders from around the world to recognize the gifts God has given us in the ELCIC and Saskatchewan Synod – gifts enough to overcome all challenges with hope and courage.
- Bishop Cindy Halmarson, Saskatchewan Synod ELCIC
