Transcript Document

ELCA REPORT
GOD’S WORK OUR
HANDS
Florida-Bahamas Synod
Assembly 2011
Rev. Ruben Duran
Thank you
• For the invitation to be with you at this
Assembly.
• For your warm welcome and hospitality
• Glad to see long-standing friends and to
add new ones
• Let’s hear a greeting from our Presiding
Bishop Mark Hanson.
Thanks
• To God for moving through history to make all
things new, restoring community and reconciling
the world in Christ
• To you, for your active partnership in the Gospel,
serving in this beautiful part of God’s world and
sharing in the ministry of the ELCA. You are in
North Dakota, Arizona and Haiti. We cannot be
there without you.
Greetings
• From your colleagues in the Churchwide Offices
of the ELCA.
• From your colleagues in Congregational and
Synodical Mission unit of the ELCA. I serve there
as Program Director for New Congregations.
• I celebrate the calling of your new Director for
Evangelical Mission, the Rev. David Anglada.
A word of Appreciation
• For the leadership of Bishop Ed Benoway. He
serves in various capacities beyond the
synodical role. One is the Conference of
Bishops.
• Recently he helped me and others discern and
affirm the 29 new ELCA churches we are
opening now. His commitment and evangelical
zeal are evident in his service to the Church. Not
even the flu can stop him!!
A word to the flu bug
• In God’s name, Flu bug:
• “Get out of the way of Bishop Benoway”,
he will serve and lead this Assembly with
joy and boldness, in the power of the
Risen Christ. Amen.
2011 Synod Assembly
Together we are the ELCA, an instrument of
God to bless the world.
• Check your Assembly materials to see all
the ways God is using us in the domestic
and global scenes (Synod ministries,
Stories of Faith in Action, The Lutheran,
our global partners and many others).
Highlights: Book of Faith Initiative
• We seek proficiency in the first language
of faith, the Holy Scriptures. To know
God’s work, know God’s Word.
• Excellent resources available to
supplement your congregational
initiatives.
Book of Faith
• Not a program, but a way of life for all
• Connect your congregation’s efforts to this
initiative to multiply its effect in the ELCA
• Contact the Synod’s office for other
resources and networks
Mission Support
• Mission Support: “ is the portion of a member’s
financial offering that the congregation shares
with its synod and the churchwide organization
that makes possible the work of this church in
the United states, the Caribbean and in the
world”.
• Your Mission Support provides more than 80% of
the resources needed for ELCA churchwide
ministries.
Mission Support
• We share an interdependent relationship
within the ELCA; nearly 10,100
congregations, 65 synods and the
churchwide organization; ONE church in
three expressions.
• Thank you for doing your best amidst the
difficult circumstances we all face.
• Together we continue to do God’s work.
Re-0rganization
• A challenging year, with budget reduction
and restructuring of churchwide offices
• Difficult decisions needed to be made.
• We are financially stable as we enter into
the 2011 fiscal year.
ELCA today
• Is the church it has always been--• And, is always being made new
• 2 concrete ways:
• A. Living into the Future Together
• B. Churchwide realignment
LIFT: Living into the Future Together
• Renewing the ecology of the ELCA
• After 23 years, evaluating organization,
governance, interrelationships, networks.
• Guided by a common mission
• Recommendations of Church Council to
the 2011 Churchwide Assembly are
available for your study and participation.
• Go to www.liftelca.org and share your
input.
LIFT
• Key questions:
• What is God calling this church to be and
to do in the future?
• What changes are in order to help us in
responding most faithfully?
Churchwide Realignment
• To better serve God in mission.
• We are about:
• A. Supporting congregations as growing
centers for evangelical witness
• B. Increasing our capacity to work
together to end poverty and strive for
justice in the world.
• See new structure at www.elca.org
Global Mission
• The ELCA is engaged in more than 90
countries in the world offering:
• The gift of 230 missionaries
• 54 scholarships for emerging global
church leaders
• 5 million in grants for specific ministries
• 13 million to combat poverty, including
sustainable development work
Companion Synods
• Thanks for the mutual ministry with your
Companion Synods.
• What a joy to receive the Suriname
brothers and sisters, who witness to all of
us “with all boldness”
Lutheran Malaria Initiative
• Malaria kills more than 1 million people a
year. It is preventable and treatable.
• Collaboration of ELCA, LCMS and
Lutheran World Relief joins other world
leaders to combat malaria
• Malaria Initiative: our response through
prayer and funding is needed.
• Learn more at www.elca.org/malaria
ELCA strategy on HIV and AIDS
• Adopted by Church Council in 2009, to
respond to this pandemic that has claimed
the lives of 25 million people worldwide.
• Rev. Andrea DeGroot Nesdahl directs this
initiative and seeks to engage us in our
prayerful response as the people of God.
• Thanks for your support .
Lutheran Disaster Response
• Thanks to your Mission Support funds, the
ELCA already has the needed
infrastructure, so that 100% of designated
gifts reach their intended audience, locally
and globally.
• Through LDR you are serving the victims
of tornados, earthquakes, floods and
storms in a timely and dignified manner.
Mission Investment Fund
A gift among us.
• Provides investments opportunities to
individuals, churches and ELCA related
ministries, and
• Loans and supportive services to new and
established ELCA churches/ministries
• 78 churches and ministries, including the Synod
have $11,300,310 in various investments
• 24 churches are supported by $15,612,499 in
loans.
• Meet Jerry Johnson and Joseph Villalon here.
Immigration
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
God’s work, our hands in 2010:
• 10,110 refugees found a new home
• 1500 children from custody to family care
• 14000 detainees received legal services.
• Bishop Hanson to President Obama: it’s time for
immigration reform.
• Pray for many Lutherans working on missional
hospitality for immigrants.
Multicultural Ministry
• Goal: Building multicultural communities in
church and world. All expressions of our church
are encouraged to deepen our commitment to be
an inclusive community. Ethnic specific and
multicultural education opportunities are
available through Synod and Churchwide
leaders.
• Florida-Bahamas territory is one of the most
diverse areas in the country.
Youth/ Young Adults
• Youth, you make us very proud as you share
your faith among us, around our communities
and around the world.
• The church is being renewed through the faith of
a new generation of leaders; from youth groups,
new emergent ministries, campus ministries,
outdoor ministries, and other new venues.
The Lutheran and Communications
• The Lutheran: service unit of the ELCA;
informs us of God’s action through our
church, ecumenical and global partners
• Explore “The Little Lutheran” for children
• ELCA new website is a hit!!
Women of the ELCA
• The 8th Triennial Convention taking place
in Spokane, WA., July 12-14, 2011
• The Triennial Gathering follows expecting
2000 women of all ages.
• The Associated Church Press gave the
Best in Class Award of Excellence to
Café, the electronic magazine for younger
women. Go to www.boldcafe.org
Disaffiliations as of April 2011
• Churches voting to leave the ELCA
• 771 churches took 1st votes. 553 passed
and 247 failed.
• 469 took second votes, 444 passed.
• In last 2 years, we have started 120 new
churches, with 320 total under
development.
• Thanks to Bishops for their leadership!!
2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly
Here in Orlando the week of August 14th.
Theme: Freed in Christ to Serve
Galatians 5: 13
We are called to freedom, to serve one
another in love.
Volunteers are needed.
You can be a guest on Tuesday August 16,
to the Mission Encounter day.
OBSERVATIONS
Projected Percent Change in Population
from 2000 to 2015
Source: Claritas, Inc. Prepared by Research and Evaluation, Winter 2006.
Projected Percent Change in Population
from 2000 to 2015 (with ELCA congregations)
Source: Claritas, Inc. Prepared by Research and Evaluation, Winter 2006.
Challenge/Opportunity of
Context
1.GEOGRAPHICAL: local/national
2.SOCIO-ECONOMIC: a church for all
3.GENERATIONAL: emergent church
4.ETHNIC- specific: 6 communities
5.MULTICULTURAL: a church from all
• KEY: acting/reflecting out of our missional
identity, empowered for any context.
GRAYING OF OUR
CONGREGATIONS
New Faces in our midst
OUR
STRENGTHS
Rich & Deep Theological Heritage
ELCA is changing
• Before: Called, gathered and nourished
• Today: Claimed, gathered and sent.
• Out into God’s world, witnessing to God’s
activity. “As you go, make disciples.”
• Direction first, then speed.
• Foundation is more important than height
It’s about MISSION
• Every member a missionary
• Every Pastor a mission director
• Every congregation a mission outpost
The Emerging Church
Life/ministry as witness
and “parable of the kingdom”
ELCA NEW STARTS
214 new congregations under development
1.Synodically Authorized Worshipping
Communities
In Florida Bahamas Synod:
9 congregations under development
New Latino ministry in Naples
More new starts coming forth in 2011.
TRUST THE PROMISES
• Jesus: …”I will build my Church…”
• Jesus: …”I will be with you always…”
• God, through Isaiah: …”My word will
never come back empty, but will always
accomplish the purpose for which it is
sent”.
TOGETHER WE ARE THE ELCA
God’s work, our hands, arms, feet, voices.
Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel
God bless you!!