RIC Sunday 2010: Judith A. Moldenhauer

Judy Moldenhauer

I have been asked to “tell my story” today, my story as a lesbian in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). I doubt that Mert or Pastor Sue or Dave or Tom or Bruce or Rick or any of the people who planned today’s Reconciling in Christ (RIC) service realized how significant the concept of storytelling is to my professional research and work nor the value that I place on personal storytelling as a way to effect changes in hearts and minds.

Professionally, I am a graphic designer and design educator whose focus is information design. As an information designer, I develop strategies that enable people to get, understand, and use information that they need to live their lives. Common types of information design include instructions, maps, and forms. I’ll bet that most of the information design that you have encountered has been poorly done – how many of you have had to cope with websites that were difficult to navigate or figure out or have tried to fill out forms that were almost impossible to use? That is because the information was designed (if you want to call it that…) from the perspective of the “owners” of the information and how they thought people should access and understand this information rather than being designed from the perspective of the people who were supposed to use this information, that is, what these “users” of the information want or need to know and how to access it. This latter approach to information design is called “user-based design” and it’s what I do. My work and research maintain that the key to effective user-based information design is the personalization of information.

Designers must find ways to make information personally meaningful for individuals. In other words, that information must resonate with and make a connection with an individual’s personal experience. The methodology that I advocate for personalizing information is storytelling. What I do is learn the story of the information and the story of people’s experiences – their thoughts, action, and emotions – with this (or similar kinds of) information and then interweave these stories to create a new story in which the content and presentation of the information is shaped by the informational needs of those who use the information.

This past August the ELCA church-wide assembly voted to affirm full-inclusion of glbt – that is, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender – people into the life of the church. No longer do glbt pastors and seminarians have to choose between their love of God and their love of their partners. Now pastors and congregations can, without fear of sanctions, bless same-sex couples. This change in policy came about through years of work and advocacy of so many talented and committed people. But I think what made the difference – and what was at the heart of all the work and effort – were our stories: the stories of glbt people who were convinced of the love of God in their lives and the stories of their families and friends who knew that God’s love embraces us all. The stories of people like Brad Schmeling, Emily Eastwood, Jim Bischoff, Phyllis Zillhart, and Anita Hill are stories of faith, hope, and a desire to serve the church as individuals who happen to be gay and lesbian. Their stories (and many more like them) put faces on the term “homosexual”; their stories – and all our glbt stories – turn the abstraction of “gay” into the personal of “me.” I am not an abstraction; I am not a stereotype. I am, like you, created in the image of God, am blessed by grace through the life and death of Jesus, and am empowered by the Holy Spirit.

And so my story – my role – as an open lesbian in the ELCA, while nothing compared to the stories of those who have been affected most deeply by the anti-gay policies of the ELCA or who have spent incredible amounts of time and energy working to change those policies, has been the willingness to be one of those faces of glbt people in the church. Through my participation and very presence in various activities in the ELCA, I have served as an example that “homosexuality” is not an abstraction, that a gay Christian is not an oxymoron, and that I am not a threat to your faith because I am a gay Christian or because God’s loving embrace is for all of us. My story – like the story of every glbt person in the ELCA – is the personalization of the information that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. My story is simply that I stand among you and that I, like you, have experienced the joys and frustrations of life but most importantly, have experienced God’s grace and forgiveness.

A number of years ago, then Southeast Michigan Synod Bishop Bob Rimbo held a series of synod-wide conversations on the subject of homosexuality and the ELCA. These conversations were open to all members of all the synod’s congregations. At the first of these sessions, people were seated at tables and asked to discuss the subject with each other. The people at my table took turns expressing their feelings. The first to speak were two men who were especially vocal about disliking glbt people. They began by expounding on the “gay agenda,” stating that they don’t associate with gays and lesbians, would not want their kids taught by “those people,” and that if gays and lesbians wanted to be in the church then they should change their ways and “be like the rest of us.” One person at the table timidly mentioned having a gay relative; another thought a co-worker might be gay. By the luck of the draw, I was the last to speak: “As a lesbian…” I began. The two guys who disliked glbt folks dropped their jaws in surprise and the others were suddenly paying close attention. The two guys acknowledged that they had never been around a gay person before (ha! – at least that’s what THEY thought!) let alone been in conversation with a gay or lesbian person. The others at the table asked questions and at the end of the session thanked me for my comments and said that they were now encouraged to talk with their relative and co-worker and to hear their stories. I have no idea where these people are now in their faith journey, but at least, because of our conversation, glbt people were no longer an abstraction but real human beings and, just maybe, could also be thought of as brothers and sisters in Christ.

My life as a glbt person in the ELCA is inexorably intertwined with my life at Lord of Light Lutheran Church – and the story of Lord of Light (LOL). After learning of the vote for full-inclusion at church-wide this August, Mert and I talked about what the vote meant for LOL and how it would affect things here. We both agreed that the vote did not change anything at LOL – LOL has been practicing full-inclusion all along. Rather it meant that the ELCA was now catching up with LOL. I don’t where I would be today without LOL. At LOL I found a community welcoming of glbt persons – we participate in worship, church council, committees, study groups, and service activities. As a campus ministry, LOL fosters questioning and supports each person’s faith journey. My involvement with glbt advocacy in the ELCA is grounded in my life at LOL. Through LOL I was introduced to Lutherans Concerned/North America (LCNA) – attending local chapter meetings and national conferences, and doing some design work for Lutherans Concerned such as the worship resource for same-sex blessings. I have been on the Southeast Michigan Synod Gay and Lesbian Task Force and was on the ELCA Gay and Lesbian Hospitality task force, for which I designed the resulting resource materials (I used a photo of the front door of LOL for the poster!). LOL was the nexus for the 1997 Knutson conference, “The Gifts We Offer, The Burdens We Bear.” Phil Knutson, after whom the conferences are named and funded, was a gay man and ELCA pastor and the brother of our own Mary Olson. Pastor Sue was the LOL intern that year and was very involved with the conference planning. I, too, was on the planning committee and designed the conference materials (ads, registration forms, programs, etc. – and the poster for the conference that hangs in the narthex today).

I have attended special conferences, such as the Reconciling Church conference in Minneapolis, that helped keep the need for full-inclusion before the national church. I served on the initial Extraordinary Candidacy Committee for seminarians who were dropped by their regular Candidacy Committees after revealing their sexual orientation and refusing to deny the gift of same-sex partners. I also served on the board of Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministries (LLGM), which was formed in response to the 1990 censure (and later expulsion) of St. Francis and United Lutheran congregations in San Francisco who called two lesbians and a gay man as pastors. LLGM provided financial and spiritual support to congregations and ministries that called glbt pastors. (LLGM is now ELM, Extraordinary Lutheran Minstries.) I have served on the board of Lutheran Human Relations Association (LHRA), a voice for peace and justice, as its glbt representative. I have helped out with discussions of glbt issues at LOL, designed bulletins for RIC Sunday services, and shared in LOL services that celebrated the lives and gifts of glbt people. LOL hosted a memorial service in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard and it was at that service that I first heard Ann Arbor’s OutLoud Chorus perform. I was so moved by their performance that I later joined the Chorus. The leadership at LOL has been unfailing in its support of glbt people. The pastors who have served LOL and whom I know and love – Galen Hora, John Rollefson, and Sue Sprowls – have been tireless advocates, committed to and actively engaged in changing attitudes and ELCA policies towards glbt people. I was so proud of and humbled by John Rollefson’s response to the following question that was once asked of him, “What if the church threatens you with sanctions for performing same-sex blessings?” “I’ll keep doing them,” he said. “I have to follow my conscience.” And I am so grateful to Pastor Sue for her vote at the ELCA assembly that has now made full-inclusion a reality. LOL’s glbt support has flowed over to providing internship opportunities for glbt seminarians and for seminarians who strongly pro-glbt. I have been privileged to be on several intern support committees.

My partner, Julia, and I have been together 25 years and that is almost as long as I have been at LOL (26 years). She has lived through all my involvement with glbt advocacy in the ELCA and has seen my hopes for change in the church rise and fall over the years. At times she would ask why I kept going to conferences and meetings when it seemed like things were not going to change. Why would I want to belong to an organization that did not want me in it? Goodness knows that I was sometimes tempted to chuck it all and, until this past August, never really knew if I would see change in my lifetime. What kept me going was a comment that I heard at a LC conference long ago: the ELCA is my home, too. We simply need to make room for each other; no one should be asked to leave or feel unwelcome. God’s love encompasses us all. Ultimately my story is the story of God’s wide-flung love for all people and all of creation. It’s the story of Jesus’s embrace, who shares my pain and grief, my hope and joy, and says, “I am with you always.” It’s the story of the Holy Spirit’s presence through the lives of those around me who are the blessings in my life. My story isn’t heroic or remarkable, but it’s God’s gift to me and if my story helps someone understand that glbt people are part of God’s plan for the ELCA, then my story has a purpose – to help the ELCA create its own new inclusive story.

Many thanks to all who have made my story possible – especially to you, the community of LOL. Thanks for your welcome, thanks for your presence in my life, and for the light of God in your hearts that shines through your words and actions. You live the Gospel, welcoming all as Jesus did. Through your generosity and hospitality, you are helping to create more stories that will contribute to making the church a welcoming home for everyone.

A Prayer

Lord, you call on us to pray for our enemies.

Have mercy on those who are disposed to do us evil

and who divide your church.

Deliver us, Lord, from every temptation.

Have mercy on our lack of belief and our wavering faith

as we travel the path towards the unity of your people.

You are our God and we want always to be your people

under the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

(Anonymous)

Prayers from Sunday, August 30, 2009

A number of people have asked that we publish the prayers of the people that were offered this past Sunday, August 30, 2009. We are pleased to share them with the permission of their author, Merton Spencer:

God Of All The Universe…You constantly call your church to re-formation and renewal. We give you thanks for the ELCA and the churchwide assembly actions that bring this church closer to be what you have been calling it to be: a place where all are truly welcome.

We rejoice in the decision to be a church where all relationships are protected and honored: to recognize and support life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships, and at the decision to allow people in such relationships to serve as rostered leaders so they may fulfill their God-given call to be your servants in this church.

God of Easter Resurrection…Many have worked hard, offered countless prayers, waited so long for this clear affirmation of belonging and word of unconditional welcome. We give thanks to the Holy Spirit who has moved among us and brought us to this day. We acknowledge with thanksgiving the service of those who have labored tirelessly with countless hours of service and whose number we can not count, but whose names are gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual; whose names are straight allies; whose names are pastor and bishop; whose names are co-worker, family and friend; they are legion and all are known before you.

With deep gratitude we remember those saints who provided early witness and gave of themselves to hasten the coming of this day but now rest from their labors: Philip Knutson, Ron Fracker, Carl Loeffler, Andy Anderson, Jon Nelson and countless others whose life-giving service we honor.

Holy Spirit Our Comforter…Look upon our brothers and sisters in Christ in this church who are deeply hurt by the action of the churchwide assembly and now live in pain, wondering if they belong or feel those to whom they belong have been severed from them; bring them the healing power of your Spirit and love.

God of All Grace…In this Body of Christ we weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Remind us all, especially those who have experienced reconciliation, that we are called to clothe ourselves in humility and to love so that as we all meet at the foot of the cross, we will recognize in one another the face of Christ who died for all.

God of All Faithfulness…You guide and care for your church: continue to give it prophets, teachers, pastors and bishops; especially we lift before you Presiding Bishop Hanson and Bishop Marsh; uphold them with your strong right arm; guide, encourage, sustain and provide for their needs as they continue to provide servant-leadership for your church.

God of All Time and Places…You changed the face of this church forever. We humbly beseech you; abide with us now as we continue to journey faithfully to the next place. Hear our prayer for resurrection to new life, new patterns of faithfulness and a new unity to emerge among us. And we pray you…Sustain us on the journey with your word and sacrament, that we may be “your hands” to tell the world of your love so that none will be lost, but that all who look to the church will find bread and wine enough to be alive in you. Amen.

Churchwide Assembly: Wrap Up

Apologies
'Sorry for the delay in writing, folks. Our very weak Internet connection pretty much died - along with my energy...


Overall Reflections
This assembly - my first as a voting member - was both exhilarating and exhausting: physically, emotionally and spiritually. As I said to a couple of folks along the way, I didn't realize I should have gone into training for this event - but it would have helped with:

• Backaches (and other aches) from sitting too much
• Blisters from walking in the wrong shoes
• Indigestion from eating too much conference food
• Lack of sleep due to a packed schedule
• The burning desire to connect with as many people as possible...some expected, others surprising.
• Intense conversations, what GoodSoil called, "Gracious Engagement"
• Travel challenges - including a suitcase that didn't arrive in Ypsi until 11PM Monday (I arrived in Detroit at 8PM Sunday)

I feel deeply for our bishops, both Mark and Steve, and the churchwide and synod staff who will be on the receiving end of some angry responses to the decisions made in Minneapolis. They are in need of our special prayers during the coming days, weeks and months.

We will be celebrating the full inclusion of GLBT folks into all of the ministries of this church on Sunday, August 30th at 10AM. Please join us as we give thanks to God for the realization of 1 Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.

I encourge you to read Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson's eloquent and pastoral response to last week's decisions. (And not just because your new synodical bishop and pastor appear once again on the web page!!)

Grace and Peace to All,

PS

Churchwide Assembly: Day 5: Friday

An Historic Day

• The day was a blur. The major items before us, of course, were the four ministry principles that put into effect the acceptance of GLBT clergy in committed relationships (that long phraseology is just toooooooooo long to repeat!). While there were some who approached the process from a position of anger and threat, most approached the day from a position of earnest belief and prayer. There were some remarkable speeches from the floor. I was able to speak once and while in line a second time (didn't get to the mike)...got to chatting with the man in line in front of me. 'Seems he has a nephew headed to Michigan for law school this fall. (Always working, you see!)


• After the fourth ministry policy was adopted, the first person I saw outside the assembly hall was Brad Schmeling. I was able to give him a big hug and to say, "Welcome back." He was beaming from ear to ear!


• We have an amazingly grace-filled Presiding Bishop who, by the end of the day, clearly felt the weight of the ELCA on his shoulders.


• Chelsea and I enjoyed dinner with Frank Norman, one of our alums and great supporters. I have connected with all but one alumnus - Tim Wengert - so that is my goal for today. LOL has been WELL represented at this Assembly. It just seems right.


• We celebrated last night, though it still seemed surreal, leaving me wondering what Saturday will bring.
• Chelsea was in the New York Times! Check it out online!


• We're exhausted, some are getting sick from air conditioning, stress and lack of sleep.


• Although there was much talk of people leaving the ELCA, I began wondering this morning: How many more clergy will we have on the roster by the end of this year because they have been waiting for this moment...THAT has got to be good for mission!

Love and Blessings to All,
PS

Churchwide Assembly: Day 4: Thursday

Random Reflections
Our day began with a quasi-committee of the whole, over breakfast, at round tables in the dining room. To my left was the Bishop of North Carolina who shared the story of how a pastor in his synod wrote a letter to his congregation, explaining how he felt about the Statement on Sexuality and the rostering of GLBT folks in committed relationships (which they refer to as, "publically accountable, lifelong, committed, monogamous relationship"). In his letter, the pastor explained, "If we make major changes, my parents will leave the church but if we don't make major changes, my children will leave the church." I suspect that's not an uncommon sentiment.

Sitting to my right was my classmate, Kari Toavs Parsons' uncle, Paul Tiedemann. I've heard about him for years but this was my first opportunity to meet him. Delightful! Of course, he worked for years at St. Paul Reformation with LOLer Anita Hill.

Good News from Newark
New Jersey Bishop Roy Riley told a wonderful story of how the last remaining ELCA congregation in Newark - New Jersey's largest city - came back to life through intentional outreach to Brazilian and Portuguese immigrants. I'll have to find a copy of his description because that simple statement doesn't convey the excitement that he shared. It was one of those stories that leaves one thinking, "It's a good time to be the church."

Question: With How Many Church Bodies is the ELCA in Full Communion?
As of this afternoon, the answer is six, as we entered into an agreement for full communion with the United Methodist Church. (In case you're wondering or have forgotten, the other 5 are: The United Church of Christ/Presbyterian Church USA/Reformed Church in America, The Episcopal Church and The Moravian Church.

I now feel even more strongly that my ecumenical theological education is a gift. I've worked with ALL of these folks (okay, and I've been confirmed in two of them!)...so to the person who once said to me, "You didn't go to a Lutheran seminary? Then, you don't have any colleagues"! Oh, contraire!

Old Home Week (aka LOLers in Lutheran Land)
Let's see...I've seen Dave Carlson (he says HI to everyone)...Kate Drefke...Patrick Lyon (just returned from Switzerland and heading to a wedding in Duluth...hm...I wonder whether Dave is presiding...)...We've heard from Professor Tim Wengert several times but I have yet to have a chance to introduce myself. Of course, George Watson is doing a great job of keeping us on task. George and everyone at GoodSoil are doing remarkable ministry. We have reason to be very proud.

Update on Tornado Damage at Central Lutheran
Funny how things happen. The tornado managed to uproot two old trees that the congregation had slated for removal. The assembly is offering two young trees that have adorned the stage at the convention center. Today's worship offering was a gift to Central...which Central shared with another Lutheran charitable organization.

Quote of the Day from Professor R. Guy Erwin
One of the great Reformation scholars of our generation, Guy was George Lindbeck's last PhD student and now runs the Segerhammar Center at CLU (could the world GET and smaller?). Guy was also my polity teacher. He's made a couple of wonderful statements before the assembly. During the discussion leading up to the vote on Full Communion with the Methodist Church, he spoke (I didn't know Guy was raised in the Methodist church!) eloquently as always. Here's the quote du jour: "My frineds tease me that I'm a professional Lutheran. (pause) It's NOT a very lucrative career."

Finally, Open Your Hymnals to "O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
Take note of the next to the last verse. Does this sound Lutheran or what?

Tomorrow...
Since we have only two minutes at the microphone, I had to edit down the three major points I want to make during the debate on the ministry proposals. Wait for it...

Tonight's plenary went until 6:30, Chelsea and I had a drink with Patrick, and then we went out to dinner with the SEMI Synod contingent. As we were walking back to the hotel, I realized: I have breakfast in the room. I can sleep until 7! HOORAY!!! (Honestly, I didn't do enough training for this project. It's EXHAUSTING!)

Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
Sue

Churchwide Assembly: Day 3: Wednesday, August 19

We have pictures!

Okay, I can find only one at this point.

The bishop and I made it onto the front page of the ELCA web site! (Photo from Tuesday.) We had been asked to talk about how we saw God moving in our places of ministry & Bishop Steve and I were having a heart to heart about prayer. Of course, before I saw this photo, I had heard about it from half a dozen people! Pretty funny! The bishop said he was relieved that they didn't catch us clowning around...us? Naw...

Today was a marathon. I personally broke my long-standing streak of having someone call the question every time I reached the microphone.

In fact, I submitted my very first amendment (a friendly one) and it passed. Cool. (It was to add other means of technology to a motion calling for worship resources for folks with visual impairment. I shared with the assembly a bit of what we learned from Jessie - so she gets the credit!)

After working on several talking points for various situations, I finally got up the nerve to approach the microphone to offer one. It was after that that I could see where people were coming from based on their body language as I passed by. Smile? We agree. Snear? We disagree. Step out to say a word of thanks...or step out of the way so as not to come too close...Human beings are very interesting characters.

The Social Statement on Human Sexuality
The ELCA's consitution requires a 2/3 vote in order to pass a social statement. The process seemed to go far more quickly than the Presiding Bishop had anticipated but he did say that folks were trying out every parliamentary possibility they could conjure up...really testing his mettle as Chair...but he said they were doing that as early as Monday night.

Tornado!
Oh - you should know that while we were in session addressing the social statement, a tornado went by - we had been told to stay in the assembly hall. We heard the warning siren and the announcements from the security officials as well as the presiding bishop. We didn't know until after the fact (!) that the tornado had touched the far end of the convention center and done some damage to Central Lutheran Church (thankfully, no one was hurt (& there were 75 people in the building at the time!); the spire was hit - a little crunched in the top 1/4 to my eye) and the tent and tables - aka "pub central" - were blown all over the place (much to everyone's chagrin, it will be closed for a time). (Sorry to have to break that news, Mert.)

Back to the vote
Once we cast our votes, Bishop Hanson got the most stunned look on his face. It was a rather unnerving moment as the PB has among the best poker faces I've ever seen. After a rather pregnant pause he said, "I'm going to show you the results but then I'm going to step away for a moment." The results? 66.67% YES and 33.33% NO. Oh, and then the sun came out. Go figure.

The Social Statement passed with EXACTLY the 2/3 vote needed. Tomorrow, we will consider the implementing statement and then on Friday the ministry policies.

Worship at Central Lutheran
It was full tilt boogie GoodSoil worship tonight. I need to remember to tell Tim that we sang a Kenyan song that needs to be worked into the October liturgy - great stuff! And we have the license for it.

There were so many Yale Divinity School Alumni that we decided the ELCA Churchwide Assembly deserves to have a YDS gathering much like the UCC does. I think there were three of us in rapid succession in the procession, at least one serving as a Eucharistic Minister, one or two in the congregation and, of course, the best preacher in the church, Barbara Lundblad, who did NOT disappoint! (One line in her sermon that stood out was, "We've been studying sexuality...since we were ordained"! It reminded me of a friend who recently said, "If I'd known when I entered the ministry that I'd spend this much time talking about sex, I'd have told the Holy Spirit, "Thanks but no thanks.")

After worship, we had a joint gathering with our companion synod, SE Penn and the very small but delightful Alaska contingent. We're exhausted. We've done a lot of sitting and a lot of walking and a lot of concentrating. We're wiped.

But at least I have my clock on CENTRAL time now, so when I set it for 6:30 it will not jolt me out of bed at 5:30! (No WONDER I was so groggy!)

Well, that's all from here for tonight. The BlackBerry is a dangerous toy - even though I'm STILL figuring out how to use it!

Blessings from Minneapolis,
PS

Churchwide Assembly: Day 2: Tuesday, August 18

Today was an interesting day. (How's that for a lame beginning?)

We heard the Presiding Bishop's report which, as expected, was enlightening and inspiring.

We heard a LOT about the Malaria and HIV/AIDS initiatives (Rebecca Coulborn! You shoulda been here - but the docs are online...) It seemed to me as though a remarkable number of people had personal experience with malaria. $10 buys a netting for a bed that's been treated with an insecticide that is not harmful to humans but is to mosquitoes. The Malaria initiative is in conjunction with the LCMS, Lutheran World Relief and a program of the UN that is escaping my brain at the moment...

We heard the Report of the Vice President, Carlos Pena, who was delightful.

We heard from the Task Force on Sexuality and then went into a quasi committee of the whole on the subject. Despite the fact that the proposed sexuality statement is comprehensive and mentions things like developing liturgical rituals for the time of divorce and respecting the value of friendships (!), people seemed preoccupied with homosexuality. At one point, a guy who had driven us nuts last night got up to the microphone and we sort of thought, "oh no," but then he spoke, beginning with the statement, "I am a homophobe." And then he shared a bit of his experience of learning and being changed...It was the most profound statement I heard today.

There are hearings this afternoon and evening regarding the social statements. There has been a concerted effort to undermine the ELCA's Peace Not Walls Middle East Strategy but the fellow behind it is not a voting member, so though he spent a lot on a lunch that was designed to try to undermine the strategy, it appears as though his work will be for naught. When the substitute motion comes to the floor (it was passed by 4 synods), if Chelsea, Al Asfour and Rani Abdulmasih speak, that should take care of things...There are also two other Palestinian American pastors here, one of whom has been in ministry for 40 years. (The other two, Rani and Khader El-Yateeem from New York, are young...)

The cacophony of voices seems to be wearing on me. My introvert needs to crawl into a cave for a while and be still...so many talking heads in rooms that reverberate so...

I guess that's all for tonight. Nothing too exciting...but then, it's a church meeting...you were expecting something else? (Not till Friday, my friends...not till Friday...so please keep those prayers coming!)

Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
Sue

Churchwide Assembly: Day 1: Monday, August 17

Preface
Before I share about the assembly, I want to mention that Bishop Marsh's mother had a heart attack yesterday (August 16, the first anniversary of Bishop Schreiber's death - creepy coincidence). Please keep his family in your prayers. His mother is in Temecula with two sisters and a brother at her bedside. It's tough on Bishop Steve not to be there, as you can well imagine.

Opening Worship
As usual, wonderful. Bishop Hanson used the Easter II text (the disciples were in hiding for fear...Jesus pops in and says "peace be with you," breathes on them and says, "receive the Holy Spirit...")

He spoke a lot about fear. About our own fears. About how this week is not the "done deal" that the media have made it out to be. He encouraged us - with true Mark Hanson passion - to offer our fears up to God, to let God hold onto them, whatever they may be.

He also spoke movingly about New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's response to seeing 37,000 ELCA Youth raising their joyful voices in the SuperDome. He said he wished that everyone in New Orleans could experience the way that the youth transformed into life and joy a place that has been so strongly associated with death among the people of New Orleans.

One of the Communion hymns was "Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song," which was my ordination hymn...It always takes me right back to that moment...and then to the many things that have changed...the people who are no longer here...the challenges that have followed...this is for me a bit of a collision of numerous parts of my life...I'll try not to belabor that!

Session 1
There were some tense moments, some potentially contentious ones, but now and again people referred to Bishop Hanson's sermon...Of course, there are wide ranging opinions. One of the things that impresses me (as someone who is intimidated by getting up at a microphone in front of 1000+ people in order to express an opinion - stop laughing, y'all...) is that people have the courage of their convictions to stand up and to advocate for their positions. Some are incredibly articulate, while others stumble around in pools of passionate feeling that they struggle to convey. Then, of course, there are the people who really like to get up and did so at least two or three times during our first session! (No names!)

The success of the evening, for those of us who were concerned about a concerted effort to change the rules, was that the request for a 2/3 "supermajority" on the ministry recommendations was defeated. The "stair step" method - which would have allowed consideration of the 2nd recommendation only if the 1st passed, and so on through the four (I'm not sure I'm articulating that well). In any event, that motion was defeated as well. These are hopeful signs.

It's clear that GoodSoil is well organized and in good spirits. They received about 500 prayer shawls!! They provided us with mini agendas which are really nice as they tuck neatly into our nametags and serve as a quick reference (rather than hauling around those hulking binders!). GoodSoil is taking an approach they call, "Gracious engagement." There was a real shift at the last Assembly in Chicago and I think that the expanded sense of understanding and welcome has continued to grow across this church.

A Funny Moment
Someone moved that speakers be restricted from 3 minutes to 2. One fellow got up and said he opposed the measure because he felt it discriminated against pastors...

Another Challenge
Peter Pettit, who has his doctorate in Jewish studies and teaches at Muhlenberg College, has - along with a handful of other synods - put forth a resolution that is a distortion of the ELCA's established and active "Peace Not Walls" campaign designed to further the cause of Middle East Peace. It employs terms like, "Arab - Israeli - Palestinian..."

Many of you know that our synod has a companion relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and our delgation includes two Palestinian Americans who are a couple of the most gracious human beings I know. I'm certain they will be speaking powerfully to this resolution as will our own Chelsea Mathis (increasingly famous - she was on the cover of the Assembly News today and is likely to be interviewed by the NYTimes - the model young adult voting member of the Assembly). After a year in the Holy Land, which included accompanying the bishops who attended the Bishops' Academy in January, Chelsea has an intimate understanding of the reality on the ground - far greater than those of us who have spent 10 days at a time there...

Looking ahead...
Now that we have adopted the rules of procedure, we will move forward to address numerous issues. (God love Mark Hanson for showing such remarkable grace under pressure and good humor in chairing the meeting)

Of course, the assembly is streaming live on the web: www.elca.org/assembly. I hope you'll have a chance to catch some of it live as it happens. It's really quite remarkable to be a fist time voting member...

Oh - and for those of you who enjoy a little ecclesiastical irony...sitting right ahead of me is Bishop Roy Riley (NJ Synod) and across the aisle and back a table? The Grand Canyon Synod delegation. I haven't seen the So Cal folks yet but Bob Rimbo's zipping around with his grandchild having a good time...There's something endearing about watching a man of his stature look so giddy pushing a stroller...

Well, it's 12:15 h ere...1:15 back in Michigan. Time to turn in for the night. We'll be back at it at 8AM. So much for my resolution to get up for "stretch and pray" with Bishop Finck!

Blessings to all! Please feel free to post comments, questions, etc. and I'll do my best to respond. (We're not supposed to have cell phones or blackberries on in the meeting hall...but pastors will be kids...)

Peace, Shalom, Salaam,
Pastor Sue

The Sermon for Graduate Recognition Sunday by Laura Emily Ann Heinrich

The final day of summer camp in 1996 concluded in a large assembly on the hillside, the parents were invited, and the camp counselors and staff talked about the previous week, speaking of our turns on the zip-line and the blob, swimming, canoeing, worship in the evening, and devotions in the afternoon. As they spoke they did not simply describe what we did, they attached the word awesome to everything. The kids were awesome, archery was awesome, the campfires were awesome, the week, apparently, was Awesome. On the way home (and in years to come), I learned that my father was quite annoyed at the use of this adjective. It is not to say that the week was not fun and eventful, but was it really awesome? Two years later when I returned for a second week, the adjective was again in full force. The word has become a part of the camp culture, everything is awesome and the counselors, staff, and campers are not afraid to say so. However, from there my father instilled upon me the meaning of being awesome. When you stand in front of something and are truly inspired, amazed, humbled, and in honest awe, then you can call that awesome.

While awesome experiences occur in the most mundane and everyday settings, my recent trip to the Holy Land truly inspired me, humbled me, and forced me to reflect on the Holy grounds that Jesus walked. To stand on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Jordan River Valley, the beautifully tragic villages and the never-ending haze into the distance, was an image that is forever instilled in my mind. As we walked down the streets of the Old City, with vendors pushing their wares, tourists meandering through, and residents shopping for daily bread or meat, I couldn’t help but to imagine what this would have been like, nearly 2000 years ago. A bit more open, probably just as crowded at times, and I could really find out if Jesus touched the stone that they say he did. While his body was physically present then, I felt His presence amongst the tension and liveliness, knowing that the city is Holy, not only for Christians but for all of the Children of Abraham, and in those moments, I stood in awe. It wasn’t just in the surroundings I felt the presence of Christ, but in the people. I was told before we went, that it wasn’t just for the historical architecture or archeological artifacts, but that the trip would show us the living stones of the Holy Land, the people. Those that we met showed great courage, strength, hope, hospitality, and resilience. Over the past few weeks, you have heard stories of some of those we met. When dining with the Saadi family, I was in awe of their drive for something greater, they pushed their children into education, and kept their faith in Christ. Hanna, the father, talked about how much we as Christians are to love and welcome others into our home, something often hear said in the US, but rarely see practiced, or at least not practiced in the way his family showed to us. With the people of the Church of Hope in Ramallah, I realized how they too saw education and faith as cornerstones to life. I often grapple with my own struggles of faith, yet these people whose circumstances are beyond my reality, find ways to keep the hope alive through their faith, believing in the grace of God. It is with respect and awe that I look at the experience with both the people and the landscape.

And I don’t know about you, but Jesus appearing to the disciples in Jerusalem is pretty awesome. He comes to them saying “Peace Be With You,” but to see the Christ in the flesh stirs feelings of confusion, it was a lot easier (especially in that time, and even probably still today) to believe in ghosts than to believe that Jesus is again standing among you. Last week we heard of Thomas as he doubted Christ, but here in Luke we see Jesus immediately showing them his wounds, and eats the broiled fish, not only signifying that he is in the flesh and able to eat, but in eating during the Passover week, he demonstrates that the dawn of the Reign of God has come. The disciples are amazed, the One whose execution they saw and resurrection they witnessed is truly standing among them.

Jesus says to them that it is the fulfillment of the law and promises from the time of Moses that he appears to them and has suffered and died on the cross for the forgiveness of all sins. In the next few verses, Christ ascends to heaven. The physical body and works of Christ on Earth are finished, the liturgy is complete. Through the grace of the Father granted unto us, we carry the works of Christ forward. As it is written, we are to stay here, and are clothed with the power on high.
In Acts, we see Peter and John carry the work of Jesus forward, healing the cripple. This is done not through their own abilities but through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection and the grace of our Lord. He says to them that we are witnesses to our own condemnation of Jesus, as the people disowned him before Pontius Pilate, and handed him over to be killed. Yet it was by the faith that Peter had in Jesus that the cripple was healed. Through Jesus we are made strong and our faith in him allows us to be healed and to heal others. Peter again says to the people, that this was foretold in the prophets, echoing what Jesus said in Luke. God does keep his promises, and through the raising up of our Lord, so too shall we be raised up.

As we move forward in this Easter season, let us not forget that Christ has died for our sins and been resurrected, fulfilling the promises of the Father. Too often in my life, and I doubt that I am the only one, I lose trust in the promises of God, and worry that things just won’t turn out. But it is truly powerful and amazing that Jesus has been resurrected, and if I can put my faith in this, then certainly I can trust that God is omnipotent and omniscient. As it is written in the reading in Acts, God is the author of life, a name to me which brings comfort, awe, and respect. He has fulfilled his promises and continues to love us and work in our lives. When I ask what will happen next, or where will I go to school, where will I live, and so forth, I must remember to put my trust in God. Coming from the University as a twenty-something student, I often get the message that I am to be self-sufficient, independent, strong, and powerful. And while yes, I can be, and work to be all of these things, I can’t forget that it is through Christ that I am given the power to serve my community and live my life.

The readings and the Gospel today tell us that God is powerful, and the appearances of Christ are awesome. These awesome experiences and the powerful results go hand in hand. To witness something awesome, there is little doubt in my mind that the power of God has played a role. Whether it is in nature, or in acts of kindness, relationships, or occupation, the inspiration and power comes from the grace of God.

These are fitting ideas as many of the graduates move past our protective Ann Arbor bubble and into the world. As the disciples continued to a life without Jesus beside them, as do we continue on in our lives without the physical presence of the community of Lord of Light. Reflecting on my past few years at here at Lord of Light, I thank you, the congregation, for your support, encouragement, and kindness as I have found my spiritual home in Ann Arbor. There were Christmas parties with gingerbread house making and gag-gifts (though that $2 buck chuck was the best one out there), brunches with fellowship and guidance, and evening services where I found a way to center my life in the whirlwind of the university surrounding me. I encourage those of you who haven’t participated in these other events to give them a try, go to a Tuesday evening service or a Bible study when you can. With the people at Lutheran Campus Ministry, I have traveled to Louisville, Kentucky and the Holy Land, experiences that could each get hours of conversation on their own. These experiences have taught me that a spiritual community exists not only for our own faith, but to promote learning, understanding, and the sharing Christ’s love in service to others. As many of the graduates prepare to leave our homes in Ann Arbor, I ask that you pray for our guidance, safety, compassion, and faith, that we may serve our new (or same) communities in ways that honors or faith. Lord of Light is not just a stepping stone as we move on to other ventures, it is a grounding, a foundation, and a gem in Ann Arbor that I am sure that we will not forget.

Jesus accompanies us on our walks, no matter how far we go away from the Church, both physically and spiritually. The promise has been fulfilled; we are to carry the works of our Risen Lord into our homes, communities, and the world. May we never lose the wonderment of His deeds and keep faith in the true and awesome God. Amen.

Southeast Michigan Synod Elects New Bishop!

May 2, 2009

On the 5th ballot, The Rev. Stephen G. Marsh was elected Bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America!

The Bishop-Elect has requested that we pray for him daily. And so, we shall pray that God will bless, direct and guide him in this new calling.

Pastor Sue

Ladies and Gentlemen, 2nd Lieutenant Max Wineland!

Perry and Casey Francis and Pastor Sue were late arriving at the Southeast Michigan Synod Assembly because they wouldn't miss attending Max Wineland's commissioning ceremony!

Max looks like a million bucks in his dress blues!

Taking the oath - together!

Mom and Dad have the honor of pinning on his bars.

Congratulations, Max! We're proud of you!