A busy and connected Thursday for the office of bishop in NT-NL Synod, ELCA. Started the day with a call about the 2022 ELCA National Youth ELCA Youth Gathering and planning for our groups including a second Bishop’s group.
Spent some time in pastoral care phone calls and meetings. Lots of challenges for our rostered and lay leaders and a great deal of grief in our systems. Once again Bishop Mike Girlinghouse’s presentations from our 2021 assembly on seeking a faithful future without forgetting the past have been relevant.
Made it to the offices for a bit where I did some necessary paperwork and then checked into the Conference of Bishop’s weekly gathering. Today we were joined by Bishop Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land as well as Churchwide staff who work in that area. Bishop Azar gave us an update on the situation in the Holy Land for our Lutheran siblings.
It is an intensely challenging time for his leadership, please join me in praying for Bishop Azar and the church there. It was such an honor to be in Jerusalem in January 2018 for his consecration.
Had a check in call with ELCA Coaching Ministry team members including our own Jason O’Neill. ELCA Coaching is being intentional about engaging synod staffs in discerning what is most helpful for them and their leaders in this time. I appreciate their attention.