Dear Partners in Mission:

September 5-6th your synod council met for our fall in-person gathering. I am so grateful for these leaders who come from across our synod’s geography and represent our synod’s diversity. Lay leaders and clergy committed to this work we do together. We had extensive conversations about our ministry together including taking seriously the resolution passed at our assembly that we are to bring a plan to plant four new mission communities in our synod to our next assembly.

In that conversation we also took seriously the reality that “mission starts” today look very different than they have in the past. While some of these might be physical locations we also are clear that start ups can happen in public spaces (like our long standing Kyrie-Pub Church ministry). Also we discussed online community and how people are going to AI (including our NT-NL Lutherbot) for answers to their spiritual questions. It was good and generative conversation that also had the honesty to admit we don’t exactly know how to do this, and so whatever we do must be accompanied by much prayer for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

We also discussed another resolution that did not come to the floor of our assembly related to work in our synod in the areas of diversity, equity, and belonging. The Eastern Conference had submitted this but due to its extensive scope and potential staffing implications we wanted more time to learn and discuss. I appreciate the Rev. Kirsten Wee (King of Glory-Dallas) for taking time to share with our council the concerns and opportunities that she and her colleagues in the conference see in intentional work to be aware of systemic barriers to belonging. These barriers particularly for those historically marginalized in church and society due to race, national origin, sexuality, etc…. What don’t we see or understand that limits our ability to value fully the gifts of the many different people we have in this part of the world in which we are called to serve? What also can we do about this?

Obviously we live in a time when the words diversity and equity (usually pair with inclusion) have been political hot topics. What I appreciated about this resolution was they chose on purpose the word belonging. Belonging is for us a deeply scriptural word in that we belong to Christ (1 Cor. 3:23). We proclaim to the newly baptized “You belong to Christ, in whom you have been baptized.” Belonging is what we desire for one another and it knows no boundaries as Christ has been sent into the world to save the cosmos (John 3:17).

In this time of deep political division it is the job of the church and followers of Christ to proclaim not division but belonging. To make our witness (μαρτυρία) of hope centered on the life giving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. A poor Jewish man living in Roman occupied Palestine. The king who sought not national power through violence but proclaimed healing and hope especially to those on the margins.

I believe we in NT-NL can model that witness. As Lutheran Christians in this time saying no to violent political rhetoric and instead serving those who Jesus would serve and inviting them into belonging with Christ.

#InMissionTogether

Bishop Gronberg