Churchwide Assembly Reflection 2 of 6
From Rev. Kristin Klade (Cook Childrens Hospital, Kyrie Pub Church, St. Matthews, Fort Worth), Ordained Female Voting Member:
A few days before I arrived at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, I visited my good friend, Alyssa. She is a brilliant Seventh Day Adventist pastor and chaplain who I met during my chaplaincy training in Chicago. In her church, women can be called “pastors,” but they cannot be ordained, serve as senior pastors, or be elected as bishops. When I told her that I would be processing in worship with other ELCA pastors to celebrate the 50th anniversary of women’s ordination in the ELCA, Alyssa’s eyes became tearful: both out of happiness and out of a deep sense of grief. When the day came for me to process at the CWA worship, I did so with joy, clapping, dancing, and singing, in a flow of hundreds of ELCA women pastors: a group I am so proud to be a part of. It is a memory I will never forget… but when I sat down, I couldn’t help but cry. I cried for Alyssa. I cried knowing that there are so many others who don’t have this sacred privilege. I also cried with both joy and fear for my 8 week-old daughter who came with me to the assembly, knowing that she will grow up to experience a world that, I believe, is changing for good, but has a very long way to go. This year, I was honored to be one of many votes in favor of the ELCA’s newly complete social statement: “Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action.” Much work was put into this document and I encourage all to read it and contemplate how to put it into action. I return home very tired, but proud to be part of a church that is doing work that matters; a church that values the voices of its pastors and lay people, young and old, from all over the country. I thank the NTNL for sending me.
Stories of Faith in Action
Stories of Faith in Action is an annual publication highlighting how God changes lives through the ministries funded by your congregation’s unrestricted offering of Mission Support, which is shared with your synod and the ELCA churchwide organization. Stories of Faith in Action and the resources that go along with it are designed to share how important your weekly offering in your congregation is in sustaining and growing God’s mission. Stories, videos, bulletin inserts, and an infographic explaining “Where does my offering go?” are available at ELCA.org/SOFIA.
Strive for Justice and Peace
In 1994 the ELCA Church Council adopted the social message “Community Violence,” which speaks to the complex and pervasive nature of violence and the church’s call to address its root causes. Now, 25 years later, this social message is still all too relevant. This church acknowledges that it’s made up of people who have been victims of violence, who have perpetrated violence and who work to protect against it. While this presents challenges that are as complex as the matter of violence itself, the church is guided by the healing power found in relationship together and in Christ to respond to its roles as peacemakers and justice-seekers. Read this article from the August issue of Living Lutheran.
Featured Resources for September
And many more!
The ELCA offers a place of welcome for all seeking a congregational home. Your congregation can extend an invitation to neighbors and the surrounding community through the use of these customizable communications tools for Christmas in English and Spanish. Download and use these free tools today.
Save the Date
“Lutheran Young Adults” / “Lutheran Single Adults” Reunion Retreat
November 8-10
Camp Lone Star, La Grange, TX
Registration is open through October 15.
Recent Blog Post
Pastor Totzke:
(https://www.ntnl.org/welcoming-two-new-pastors-to-nt-nl/ – published Sep. 26)
Where in the world is?
Bishop Gronberg:
- Sep. 26-30: Fall Conference of Bishops Meetings
Pastor Totzke:
- Oct. 3: Lutheran Campus Ministry, UNT, Denton
- Oct. 6: Stewardship forum, St. Matthew, Fort Worth, then Installation service for Pr. Kelsey Fitting-Snyder, St. Matthew, Waco
Pastora Bañales:
- Sep. 30 – Oct. 2: Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference, San Diego, CA
Upcoming Events
- Oct. 3: The Ninth Annual Herbener Lecture: Reading Romans in the Face of Economic Injustice, Dallas, TX
- Oct. 7-9: Engaging Anti-Racism for the Wholeness of the Church: 2019 NT-NL Leadership Convocation, Argyle, TX
- Oct. 11-13: 2019 W-ELCA NT-NL SWO Retreat, Merkel, TX
- Oct. 12: Public Witness Team monthly meeting, Arlington, TX
- Oct. 13: Festival of Church Music, Dallas, TX
- Oct. 13-16: National Council of Churches Christian Unity Gathering, Hampton, VA
- Oct. 13-18: Ministerial Flourishing: Exploring the Meaning, Means and Practices, Possum Kingdom Lake, TX
- Oct. 19: PLMA, Fall 2019, Course 2, Argyle, TX
- Oct. 19: MEF “Seeds That Change” FUNdraiser and Celebration, Arlington, TX
- Oct. 26: Introducing LEAD Journey, Argyle, TX
- Oct. 28: Upbring Golf benefiting Foster in Texas, Irving, TX
- Oct. 28-30: Region 4 Deacon Gathering, New Braunfels, TX
- Oct. 31: Deadline for MEF Grant Application
- Nov. 7-10: Via de Cristo weekend, Argyle, TX
- Nov. 8-10: “Lutheran Young Adults” / “Lutheran Single Adults” Reunion Retreat, La Grange, TX
- Nov. 9: Public Witness Team meeting, Arlington, TX
- Nov. 9: Thrivent’s Cooking for Christ fundraiser, Frisco, TX
- Nov. 10: Lutheran Campus Ministry Trivia Challenge, Argyle, TX
- Nov. 11-12: SMU | Perkins School of Theology Fall Convocation (with Rick Steves), Dallas, TX
- Nov. 12-14: Young at Heart Retreat, Argyle, TX
- Nov. 15-17: NT-NL Junior High Gathering, Carrollton, TX
- Nov. 16: PLMA, Fall 2019, Course 3, Argyle, TX
- Nov. 18-22: Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders, Arlington, TX
Access our full online Calendar here. Updates made regularly.
Do you have news or announcements to share? Please submit to Jason (jason@ntnl.org) for consideration for upcoming NT-NL News.