ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls for Unity, Offers 2012 Vision

October 11, 2002

CHICAGO – In remarks aimed at unity in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, commented on a wide variety of topics on the church's agenda, including strategic planning, strategies for outreach to people who do not attend a church and ELCA studies on sexuality. Hanson also laid out an ambitious vision for the ELCA in 10 years as part of his comments to the Synod-Churchwide Consultation here Oct. 4-6.

The 5.1-million member ELCA is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop. Nearly 500 people, including synod bishops, vice presidents, treasurers, secretaries and other churchwide and synod leaders took part in the consultation. The consultation focused on the ELCA strategic planning process, sharing of mission support funds and partnerships between synods. The leaders also attended workshops to share "best practices" around a variety of ELCA ministries.

The consultation was held in conjunction with the fall meeting of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory body to the church, consisting of synod bishops, the ELCA presiding bishop and the ELCA secretary.

After the consultation, Hanson participated Oct. 6 in a live Webcast, "The Future of the ELCA," in which he answered a variety of questions about the ELCA and his work during his first year in office.

The ELCA strategic planning process, which began late last year, should not be interpreted to mean that the ELCA has not been focused on ministry and mission since it was formed in 1987, Hanson said in a consultation question-and-answer session. There are many compelling reasons for doing it now, he said.

Significant issues before the church in recent years included Called to Common Mission, a full communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church, and topics related to sexuality, Hanson said. Some people believe issues such as these divide the church, he said.

"We run the risk that we become a church that is focused on what divides us versus the mission we have," Hanson said. "Some people feel disengaged from the larger church. We need a broad conversation grounded in scripture and the Holy Spirit." Hanson said he feels a "sense of urgency" to focus on ministry and mission.

The strategic planning process "feels messy," he said, because the church has made a deliberate effort to invite thousands of people into the process.

"It's our hope to keep this ‘iterative' process going," Hanson said. After gathering comments from a variety of stakeholders, the process calls for church leaders to determine priorities for mission early next year. A final plan is expected to be presented to the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee.

In addition to strategic planning, other planning efforts are underway in evangelism, a strategy to reach out to African Americans, new worship resources and communication within the church. All must be coordinated with the ELCA strategic planning process "or we will have problems," Hanson said.

The ELCA is presently involved in a comprehensive four-year study of homosexuality. The study was mandated by the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis. The assembly asked that the study address topics that include the possible ordination of people who are gay and lesbian and living in committed relationships, and asked for study of blessings of same-sex relationships. Presently, ELCA policy expects ordained ministers who are homosexual in their self-understanding to refrain from homosexual sexual relationships. There is no official policy on blessings of same-sex relationships, though the ELCA Conference of Bishops has advised the church that it does not approve of such ceremonies.

Hanson told the consultation audience that he has concerns about the sexuality study process. It calls for conversation in synods and congregations, but many seem unwilling to discuss matters related to sexuality and the church, he said.

"There is beneath the reality of this issue a deep, deep reservoir of avoidance," Hanson said. He said he is afraid that any decisions made at the 2005 Churchwide Assembly will be interpreted by many members as decisions made by a few people and imposed on the church.

"We must encourage and mentor those conversations synodically and congregationally," Hanson said.

Hanson announced that the ELCA has contracted with the Rev. Peter L. Steinke, to help keep leaders healthy during a time of anxiety, he said. Steinke is a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastor, author, and president and chief executive officer of Healthy Congregations, Austin, Texas. Steinke will address concerns that not only include the sexuality studies, but such social concerns as the possibility of war with Iraq and the struggling U.S. economy, Hanson said. Steinke will meet with the Conference of Bishops; ELCA Church Council, the church's board of directors; and the presiding bishop's staff and other churchwide staff, to offer his expertise.

Funding for Steinke's work was made possible by a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a fraternal benefit organization based in Minneapolis, Hanson said.

Hanson Offers ELCA Vision for 2012

In a 50-minute presentation Oct. 4, Hanson spelled out a vision of the ELCA 10 years from now. He called the ELCA "a reforming movement within the church catholic," and began by crediting ELCA predecessor church bodies for the work they did that led to the formation and mission of the ELCA.

"We cannot see with any clarity where God is leading us if we do not know from whence we have come and to whom we belong," Hanson told the audience. To look ahead, Hanson said the church must look through "lenses" of God's grace; through Christ's death and resurrection; through the work of Martin Luther, a German monk whose writings led to the Reformation; and through ELCA predecessor church bodies.

Hanson said there's one issue that "haunts" him more than any other: the unity of the church around strong, central themes. Hanson said he is concerned that disenfranchised groups may be forming around specific issues.

Hanson identified five strong themes for the ELCA. He called them "currents" that flow from "the waters of Baptism." They are:

• that the ELCA "is called to live among God's faithful people;"
• that the ELCA "will hear God's Word and share in the Lord's Supper;"
• that the ELCA is "called to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through word and deed;"
• that the ELCA "will serve all people following the example of Lord Jesus;" and
• that the ELCA is called "to strive for justice and peace in all the earth."

Under each theme, Hanson cited a number of examples of visions that might become reality 10 years from now in the ELCA. For example, he suggested the Lutheran World Federation and The Vatican could be involved in "Eucharistic sharing" and be preparing for a celebration "of the gifts of the Reformation" on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.

Or, in 10 years, he visualized that "justice and peace will be the vocation in this church of all the baptized." Or, he suggested that for every member, prayer and telling the good news "will be as joyful and spontaneous as our sharing the good news of the birth of a grandchild."

Hanson did not mention a vision for the ELCA studies on sexuality until the end of his remarks. "In 10 years, could it be we'd look back on the studies and wonder why we were so anxious? People listened, and in 2005 we adopted a resolution that did not divide this church, but it reflected where we were as a church, and this church's resolve to say united in Christ and God's mission in the world."

Presiding Bishop Hanson's Oct. 4 presentation, "The ELCA in 2012," and his Oct. 6 Webcast, "The Future of the ELCA," can be viewed at http://www.elca.org/planning on the ELCA's Web site. Information about the ELCA's strategic planning process is also available at the same Web site.

ELCA News Service