December 3, 2009

CHICAGO – Two former presiding bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have appealed to members to pray for unity of the church and its mission, and to contribute financial gifts to support the ELCA.

"Our troubled world needs the Good News of the Gospel and all that flows from it," wrote the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom and the Rev. H. George Anderson, in a Dec. 3 e-mail message. "Our differences must not divide us at a time like this. We are absolutely certain that we can continue to live together and serve as one family in the ELCA."

Chilstrom, St. Peter, Minn., was the ELCA's first presiding bishop, serving from 1987 to 1995. Anderson, Decorah, Iowa, succeeded him, serving from 1995 to 2001.

The former presiding bishops began their letter with an invitation "to join us in prayer and action for the mission and ministry" of the ELCA.

"Like you, we became children of God in the waters of Baptism," they wrote. "And, like you, we have found our primary identity with this church through local congregations, including the ones to which we now belong. This is where we receive Word and Sacrament that keep faith alive."

The two former presiding bishops said they have been blessed through two other expressions of the ELCA: synods and the churchwide organization. "All are gifts from God," Anderson and Chilstrom wrote.

They wrote how the ELCA has positively affected their lives, through participation in Sunday school and youth ministry; education at ELCA colleges and seminaries; service as pastors and leaders; ministry to people living in hunger and poverty, and those treated unjustly; and connections to companion churches around the world.

"All of this, and much more, has happened because we have been part of the ELCA, a church whose roots reach all the way back to the beginning of Lutheranism in this country," the former presiding bishops wrote.

The church and the nation have been sailing through some "rough waters," the former presiding bishops wrote, pointing to drops in income and growing unemployment.

They also noted that some members were disappointed with the decisions regarding human sexuality made at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. But Anderson and Chilstrom wrote that they believe those decisions "were the right decisions."

The assembly directed changes to the church's ministry policies. Those changes, which created the possibility for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as clergy and professional lay workers, have caused some disagreement in the ELCA.

"As a result, some have withdrawn or reduced support for our mission. The consequences of these events are painful. This church's mission and ministry have been diminished," they wrote.

The presiding bishops asked recipients of their message to consider giving to Vision for Mission, which supports the mission of the ELCA. Anderson and Chilstrom also asked recipients of their e-mail to send it to friends who "share our concern for this church."

Information about giving to Vision for Mission is at http://www.elca.org/supporttheelca/, on the ELCA Web site.

Gifts may also be sent by check payable to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764; or by credit or debit card by calling 800-638-3522.

ELCA News Service