May 25, 2010

CHICAGO – As part of a commitment for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America "to stay engaged globally," the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, said he met personally with leaders of three African Lutheran churches and the president of the China Christian Council here last week to discuss mutual interests and concerns.

Hanson met with the Rev. Wakseyoum Idosa, president of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY); the Rev. Alex Malasusa, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT); the Rev. Thomas J. Barnett, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone (ELCSL); and the Rev. Gao Feng, president of the China Christian Council (CCC).

The meetings with Idosa and Malasusa included discussion of the human sexuality decisions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

The 2009 assembly called for revisions to ELCA ministry policies, making it possible for eligible Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders. The ELCA Church Council adopted final revisions to ministry policy documents April 10.

Last month leaders of the African churches expressed deep concern over decisions of the 2009 assembly and, separately, the Church of Sweden, on sexuality matters. The two African churches stated their opposition to same-sex or same-gender marriages, calling into question the future of partner church relationships with the ELCA.

Hanson told the ELCA News Service that he and the two leaders agreed to keep the content of their ongoing conversations confidential. "We believe that concerns are best worked out through church-to-church relationships rather than through public statements," he said.

The ELCA presiding bishop said that both meetings offered him a chance to hear firsthand the concerns of both leaders. Hanson said he hoped the ELCA could continue to work with the EECMY and ELCT "to enable God's mission in the world." He also repeated his pledge to honor policies of the companion churches with regard to sending mission personnel or engaging in other ministries in each country.

Hanson's meeting with Malasusa occurred during a planned consultation with ELCA Global Mission staff, synod bishops, representatives of companion or partner ELCA synods, and other invited guests. About 60 people attended.

"The ELCA churchwide organization, ELCA Global Mission and representatives of the companion synods recognized the deep historical connections between our two churches and our commitment to mission," Hanson said. "At the same time we recognized that the ELCT and its council will continue to discern what our churchwide assembly actions mean for our relationships."

All 20 ELCT synods maintain companion relationships with ELCA synods, Hanson said. "I sensed from the ELCA partners in this consultation how important those relationships are in the ongoing life and ministry of ELCA synods," he said.

Hanson also said he was grateful Malasusa visited the ELCA Northern Great Lakes Synod, an ELCT companion synod. Among other things, Malasusa addressed the spring commencement at Finlandia University, Hancock, Mich., one of 27 ELCA colleges and universities.

The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA Global Mission, said his staff is committed to continuing work and conversation with both churches on matters related to human sexuality.

"The Global Mission unit is committed to our ongoing collaboration in joint missional engagements in areas such as education, leadership development, health care, development and capacity building. The existing companion synod relationships are vehicles that have deepened and extended our church-to-church relations, where our partnership in the gospel is lived and celebrated among our peoples," he said.

During Hanson's meeting with Barnett and the Rev. Kevin S. Kanouse, bishop of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, Dallas, Hanson said Barnett described the ELCSL's strong commitment to "providing a holistic Lutheran witness in a context still shaped by recovery from a deadly civil war."

Central to the ELCSL's current emphases are the completion of the Jubilee Ministry Center in Freetown, Sierra Leone, continued training of pastors and lay leaders, and efforts to consolidate the church's diaconal ministries within a new organization, Evangelical Lutheran Development Services.

Barnett affirmed the deep and long-standing relationship with the NTNL Synod which has resulted in countless opportunities for shared ministry and mission, Hanson said. Both Barnett and Kanouse expressed appreciation for the current level of collaboration with the ELCA Global Mission unit. They noted that such close partnership "is vital for shaping a future that reflects the best practices of accompaniment," Hanson said.

In a meeting with Gao and others in the CCC delegation during the same week, Hanson heard of concerns and growth for ministry in China. "We don't have enough pastors, but have thousands of lay ministers," said Gao. "Training them well is one of our challenges and needs."

Gao thanked the ELCA for its engagement with the church in Sichuan Province, including response to a severe earthquake in 2008, Hanson said.

The ELCA works alongside the local church in lay training and social ministry. Hanson said Gao told him social ministry is an area of growth in the Chinese church. The ELCA works closely with Luzhou City Church in southeastern Sichuan, which is "providing a model for the rest of China for church-based social services," said Hanson, who will visit the CCC in China later this summer.

The CCC delegation is visiting the United States to explore options for a second Bible ministry exhibition of the church in China, planned for late 2011, Hanson said. The ELCA is considering ways in which it can support this exhibit that shows the growth of ministry in China, he said.

ELCA News Service