2004 Synod Assembly: "Called Into God's Marvelous Light"

Live update added 12:45 p.m., Saturday, April 24, 2004

Report of the Bishop, ELCA Featured at Second Plenary

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told attendants of the 17th annual Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly that the church has nothing to fear.

In a video presentation shown during the second plenary, Hanson said the ELCA is doing great work across the globe. He said even as this work continues, though, "we have somehow managed to come to a time when the questions that divide us now define us."

But the bishop noted the ELCA's 11,000 congregations have far more similarities than differences. Hanson said the ELCA is a church with 5 million evangelists, each centered in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit.

"We in the ELCA are not a church searching for an identity," he said. "We know who we are because we have been marked with the cross of Christ forever."

Hanson said congregations continue to exhibit their strength. He said any tensions within the ELCA are outdone by the many partnerships congregations maintain with seminaries, universities and missionary organizations.

"We have incredible partners," he said. "Together, we form the future."

Hanson said the ELCA must reach out to minorities and young people as congregations grow. He said 94 percent of ELCA members are white, and the average member's age is 10 years older than that of the average United States citizen.

Hanson said ELCA congregations share many bonds and assets. He said by using these resources in the years ahead, prosperity and growth will come not only to congregations but to the entire ELCA.

"We have a rich church," he said. "We are wealthy financially and gifted spiritually. Yes, we are facing tensions. But we are firmly united in Christ."

The Rev. Eric Shafer, the ELCA's director of communications, introduced the video and spoke briefly about various missionary efforts. Shafer will return to address the assembly during the third plenary, and will answer questions at that time.

Meanwhile, ballot voting was completed during the second plenary. All nominated candidates were unanimously elected.

Next story

Back to live updates