2008 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly
A Synod at Table with the Hungry
2007 Synod Assembly > Bishop's Report

Bishop Harold Usgaard's Oral Report to the 2008 Synod Assembly

I would ask you to join me in remembering those pastors from our synod who have died during this past year:

Rev Leonard Benson, September 18, 2007
Rev. Charles Haertel, November 20, 2007
Rev. Harry Peterson, September 19, 2007

“When we on that final journey go
That Christ is for us preparing,
We’ll gather in song, our hearts aglow,
All joy of the heavens sharing
And there we will join God’s endless praise,
With angels and saints adoring.” Amen

I also want to take this opportunity to recognize and give thanks for some folks who have served this synod so well during these past years. They are members of the synod council whose terms have now ended. These are people who have given of their time not only for synod business, but also serving on teams that support ministry in the synod. I am sad to see them go…they have offered excellent leadership and service for you. The good news is that we know where they live and still have their phone numbers…..

Rev. James Ahlquist
Congregational Renewal Team
2004-2008

Rev. Cynthia Fisher-Broin
Congregational Renewal Team
2004-2008
Executive Committee

Rev. Richard Spande
Congregational Renewal Team
2004-2008
Executive Committee

Rev. Scott Olson
Lay & Clergy Leadership Development Team
2004-2008
Executive Committee

John Petersburg
Lay & Clergy Leadership Development Team
2004-2008
Executive Committee

Ann Beatty
Mission Planning & Action Team
2004-2008
Executive Committee

Marcia Wolter Blackburn
Mission Planning & Action Team 2006-2008

Rev. Randy Johnson
Mission Planning & Action Team 2004-2008

I also want to recognize the staff with whom I am privileged to serve. I noted some of the changes this past year in my written report…one in particular I want to call your attention to. Pastor Linda Gunderson was installed as synod minister at the Theological Conference this past November. Linda is well known in our synod, having served in a variety of settings. We are so pleased that she accepted the call to serve on synod staff. I would ask her to stand so you could welcome her.

And one other staff person who this year celebrates 10 years of service to the synod…Carolyn Goulet, our program assistant…you know her well because one of her tasks is supervising registration for this assembly. Carolyn please come up here and receive a token of our thanks.

So… “What is God doing in Southeastern Minnesota? And...”What does God want to do here?” Those are the two questions that Craig Van Gelder of Luther Seminary raises in his book, The Missional Church in Context. Good questions.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is from the book of Acts…the story of Gamaliel. Peter and the apostles have been arrested for doing what the text calls signs and wonders in front of the temple in Jerusalem…they were healing folks. The religious authorities arrested them…and deliberated what to do with them. Gamaliel, a Pharisee, who the text says was “held in honor by all the people,” counseled to let them go for, he says, “if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

So what is God doing in our communities…and what does God want to do…and how often are we found even in opposition? Certainly I don’t think it would be intentional. It is just that the question seldom gets asked. More often, the questions I hear are about what we think needs to be done…or what we want?

Two comments here: Who does the church belong to? Who do our congregations belong to? One of our pastors remembers the comment of his pastor in describing the church…”well it’s not a Moose club you know.” My uncle was a Moose…he enjoyed it…but it was different than the church. The church is not here for us. The congregation is not our private domain. It is here for the sake of the world…for those outside. The church belongs to God. So what would God have us do if in fact we are called to be the body of Christ in the world.

In Luke, chapter 4, following Jesus stint in the wilderness, he comes home to Nazareth, and introduces himself with these words of the prophet…”The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I think our Lord makes it very plain what we are to be about. And I celebrate that many of our congregations get it…offering life and hope in their communities.
But I am also saddened when it would seem that others don’t. We live in an age of anxiety…the world is an anxious place…and our churches too often become the same. And sometimes the concerns revolve more about finances and survival than they do ministry. How can we get by? Well, we have to take care of ourselves first. If we just got more members, we could have more money.

Jesus said, “he who would save his life will lose it, and he would lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Gospel will save it.” When we remember whose church this is, we think sharper and clearer…even in the midst of anxiety. And we gain courage to be the church we are called to be, no matter what the circumstances. Too often those so intent on saving themselves turn in upon themselves and become even lonelier places. In fact, it is those congregations who give themselves away who discover new life… for in giving they receive. This is God’s church…that is where our strength and confidence is found.

A second comment: Sometimes we become a bit egotistical, believing that God is only present in the world through us. Asking the question, “what is God doing in our communities” reminds us that God is at work throughout this great creation…and sometimes we simply have to catch up.

Did you see the news article? There is a major initiative being announced to eradicate malaria in Africa. The United Nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have gathered our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the United Methodist Church together as partners…and now Ted Turner, who once called Christianity a religion for losers…has also entered into the multi-million dollar project. Is there any doubt that such a partnership could even be possible if God has not already been involved?

God’s will is done…sometimes with us…sometimes apart from us. As Gamaliel reminds us, if it is of God, it will not fail. How great our God is. If we remember that, we will never cease to be surprised and amazed at what God is accomplishing. So we seek to understand what God is about in this world… to be certain that we are not in opposition…but even more, to be stewards and doers of God’s will.

“What is God doing in Southeastern Minnesota?” “What does God want to do in our midst.” Those are the questions we are going to ask of you in these coming months…as we enter into a new strategic plan in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Our recent plan “Called into God’s Marvelous Light” offered us important direction in our synod leadership decisions…and I believe drew our 184 congregations closer together around common themes. Now, we enter into a new plan for the coming 5 years.

One Sunday this fall, each congregation in the synod will include an insert in their worship bulletin with these questions. We are asking your insight on how God is at work in your community…and in this corner of the state. Five to ten minutes will be given to answering those questions as you begin worship that day. Your congregational leadership will read your responses. It should be very interesting. Then, your responses will be sent to the synod office…and be read with a gathering of folks brought together from around the synod. From that work will come plans and themes of focus for the coming years.

This assembly is an example of what I hope could happen. An identified theme…“A Synod at Table with the Hungry”…giving direction not only for the synod assembly, but ministries and projects throughout the year… a plan that would offer direction…and a ministry binding us closer to one another.

A phrase you will be hearing a lot in these coming years from the church wide expression of the ELCA is “God’s work. Our hands.” “God’s work. Our Hands.” “Where will God’s love lead us?” What an exciting and important question.

A personal note. I want to repeat something I shared in my written report… a thank you to all of you…and your congregations. Last August I had a bit of a wake up call involving my heart. I discovered I am not as invincible as I thought. I have already had the opportunity to thank our rostered folk, but I want to say thank you to all of you from the congregations…thank you for your cards…and prayers. It truly meant a lot.

I am fine physically. The doctor tells me the battery in my pacemaker will be working long after I’m dead. I am thankful to live in a time where there is such technology for one’s heart when it does not want to beat.

That experience has caused me to be much more conscious of the gift of life…and the opportunities it affords…the relationships that are blessings…the special opportunity for ministry in this office. I don’t want to take such things for granted ever again. That is the reason that I started putting a “bucket list” together even before the movie came out.

It is also why I am thankful that the synod council has granted me a three month sabbatical, beginning this July. I am going to use it to focus on a healthy lifestyle, a balanced life. Lynette and I are going to spend intentional time together in our devotional life along with physical care. We’ve discovered we really do enjoy being together. I am going to practice developing some hobbies…that is a unique concept for too many pastors. We are also going to travel and visit friends who we simply have not been able to spend time with during these past six years. I want to be strong and healthy as I continue in this office in the years remaining.

I am also going to focus on re-learning the Spanish language. I promised Bishop Buitrago, from our companion synod in Colombia, that the next time we met, I would speak to him in his tongue. I am also so conscious of the mission work that needs to be done among Latino communities in our own synod…and relationships need communication.

It is humbling, in planning to be gone, to discover that one really won’t be missed. The staff will continue to do excellent work, and other bishops and the church wide office will be offering any necessary support. I am grateful for their cooperation and support.

So…”What is God doing in Southeastern Minnesota?” And…”What does God want to do here?” It’s going to be an exciting time. I am thankful to be part of it.