Bishop's Message from the Churchwide Assembly
Follow Up on the '09 Churchwide Assembly >Bishop's Message from the CWA

Click here for a message from Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson.

August 22, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write this to you from the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis. Bishop Mark Hanson has written a message (see below) detailing recent actions of the assembly. I will not repeat him, but I do want to assure you I will be sharing my thoughts with you in the coming weeks. I will be inviting all of our clergy and rostered leaders together, in addition to meeting with our conference deans. I will seek their input as to how best I might share the decisions made here in assembly.

Anytime there are major decisions, my concern is that correct information be shared. I want to be sure that any questions that you have will be answered as we plan our future ministry together. The changes voted on will not take form for a number of months. I suspect most congregations in our synod will not even be impacted.

I do want to publicly pay tribute to the 27 voting members from our Southeastern Minnesota Synod. They have shouldered a tremendous weight of responsibility this week. They have attended every minute of every session. They have shared of their faith and opinions at the microphones. They have prayed together, sang together, studied together...and offered support to one another. I hope as they return home in this coming week that you will offer your appreciation for their service.

As we conclude this assembly, please continue to hold the ELCA in your prayers. It is a vibrant church seeking to be instruments of God's love and mercy in this complex world.

Shalom,
Bishop Harold Usgaard