Title: E:LCA Churchwide Secretary Recounts Denomination's Short History
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 20, 1997
ELCA CHURCHWIDE SECRETARY RECOUNTS
DENOMINATION'S SHORT HISTORY
97-CA-46-MS
PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- "We walk in the footsteps of giants," the
secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America told voting members
meeting in Churchwide Assembly here Aug. 14-20. Reporting to more than
1,000 fellow Lutherans, the Rev. Lowell G. Almen reflected the ELCA's
biennial assembly theme, "Making Christ Known: Alive in our Heritage and
Hope." Almen quoted pioneer Lutheran pastor and churchman, Henry Melchior
Muhlenberg, who said in 1748, "A twisted cord of many threads will not
easily break." Muhlenberg, who helped organize the first Lutheran synod in
North America at a Philadelphia meeting that year, is considered the
patriarch of American Lutheranism.
Almen's reference to Muhlenberg was intended to remind voting members
not only of their heritage but also of their responsibility as a church.
Almen said, "[Muhlenberg's 'twisted cord'] note of unity was crucial for
that historic moment. The same note of unity remains essential for our
ongoing life together."
The secretary reviewed the ten-year history of the 5.2-million-member
ELCA. He punctuated his historical reflections with humorous recollections
of how the nation's largest Lutheran group found its footing.
He recalled his 1987 election to office and then moving first into
temporary office space in Chicago. "I carried in my suitcase from
Minneapolis some paper clips, file folders, pens, pencils, notepads, and
paper." When a colleague asked him how to requisition a desk, since such
furniture was in short supply, he replied succinctly: "Midnight
acquisition" -- meaning if nobody is using it when you want it, it's
yours.
He highlighted for his audience the serious and lighter sides of five
biennial churchwide assemblies.
He recalled the 1989 Chicago assembly. "That first assembly
celebrated our unity as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America."
At the 1991 Orlando assembly the topics of ecumenism and abortion
filled the agenda. The abortion statement, Almen said, "set a healthy tone
for moral reflection."
He recalled seeing an amusing "work in process" at Orlando. Workmen
changing the assembly announcement boards paused in mid-project to display
the message, "Welcome Evangelical Lutheran Yamaha Motors." Quipped the
secretary, "Now that would have been an interesting merger."
At the 1993 Kansas City assembly voters approved the report of a
study of ministry which addressed questions the combining predecessor
churches had left unanswered. Voting members adopted positive statements on
ethnicity and culture, and on the care of creation.
The 1995 Minneapolis assembly saw the end of first Presiding Bishop
Herbert W. Chilstrom's second four-year term and the election of his
predecessor, the Rev. H. George Anderson. Almen himself was re-elected for
six additional years of service.
The church's secretary noted a troubling fact. He said, "On average,
only 30 percent of our baptized members are in worship on a given Sunday."
He called such limited participation a matter of ongoing concern.
He concluded his remarks by repeating Muhlenberg's words: "A twisted
cord of many threads will not easily break." He said, "Woven together into
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are most of the threads of
Lutheran history and heritage in North America."
We are, he said, braided together in the ELCA for strength and
mission.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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