Title: ELCA Bishop Anderson Moves From Listening to "Initiatives"
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 18, 1996
ANDERSON MOVES FROM LISTENING TO "INITIATIVES"
96-27-081-AH
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told the ELCA Church
Council that a planning process under way has yielded a series of
"initiatives." Anderson has spent much of his first year in office listening
to pastors and others in the church's 65 synods.
"Now it is time to turn from listening to proposing initiatives," Anderson
said. He plans to present a refined set of proposals to the ELCA
Churchwide Assembly next summer, he said. The inquiry process
begun several years ago is leading to action steps, Anderson said.
"Pastors feel embattled and alone. They are struggling," Anderson
told the council. "In an earlier time, some pastors believe, the culture
carried and supported the church. Now the burden is on them." He said
the hopes he hears outweigh the challenges and difficulties.
"Partnership is key," he said; "we are presented with a vast opportunity
to support one another."
Anderson has organized his initiatives in four areas "essential to
future planning." They are: identity, relationships (including trust and
diversity), leadership and mission.
"Initiatives do not mean new programs," Anderson said. The church
should find the "focal points," he said, the places where something is
happening and "lift that up, give it a boost."
The Church Council was the last group to look at the initiatives. Over
the past weeks ELCA boards and committees and the Conference of
Bishops have taken a look at the bishop's ideas and given feedback. The
ELCA's Department for Research and Evaluation will review and compile
the comments for Anderson. The department is also carrying out an
ongoing "environmental scan," monitoring trends in the church and
society, Anderson reported.
Under "identity," Anderson cited adult education in "Bible and Lutheran
basics" and called for healthy discussion on the content and style of
worship. He said Martin Luther's "theology of the cross" might help
"restore a sense of call" among leaders who "feel that they and the
church are being marginalized."
Civility and interdependence are Anderson's themes under the
heading "relationships." He said, "Our society is riddled with fault-lines
between interest groups, races, classes and so on. The church is not
immune." He asked, "Is it possible for the church to become an example
of community-in-diversity, and so serve a vital role in the healing of
society?"
Seven items fall under Anderson's "mission" heading: "help the
children; stand by our 'working arms' (institutions and agencies of the
church); support mission-minded congregations; involve youth; utilize
senior volunteers; stimulate creativity in expressing faith through art,
music, dance; and focus on and study Islam, 'a major presence on the
world scene.'"
Anderson emphasized "leadership" in terms of preparing "pastors for
a new century" and making deliberate efforts "to identify, prepare and
support" leaders in the church's communities of people of color.
When Anderson asked, "What's missing?" council members replied
that maybe the list was "too internal."
"What is there that will change us? How will we engage with the
world?" were two questions in response.
Several council members made specific suggestions. "Emphasize
prayer," said William T. Billings of Detroit. "We need to let people know
it's okay to turn to our leader, to Christ, in prayer." Charles A. Adamson,
Mankato, Minn., said the ELCA should made plain the principle of grace:
"Too many of our people think salvation is something they have to work
at."
The Rev. Larry V. Smoose, Langhorne, Pa., encouraged the bishop,
"stretch your definition of youth to include young adults." Youth
Representative Chris Hanson, Fargo, N.D. agreed. Smoose said the
ELCA's triennial Youth Gatherings provide "energy and a key life
experience." He hopes the church can find a way to get "that kind of
energy" into the lives of more young people.
For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir.,
(312) 380-2955 or [log in to unmask]
