Saturday, May 1, 2010 - Blog 3

Kitchen Table Talk

In the second of his two half-hour keynote addresses, Pastor Stephen Bouman again looked to his early childhood for inspiration. After having focused in his Friday address on “love songs,” the old hymns sung to him as lullabies, he turned his attention to the kitchen table. And again he took the old image into new territory, looking to where the church is now and where it needs to be.
“The altar is the table that ties all the kitchen tables together,” he said. Mixing in some Spanish, he referenced “incarnation” as God con carne [God with flesh] and “compassion” as con pan [with bread]. Other thoughts: “How we treat the stranger today: We not only ignore them, we blame them.” And “Do not baptize [infants] if you’re not serious about following them into the world.” And that the church must not let “individual congregations sit shiva by themselves” (referring to the Jewish practice of spending time in seclusion mourning a family member who has just died). He hailed the ELCA’s emphasis on developing new ministries while noting the difficulty they face in “putting down deep roots.” But, he added, “any institution that can’t reproduce is a dead thing.”
As with Friday’s focus on “the old songs,” Saturday’s takeoff from the kitchen table of half a century ago must have left younger assembly participants perplexed. Today’s kitchens tend to be extensions of the living (family, great) room, with no place for a table unless there’s a breakfast nook. And the likelihood of families gathering there for anything but the occasional late-night pizza or game of cards is pretty slim. At this assembly, as at others, we have far too often been the older generation talking to ourselves.

Referenda Rejected

The only memorial (resolution directed to Churchwide Assembly for action) submitted from outside the Synod Council for consideration at this assembly was one calling for congregational referenda on future ELCA Social Statements. It called on the 2011 Churchwide Assembly “to examine and revise its governing documents and rules for the purpose of amending same to call for ratification of future social statements by its congregations.” The memorial was brought to the floor on Friday afternoon and was soundly defeated.
The five “whereas” portions of the proposal focus on the 2009 Churchwide Assembly votes on sexuality issues and the fact that voting members do not represent congregations. (Most churchwide voters are elected at synod assemblies, – a year in advance, as was the case this week. They, like those at synod assemblies, are directed to vote their conscience – hence the term “voting members,” as opposed to “delegates.”).
You might want to bone up on the church’s various social statements, all of which can be found on the ELCA Web site, www.elca.org. The one to be considered next August in Orlando is on genetics, and the first draft can be accessed on the Web site. Its working title is “Genetics and Faith: Power, Choice and Responsibility.” This will be the ELCA’s 11th such statement; those adopted previously address the death penalty (1991), church in society (1991), abortion (1991), the environment (1993), race, ethnicity and culture (1993), peace (1995), economic life (1999), health and health care (2003), education (2007) and human sexuality (2009).
Adoption of social statements is typically a six-year process. (The one on sexuality took eight because the task force charged with developing it asked for an extension.) A statement on Criminal Justice is in the pipeline; it’s to go before the 2013 Churchwide Assembly. A task force will be formed this year to begin study on a statement on Justice for Women to be considered in 2015. To quote from an ELCA document, social statements “assist Lutherans in their moral deliberation, govern the ELCA’s institutional policies and guide the church’s advocacy work.”

Workshopping

No matter which of the 17 workshops you chose to attend, you missed 15 of them, unless you went hopping around. Quick observations: The one on “Passing Our Faith and Values on to a New Generation” exceeded the expectations of many. It was led by a geezer (no offense intended, Pastor-emeritus Zimmer) who has a great grasp on reality. His presentation was a research-based report on not “a generation” but four – the builders (65 and older), boomers (‘60s Me Generation, 45-64), busters (Generation X, 26-44) and bridgers (Generation Y, 25 and under). Want to know why Gen X and Gen Y folks don’t attend worship at your church? Recruit a couple of them who aren’t members to sit in undercover for a few Sundays, and then listen to what they have to say.
The “Update on the Implementation of the Churchwide Assembly Decisions on Human Sexuality” session drew a full house, including some who were there not to hear the report but to express, repeatedly, their continuing opposition. The session on “Doing Justice” was not just sharing of success stories in community organizing and advocacy but a practical primer for congregations on how to get involved. In addition to being the “right” thing to do, Pastor Steve Winemiller, co-presenter, noted, “doing justice is fun.”

The Bishop’s Report

Applause broke out when Bishop Benoway said the synod “remains committed to First Fruits” – the passing on to the ELCA of what has grown to 51.2 percent of synod giving. He noted the economic realities of reductions in congregational offerings, synod programs and staff, and pension benefits, and of local decisions to drop missional support in favor of focus on local issues. But, he said, a cutback in funds is no excuse “for not doing God’s work.”
In the aftermath of the Churchwide Assembly decisions on sexuality issues, the bishop said, nine of the more than 200 congregations and worshiping communities in the synod have taken first votes to separate from the ELCA. Six were “successful” (a curious word choice), two are pursuing procedural requirements, and one did not get the two-thirds vote of its membership required to proceed. A congregation in Jacksonville and another in Miami have left the ELCA. One in Fort Pierce sought to do so but the Synod Council denied its request, saying the congregation provides a ministry presence that is needed in the community.

Just a Thought

There is copious conversation about being “Together in Mission” at this assembly, but not much about God’s mandate to do justice. Scripture makes clear that the two cannot be separated. Otherwise, the church risks writing a 21st century history reminiscent of that recorded two centuries ago: Christianizing the enslaved without ending the institution of slavery, merely encouraging its victims to look to the afterlife as a source of hope.

The Vice President’s Report

To the vice president often falls the assignment of being the “bad cop” (see this week’s Newsweek with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton depicted on the cover in that role), and Cheryl Stuart took her turn. There has been a tendency on the part of synod leaders to avoid criticism of those unable to accept the Churchwide Assembly changes on sexuality issues. But, Stuart said, addressing herself to rostered leaders, “Those of you who have sought to ‘protect’ your congregations from information . . . you do them no service.” To those arguing that “it’s not time” for such change, she said, “It’s kairos time.”
Quick Greek tutorial: Chronos time refers to sequential, quantitative time. Kairos time is a time between, the opportune, qualitative carpe diem moment. (Nope, no Latin lesson here.) And, Stuart added, there’s nothing to be gained by ignoring “the burning bush that’s right in front of you.”

Common Knowledge

The greetings brought to the assembly by Gregory Walton, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Florida-Georgia District, were warm and welcomed. “We hope to build on the things we hold in common despite the areas in which we disagree,” he said, citing Lutheran Services Florida and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans as examples of ongoing cooperative effort. His words contrasted with those proffered by his boss, LCMS President Gregory Walton, last summer at Churchwide Assembly. Walton, whose church body does not ordain women, was openly critical of the ELCA for its actions opening the door for gays in committed relationships to serve as clergy.