SPECIAL EDITION

EARLY AUGUST 2005

The South-Central
Special Edition

 
 

SPECIAL EDITION NEWS

IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION

Companion Synod Consultation

From Pastor George Carlson, Bishop

“We All Are One in Mission” (With One Voice 755) Events last week have re-enforced that reality!

On Sunday morning, I commissioned Meri DeGarmo, a member of St. Martin’s, Cross Plains, to serve a two-year term as a medical missionary in Malawi in south-east Africa. Two members of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, a companion synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi, shared in the worship service.

On Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening I spent time at the two outdoor ministries in our synod, Bethel Horizons near Dodgeville and Lutherdale near Elkhorn. I met with staff at Bethel Horizons and high school youth at Lutherdale to talk about God’s claim and call to us all to share the good news of God’s love in all we say and do. And God promises to give us power to do so!

Late last week our Companion Synod Team learned that our companion synod, Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (India), has decided to participate in a companion synod consultation sponsored by the ELCA in Chennai (Madras), India, in early October. Our synod had been waiting to hear their decision for nearly two months.

Solveig Carlson, chair of our Companion Synod Team, and I made some decisions regarding how to move forward with so little notice. Solveig prepared and sent the MEMO that follows to the Companion Synod Team and to those who had visited NELC from our synod in the past. The Purpose Statement made clear to me that participation of our synod was very important in order to strengthen the partnership we continue developing with NELC. While several people expressed interest, they could not participate this fall. I adjusted my schedule so I could participate.

With great joy and thanks, I announce that the following will join me at this consultation: 

  • Solveig Carlson, co-chair of our synod’s Global Connections Ministry Team and chair of the Companion Synod Team 
  • Rev. Jerry Folk, retired pastor, co-chair of our synod’s Peace Through Nonviolence Team of the Global Connections Ministry Team, and former Executive Director of Wisconsin Council of Churches 
  • Rev. Kathryn Ulrich, associate pastor at Immanuel, Waupun, and member of the Companion Synod Team of the Global Connections Ministry Team. 

Each brings a deep passion for building bridges between our churches which carry out the mission of Christ in very different cultures with vastly different resources.

I look forward to spending time with our sisters and brothers from NELC in India. I will take the stole which many of you helped weave at our 2005 synod assembly, a visible sign that many different shared gifts bring about great beauty as we work together in unity to accept and include each gift. I will present it to the representatives from NELC as a sign of our intention to weave together the gifts of both churches.

If any individuals or congregations wish to share in defraying the costs of this consultation through financial support, those gifts will be received with gratitude. Gifts should be sent to the synod office designated “Companion Synod Consultation.”

August 5th I left for Orlando, FL, for the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. Voting members of the ELCA will worship, pray, deliberate, discuss, and decide on several important issues that will set the course for the future of this church. The mission mandate of Jesus will drive all we do, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witness…” (Acts 1:8)

“We all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.”
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EARLY AUGUST 2005
Joint-Synod Consultation in Chennai, India
By:  Solveig Carlson
Chairperson, Companion Synod Team of the Global Connections Ministry Team 		  
The Division for Global Mission (DGM) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) has invited the three synods of the ELCA who have companionship relationships with three synods in India to a consultation to discover ways of partnership in mutual ministry. The paired relationships are:
  • South Central Synod of Wisconsin (SCSW-ELCA) Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC-India)
  • Northeastern Minnesota Synod (NEMN-ELCA) South Andhra Lutheran Church (SALC-India)
  • Northwestern Minnesota Synod (NWMN-ELCA) Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC-India)

DGM-ELCA and UELCI staffs are collaborating to coordinate the pre-trip orientation as well as the consultation. This Purpose Statement has been shared with all participants: 

  1. to gain a deeper understanding of the Lutheran network in India 
  2. to meet with and learn from UELCI staff and companions in India 
  3. to learn about critical ministries that UELCI provides on behalf of the Lutheran churches, such as HIV/AIDS project at Gurukul Seminary 
  4. to discuss church-to-church relationships (see pairings above) and the respective health-care institutions 
  5. to explore collaborative opportunities and practices in doing ministry among all companions (ELCA synods, DGM-ELCA, 
 UELCI, companion churches in India) f.to visit tsunami-related projects such as psycho-social project

Representatives from all three ELCA synods (Solveig Carlson from SCSW), two staff persons from DGM (Christoph Schneider-Yattara and Barbara Lund who focus on Asia program networks) met with Ms. Vidhya Rani, Woman’s Desk of UELCI, during the Global Mission Event-Fargo in July to clarify issues relating to the consultation. It was clear to me (Solveig) that the purpose for this trip is broader than tsunami relief and re-building. The purpose is to be in solidarity with leadership of the ELCA synods who share a common interest in strengthening relationships in India and to discover together how we can work in partnership for mutual benefit. Though the consultation will have a healthcare component, it will not be the only focus. Other concerns on the agenda will include women’s empowerment, income-generating projects and leadership development.

There are 10 persons (ELCA) from other partners already committed to this trip: 3 from DGM, 3 from NWMN (including 1 Synod staff) and 5 women (including Synod staff) from NEMN. All India companion synods are sending representatives as well as 4-5 persons from the hosting body, UELCI. The NELC will have a “day of jubilee” on October 5. On the following day, they will hold their Synod assembly at which time they will elect a Moderator (equivalent to our Bishop). From there they will send off their delegation (a 2-3 days’ journey) to the consultation in Chennai.