by Bishop Bill Gohl
And I said, "What shall I cry?" – Isaiah 40:6
That said, I think the church folks were a few days late to D.C.
by Bishop Bill GohlA voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" – Isaiah 40:6 On Wednesday, April 4, The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and our many interfaith partners gathered in Washington, D.C. for what was billed as "a historic event" to launch the NCC's Truth and Racial Justice Initiative. Marking 50 years since the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968, we were making a public witness challenging the pervasive racism that is keeping our country from realizing the iconic dream for which Dr. King would be martyred. It was a privilege to stand with those from across the ELCA who came to be a part of the event, the gaggle of ELCA bishops (20 of the 67 of us were present) who made a pilgrimage to D.C., and the diverse and large crowd of folks from our own Delaware-Maryland Synod who came to be counted among those who continue to long for Dr. King's dream. I was proud of our synod, I was grateful for our church and our renewed willingness to show up in solidarity for racial justice. We don't always (often?) get it right, but I think we're coming closer, increasingly listening to, accompanying and partnering with others who have significantly more longevity and credibility in this work.
That said, I think the church folks were a few days late to D.C.
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by Bishop Bill GohlBe strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; God will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6 This last weekend, I had the privilege of accompanying some of our synod's students to Washington, D.C. for the March for Our Lives. Despite the massive politicization of the event, the basic call was for students, of students and by students asking for a fresh attempt to make schools safer and to alleviate gun violence. Their premise was that universal background checks, raising the legal age for purchasing guns to 21, and regulating access to military grade weapons would be important first steps towards their goals. The rally was filled with testimony, song - and scripture and prayer, too. Three of our students have agreed to share their testimony about that experience:
by Bishop Bill GohlThey said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. - Mark 16:8 Beloved, all:
In an age of bitter divisions in families and widening chasms among neighbors, sometimes we've come to see the wisdom of not saying anything, of keeping the peace. We know what it means to be afraid of saying anything that could compromise the fragile relationships that bind us together. by Bishop Bill GohlI attend a meeting of the Conference of Bishops twice each year. The work we do is important to the life of our church, but those who don't attend these meetings rarely know what was accomplished. In an effort to encourage greater awareness of the work of the Conference of Bishops, I'm sharing a summary with you here.
by Bishop Bill GohlAt the request of Pastor Sara Yotter, Joy Reigns (Edgewater), and LYO members and alumni, I authored the following Statement in Solidarity, with assistance from Bishop Tracie Bartholomew (New Jersey Synod), Bishop Michael Burk (Southeastern Iowa Synod) and Bishop Bob Humphrey (Virginia Synod) as a component of our churches commitment to accompany our children and youth who are inviting peers, families and allies to support them in the March for Our Lives. The Conference of Bishops adopted it as a statement from the Conference to this Church, and over 50 of our colleagues signed on in personal support and public witness. +bg Our children and youth are like a young Jeremiah prophesying to the people: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
by Bishop Bill GohlIf we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – I John 1:9 These words of Brian Wren's lilting hymn, When Love is Found, have been reverberating in my mind over the last days:
When love has flow'red in trust and care, build both each day that love may dare to reach beyond home's warmth and light, to serve and strive for truth and right. by Bishop Bill GohlGod said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh…" – Genesis 9:12-15a Peter Rollins, a contemporary theologian, tells this story: It's Sunday evening and the local pastor is at home reading. One of her parishioners knocks on the door. She opens the door. Sweating, panting; it’s obvious that he ran all the way to the parsonage. Tearfully, he says, "Listen there is a family that lives just down the road. The guy lost his job, she is looking after three kids, their mother stays with them. They don't have enough money for their rent. They've got no money at the moment. And they're going to get kicked out of the house. Even if they are one day late on their rent, they are just going to get kicked out on the street. It's the middle of winter. We've got to do something. Please, let's do something." So the pastor says, "Yes, we will go and we will collect some money – fast." Just in passing she says, "Oh and how do you know them?" And he says, "Oh, well, I'm their landlord."
by Bishop Bill Gohl"Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you." – Philippians 4:9, NRSV When I tell my call story, I often trace my faith journey through my mother. My mom patiently taught me the catechism when I feared flunking out of confirmation class, she was a Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School leader, she was the one who reminded us by her own example that being a part of the church was more than a Sunday morning commitment. I learned the faith, our faith, at the feet of my mother.
During Black History Month, I’ve been thinking about the African descent leaders at whose feet I have also learned the faith of the church. by Bishop Bill Gohl"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing." – Joel 2:12-13 Valentine's Day, which this year the church observes as Ash Wednesday and the ensuing forty days of Lenten preparation often bring with them a lot of bad childhood baggage (my Mom's side of the family is Roman Catholic and there are some definite ideas about Lenten denial and discipline from that side of the house!); as well as a true invitation to wholeness and renewal. Still, Lent is not about making us good after a year of bad behavior, not about adding or taking away some spiritual or dietary discipline in order to make us healthier or more worthy of salvation. It is not even really about journeying with Jesus into the wilderness. Indeed, Lent is about a journey, our own journey with God, a journey towards the very heart of God. The disciplines of this journey are spiritual tools helping us to remove the distractions which draw us from the love of God.
by the Rev. Dr. Amsalu GeletaYou are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses, says the Lord. Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? – Isaiah 43:9-12, 18-19 Today, I yield my blog post to the Rev. Dr. Amsalu Geleta, Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission, who introduces our five new mission starts in the Delaware-Maryland Synod for 2018-2019! My heart is full of gratitude and hope! +bg God is actively mobilizing our synod to do new things, to change lives, to transform communities, and to renew the church for the sake of the world. One of the overall synod mission strategies is investing in potential new starts. After strategic consultations with our bishop, local leaders, and ELCA Domestic Mission, we are pleased to announce five Synodically Authorized Worshiping Communities (SAWC) and SAWC explorations in 2018-2019. These ministry sites were identified with careful consideration of area potential, compelling vision, clear ministry plan, and potential leadership resources and support mechanisms.
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