| August 2023 |
Dear partners,
In July my colleagues and I offered workshops and a booth in the interactive center at the ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering. It was joyous to be immersed among many of you — our pastors, deacons and chaplains who are serving at the leading edge of our church’s ecumenical and inter-religious relations. We came away filled with gratitude, insights, ideas and inspiration. We hope we shared some helpful resources, too.
Taking the time to listen to and learn from each other is invaluable. But it is easy to lose sight of that as we are caught up in the daily demands of our ministries. Yet pausing to be, learn and grow together is precisely how we discern who we are called by God to be — as Lutherans and in relationship with others.
In her uplifting sermon at opening worship, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie — the newly elected General Secretary and President of the National Council of Churches — challenged us to “press pause.” As we survey the daunting needs all around us — for God’s unity, justice and peace — let’s be sure to seek out spaces to be rekindled together for the calling we share.
In Christ,
Kathryn M. Lohre
Executive, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations & Theological Discernment
P.S. Special thanks to those who worked with us to provide meaningful workshops at the Rostered Ministers Gathering, including Jonathan Linman, William Flippin, Peter Pettit, Nina Fernando, Cassandra Lawrence and Becca Tyvoll.
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 Presiding Bishop Eaton and the EIR staff welcome the staff of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign to the Rostered Ministers Gathering
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Summer Church Assemblies and Synods
- The Reformed Church in America (RCA) held its General Synod 2023 in Pella, Iowa, June 8-13. The Rev. Judy Nelson and the Rev. Joshua Scheid were elected to serve as president and vice president, respectively, of General Synod 2024. Themes included shifts in theological education and celebrating five decades of women's ordination. The Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos attended on behalf of the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop and will serve on the RCA's Theology Commission.
- The 2023 Synod of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in America took place June 22-25 at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pa., under the theme "For the Healing of the World." The synod honored the Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller as she concluded her third and final term as President of the Northern Province Provincial Elders' Conference. The Rev. David Bennett was elected to serve as president of the Provincial Elders' Conference for the next intersynodal period (2023-2026). Bishop Eaton took part, offering thanks on behalf of the ELCA to Rev. Dr. Miller for her 13 years of leadership and partnership.
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- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) gathered in Calgary for a joint assembly from June 27 to July 2. They met under the theme "Let There Be Greening," using the opportunity to formally commemorate the partnerships and shared ministry being lived out through Churches Beyond Borders. Bishop Eaton attended on behalf of the ELCA, joining with Bishop Susan Johnson (ELCIC), Archbishop Linda Nicholls (ACC) and the Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, who represented The Episcopal Church. You can learn more about the assembly and review a full list of the reports, resolutions and elections at the Assembly 2023 website. A full communion relationship between the Moravian Church Northern Province, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada was unanimously approved by all three denominations at their respective synods and assemblies.
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 Bishop Susan Johnson (ELCIC), the Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin (The Episcopal Church), Bishop Elizabeth Eaton (ELCA), and Archbishop Linda Nicholls (ACC) |
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- The United Church of Christ (UCC) General Synod 2023 took place in Indianapolis, Ind., from June 30 to July 4 under the theme "Making All Things New." The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson was elected General Minister and President, becoming the first woman, and first Black woman, to lead the denomination. Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt of the Southern Ohio Synod represented the Office of the Presiding Bishop. Among the emerging themes from the gathering was a focus on Indigenous rights and the mending of relationships; it passed a resolution calling for the UCC to investigate and make amends for its historical complicity in boarding schools for Native Hawaiians and Native American nations. Vance Blackfox, director of Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations for the ELCA, accompanied the church in its work related to the resolution. ELCA pastor the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber served as the General Synod's keynote speaker.
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 The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, newly elected General Minister and President of the UCC, speaks after her election at General Synod 34 in Indianapolis. Curly Stumb photo |
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- The General Assembly 2023 of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) took place in Louisville, Ky., from July 29 to Aug. 1 under the theme "Kingdom of God Within Us, Among Us." Bishop William O. Gafkjen, co-chair of the ELCA-CCDOC dialogue, and Kathryn Lohre represented the Office of the Presiding Bishop. In recent years the CCDOC has been engaged in the Covenant Project, an initiative aimed at reshaping the church's governing structure. The assembly considered resolutions related to this process.
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World Council of Churches Central Committee meets, celebrates 75th anniversary
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee met June 21-27 in Geneva, Switzerland. This was the first full meeting of the WCC central committee following the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany. Kathryn Lohre and ELCA Vice President Imran Siddiqui were elected to serve as members of the Central Committee. The Committee commemorated the WCC's 75th anniversary with a worship and celebration event. You can learn more about the themes, statements and decisions emerging from the meeting on the Central Committee page at oikoumene.org. The Central Committee adopted a strategic plan to guide the work of the WCC unity the next assembly, as well as financial and communications strategies — all under the theme of a pilgrimage of justice, reconciliation and unity. Various resolutions and minutes on public issues were also adopted.
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ELCA Central Committee Members VP Imran Siddiqui and Kathryn Lohre |
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National Workshop on Christian Unity 2023
The National Workshop on Christian Unity (NWCU) gathered May 8-11 in Milwaukee, Wis., under the theme "Do Good; Seek Justice." Theologian-in-residence the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers led those gathered in considering the theme under three subtopics: listening to the biblical call to justice, lamenting the lack of justice in our world and living into justice in our communities.
There was a prominent Lutheran presence at this year's gathering, with Redeemer Lutheran Church — Milwaukee hosting the opening worship and the Rev. Chris Olkiewicz, an ELCA pastor at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Iowa, serving as chair of this year's workshop. Kristen Opalinski, ELCA manager for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations, moderated a panel discussion titled "Advocacy in Action: Seeking Justice Through Prophetic Witness," which included the Rev. Cindy Crane, director of the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin.
The NWCU serves as the annual meeting of the Lutheran Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Representatives Network (LEIRN), which reviewed and began to reimagine both the structure of LEIRN and its mission as a network within the ELCA. The ecumenical staff from the Office of the Presiding Bishop presented its Annual Staff Report to LEIRN.
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The Lutheran cohort at this year's NWCU |
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On the road to Krakow: The 13th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation
Members from across the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will gather Sept. 13-19 in Krakow, Poland, for the LWF's 13th Assembly, under the theme "One Body, One Spirit, One Hope." The assembly will be preceded by three pre-assemblies — for women, youth and men.
Among the hundreds gathering from around the world will be members of the ELCA and of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, representing the LWF North America region along with advisers and other invited guests from the region.
One of the prominent themes of this year's assembly will be examining Lutheran-Jewish relations both historically and through a contemporary lens, which will include publishing a study guide on the subject in August. The Assembly Study Guide, which encompasses the themes of the assembly, is available for free download, along with an introductory guide to Poland and the host church, the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland. These and other resources are available for free on the assembly website. Member churches and their congregations are encouraged to use these resources in the lead-up to this year's assembly to explore the themes in contextual ways. We encourage you to follow along in the lead-up to and during the assembly at 2023.lwfassembly.org and across LWF and ELCA social media platforms.
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Remembering Ecumenical Trailblazers
Since the last edition of “EIR News” the ecumenical movement has lost three prominent figures: Dr. Agnes Abuom, The Rev. John Crossin, and Prof. Emer. Dr. Joachim Track.
Dr. Abuom was a fierce advocate for women's equity and human rights in her home nation of Kenya and around the world. In 2013 she was elected to serve as moderator for the World Council of Churches, the first woman and first African to hold the position. The ELCA was honored to welcome Dr. Abuom to its 2019 Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee as a distinguished ecumenical guest.
Father Crossin was a member of the Oblate community for 56 years and a priest for 47. A teacher, theologian, author and scholar, he was an expert in the field of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue, serving as Executive Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 2012-2017. During that time he was co-staff to the U.S. Lutheran-Catholic dialogue. His scholarship focused on ethics, virtue and friendship.
Professor Track, a German theologian committed to ecumenical dialogue, served the Lutheran World Federation as a member of its Council and the Executive Committee from 1997 to 2010 and as an adviser from 1990 to 1997. He chaired several committees, including the Program Committee for Theology and Studies from 1997 to 2003 and the Program Committee for Ecumenical Affairs in 2003.
We give thanks for the significant contributions Dr. Abuom, Father Crossin and Professor Track made in the life and witness of the ecumenical movement globally. May their legacies continue to be a blessing.
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Emerging Clergy Seminar to Advance Interfaith Relationships and Understanding
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The Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha, Neb., invites applications to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Clergy Seminar to Advance Interfaith Relationships and Understanding. The seminar will equip participants to foster interfaith learning and understanding in their congregations and communities. Learn more and apply today at TriFaith.org; the application window closes Aug. 11.
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Shoulder to Shoulder expands reach with mini "Faith Over Fear" workshops
The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign continues to expand its training opportunities, offering a diverse range of webinars and conducting in-person mini "Faith Over Fear" workshops (one took place at the recent ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering, and another will be held at the upcoming Parliament of the World's Religions). In October, Shoulder to Shoulder will hold its next full in-person training in Bozeman, Mont. You can learn more about these and other events on Shoulder to Shoulder's events page and trainings page.
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2023 Parliament of the World's Religions
The Parliament of the World's Religions will return to Chicago from Aug. 14 to 18 under the theme "A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights." Bishop Eaton will speak at the opening plenary, and there will be contributions from ELCA staff and other Lutherans in attendance, including a workshop led by the Rev. Peter Pettit on the ELCA guide "Preaching and Teaching ‘With Love and Respect for the Jewish People.’" If you or a group you're associated with plans to attend, please reach out to Kristen Opalinski at Kristen.Opalinski@elca.org so that we might coordinate a time for Lutherans in attendance to gather.
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World Council of Churches publishes "Building Interreligious Solidarity" booklet
The World Council of Churches launched a new resource on July 28: "Building Interreligious Solidarity in Our Wounded World." The booklet highlights key insights and learnings from The Future of Interfaith Dialogue Conference, held in 2021 in hope of prompting further interest in and discussion of common formation among a range of faith communities and inter-religious organizations. Topics covered include "Transformational Formation: Five Fundamental Principles" and "Ten Practical Pointers for Initiatives of Common Formation." A directory lists organizations offering learning opportunities in common formation. Learn more by viewing the panel discussion related to the document.
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New documentary explores Sabbath across Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Sabbath, a new documentary, explores the origins, traditions and practices of Sabbath across different traditions within Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Among other things, the documentary highlights historical connections (and, in some cases, disconnections) between Sabbath and social, racial and environmental justice; Sabbath and labor; Sabbath and community; Sabbath and health; and of course, Sabbath, worship and rest. You can watch the three-minute trailer here. The documentary can be used as an educational tool and a catalyst for inter-religious conversation. To stream Sabbath or learn how you can host your own screening, visit www.journeyfilms.com.
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- Last call: October online course from Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg. The Institute for Ecumenical Research will conduct an online study course for Lutheran pastors, deacons and advanced students from Oct. 23 to 27. The course is meant to contribute to a specific aspect of the self-understanding of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF): "To be Lutheran is to be ecumenical." The course costs 100 euros; applications will be accepted through Aug. 15
- Registration is now open for the 2023 Christian Churches Together Forum. This year's forum will take place in Savannah, Ga., from Oct. 3 to 6 under the theme “Water That Unites and Water That Divides: Baptism and the Journey to Unity and Reconciliation.”
- The National Council of Churches Christian Unity Gathering 2023 will take place Oct. 10-12 in Nashville, Tenn. Information will be shared in the coming months on the NCC website.
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