ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2011, ctd

Now that the 2011 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA is complete, I think would like to share a couple of resources that can help us to understand the work this church has done in that place and continues to do around the country and the world. I did follow much of the Assembly online, and used and followed the Twitter hashtag #cwa11 like it was manna from heaven. I had the privilege of representing the European American Lutheran Association all week on Twitter, supporting resolutions related to immigration.

Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson set the tone for the week with his sermon at opening worship, which you can watch on the archived videos or read at LivingLutheran.com. I strongly encourage everyone to check out this sermon, which I believe started the week's path toward consistent post-Assembly feedback that this Assembly demonstrated that this church, the ELCA, finally knows its identity for the first time since its conception in 1987.


Also check out some of the insightful, inspiring ELCA videos shown throughout the week at the Assembly. My personal favorite is the Mission Investment video, but many of the others are great as well, showing the breadth of our work together as followers in Jesus in this church.

This article is an excellent example of the spirit of unity and refreshed enthusiasm for the church expressed by so many at the close of this Assembly. Crystal Rowe, the author of the article, was a voting member in attendance at CWA, and tweeted frequently about her experience there. In fact, she and I had a conversation via Twitter on Wednesday of CWA, in which we discussed Bp Hanson's love of "both/and." She finished our conversation with this tweet:

@AndrewTengwall "both and"...the favorite two words of any good Lutheran ;-) #cwa11 #elca

In this article, Crystal aptly expresses much of the sentiment I've heard from many who followed last week's Assembly. She celebrates the large, disproportionately vocal contingent of young people present, the first time this church has truly moved from viewing the young as "the future of the church" into the Spirit-led reality that youth and young adults are this church's present as well as its future. She recognizes our trailblazing ecumenical and interfaith work, and the unfolding power of God beyond our boundaries into which this work draws us. She celebrates our specific public commitments with regard to malaria, genetics, immigration, and more. 

Today is an exciting time to be the church. The work to which God calls us is daunting, but we can dare to do that work because of what God has done for us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. God has promised to remain faithful to us, freeing us in Christ to serve the neighbor, around the corner or around the world. Thanks be to God.