Special speaker here for RIC weekend

Reconciling-in-Christ Weekend
January 29-30

Pastor Megan Rohrer, a nationally recognized leader on issues of faith, gender, and sexuality, proclaims the all-inclusive love of Christ. She is the Executive Director of WELCOME - a communal response to poverty in San Francisco.

Hear her story of transforming unused church land into free food – a low cost way that congregations can respond to the needs of its members and community. These community gardens literally started with plant seeds from congregations – just like us.

As an ELCA pastor she knows that poverty and hunger do not discriminate based on age, sexual orientation, or even a person’s faith. Megan has written several books and is the ELCA's advocacy blogger at livinglutheran.com.

Saturday, January 29 at 6 p.m. – Dinner
Pastor Rohrer Presentaton*
St. Paul Lutheran Church
1309 Franklin St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Her model for sharing food that uses a choice and empowerment model to explore ways to enable individuals with little or no access to a kitchen, refrigerator or microwave to eat healthier!

Sunday, January 30 at 9 a.m. – Adult Education
Central Lutheran Church
1820 NE 21st Avenue, Portland, OR 97212

Besides discussing her bold ministry, Pastor Rohrer will share her story leading to this call and how we can live out the crazy all-inclusive Gospel.


Sunday, January 30 at 7 p.m. – Annual RIC Worship Service
First Immanuel Lutheran Church.
1816 NW Irving Street, Portland, OR 97209

Inspired preaching from Pastor Rohrer. Pastor Aimee Bruno from King of Kings in Milwaukie will be the presiding minister.

* A freewill offering for: Pastor Rohrer’s ministry and Winter Hospitality Overflow for the homeless in Clark County. RSVP - portmetrolcna@yahoo.com

Assembly 2010

Friends of LC/NA in the Southwestern Washington will attend the 2010 synod assembly May 14 and 15 in Vancouver. We'll have a display table and have members around to chat with interested persons.

While it appears nothing controversial is on the assembly agenda, there is still lots going on.

We now have two Reconciling in Christ (RIC) churches in the synod: Olympia's Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd became a member last winter, and they join long-time members at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Tacoma.

We'll also have our "hospitality suite" open Friday night at the synod assembly. We invite people to come for refreshments and conversation; it will be late, 9:00 p.m., after the synod banquet in the lodgings of an friend across the square from the hotel.

The Portland Metro Chapter of LC/NA, which includes members from the Clark County, will hold their monthly meeting at a Lutheran church which is near the hotel. We'll announce the location once the site is confirmed. Chapter members support efforts in both Oregon and Southwest Washington. They putting together a website that will showcase their activities and the rapidly growing number of RIC churches in Oregon.

Many people ask why it's necessary to have RIC congregations now that the ELCA has adopted its Social Statement on Human Sexuality and is working on policies that will accept GLTB clergy in committed relationships. One reason is the adverse reaction that has occurred. Two of SW WA Synod's congregations have voted to leave the ELCA, and several others have narrowly missed passing resolutions to leave. Those who supported the August churchwide votes find themselves feeling "guilty" for having caused all this turmoil which "is distracting the church from its mission." In other words, congregations which once felt safe are no longer safe. Thus, if a congregation feels it really wants to say, "All are welcome," an RIC statement shows they really mean it.

One last note: Mel White, noted author and champion of full welcome in church, will be featured speaker at a two-day program June 4 and 5 at St. Luke Lutheran Church in southwest Portland. Details will be announced when available.

RIC workshop set for Sept. 19

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Reconciling In Christ . . .
September 19, 2009

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Creator Lutheran Church

13250 SE Sunnyside Rd, Clackamas, OR


Is anyone in your congregation wondering what it means to become RIC?

Is your congregation interested in starting the process of becoming an RIC congregation, but not sure what to do?

Are people in your congregation afraid to discuss the issue of full welcome for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender?

Is your congregation already involved in the discussion of inclusive welcome, but looking for ideas or need help in constructing an explicit statement of welcome?


Are you already an RIC congregation and wondering what you can do to live into your statement?

Come to learn about the Reconciling in Christ program and share ideas with others who have the same questions as you do!

Everyone is welcome to attend – clergy and congregational members alike!

Lunch will be provided. A $10 donation is suggested.

To register, contact Gary Schulstad (503) 558-1695 gschulstad@gmail.com, or go to www.creatorlutheran.org to download a registration form.

Presented by Portland Metro Chapter of Lutherans Concerned/North America

Speak up: Support churchwide votes

Here's a message from Phil Soucy, communications director of Lutherans Concerned, urging those who support the inclusive votes at the recent ELCA churchwide assembly to speak up in support of those votes. The message, dated August 25, 2009, is:

Many congregations and synods are scheduling briefings, sessions, adult education classes, or public meetings to cover or discuss the actions adopted at the recently completed churchwide assembly in Minneapolis.  Bishops, pastors, voting members, or observers will likely speak, depending on the level of the meeting.

It is important that as many of you who are able attend such meetings and, as appropriate, speak favorably about the outcome, full inclusion, and unity of the church.  It is important that positive feedback be heard, because it goes without doubt that many who are disappointed, angry, or pained by the results will speak of their dismay at the results.  It would be a pity if theirs were the only voices or opinions heard.  It would also not reflect the results or the honesty, forthrightness, and respect for the diversity of opinion heard at the assembly if positive feedback was not heard.

So please consider attending any sessions on the churchwide assembly.


Phil Soucy
Director Communications LC/NA
communications@lcna.org

News for August 2009

Next WAGS:
--Aug. 26, 7 p.m., Rob Stockhouse residence
--Sept. 2, 7 p.m., Skamokawa Grange

I'm listening to the new Vicente Amigo CD, Paseo de Gracía. So far nothing grabs me. Modern flamenco.

I purchased a book on jazz theory Saturday at Powell's. It's all dominant and tonic.

SW WA Synod, 2009, Report

by Rick Nelson, co-liason for SW WA LC/NA

Lutherans Concerned/North America had just about a perfect outcome at the May 15 and 16 Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly. Voting members passed our LC/NA resolution supporting the social statement on human sexuality and establishing a process for rostering pastors in committed same gender relationships and they rejected two contrary resolutions from Word Alone/Lutheran CORE and a third asking the Churchwide Assembly to decide resolutions on roster same gender couples and approving the social statement on human sexuality by 2/3 majority votes.

Members of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (LCGS), Olympia, led the floor fight very effectively. They made compelling reasonable statements both in favor of our resolutions and against the WA/L CORE resolutions and 2/3 requirement. Several other speakers joined them, including a few pastors, many lay members, a retired church history professor from Pacific Lutheran University and two lesbians who outed themselves to give their insight on the issues.

Here are the vote total, as reported by Phil Soucy, communications director, LC/NA:
Defeated anti 3A-1, 69 Y/ 191 N (74% in our favor)
Defeated anti 3A-2, 77 Y / 172 N (69% in our favor)
Passed 3A 1 and 2, 158 Y/ 68 N (70%)
Defeated 2/3, Yes 89 Y/ 132 N (60% in our favor)

Paul Jolly, co-regional coordinator for LC/NA, manned the display table with breaks from SW WA LC/NA members. We had many conversations with voting members who seemed to feel the time had come to do the right thing regarding full inclusion of all persons in the ELCA. We have away a package of Hershey's Hugs and most of another of Kisses. We also gave away many strings of rainbow beads. We left the display covered with them Friday evening, and when we returned Saturday, almost all were gone.

Three years ago, the synod bishop's office scheduled Eric Law, an Episcopal priest, to be the featured speaker and lead us through diversity and communications training. He immediately included sexual orientation among the groups that would be included in those the church might exclude one way or another. There were some complaints that made their way to Bishop Robert Hofstad that he and his staff had set this up to sway the vote against the WA/L CORE group. The bishop explained that the booking had occurred three years previously and that no one knew then what would be on the agenda for May, 2009.

We added four more names to our list of contacts. We'll connect them to our updated blogsite and see if we can't stir up interest in conversations about the RIC program. As the political area shifts to the churchwide assembly, that may become our focus. LCGS is in the discussion stage and plan to vote on RIC this fall. A church in Port Orchard has contacted the Jollys, and we'll be visiting there. We need to get something going in Vancouver. To improve communications, we're planning to start an email group in June.

Bishop Mark Hanson: Speaking out

Lutherans need to serve those in need and speak out for justice, Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said February 14.

Bishop Hanson attended The River of Hunger Global Mission Experience held at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma. He delivered the keynote address, met with youth and small groups, and answered participants’ questions for close to an hour.

In introducing Bishop Hanson, SW Washington Synod Bishop Rob Hofstad said the day’s events would take participants through basic training in the Christian faith and help them be effective advocates for the poor and disadvantaged. He reminded listeners of four tools for Christians—prayer, worship, study of scripture, and ministry of daily life.

In his remarks throughout the day, Bishop Hanson repeated themes of advocacy and intersections of Lutheran faith and morals and the needs and issues affecting society locally and worldwide.

He spoke of his recent trip to the Middle East other ELCA bishops. In the midst of the recent Israeli incursion into Gaza, “fear was palpable” for the people they met. The situation is a crisis of justice, he said, and calls for a commitment to work for peace.

“Fear won’t prevail,” he said. “Extremists will win the day unless people like us speak up for peace and justice. Fear makes people distrustful, anti neighborly, especially to the new or different person.

“We have to create a safe environment where we can name our fears. A life in Christ frees us to turn to others to serve them, as Christ has done for me.”

Referring to the music he loves, the blues, Hanson said service to all people is the basic chord structure for a life in Christian faith. He reminded participants of the words of batptism and confirmation, “God’s faithful people,” not just Lutheran people.

Drawing a chuckle from the audience, especially pastors who prepare annual reports, the bishop asked, “How is your congregation improving the lives of the poor in your community? That is the only statistic that’s worthwhile.

“We will strive for justice and peace for all people,” he continued. “We expect pastors to be doing this and speaking out. In the ELCA constitution, it says that’s what pastors should do.”

There is much for the church to do. There is an intersection of hunger and other issues such as climate change, fuel, disease and so on. Climate change is already making an impact in coastal zones, and it’s having a disproportional impact on the under developed areas of the world. Our nation, he said, needs to restructure its foreign aid programs to provide aid, not idealism.

As for the economic recession affecting all nations, “We are waking up from the worst hangover any of us have ever had,” Bishop Hanson said. “We were intoxicated by our greed. We need a massive intervention.”

Lutherans and the ELCA have been part of the hangover and must do things differently in the future.

“We must look at the long term connections between people and the environment. Ethanol once seemed a wise idea that would help the environment, but it has had some longterm adverse impacts on the food supply to poor people,” he said.

The bishop reported that he has joined other church leaders in advocacy on issues ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to lobbying Congress and Presidents Bush and Obama to make morally justifiable decisions and a morally based federal budget that doesn’t hurt the poor.

The church needs to continue to support hunger programs.

“We will be about $1 million short of our hunger appeal for 2008,” he said. “The decline in contributions started last September. In hard economic times, there’s a temptation to become preoccupied with ourselves and our families instead of those we should serve and love.”

The disconnect between congregations and the larger church is “the biggest problem we have in the ELCA,” Hanson said. “Seventy-seven percent of the 5 million members of the ELCA do not know anything about what the ELCA does outside of their congregation.

“We are trying to reposition ourselves, branding ourselves so that people know what we’re about,” he said. Through focus groups, a theme of “God’s work, our hands,” has been created, and in tests in Denver, it has been very effective in promoting the ELCA.

This year will be an important year for the ELCA and its policies on issues dealing with sexuality and rostering of Gay pastors. The Task Force for the ELCA Studies on Sexuality was to issue its recommendations on February 19, and the issues will come up in synod assemblies and the churchwide assembly.

“We (people in general) have a strong tendency to listen to ourselves, to talk about ourselves. As long as straight people control the conversation, it will not be a conversation that includes all persons. The church must accept all of God’s people,” he said.

The church shouldn’t hold itself back by expecting younger people to live and act in the same ways as the older generation, he said.

“We have to realize how young people are leading the church and get out of the way,” he said. “Where are they? What activities are they involved in? How do we support them?

“My son, who’s not prone to going to church, told me: What work I see Christians doing in India is fantastic. Why don’t I see Christians doing that in the US?”

He said the church and worship needs to be transcultural, cross cultural, contextual of its culture, and counter cultural.

“Rather than fight about pipe organs versus praise bands, we need to look at worship through the lens of those four things,” he said.