The Hearts on Fire national gathering of Lutherans Concerned/North America, July 2-6 in San Francisco, was a blast--inspirational speakers, informative workshops, awesome music and the greatest company you could hope for.
Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire spoke of his continuing struggles with the worldwide Anglican church and also of the support he has received from around the world.
Bishop John Selders of the Church of God urged us to make our selves and our churches more welcoming to people of color and of other style of worship, or lack of it. Mainstream churches must adapt to our changing society or they will die, he said.And so on.
A main scriptural theme was the appearance of Jesus to the two men on their journey to Emmaus shortly after his resurrection. In her sermon, the Rev. Barbara Lundblad used the passage to say that goal of GLTB people wanting to worship in the Lutheran church is not to further any particular agenda, but just to worship Jesus.
We also did see the results of some political struggle: Many couples were married that week under California’s new marriage equality, and there was a reception of sorts for them Saturday evening following a Blessing of All Marriages. For the “mixed” couples, it was a humbling experience to be with same gender couples who have been together just as long, or longer, but who are only now, and only in some parts of the country, just able to enjoy marriage equality.Conference participants from Oregon and western Washington synods returned home inspired and prepared to host programs on the Draft Statement on Sexuality of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that will be on the agenda of the ELCA’s 2009 churchwide assembly. Watch this site for more details.
