Nebraska Synod of the ELCA: Assembly 2006 News & Summaries

Keynote Address Bishop Mark S. Hanson

Bishop Hanson began his remarks by reporting the significant impact the ELCA has had on worldwide aid and assistance programs. In the past 18 months aid totaling more than $53 million has been provided to those in need.

The Bishop focused his comments on the themes of identity, vitality, unity and capacity.

Identity:
Bishop Hanson asked the question “Does our name (ELCA) represent or identify our common identities?” He also talked about the word evangelical in the name of our national and local churches. Pr. Hanson emphasized how the word evangelical should represent a core value that the Gospel is at the foundation of our identity.

Vitality:
Bishop Hanson asked if our church felt it was engaged in God’s mission. He also expressed the thought that tension in churches does not necessarily produce negative results. Bishop Hanson explained that tension may mean that the Holy Spirit is alive and at work in a congregation.

Unity:
Unity comments included the thought that unity should not mean uniformity but rather diversity. We as a church are one in faith but different from one another and between congregations. In the ELCA, we all depend on our unity to accomplish more than any individual or single congregation.

Capacity:
The Bishop talked about how our global mission and capabilities are tied to theological education. The great challenges ahead, he said, should be clearly focused on the Church and who and what we are.

Summary of Barbara Rossing's Bible studies at Assembly 2006
by Pastor Lou Forney

Dr. Barbara Rossing began her presentation at Assembly 2006 by bringing greetings from the students, faculty, and board of LSTC. She remarked on the sub-theme of the assembly "How Jesus transforms lives," and affirmed that the Bible is one of the best tools for transformation.

"Lutherans do indeed read the Bible," Rossing affirmed. She displayed a colorful print celebrating the Bible's translation bringing Joy to the people of Central Africa.

She warned that we have competing narratives in our culture. Some are using the Bible to ramp up a prophecy industry that fuels fear instead of grace. The "Left Behind" novel series has popularized the book of Revelation, but it sows seeds of division between "us" and "them." The Jesus of the Bible is more likely to stand with "them."

As Lutherans, we must reclaim the public discourse with the Bible. Instead of Christians getting snatched off the earth to escape some coming cataclysm, we worship a God who comes down from heaven on earth to dwell.

Luke 24 shares the story of two dejected believers who have lost hope. Jesus comes and uses the scriptures to bring hope and new life.

In the afternoon Bible study session, Rossing retold the story of Jacob wrestling with God. We were challenged to wrestle with the texts of God's word and will find "Peniel" -- the face of God.

Blessing comes as the fruit of wrestling. As the church of the New Testament wrestled with inclusivity, we can learn how to deal with people who are not like us and accept that we can find the face of Christ in them.

Come wrestle!

Onfire in Outreach

Passionate faith catches fire

The Nebraska Synod committee for outreach presented what we, the church in Nebraska, are doing to help others see that Jesus Christ Transforms lives. With one new congregation already beginning to worship in Columbus and another one in the planning stages in West Omaha, exciting things are happening in outreach right here among us. While these are the locations of the new church starts, we all have a part in seeing that the unchurched in Nebraska catch fire with the Holy Spirit.

There are approximately 1 million people in Nebraska who either never go to church or go only once or twice a year. The Holy Spirit is present everywhere, but it needs to be ignited and stirred up so that it can be seen by all, both those in the church and those outside of it. The little things make all the difference in reaching out to those who need to experience the grace of God in their lives. For one family all it took was a blanket and a pair of drumsticks to see that God truly cares about them, no matter who they are or what has happened in their lives.

The Spirit is moving in our lives and in the lives of all among us. As the people of the Nebraska Synod it is our task to see that the Spirit continues to spread among all people in Nebraska, so that lives can be transformed.

Video tapes or DVDs of presentations during plenary sessions can be ordered from Spiritborne Productions. You can request an order form from the synod office or email