Transition Year Conversation - December 2006 ...

 

Called to be a Public Church

 

This is the fourth in our year long series of “Year of Transition in Conversation” letters.  In the previous three months I’ve invited you to have a brief conversation asking this question:  What mission is God calling our synod to be about in the next six years?

 

Further we have “contextualized” the question and conversation to sharpen the focus.  In September we conversed about “How is God leading our synod in the next six years in responding to matters of immigration?”  In October the question was related to “How is God leading our synod in addressing how we pass on our faith to the next generations?”  In the month of November the question was “What is the mission of our synod, together, over the next six years, in identifying and training future lay and ordained leaders in our church?”

 

Christians have always played a significant role in the cultures and societies of the world.  The system of hospitals, for example, was a direct result of Christians responding to the health and recovery needs of people.  We have, as Lutherans, been major partners in the lives of those in poverty, the elderly, the young who need special care, adoption of those without families, providing chaplains in prisons, hospitals and the military – just to name a few areas where the church has engaged in the public arena and marketplace.

The Bible has numerous references regarding

The Public Church

 

Check out

Luke 10


 

 
 

Click Here to go to the responses to Question 4

 

 

In our synod, we are blessed to have an organization called Lutheran Social Services that provides leadership in many of the areas noted above.  Did you know that LSS is one of the top two agencies in our synod in placing children for adoption, for example?

 

Most of our congregations engage in local caring programs for those in need – which is a way of being a “public church”.  Food pantries, meals-on-wheels, and counseling services are among the kinds of service people provide in their local settings – as a public body in Jesus name.

 

You are invited to reflect together in conversation at your next council meeting about how you are discerning God is calling us, as a synod, to be a public church together.  How can we, as a synod, partner together with other Christians, and each other as congregations in addressing the world around us in deeds and words of Good News (Gospel) to our neighbors.

 

The questions for our conversation are:

 

How is God leading us in the next six years in our baptismal call to be a “public church?”

 

As we seek to discern where God is calling and leading us as a synod in the next six years, what should be our strategy for being the public church? 

 

How do we, together (collectively) as a synod, focus our attention and energy and resources in continuing to lift up and deepen the call to the ministry of being "witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus" and inviting people to follow Jesus in discipleship?

 

Please send your comments and summary conclusions to: transition@gulfcoastsynod.org.

 

[Return to Top of Page]

 

[Return to Year of Transition Page]