In April, I, along with Trina Gallop Blank, assistant to the bishop for communications and resource generation, visited our partner church, Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Unida (IELU), in Argentina. We did this as part of our fiduciary responsibility: since our church has a partnership agreement that includes the transfer of money, we are obliged by CRA rules to visit on site and make sure the funds are being used responsibly.
This visit allowed us to attend in-person the dedication of three new classrooms for primary students. We have been working on this project with IELU since before the pandemic. The IELU school in Jose C. Paz is around the corner from the Armbruster Nursing Home. The home had unused space and the school was bursting at the seams, so it was a perfect partnership.
Each classroom will house up to 30 students now (the previous rooms had a capacity of maximum 21 students) and each is equipped with its own washrooms to ensure the safety of students.
The visit was also an opportunity to deepen our partnership. Over time, partners become dear friends. This was my fifth visit to IELU, and I have become good friends with several of the pastors and lay-persons. This in-person relationship is continued over time by contact via email, instant message and video meetings. Although the relationships can become personal, they are representative of the relationships between the members of our two churches.
While there, we had the opportunity to attend the synod meeting of the church. This took place in El Dorado in Missiones province, which is in the north of the country. We travelled there with delegates to the synod from Buenos Aires and further south, along with delegates from Uruguay —by way of an overnight bus. We were warmly welcomed by members of the local church who felt valued and respected as a part of the larger church.
The synod included the election of new officers and council members, including new President Rev. Mariela Alejandra Pereyra, who was installed at closing worship on Sunday morning.
I was honoured to be able to bring greetings from you. I reminded them of the things we’ve learned from them, including the fact that being a smaller church, we can still be faithful to the gospel and full of mission and ministry.
I received the gift of a cross, (which has been carved out and shows the risen Christ within). It reminds us that Christ continues to walk with both of our churches, leading us into a future filled with hope. Please keep IELU in your prayers. It is good to remember that we have partners from Argentina and beyond that care about and pray for our ministry.
Rev. Susan Johnson
ELCIC National Bishop
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