“This is a church that has come of age,” National Bishop Susan Johnson told participants in the 16th Biennial Convention. Participants confirmed this by their actions and conversations.
This was not a lovefest of self-congratulation but a candid assessment of the place where we find ours as we begin to move forward into an unknown future.
Ecumenical guests were received as welcome partners in the journey. Their insights were embraced as important contributions rather than scrutinized for added fuel to old debates.
The leadership that has emerged among us models a commitment to active engagement in respectful dialogue. They do this understanding that they might have to move in new and unexpected directions that they could not anticipate before the conversations began.
All this was reflected in the way convention business was dealt with and is a practice that I hope will continue to percolate throughout this church. As one who has participated for over 50 years in more church conventions than I care to count, I view these as encouraging developments.
There was no attempt to gloss over the challenges and dangers that face the church. For example, in her sermon at the Reformation commemoration service, Johnson cited Dr. Matthew Anderson’s observations about the parallels between our times and those of the Reformation (see p. 8). However the response to these challenges included an unflinching tone of hope for a church that is and continues to become a church In Mission for Others.
Seminary student Mike Harmon, a delegate from Edmonton, reflected the spirit of the convention: “Why would I choose to be a pastor at this time? I feel there could be no better time than now. I feel an excitement about ministry.”
Material in this issue provides an overview of the convention that is intended to help you capture some of that excitement. Perhaps, some may use a particular part of the material for profitable group discussion. I hope it will also encourage you to consider participating in upcoming synod conventions next year.
Kenn Ward, Editor
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