Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

Adam Snook

Preaching About Racism

Posted: | Filed Under: Feeding the Soul

For clergy/deacons/and other preachers:

Thursdays in August, beginning on the 6th, at 2pm.

“Preaching about Racism” by Carolyn Helsel (book study and discussion)

This moderated group discussion will focus specifically on the task of preaching about racism by using Carolyn Helsel’s book and other resources shared by the group.  There will be time each week to talk about our various contexts, to support one another in the work of dismantling racism in the church, and to share resources. 

It is the responsibility of the group participants to:

  1. Acquire Carolyn Helsel’s book
  2. Agree to a community covenant on best communication/interaction practices
  3. Do the work.  You agree to read the book and to participate in the discussions.

Still interested?  Contact Rebekah Swanson (pastor at First Lutheran in Vancouver, BC) for a copy of the community covenant and Zoom invitation

pastorrebekah@firstlutheranvancouver.com

Season of Creation 2020

Posted: | Filed Under: News

National Bishop Susan Johnson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), and leaders from the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC), The Episcopal Church (TEC), and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have prepared a series of devotions to observe the Season of Creation 2020, Sept. 1–Oct. 4.

The season, which begins with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, is a time to join with the global Christian community in renewing, repairing and restoring commitments to God, to one another and to all of creation. For the four churches, it is also a time for strengthening relationships with one another. Through Scripture, hymns, advocacy and action, the weekly devotions, which begin Sept. 6, invite people to live out their vocation as stewards of creation.

The devotions were contributed by the leaders of the four churches including: ELCIC National Bishop Susan Johnson; the Most Rev. Linda Nicholls, archbishop and primate of the ACC; Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA; and the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate, TEC.

“We pray that our actions as stewards of God’s good creation will continue to deepen not only in this season, but for all time,” said Eaton. “Even as our relations as churches are not bound by national or ecclesiastical borders, neither is our witness to the One who came to redeem all of creation.”

“I pray that these reflections will open hearts and minds to experience our relationship in and with all of creation in new ways,” said Nicholls.

In the opening devotion, the leaders stress the significance of a collective responsibility in caring for creation. “Waking up to matters of climate justice and environmental stewardship are among the most important callings people have today. Over many years, through many voices, our churches have come to a growing conviction that loving our neighbour includes loving Mother Earth as a neighbour.”

“It is timely, relevant and exciting for our churches to join together in prayer, worship and reflection during the Season of Creation,” said Johnson. “With open hearts, minds and souls may we discern new actions and practices to show love for God’s creation.”

“In this season of activism as we seek God’s liberating, life-giving love for all, may these prayers and devotions inspire us to care for a world in which all creation can flourish,” said Curry.

The relations among the four churches have moved more closely toward “mutual recognition,” bringing into mutual relation the two churches of “Called to Common Mission” in the United States and those of the Waterloo Declaration in Canada. One notable feature of the agreement is that it cites the experience of Indigenous people “not divided by national borders established by colonialist power” as grounds for expanding shared life among the churches. A Memorandum of Mutual Recognition (MMR) was approved by both Canadian churches in July 2019. The 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted constitutional changes embracing the Anglican Church of Canada, and in November 2019 the Church Council adopted the MMR. Once The Episcopal Church acts, the mutual recognition of the four churches will come into full effect.

Preliminary Considerations for the Resumption of In-Person Worship

Posted: | Filed Under: COVID

Grace and peace to you,

Since our appointment, the Task Force on the Resumption of In-Person Worship has been reviewing a wide range of resources prepared by other synods, our ecumenical siblings, as well as Public Health advisories from across the territory of the Eastern Synod. There is deep wisdom, as well as great variance, in the differing approaches adopted by each jurisdiction. We affirm our belief that physical distancing, for the health and safety of our neighbour, is an act of love. Likewise, we continue to uphold the importance of a carefully paced approach to resuming in-person gatherings.

We know that many members of our Eastern Synod family deeply yearn for the opportunity to gather in-person. We also know that each congregation and community faces its own unique contextual concerns. There is no one-size-fits-all model, and yet we are united in our desire to act carefully out of love and in service to others.

To that end, we will be providing two documents to help congregational leaders begin the process of preparing their buildings for a potential re-opening in Fall 2020.

Read more →

Task Force: Resumption of In-Person Worship

Posted: | Filed Under: COVID, News

In a recent letter to the clergy, members and partners of our synod, Bishop Michael Pryse wrote,

“For almost three months now we have been physically distancing from one another for the love of our neighbour. That same motivation needs to be paramount as we plan for the future. I encourage you to use these coming months as an opportunity to plan and put in place comprehensive plans for what in-person worship will look like once we have decided that it is both prudent and safe to physically gather in our church buildings once again. It is my intention to provide our rostered and congregational leaders with resources to help in that process in the coming weeks.”

To that end, and out of that same love for our neighbour, the Officers of the Eastern Synod have appointed a Task Force on the Resumption of In-Person Worship. (READ MORE)

George Floyd Response from the Eastern Synod Racial Justice Advisory Committee

Posted: | Filed Under: RJAC Communications

Dear Siblings in Christ,

If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)

With the death of George Floyd, we witnessed yet another senseless murder of a black man in the United States. We again see tears and anguish pounding through each step marched in resistance, struggle, and public protest; we feel deeply the brokenness and the separation between God’s vision for community and where the world sits at this moment in history.

This is not simply an American problem. Canadians are not immune to prejudice and racial injustice. We join in with resounding force against the questionable circumstances surrounding the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto, and the desecration of a Jewish synagogue in Montreal. As the whole people of God called to manifest God’s mission in the world, we must not be complacent and silent in our status quo. The Spirit moves us to stand courageously, to advocate persistently, and to act compassionately as people of faith.

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