Dear Colleagues:
We collectively make our Advent journey of devotion, worship, hope and reflection. We serve our neighbors, explore the Word, share our joy, and embody God’s Love. May our joy be complete as God intends.
There is much to share. So much news to share I hardly know where to begin.
I have never experienced a year like this in regard to the challenges of the global and national economy. Doing more with less was not my concern, it was doing better, as best we could, to honor God’s intent with whatever resources available to us. I believe we did well with our circumstances. There were some challenges and obstacles, but these were mostly financial; we are still here and we are grateful for God’s ever present love and support as evidenced by our partnership, positive spirit and ministry (as I have read and witnessed in your newsletters, gatherings, and direct testimonies).
In the greater ELCA, continuing changes in church structure and policies have been difficult for some synods to handle:
Activities for the 2012 Youth Gathering have involved many more people than usual, including Bishops and staffs.
ELCA plans for new mission congregations across the country are being developed, but funding by the ELCA and Synods is not yet determined.
Shared ministry activities with Lutheran Church Missouri Synod are suffering and require new approaches and partnerships as the LCMS withdraws from some partnerships with the ELCA such as in military chaplaincies and disaster relief efforts.
Continued formal and informal conversations with congregations considering departure from the ELCA had absorbed a great deal of synod time and energy. Some congregations have split or remain in serious conflict.
Our work in hunger and responses to disasters continues with vigor and generosity.
More ministry students are seeing financial support through the Fund for Leaders program.
Our synod has been involved in each of the above listed activities in addition to our normal work. However, there are a few more things to note.
Our planning and work for SynodFest 2012 continue under the direction of Mr. Tim Fink of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Philipsburg and Susan Barton-Nonno, our Synod Communications Director. There are already dozens of people from across the synod working diligently to make this event fruitful for all of us. I am very excited and thankful for the excellence in morale, creativity, focus, energy, and enthusiasm with this growing army of people engaged in this ministry. Thanks be to God…more details to come.
St. Peter Lutheran Church in Columbus just held its last worship service and has disbanded after many decades of faithful service. The final arrangements were taken care of just days ago. Pastor Brinkley is on leave from call, but was treated with love and fairness.
Calvary Orthodox Lutheran Church in Lancaster voted overwhelmingly to join the Southern Ohio Synod, ELCA. We will formally welcome them at our next synod assembly.
I am sad to report that The Reverend William McKee, our Assistant to the Bishop/Director for Evangelical Stewardship Mission has resigned to focus on a call to Interim Ministry. His resignation is effective December 31, 2011. I thank Bill for his excellence in partnership, leadership and friendship. News of his resignation was prematurely “leaked” while we consulted with the ELCA and arranged for a new call, but the word is out…so I share it with all of you now. I rejoice for Bill, but I will miss him in this capacity. Conversations with the church-wide offices of the ELCA about that position continue. The Reverend Ed Williams, Assistant to the Bishop, will serve as the interim.
Our funding from congregations has suffered this year, so we had to delay financial support of some of our key ministries such as Congregations under Development and Redevelopment, Southern Ohio Synod Campus Ministry sites, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and our outdoor ministries. We have maintained our regular ELCA Mission Support according to the action of the Synod Assembly. Our support of World Hunger, ELCA Disaster Response, and the ELCA Malaria Campaign has remained excellent.
Over the years, the Southern Ohio Synod replaced funding reductions of ELCA ministries on our territory. The funds came from budget, special gifts, and reserves. These grants were for salary supplements, program, and other expenses; but we simply cannot do that anymore. We will honor the synod’s fair share, but without additional mission support from congregations we cannot replace funds when other partners reduce their support.
Mrs. Marjorie Ellis, of All Saints Lutheran Church, Worthington was elected to the ELCA Church Council. She will also serve as liaison to the Southern Ohio Synod Council. I am delighted with this election and look forward to our work together. She has served God in many capacities in this church and I look forward to our future ministry.
I rejoice in the constant news I receive from former and recent Faith Trek participants most of whom are now young adults. Some in seminary, some new parents, several are congregational presidents, some are serving the ELCA or ecumenical church partners overseas, a couple near ordination, and several coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan! What a sense of satisfaction we can all share.
Rostered Leaders: tis’ the season for AAA (annual administrative attentiveness). Please be sure to follow-up:
Annual Rostered Leader Report to the Synod Bishop
Annual Congregational Parochial Report
Congregational 2010 Estimate of Giving Reports for Mission Support
ELCA Board of Pensions (now “Portico”) updates and Health Assessment (remember this confidential action saves and gains money for us all)
Remind your officers of the Lay Leaders’ Day with the Bishop. (We will discuss congregational leadership, congregation constitutions, support of pastoral and other leaders, inter-congregational partnerships, new ELCA and SOS policies and practices, et cetera.
Pray daily for yourself and for others.
Be Kind, Be Happy, Be Healthy
Remember the poor.
In Christ,
The Reverend Callon Holloway, Jr.
Bishop