Dear Colleagues:
Blessings to you in the name of Jesus! In April, I sent you a note regarding administrative tasks and opportunities that need attention. This month I want to address the building of relationships within our synod and outside our synod with Lutherans from our Companion Synods.
If your congregation would like to be part of the SOS/ELCA Companion Synod program in the East of Lake Victoria Diocese in Tanzania, the Evangelical Church of Northern Germany (formerly Mecklenburg), Brazil, or Kazakhstan…then let us know. You can get information by contacting the chair of the respective Task Force, an Assistant to the Bishop, checking the Southern Ohio Synod website, or by calling the Synod Office. Many of our large and small congregations have a companion congregation in another part of the world and they have been mutually blessed. These provide opportunity for exchange of people, ideas, resources, and prayer. Some are in direct life-saving ministry activities. We do not encourage direct funding of projects, but where there is financial support we ask that you make sure you coordinate your activity in consultation with the respective Task Force/Committee.
My staff and I strive to be present at mission clusters and planning groups, and to provide direct and indirect services for congregations and leaders. We have our ups and downs, but the work is satisfying and seems to be productive, even with less staff. My ecumenical colleagues and I are working more closely together, too, for advocacy work, ministry in secular institutions, et cetera. (I hope we can do more to build fellowship, mutual awareness and maybe mission planning among the involved clergy and parishes.)
I look to address a “ministry of general presence” with you at the upcoming Rostered Leaders Event and SynodFest to identify how we can develop and encourage this type of ministry among us. Many problems can be avoided through a proactive and positive ministry of presence with one another. We can all use the opportunity for constructive communication to build relationships, deal with real issues of ministry and mission, and center on mutual spiritual wellness. God has shown us, throughout scripture and history, a design for healthy relationships and connectedness as disciples. We all strive for this to be a reality among us, so let us faithfully get to work.
If you have a desire to have a Bishop’s Visit to your congregation for worship, a special event, congregational forum/town meeting, et cetera, on a Sunday, please make arrangements first by consulting with your pastor, then by contacting Kim at the Synod Office. 2012 is just about fully committed, and requests are coming in for 2013. I absolutely love these visits, but there are a number of congregations I have not visited for several years. So, I need your help on this one.
We have so much to be grateful for, not the least of which is the upcoming opportunity to come together as a synod at SynodFest 2012 (June 6-10). Synod means to travel a common road; to walk together, which we cannot do if we never get to know one another, never get the chance to celebrate together, worship together, eat together. I am hopeful that you will join me and others from our synod for Assembly and our SynodFest activities.
I am grateful for your partnership in our shared ministry of being and making disciples and I look forward to seeing you and your families in Cincinnati in June.
Your partner in the Gospel,
Cal Holloway
Bishop, Southern Ohio Synod