Some Lutheran Guy

2013 SD Synod Assembly – Live Updates: June 8th

Ray — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:58:34 +0000

3:35pm - The assembly is closed. Apparently all business was taken care of yesterday while I was distracted (aside from the Bishop Election), so I’d recommend checking the SD Synod website for more information about that. I tried to get everything right, but there’s certainly no guarantee that I did. The Synod webpage will have the post assembly report and can be relied upon for accuracy. Thanks for checking in! Keep coming back

3:30pm - The last presentation is from the Luther House of Study. It’s a unique and great opportunity for educating our synod.

3:20pm - The last business of the assembly was to pass the 2014 Mission Plan. We passed it by raising our hands. It was rather adorable.

3:10pm - The president of LSS is giving her report. Thank you for all you do, LSS!

3:05pm - The last ...

2013 SD Synod Assembly – Live Updates: June 7th

Ray — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:06:44 +0000

5:15pm - Well, I got distracted. A quick bathroom break turned into hanging out with a few friends. I have no clue what happened for the last 35 minutes or so. But I’m off to have some sushi now, then to Monk’s for Marty’s Mug. I’ll keep the updates coming tomorrow!

4:38pm - Resolution #2 is about Changes to Compensation and Guidelines. I’d recommend checking it out on the synod site here – I’m not going to go into depth on this since it’s pretty technical, dense and zzzzzzzzzz….

4:33pm - Our first resolution of the day is Resolution #1 Roofs for Our Companion Synod in Cameroon. If passed, we will be committing to raise $200,000 as a synod to help build 25 roofs on churches in Cameroon. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

4:24pm - We just moved through a ...

2013 SD Synod Assembly

Ray — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:10:46 +0000

Well, I’ve barely had a chance to settle in after the trip to Puerto Rico. A lot of work was done to help those in need in Salinas, PR and formed some great new relationships. But now I’m sitting in Sioux Falls at Our Saviors Lutheran for the 2013 SD Synod Assembly. While last year’s assembly was pretty laid back, I’d be shocked if this one wasn’t more lively. This year’s excitement will be provided by the bishop elections. Bishop Zellmer is open to run again and there seem to be several other candidates hoping to be called to the position.

One of the blessings of this assembly is that worship is being led by Dakota Road music. When I was growing up we used their Remembering The Promise worship service as a monthly contemporary service and they often provided the ...

Busy, Busy

Ray — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:10:34 +0000

May is a pretty crazy month for me. I’m finalizing plans and making sure I have all the forms for our high school mission trip to Puerto Rico and am planning for Pentecost, Senior Sunday and Confirmation this Sunday. Oh, and we also have a vote to call an Associate Pastor between services.

There’ve been planning meetings, parent meetings, impromptu meetings and staff meeting to try and keep everything coordinated. On top of that, this is my first year on my own in my positions. This time last year people just told me what was happening and to send emails. I’ve gotten through most everything only forgetting minor details, though.

But while the business has been at a peak, I’ve been actually been pretty calm. I think I’ve found a lot of peace in doing something that I enjoy and make a ...

Shhhh, We’re Gonna Sing Hallelujah….

Ray — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:00:14 +0000

During Lent we don’t sing hallelujahs. According to the ELCA website, we don’t because they don’t fit the penitential tone during the 40 days of Lent. Apparently is a tradition that goes back to the 5th century. Though some might be surprised, I often quite like tradition. You may ask yourself, “why then, Ray, are you tossing aside this centuries old tradition?”

One of the youth from my church performed Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at the high school talent show and the thought occurred to me, “that is a pretty good Lenten song.” The images depicted in Leonard Cohen’s lyrics are ones of brokenness that fit in quite well with the focus of Lent. So, I’m making an exception.

I think tradition is important. It gives us a connection to the past and a framework to work with. But tradition isn’t infallible and doesn’t inherently have ...

Nothing New

Ray — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:00:48 +0000

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

Lately I’ve been having discussions with people online, in person, and at conferences about where the church is heading. What does the church that has meaning in the future look like? Now I could be wrong, but the dilemma seems to be how Emergence Christianity (and I think, according to Phyllis Tickle, the emergent church in my case) can better relate to a society moving into the Post-Modern.

The church’s future, denominational identity, and our post-Christian world often makes its way into many of the interactions I have – whether or not they’re churchy people or not. There is no shortage of modern literature dealing with these issues, either. What surprised me was finding the very same questions and ...

My Lenten Reflection

Ray — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 03:04:31 +0000

“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I think this sums up my frustration with some ideas of faith. here, Bonhoeffer is basically summing up Luther’s “sin boldly” statement. Honestly, I’ve never really been able to quite wrap my head around this legalistic idea of faith that, as Kevin Smith explains in Dogma, is more or less God threatening to spank us when we screw up.

I think it’s never sat quite right with me because if I’m just trying to avoid sinning, it’s still just about me. God calls us to encounter others, not avoid them for my own sake. Actively doing God’s will calls me into the mess of reality of those around me and them into the mess of my reality. And because life is always messy, ...

Challenge Accepted

Ray — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:17:21 +0000

In a weird series of events, I’ll be taking an interim position as the High School Youth Ministry Leader at my church. While that’s cool on it’s own, the thing I’m most excited about was to be able to leave the job I’ve held the last four years. It isn’t that I didn’t appreciate being employed or having a stable income. That I certainly appreciated. But it’s nice to move on from a job that pays the bills to something I can get passionate about.

I’m excited to work full time for my church and excited about the challenges of my new (interim) position. Because after helping people with their credit cards, I’m definitely ready to work with people. So, in the words of Barney Stinson, “Challenge Accepted!”

2011 SD Synod Assembly – 6/11/11

Ray — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:49:54 +0000

Here’s my live blog from day 2 of the SD Assembly – April 11th, 2011

2:34 pm

Well, we’re ahead of schedule and just have the closing blessing after Vibrant Faith. So, I’m going to sign off. I’ll post some final thoughts tonight!

2:20 pm

Roe Eidsness presented the final faith story. His topic was devotions. Now Vibrant Faith is beginning.

2:12 pm

Looks like the Synod Assembly Evaluation will be first.

2:11 pm

Paul Hill and David Anderson are up next. It’s the final Bible Study Session from Vibrant Faith Ministry.

2:09 pm

Resolution 6 passed. Now it’s up to representatives to go back to their congregations and make it happen.

We’ve voted on all the resolutions and now move on to other business. I’m not sure what it is yet.

2:04 pm

Resolution 4 passed handily, unamended.

A sixth resolution was added. It calls each congregation in our Synod to increase giving ...

2011 SD Synod Assembly – Some Post Day 1 Thoughts

Ray — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:45:15 +0000

Worship is beginning for day two of the Synod Assembly. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the sounds of drums, a guitar, a bass and mic’ed singers; a full praise band was quite a surprise for the synod assembly. Now, we’re not rocking out to David Crowder songs or anything, but it’s good to see an acknowledgement that not everyone’s preferred style of worship is from a hymnal.

Day one of the Assembly was pretty smooth. Since only 5 resolutions were on the docket, there wasn’t a rush to get through things to make sure that everything had it’s time. Resolutions that were debated were given ample time and there was passionate, respectful discussion.

One of my joys of this gathering has been the blessing of the interactions I’ve had. I met a pastor who, until yesterday, was just @swedishdest. I’ve been ...