Bishop Aitken’s Reflections on the 2009 Churchwide Assembly

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
         Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body', that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear were to say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.’”                                    1 Corinthians 12:21-21
 
I am proud of all the good work done at our Churchwide Assembly. As 1,045 voting members gathered each day in prayer, deliberation, and thoughtful discussion, I saw a church that has learned to live together with respect and love - even as we were able to disagree about some things.  I also come away knowing full well, that at the conclusion of the Assembly, some are feeling offended or hurt, while others feel great joy and celebration over Assembly actions; especially regarding the possibility of rostering persons in lifelong, committed, same gender relationships. I take seriously that I am called to be bishop to our entire synod. That means that regarding this matter, I mourn with those who mourn and I rejoice with those who rejoice over this matter.  
It is important to tell you that no changes will occur now. No one is being ordained or otherwise rostered in the next couple of months. The implementation of our decisions about rostered leaders will take time and patience.  
Throughout the plenary sessions, small group table talks, worship, and right before times of prayer, Bishop Hanson asked the Assembly, “What will our witness be when we leave this Assembly?” I believe we are poised to make an incredibly positive witness to the world.
Let me offer an analogy. There are four people in my immediate family. I have no trouble understanding, and celebrating, that my two children, my wife, and I are fully a family even when we disagree about things - even very important things. We understand ourselves as a family, to be in a relationship of love and commitment that is deeper than our differences. We stick together even through tough times. That is the enduring gift of being a family.
Though we have lived faithfully as the ELCA for more than 20 years, we’ve never all shared the same convictions in the area of human sexuality. It is my hope and prayer that in the days and months ahead we will do what we have always done: bear the burden of having differing viewpoints, love each other, and respect the bound conscience of all. Each of us is loved unconditionally by God and claimed by Christ in baptism. I promise to love and respect you, all of you, in this family we call the Northeastern Minnesota Synod.  
God made us a family. We are a beautiful conglomeration of people with different gifts, talents, and abilities for doing mission together. We need each other. We have good work ahead of us. In voting together to combat HIV/AIDS and Malaria, to engage youth more fully in  church,  to  engage  more  deeply  in  evangelism,  to  grow  in our relationships with other

denominations, and much more will require the hearts and minds of every one of us. We need to talk with each other as a church and as a synod (even as healthy families do) for clarification, for insight and encouragement, and for words of support or consolation when needed. Let's be available to each other, for the good of our whole family.
Let us take some holy time to think on these things. I’ve asked the 14 Voting Members from our synod to share their reflections on the Churchwide Assembly, which I intend to share with you soon. Let’s grow lovingly, gently, patiently & gracefully into our shared future as transparently as we can.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:4-7
 

In Christ, Bishop Thomas M. Aitken - August 24, 2009