Hope! Unity! Grace! Love! are the four words that best describe what I have felt so far here at the Churchwide Assembly. Coming to an assembly has been a dream (yes a dream!) of mine since the day I learned that they existed. I have always loved the legislative process and absolutely love to share thoughts and feelings around important issues through conversation. This is why I originally dreamt of coming to an assembly and yes I have had the chance to do plenty of that, but I have also been able to do so much more while here.
When I arrived on Sunday morning after taking a red eye out of Seattle I had the amazing opportunity of meeting with fellow young adult voting members over dinner. It is always amazing to me to hear the stories and passions of other young adults from across the church. At my table I was one of two seminary students, there was a elementary school math teacher, two young pastors, and a college student. This was great but what really took the cake was getting to converse with Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson and hearing his hopes for the focus of the assembly. Hey talked a lot about his hope that this assembly would focus on building hope for the future, building unity throughout the church, and that we all would be living examples of living out grace. This was a great way to kick things off and all of those things have become true!
We have as an assembly spent many hours in debate about different issues facing the church. In these hours of debate I have witnessed time and time again that we as ELCA Lutherans take our shared Christian calling to love our neighbors and share God's amazing grace very seriously. This has given me so much energy and hope for the future of the church!
Peace and Blessings!
Tony Rhodes
Advent Lutheran Church, Mill Creek
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