Our day began with one of our home boys, David Swartling - our ELCA secretary gave his report to the Assembly reminding us that the very documents that formed the ELCA are in fact missional documents only to be out done by scripture itself. David was utterly eloquent in reminding all of us of the great capacity that we have as Lutheran in the midst of a severe economic downturn to do great things as a church. We are asset rich and once again trending upward in our giving.
We wish every member of our Synod could be in attendance at the CWA Assembly to experience the power and joy of what it means to be a member of the ELCA. Our identity as a people who get our hands dirty in caring for our neighbors and friends around the world has been evident before our eyes. The ELCA was on the ground in Joplin Missouri where a tornado wiped out not only a Lutheran congregation but the better portion of the town to Minot North Dakota where the ELCA has been a force in restoring a town devastated by floods. Going global it has been Lutherans who were the first to provide support to the Haitian community following the devastating earthquake only to have the response duplicated when Japan suffered her massive earthquake. Most recently we see Lutherans at work in Kenya as 1000 Somalian refugees each day arrive at camps managed by the Lutheran World Federation. Lutherans care and we demonstrated this when CWA voting members gave $20,000 during the worship offering for the Malaria Campaign while pledging $160,000 to this effort.
A church once divided is today is a church that is united and excited about our future.
Kim & Kirby Unti
St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Renton
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