The theme this year was "Always being Made New" as is the tag line for the ELCA as we celebrating 25 years as the ELCA! We studies and heard all weekend how we are "always being made new" in Jesus Christ! We were encouraged to thing about our congregations "mission plan" NOT mission statement, but mission plan! We had an hour and a half committee of the whole meeting where we were one big "think tank" sharing with one another! We watched the video I shared on my last post called "Did you know?" to start us off thinking about all the advancements in technology and then we talked about so what does this mean? Well I had a slight advantage in my group as I have been taking this particular class in which we have been engaging this topic all semester. It was very interesting to listen to the group I was conversing with though. They simply didn't know what to do with this information. They were afraid it would take over and church was so far behind it was hopeless.
The best part of assembly for me this year was listening to Dr. Winston Persaud (Professor of Systematic Theology; The Kent S. Knutson and UELC Professor in Theology and Mission; Director of the Center for Global Theologies). He brought us through the Apostles Creed in Luther's Small Catechism. It was here that I started thinking about the gospel, being made new and technology and "what does this all mean?" Dr. Persaud pointed to God's word being made new in Jesus Christ and how we are called to share that. We as leaders are also called to see others gifts and make sure they are empowered to share those gifts as we glorify God and are made new through Jesus ourselves. God's word being made new through Jesus takes place in so many different ways, places and times that we can't single it out to one time and place (Sunday morning worship). We must be willing and open to this new creation that happens when we share the gospel, when we act out the gospel, when we are affected by the gospel, when we invite others to experience, witness and share the gospel. We are always being made new through the gospel. The gospel is written on trees, and lakes, people and animals, songs and poems, here and there, near and far! Here is a quote I found on Persaud's website:
It is important that Christians gain a sense of the oneness of the Church throughout the world, and at the same time understand our theological/cultural roots and their shaping influence on the present. This will help us to put our particular traditions in perspective in relation to the plural contexts in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is formulated and confessed and in which the mission of the Church is carried out.
That's it right? The gospel - the oneness of the Church throughout the world! This isn't about leaving our own heritage behind, but it is about accepting where we come from so that we can carry out the mission of the Church in a way that is contextual, appropriate and confessional!
I will be starting internship in a few weeks and can't wait to implement some of what we have learned, explored and experienced in this particular class! The church is at a place where the use of technology, social media and a mission plan will take them to the next level! It is really an exciting time! I can't wait to get to work connection people through social media. Introducing the church to Facebook, a blog perhaps, and maybe even some online Bible study options! As I work with this congregation and we both experience being made new together and explore the use of technology to further relationships, met new people, reach people that we have reached yet and live out the gospel, I only pray that in this all we will love like Jesus so that the gospel is proclaimed, heard and accepted!
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