June 7, 2018
“Report from Synod Assembly”
Dear members and friends of Faith Lutheran:
Last weekend representatives from the 199 congregations in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin met in Eau Claire for our annual assembly. The major item on the agenda was the election of a new bishop for our synod. Mary and Steve Hoffman, and myself, were delegates from Faith.
Here is a brief overview: the assembly began Saturday morning with worship, the first ballot was held and there were many names that received votes (any ordained person was eligible), after the second ballot we had it whittled down to 8 people, those candidates each answered questions, the third ballot narrowed the field to three candidates, they each answered more questions, the fourth ballot narrowed the field down to the final two candidates, they each answered questions, and the fifth and final ballot elected a new bishop.
Our newly elected bishop is Pastor Laurie Skow-Anderson. She will begin her work as our new bishop on July 1st of this year. Here is her brief bio from the synod website.
Laurie has been the Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) and Assistant to the Bishop since January 2014. Congregational Renewal, New Mission Starts and Stewardship are her three primary areas of ministry. Laurie graduated from Luther Seminary with a MDiv in 1986 and again in 2010 with a DMin in Congregational Missional Leadership. She served congregations in SWMN and NWMN Synods before being called to the NWSWI staff. Her husband Randy is a pastor at Christ Lutheran in Menomonie and they have three adult children. In her free time, Laurie enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, canoeing and biking.
These elections are very interesting processes that are quite unlike our national elections. First: there is absolutely no campaigning ahead of time!!! Second: we pause intentionally for prayer before each vote is cast. We ask the Spirit of God to guide us in our decision so that God will lift up the right person to be our spiritual leader. Third: when we finish there are people who are pleased and there are people who are disappointed but there is no loser at the end of the day.
The pastor who came in a close second was Pastor John Sutherland. He is presently serving as Assistant to the Bishop and will tender his resignation because his call is co-terminus with that of the bishop’s. I know he is disappointed, and I know others who wanted him as bishop who are also disappointed. But we all celebrate a new day, give support and thanks to our leaders, and move forward.
So, I thank you for your prayers and for sending such great delegates. I thank you for your partnership in Jesus’ work in this community and world. I thank God for the hopeful future that we share. And I hope you are as excited about the future of the church as I am.
God’s richest blessings!
Pastor Mike
“Report from Synod Assembly”
Dear members and friends of Faith Lutheran:
Last weekend representatives from the 199 congregations in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin met in Eau Claire for our annual assembly. The major item on the agenda was the election of a new bishop for our synod. Mary and Steve Hoffman, and myself, were delegates from Faith.
Here is a brief overview: the assembly began Saturday morning with worship, the first ballot was held and there were many names that received votes (any ordained person was eligible), after the second ballot we had it whittled down to 8 people, those candidates each answered questions, the third ballot narrowed the field to three candidates, they each answered more questions, the fourth ballot narrowed the field down to the final two candidates, they each answered questions, and the fifth and final ballot elected a new bishop.
Our newly elected bishop is Pastor Laurie Skow-Anderson. She will begin her work as our new bishop on July 1st of this year. Here is her brief bio from the synod website.
Laurie has been the Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) and Assistant to the Bishop since January 2014. Congregational Renewal, New Mission Starts and Stewardship are her three primary areas of ministry. Laurie graduated from Luther Seminary with a MDiv in 1986 and again in 2010 with a DMin in Congregational Missional Leadership. She served congregations in SWMN and NWMN Synods before being called to the NWSWI staff. Her husband Randy is a pastor at Christ Lutheran in Menomonie and they have three adult children. In her free time, Laurie enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, canoeing and biking.
These elections are very interesting processes that are quite unlike our national elections. First: there is absolutely no campaigning ahead of time!!! Second: we pause intentionally for prayer before each vote is cast. We ask the Spirit of God to guide us in our decision so that God will lift up the right person to be our spiritual leader. Third: when we finish there are people who are pleased and there are people who are disappointed but there is no loser at the end of the day.
The pastor who came in a close second was Pastor John Sutherland. He is presently serving as Assistant to the Bishop and will tender his resignation because his call is co-terminus with that of the bishop’s. I know he is disappointed, and I know others who wanted him as bishop who are also disappointed. But we all celebrate a new day, give support and thanks to our leaders, and move forward.
So, I thank you for your prayers and for sending such great delegates. I thank you for your partnership in Jesus’ work in this community and world. I thank God for the hopeful future that we share. And I hope you are as excited about the future of the church as I am.
God’s richest blessings!
Pastor Mike