Reconnecting with My Roots

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit El Salvador, this time my wife and I decided to bring along two of our grandkids, Tito and Lily. They enjoyed being connected with their extended family, grandparents’ former home church, and the Salvadoran beauty reflected in its people, beaches, lakes, and volcanoes. They had a lot of fun and for sure they want to go back to El Salvador soon.

We had the opportunity to worship at my former home church, Resurrection in San Salvador. We were there celebrating the second Sunday after Easter. My grandkids were invited to join the children time right at beginning of the service singing together, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.” While the worship service was happening, I could see next to the altar hanging on the wall the Subversive Cross. This cross serves as a reminder that there is not resurrection without the cross. For a moment I was transported to the time when the congregation suffered persecution because of the church’s commitment to walk with the poor, and its prophetic ministry to denounce the human right abuses of the government and its military during the civil war (1980-1992).

Let me tell you a brief story of the Subversive Cross.

In 1985 during one special worship service the congregation at Resurrection during an act of confession was invited to write down the sins of the Salvadoran society. The people wrote down: Social injustice, abuse of power, to be poor and marginalized, pain, jealousy, rancor, avarice, military raids, attacks against the church, discrimination against women, persecution of the church, hunger, forced military draft, no more war, the unjust and indiscriminate attacks against the Lutheran church, no more slaughter of the farmers and the children of El Salvador, and the list continues.

The cross was left hanging next to the sanctuary as a reminder of all the sins that needed to be transformed. Then on November 16, 1989, the day the military killed six Jesuit priests. The same forces came to Resurrection looking for my former Bishop Medardo Gomez, they came with the order to kill him. When their plan failed, they decided to arrest members of the congregation along with some missionaries. The military also decided to seize the cross as evidence of subversion.

The Cross was taken into the military headquarters. The cross was there pointing out their sins against the Salvadoran people. Some military spat at the cross, others just read what was written on it. After that incident Bishop Gomez was encouraged to go into exile to continue ministering the church and to give witness to the world about the persecution against the church.

In March 1990 Bishop Gomez was able to return to El Salvador accompanied by several Bishops from the ELCA. During a meeting with the US ambassador and the visiting bishops, Bishop Gomez made the request for the returning of the cross. A call was made to the office of the Salvadoran president requesting the release of the cross. The president agreed to return the cross, he made the call to the military and the cross was transported to the presidential office. The cross was then at the presidential office pointing out the sins of his government against the Salvadoran people. Finally, the cross was returned to its original place. 

It’s great to celebrate the Easter season in a time of peace. However, the work against poverty and social injustice is still unfinished. The prophetic ministry of the Salvadoran Lutheran has not stopped since the social conditions that produce poverty and injustice are still in place. The Subversive Cross stands as a living reminder of the martyrs who gave their lives advocating for justice and defending the rights of oppressed Salvadoran people. 

The Subversive Cross is also a reminder to the whole church that whenever there is injustice, our work is still unfinished.

In Christ,

The Rev. Walter Baires

Associate to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission

A Budget Information Session will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 6 at 6:30pm. The Rev. Naomi Garber, our Synod Treasurer, will provide an update on the 2024-2025 spending plan and the proposed plan for 2025-2026.

Click here to view the 2025-2026 spending plan.

On May 6 you can use the button below to access the information session Zoom. The session will be recorded and posted on the Synod Assembly page of the synod website for those who are unable to attend.

The SCSW synod office now shares a building with Lakeview Lutheran Church in Madison. As a way to support this new and ongoing partnership, this year's In-Kind Synod Assembly Offering will go to support the food pantry at Lakeview Lutheran. The food pantry has been a ministry of Lakeview for 40 years and is a collaborative effort between the congregation and surrounding community.

Immediate needs for the pantry include:

Canned soup/chili/stew...Canned fruit...Canned vegetables...Canned tuna fish or chicken

Peanut butter...Spaghetti or egg noodles...Spaghetti sauce...Shampoo...Dish soap

Laundry detergent...Diapers 

Click the button below to download a flyer to print and share.

Luther Seminary's Faith+Lead and the Siebert Foundation are offering a learning opportunity for congregations and their leaders called Fresh Expressions. Fresh Expressions asks, "What if the church could meet people as they are, right where they are, and help them discover the difference Jesus can make in their lives?"

An informational webinar will be offered on Thursday, May 30 at 6:30pm. Click the button below to view/download a flyer with more details and to register for the webinar. Contact the Rev. Walter Baires, Associate to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission, with questions and wonderings.

2024 Faithful Innovation Learning Communities are forming now!

Click the button below to view and download an informational flyer with details about this opportunity and how it can benefit your ministry.

If you have any questions about Faithful Innovation Learning Communities, contact the Rev. Walter Baires, Associate to the Bishop and Director of Evangelical Mission.

The deadline to sign up for the upcoming opportunity is May 14.

The Office of the Bishop is compiling a "Synod Resource List" made for congregations, by congregations. The resource list will be made up of vendors your congregation has used before and wants to recommend to others. The hope is to provide a list of trusted vendors for synod congregations to consider when such services are needed. Please make sure to only recommend a vendor or resource that you have used with your congregation and would recommend to others.

Click the button below to submit your recommendation.

Questions? Contact Rev. Peter Beeson, Associate to the Bishop for Generosity.

Thank you to all who have submitted recommendations thus far!

A reminder that the even though we have moved into our new physical space, the synod office mailing address has NOT changed. Please continue to address all mail to:

P.O. Box 14496

Madison, WI 53708

Please do not use the Mandrake Road address for mail for the synod office. Thank you!

Reminder: Church in the Wild will be held at Bethel Horizons on Saturday, May 4, 10:00am to 1:00pm, rain or shine!

Suitable for all ages and activity levels, Church in the Wild is hosted by the synod’s Care for Creation team and Bethel Lutheran Church with generous financial support from the Bethel Endowment Foundation.

The SCSW Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Team invites you to a day of training for youth and adults with Lyle Griner from Peer Ministry Leadership!

Saturday, May 11, 8:00am - 4:00pm

Our Savior's Lutheran Church

(550 Lincoln Drive, Sun Prairie)

This event is geared toward adult leaders and key student leaders in your congregations and will help to further develop leadership skills through discussions, role-playing games, and more. This is a full day event and will include light breakfast items and lunch.

This is a face-to-face, heart-to-heart, learn-by-doing, youth and adult friendly adventure in caring skill learning.

Click the button below for more information and to register.

Saturday, April 27, 2:00pm

Jennifer Watson

Hope Lutheran Church, Milton

Jennifer has been called to serve as Director of Youth and Christian Education at Hope Lutheran Church in Milton.

Below are learning opportunities that the Office of the Bishop has been made aware of, that may be of interest to our rostered or lay leaders.

You are invited to this year’s Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts: Nourishing Vocation at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN which takes place on Monday, July 29 through Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

This year the conference will combine signature CWTA musical experiences with innovative and imaginative work being done by both the Nourishing Vocation Project and Nourishing Vocation with Children, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox. 

Click the button below to learn more and to register.