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E-Spirit Weekly
Newsletter
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News, Stories, and More
from the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA
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Walking with our Companions in Haiti | |
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Our companion church in Haiti, Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti (ELH), is suffering from the major earthquake that struck the southwestern peninsula of Haiti on Saturday morning. As of this writing, the death toll in the country stands at 1,300, with over 30,000 families left homeless. The likelihood of Tropical Storm Grace impacting the island only exacerbates the challenges the country faces.
ELH president Pastor Livenson reports significant damage, particularly in the communities of Baraderes, Jeremie, Lazil and Les Cayes. The church in Baraderes was destroyed and at this time, the people in the community do not have water. Roads to Jeremie are blocked due to rubble from the surrounding mountains. While the church in Les Cayes is intact, the community itself is devastated. The pictures below were taken of houses of church members. The destruction is vast.
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The Florida-Bahamas Synod has already responded with an immediate, emergency request of $2,000. This will allow for Pastor Livenson to travel from Port Au Prince to the south, to be with the people and bring some initial food gifts. To be sure, much more will be needed.
With its accompaniment model, the Global Mission Table’s role will be to provide funds for rebuilding and infrastructure, once such projects are established. Pastor Livenson and the leaders of ELH will make those decisions based on their context and will invite our partnership. Meanwhile, however, additional emergency assistance is greatly needed. Should you or your congregation wish to make an immediate, financial gift in the wake of this disaster, please direct the funds to Disaster Response and write “Haiti” in the memo line. This will provide emergency assistance as longer term needs are determined.
CLICK HERE TO HELP OUR FRIENDS IN HAITI
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The Passing of Bill Horne | |
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If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8 (New Living Translation)
The sudden and unexpected death of our sibling in Christ, Bill Horne, has left many of us at a loss for words. Thankfully, when we cannot find words, the Spirit intercedes for us with wordless, deep sighs. (Romans 8:26) We cling to the comfort of the Resurrection promise, as we know Bill did every day. Bill is at rest now, seeing Jesus face to face, joining the choir of angels with that robust voice he shared when he worshipped. But we still hurt. The loss in Bill’s family and communities is raw and palpable. How do we make any sense of what seems like a life cut short, weeks before a planned retirement of service, travel and adventure with his wife Loretta?
Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
I first got to know Bill when I served on the Synod Council and he was the Vice President. My first impression was of a calm leader who appreciated good order. Not too long after, and when the old constitution required that the Synod Council put forth two names for a VP election, Bill called me and asked me if I would run against him! After some deeper conversation, I agreed. And at that election, I won by a single vote. Bill and I knew that what the Synod needed in that moment was a sense of our unity, not any sign of division. Because the truth was that we were not divided. So we made the rounds of receptions and meeting together. A couple of months later, Bill ran for and won a seat on the Churchwide Council. The Spirit was indeed up to something, putting him on a path that led him to be elected to the position of ELCA Vice President.
I think back to that time still with a sense of astonishment. A few weeks after that Synod Assembly, my husband Steve and I drove to Clearwater to have a long dinner with Bill and Loretta. He wanted to pass on some things he thought I should know. He and Steve bonded over their shared Air Force service. Loretta was gracious and we shared some talk about family. That dinner cemented our shared desire for service in God’s church, and our unfailing support for each other on our respective journeys. It never wavered.
As it happens, FSU football Coach Bobby Bowden’s memorial service was Saturday. I watched a part of the livestream. What struck me then, and is even more poignant now, was the theme of “Faith, Family, Football” as the pillars of Bowden’s life. As his sons Terry and Tommy both noted, “football was a priority, but is not THE priority.” I think it was Tommy who also said, if it isn’t football for you, figure out what your priority is---just don’t make it THE priority. Faith is always first. Bill Horne understood that. His third pillar wasn’t Football. It seems to me instead that it was Service.
Faith, Family, Service.
Bill embodied the Lutheran concept of “vocation” as well as anyone I’ve known. While theologians wrestle with what Luther meant by that, I think Pr. Dwight DuBois put it well in an article in Living Lutheran (9/2/19). He characterizes vocation, not as any particular career or job, but rather as the way we connect life and faith. It is ministry in daily life. Bill’s vocation was to serve the neighbor using his gift of leadership—whether in the Air Force, as a long tenured city manager, or the highest elected layperson in our denomination. Daily, he connected his faith with service. It was born of his deep faith in God and nurtured by his commitment to and support from his family. Faith. Family. Service.
Bill never stopped trying to learn more about Jesus and the tenets of the faith community he belonged to. He read and studied the Bible often, always had time for prayer, loved music, and was willing to acknowledge his faith questions and even doubts. He served on more committees than I can count. He has told the story of his faith journey from doubt to understanding and embrace of LGBTQ siblings. He knew that our denomination and our people have a long way to go in the arena of racial justice. And yet, with his deep belief that the Spirit had called him to lead our white denomination by his words, his example and his actions, he persisted. Because he loved God and God’s people. Frustration, weariness, anger, incredulity---yes, Bill experienced all of those things from time to time. But his belief that no burden was too great to leave with God carried him through and lightened his step.
Maybe that is why it is hard to accept that he will not get the earthly reward he had planned in retirement. I pray fervently for Loretta and their family in these weeks and months ahead, that they will make a way to find and embrace the joys of this life even when grief seems front and center. I cannot make sense of why things like this happen. But this I know. Bill did not toil or serve God in vain. He left us better than we were. Bill left us with an example of what it means to move forward when the way is not clear or is hard; to trust God; to love neighbor. It is up to those of us who were touched by Bill---and there are many of us---to live life with intention, good humor, integrity and above all, faith, in service to the neighbor. May we honor him in this way.
I miss you, my friend. I give thanks to God for having shared some time with you on this earth. May you rest in peace, good and faithful servant. Until we meet.
Cheryl Stuart
Florida-Bahamas Synod
Vice President
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Events, Webinars, and Workshops | |
Synod Assembly 2021 Rescheduled | |
In a letter from the Synod Council, it has been decided that the 2021 Synod Assembly will be moved to a virtual Zoom setting and held October 15-16, 2021. The rescheduled and virtual assembly will be pared down to just the important matters of business, such as elections.
For more information, F.A.Q.s, and to read the entire letter, visit the Synod Assembly tab on the Florida-Bahamas Synod website.
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New and Free Boundaries and Inclusion Education | |
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Check it Out! Region 9 is now expanding and
releasing...new and free ....opportunities for continued Boundaries Education. These opportunities pick up where your current Boundaries Education leaves off. This year’s emphasis is Racial Justice, next year’s will be Gender Justice and the following year will circle back around to the broad spectrum of Boundaries. As you know, it is our expectation that all of our Rostered Ministers participate in Boundaries Education. And now it is easier than ever and free!
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August 29, 10:00 AM – The Rev. Nate Bendorf as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Ormond Beach. The Rev. Rob Carlson will officiate.
August 31, 7:00 PM – The Rev. Jerry Nordsiek as Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tampa. Bishop Pedro Suarez will preside.
September 11, 6:00 PM – The Rev. Harry Schenkel as Pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Longwood. Bishop Pedro Suarez will preside.
September 12, 2:00 PM – The Rev. Kim Trabold as Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boca Raton. The Rev. Khader El-Yateem will officiate.
September 25, 10:30 AM – The Rev. Kari Niedermaier as Pastor of All Saints Lutheran Church in Port Orange. The Rev. Rob Carlson will officiate.
October 3, 2:00 PM – The Rev. George Cruz-Martinez as Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Satsuma. The Rev. Rob Carlson will officiate.
October 26, 11:00 AM – The Rev. Edward G. Barnett as Pastor, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Leesburg. Bishop Pedro Suarez will preside.
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An Introduction to Spiritual Direction | |
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 5:00-8:15 p.m. EST via Zoom
With: Sister Janice Bachman, O.P. and Sister Jeanne Williams, O.S.F.
Spiritual direction is a vibrant way we can grow in a personal relationship with God. Presenters Sr. Janice Bachman, OP and Sr. Jeanne Williams, OSF will explore what happens in spiritual direction and how meeting with a spiritual director can support personal growth, clarify discernment and lead to a deepening awareness of God's presence in our daily lives.
This program will include input from the presenters, group sharing and role play, demonstrating spiritual direction, leading to a clearer understanding of what it is and what it is not. Referrals to area spiritual directors will be supported by the center staff if participants need assistance connecting with one.
Fee: $15.00
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News from the Southeast Michigan Synod, ELCA | |
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The Southeast Michigan Synod, ELCA shares this announcement for two members of the Christian community who have entered the Church Triumphant.
Rev. Dr. Peter L. Steinke, founding CEO and Executive Director of Healthy Congregations, Inc. died July 13, 2020. Through Healthy Congregations, Dr. Steinke was heavily involved with many congregations and leaders across the ELCA. Healthy Congregations began as a project 25 years ago and is now a nonprofit entity that engages with 27 different denominations. More information on Dr. Steinke is available here. A memorial service will be live streamed August 21, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. and accessible here.
Rev. David Walter Preus, former Presiding Bishop of the American Lutheran Church (ALC) died July 23, 2021. A Celebration of Life service was held August 5, 2021. Rev. Preus served as a parish pastor in South Dakota and Minnesota for 23 years before serving as Presiding Bishop of the American Lutheran Church (ALC) for 15 years. He also served as Vice President of the Lutheran World Federation and as a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. An obituary for Rev. Preus is available here.
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It’s Time to Register for Addiction & Faith Conference
The Center of Addiction & Faith will hold its third Addiction & Faith Conference October 7-9, 2021 in Bloomington, Minn., to give faith communities tools for responding to the addiction crisis. Registration is open for in-person and virtual attendance at www.addictionandfaithconference.com.
The Center grew out of the Fellowship of Recovering Lutheran Clergy. Founder Ed Treat was an active Lutheran pastor in 2018 when he held the first Addiction & Faith Conference. The success encouraged him to leave parish ministry after 25 years and dedicate himself full-time to the Center of Addiction & Faith, which became a 501©(3) nonprofit organization in 2020.
Contact: The Rev. Dr. Ed Treat, pastored@addictionandfaith.com, (651) 356-1073 or CAF director of communications & advocacy Stephanie Werner, stephwerner@hotmail.com, (804) 986-2953, @virtualdeacon
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