Interim Grace Notes: Bishop Daniel's March 15, 2023 email

Dear Friends in Christ,

“Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” (Matthew 7:24-27).

In this morning’s passage from the Daily Bible Reading Guide, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by teaching his listeners about Two Kinds of Builders. One builder wisely built his house on rock. This wise builder is like those who hear the words of Jesus and put them into practice. The other builder foolishly built his house on sand. This foolish builder is like those who hear the words of Jesus and fail to put them into practice.

Consider for a moment the two houses. How are they similar? How are they different? Consider the two builders. How are they similar? How are they different? Now consider some ways that you have actively practiced hearing God’s Word? And some ways that you have actively practiced doing God’s Word?

We have been taught that no one is saved by doing works, we are saved by the grace of God, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus doesn’t sound like a very good Lutheran here. How do you reconcile the fact that Jesus calls us to be both hearers and doers? And how do we keep this hearing from simply becoming an exercise in missional gridlock? And how do we keep this doing from becoming an exercise in endless toil? I’d love to hear how you have found a way to balance today’s words of Jesus?

During the first week of March, the Conference of Bishops gathered in Chicago for our annual Spring meeting. We were led by Bishop Tracie Bartholomew, who serves as the Chair of the Conference of Bishops.

The top seven highlights of our time together include:

Morning and Evening Worship led by the Bishops from Region Two
Bishops Brenda Bos, David Nagler, and Deborah Hutterer led our Opening Eucharist Service
Bishop Jim Gonia led us in an interactive Visio Divina prayer practice
Prayer: a number of us gathered early each morning to practice Centering Prayer.
We bid farewell to two retiring bishops and prayed for four bishops who are making themselves available to serve an additional term as synodical bishops.
There will be six synodical bishop elections in 2023, including an election in the Southeast Michigan Synod
Voted to commend to the ELCA Church Council a "Proposal for Exchangeability of the Diaconate," endorsed by the Lutheran Episcopal Coordinating Committee. Through the proposal, the ELCA and The Episcopal Church (TEC) recognize each other's deacons as authentic and provides for the possibility of interchangeability for occasional ministry or extended service. The ELCA Church Council will consider the proposal at its spring meeting.
Received an update on the nominations process for the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church, called for in the memorial "Restructure the Governance of the ELCA" that was adopted by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly.
Engaged in much conversation around Holy Communion practices as called for in the memorial "Holy Communion Practices in Unusual Circumstances and Pandemic Times," approved by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly.
Welcomed Imran Siddiqui, the new ELCA vice president elected by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly. In his remarks to the conference, Siddiqui praised lay leadership in the ELCA.

The next in person meeting of the Conference of Bishops will be held September 26-30 in Chicago.

A Few Comings and Goings

On Saturday and Sunday, I was blessed to worship with Synod Authorized Minister Chris Staup and the people of God at First, Stryker

On Monday evening, March 13, I participated in the Lutheran Ministries of Mercy (LMM) Annual Meeting. LMM is composed of the Filling Memorial Home; Luther Home of Mercy; and Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio. To learn more about these 4 agencies please click here.

On Tuesday, March 14, synod staff members met with seminary students Vicar Shawn Schneider (First, Galion) and Vicar Deborah Monnin (First English, Wapakoneta), to learn about their recent seminary trip to Tanzania. Vicar Shawn and Deborah are students in the M.Div.X Program through Luther Seminary. To learn more about this program please click here.

On Sunday, March 19, Pastor Sarah Schaaf and I will be gathering at St. Mark’s, Bowling Green, for a Fellowship Event with our Diakonia Students. To learn more about Diakonia in Northwestern Ohio please click here.

2023: The Year of Story Memory Verse

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The Story of Jesus Bible Study

2023 Daily Bible Reading Guide

NWOS Highlights

Grace Between the Lines

My Current Learning

Book: Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps by Richard Rohr

Audio Book: Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

Podcasts: