Bishop Highlights Young Adults

May 2008 Accompaniment
News and information for rostered leaders

Dear Partners in Ministry,

In a trip to El Salvador two weeks ago, the accompaniment theme was certainly evident, as we celebrated the robust and faithful partnership we share with the Lutheran church there. It played out as we witnessed remote faith communities struggling with hunger and natural disasters, now served by Ten-to-One projects. It was evident in the Lutheran Church, as it contends with financial shortfalls, even as our sister parish partnerships are strengthened and our El Salvador Pastoral Assistance Fund builds. It was experienced through prayer and worship, through conversation, and in visiting the sobering memorials to Oscar Romero, Rutillio Grande, and the nuns and Jesuits who were assassinated. We realized the essential quality of the church in that nation...and in ours. What a privilege to experience such accompaniment, something we will hear more about at our upcoming assembly, as Bishop Gomez joins us for our time together.

But one of the unexpected discoveries of the trip was that we were accompanied throughout our time by a missionary from our ELCA. His name is Daniel Bierne, a 23 year old recent graduate from Valparaiso University, who is serving in El Salvador as a GM2, a two year young adult missionary. He serves there as a translator, as a delegation guide, as Bible study leader with youth, as an ambassador of Christ to children (perhaps not a part of his job description, but an aptitude nonetheless). We appreciated his giftedness and his spirit (and his patience!).

That set in motion for me a deep appreciation for the place of young adults in our ELCA, and an increased awareness of these connections.

Last month, we gathered at Lake Park Lutheran Church to honor the Rev. Christine Thompson for her call to serve in Lutheran Campus Ministry at UWM. Her ability to connect with young people, and her passion for the Gospel is evident in her voice, and in the testimonials of the young people with whom she serves. To imagine Christine and Pastor Brad Brown (at Marquette) is to recognize a strong ministry to young adults.

At an Invitation to Serve Event earlier this year (itself evidence of the leadership potential in our youth) I spent time speaking with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps participants here in Milwaukee. The seven individuals volunteering here, working on behalf of our church, are impressive young adults, doing amazing things, too often unrecognized.

I spoke with Jeff Bluhm, the executive director of Lutherdale Bible Camp, and was reminded of the huge number of young adults who each summer serve as camp counselors. He said they are the "minor league" for training seminarians.

This is a time when our ELCA colleges and universities are preparing for their graduations, when the baccalaureates will connect this time with their faith journey, and when commencement marks a beginning of their ministries beyond college. This weekend, we travel to Luther College for Maren's graduation, after which she will serve through Lutheran Volunteer Corps in Baltimore...which may be why this topic is on my mind.

There is serious talk of an "emerging church" expression of ministry, reaching out to young adults in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, perhaps as a church without walls.

It seems that next year at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, our synod will have two high school students as voting members.

Geri Murtaugh on our synod staff continues to provide inspired and organized leadership to youth and family ministry in our synod; our congregations and young people are well served.
All this is to say that this church is gifted with its young people, and responds to their gifts with creative and meaningful opportunities. Let us accompany these individuals and these ministries with our prayers, with our appreciation for the present of this church, and with high hopes for the future of this church.

Your companion on the way,

Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers