On Wednesday we gathered for prayer with our siblings of the ReconcilingWorks team and then took a Synod picture. We spent a majority of the day electing the fifth presiding Bishop of the ELCA. The final two nominees both represented possible “firsts” for our denomination and marked holy change. On the fifth ballot, the fifth presiding Bishop was elected, Presiding Bishop Elect Yehiel Curry.
In between the different ballots we took time to have worship, lunch, and play with puppies. The evening plenary brought the beginning of the secretary election.
We also heard from the Bishop Elect for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. We had faithful and hard conversation about Palestinian rights and the dignity of all God’s children and ultimately passed a resolution, “Stand for Palestinian Rights and End to Occupation of Palestine”.
We gave thanks for Secretary Sue Rothmeyer’s six years of service as ELCA Secretary and we ended the night with a prayer Vigil for AMMPARO.
It was a beautifully powerful full day of prayerful action and our beds and pillows were a welcomed place to land. We are so grateful to be apart of a Church that is willing to do the work Christ calls us to do.
-Deacon Shari Simon, Peace New Lenox
