The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will deliver the keynote address of LC/NA’s assembly, Reconciling Works 2012, on Saturday, July 7, at 2:00 pm. Bishop Hanson is widely known as a leader with an evangelical passion and imagination who embraces the Christian tradition, the Christian community, and the world with both generous goodwill and thoughtful insight.
The theme of this assembly is Reconciling Works. Gathered at the assembly will be Lutherans from across North America as well as international visitors, all advocates for full inclusion of LGBT people in the life of the church.
A renowned speaker, preacher, and pastor, Bishop Hanson has presided over the ELCA since 2001. He is the third presiding bishop since the founding of the ELCA in 1988 through the merger of predecessor Lutheran denominations which now has more than 10,000 congregations and 4.2 million members.
Bishop Hanson presided over the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly which passed the Social Statement on Human Sexuality and the implementing resolutions that accompanied it, after eight years of preparation, consultation, study, member feedback, revision and debate. The 2009 Churchwide Assembly also approved the policy change to allow ministers in same-gender, publicly-accountable, lifelong, monogamous relationships to serve in the church.
Come, hear this historic keynote address which will include a state of the church and how the ELCA is serving God’s mission for the life of the world.
Sign up to participate in Reconciling Works 2012, its workshops, worship services, affinity group sessions, the visit to your congressional representatives and senators, and fellowship with others committed to the continued progress toward full inclusion. Come, learn new skills in organizing at the grassroots level. Come, learn to tell your personal story of faith in support of your advocacy.
Registration will open online shortly, www.lcna.org/assembly. Through March there will be early bird discounted pricing. Space is limited, so early registration is in your personal interest. Limited scholarships are available.
Come, be inspired, uplifted, empowered and motivated. You are already a child of God; come, learn to share that, so others may learn of God’s extravagant love through your witness.