Bishop Current Reflects on Fall Conference on Bishops
By Bishop Amy Current
The ELCA Conference of Bishops (COB) met September 26-30 at the Lutheran Center in Chicago. (See the official news release on the ELCA website)
We gathered in rich worship prepared and led by the bishops of Region 3(Tri-otas). We engaged in dialogue around tables around such topics as Eucharist practices, racial and gender justice, candidacy, and Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. The COB received reports from Churchwide staff and COB committees, elected COB Executive Committee and ELCA Church Council liaisons, and spent time in mutual support, fellowship, and collegial community. During these elections, I was elected to serve on the COB Executive Committee for a four-year term and I was elected to represent Region 5 Liason Bishop for the ELCA Church Council (completing a vacated two-year term). I pray that I will faithfully represent our synod and church in these roles.
There are 67 members of the COB the 65 synod bishops, the ELCA Secretary, and the Presiding Bishop. All 67 were present which means that the whole ELCA (congregations, synods, and churchwide) was represented in this gathering- every congregation, ministry, rostered minister, lay minister/employee, and all members. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we are all (all y’all) called, claimed, gifted with faith, and sent to share the Good News of God through Jesus.
It is a call, both humbling and privileged, that I do not take lightly, as I serve with these COB colleagues and with the Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA as your bishop. I want to share a glimpse of this gathering and the encouragement I have felt through a few bullet points.
My belief and prayer remain as it has throughout my call to ministry in all its roles so far and is echoed in the words of installations, “I will and I ask God to help and guide me.”
It is a gift that the Spirit nurtures in communities of faith, siblings in Christ- to share the joys and burdens both.
I have had many cherished colleagues along the way and celebrate the Rostered and Lay Ministry colleagues in Southeastern Iowa, including the Office of the Bishop team.
My Bishop colleagues inspire, challenge, and renew my call to serve. Thanks be to God for colleagues!
I am thankful that in the COB gatherings for love shared, for solidarity in gaining courage, for commitment even in opposing opinions, for silliness shared, for abiding compassion, for holding one another accountable, for genuine prayer, for giving space, for encouragement, for forgiveness, for making space for each of us to lead from our own selves, for reaching out, for speaking truth, for sharing the silence, for living in the messy, for reminding one another of God’s promise that all will be made new in Christ through the Holy Spirit and we are witnesses that all of creation - each and every human- is beloved and set free in the love of Jesus.
Below are some photos of colleagues in the COB and our time together - of the ragged and regular humans that our church has elected and God uses right now to lead us in sharing the Good News.
