Lutheran Week 2019
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Lutheran Week 2019 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” –Galatians 5:16, 22-23 The Westin Indianapolis 241 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 2 Table of Contents Welcome .........................................................................................................................................5 Walking by the Spirit, with the Fruit of the Spirit ..................................................................7 Core Values .....................................................................................................................................9 Leadership ....................................................................................................................................10 Plenary Session Speakers & Preachers ..................................................................................14 Chaplain ........................................................................................................................................22 Devotional Leaders .....................................................................................................................22 Lutheran Week Planning Team ................................................................................................23 Ministry Expo ...............................................................................................................................24 Ventures in Youth Ministry Symposium Schedule ........................................................................................................................................25 Women of the North American Lutheran Church Schedule ........................................................................................................................................26 Braaten-Benne Lectures in Theology Schedule ........................................................................................................................................28 Lecture I Ancillary ......................................................................................................................30 Mission Festival Schedule ........................................................................................................................................32 Global Workers ............................................................................................................................33 Breakout Sessions .......................................................................................................................36 Session Information and Breakout Notes ..............................................................................55 Mission District Meeting Information & Directions ............................................................59 Action Steps .................................................................................................................................67 Convocation Proposed Convocation Agenda ...............................................................................................70 Proposed Rules of Procedure ...................................................................................................73 Reports ..........................................................................................................................................75 2020 Budget ............................................................................................................................. 118 3 Appendix Upcoming Events .................................................................................................................... 159 Resources .................................................................................................................................. 160 Notes ......................................................................................................................................... 184 4 A Welcome From Bishop John Bradosky The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) Lutheran Week is filled with opportunities to engage pastors and laity from across this church in enriching, encouraging, nourishing and strengthening our individual faith and our life together. There is something for everyone, from our youth symposium, introduction to NALC Life-to-Life Discipleship, women’s gathering, theological lectures and mission festival to our highly anticipated Convocation. Throughout this time together we will be focused on “Walking by the Spirit, with the Fruit of the Spirit.” We will do more than talk about the Holy Spirit. We will be trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our future as we close our time together by installing the new bishop of this church body. To that same Holy Spirit, we entrust the election process, the new bishop and our entire church. We are glad you have joined us for this important moment in the history of the North American Lutheran Church. Welcome to Lutheran Week 2019, The Rev. John F. Bradosky Bishop 5 A Welcome From the Heartland Mission District Welcome to Indianapolis! We’re excited to have Lutheran Week 2019 in the Heartland Mission District of the North American Lutheran Church. We have mission centers close to Chicago, east to Fort Wayne, in the center of Indiana and one in Kentucky. As are all mission districts, ours is made up of vibrant people of God who take the Great Commission seriously. We work to do mission and outreach in our own communities, but gather centrally at our mission district convocation to do a joint project; this year we assembled baby kits for Lutheran World Relief (LWR). We take joy in supporting one another through the sharing of resources, ideas and prayer. As part of our focus on service, our host congregations are eager to provide hospitality this week. If you have any questions, look for the red vests and red polo shirts. In ministry together, The Rev. Pam Thorson Heartland Mission District, Dean 6 Walking by the Spirit, with the Fruit of the Spirit As anyone who has attended an NALC Lutheran Week will tell you, it is a week full of the Word of God; faithful teaching and learning; practical, useful information related to real life in congregation, ministry and home! Together the Ventures in Youth Ministry Symposium, Women of the NALC Annual Gathering, Carl E. Braaten-Robert D. Benne Lectures in Theology, Mission Festival and Convocation allow us to reflect upon, guide and shape our mission and ministry! Be prepared to be filled, encouraged and inspired as the NALC meets for Lutheran Week! Continuing our six-year focus on the Holy Trinity, our theme for the 2019 Lutheran Week is the Holy Spirit: “Walking by the Spirit, with the Fruit of the Spirit.” The theme Scripture verse is Galatians 5:16-23: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (ESV). In his Commentary on Galatians, Martin Luther introduces this section speaking of Verse 16: With this verse Paul explains how he wants this sentence to be understood: By love serve one another. When I bid you to love one another, this is what I mean and require, “Walk in the Spirit.” I know very well you will not fulfill the Law, because you are sinners as long as you live. Nevertheless, you should endeavor to walk in the Spirit, i.e., fight against the flesh and follow the leads of the Holy Ghost. 7 It is quite apparent that Paul had not forgotten the doctrine of justification, for in bidding the Galatians to walk in the Spirit he at the same time denies that good works can justify. “When I speak of the fulfilling of the Law I do not mean to say that you are justified by the Law. All I mean to say is that you should take the Spirit for your guide and resist the flesh. That is the most you shall ever be able to do. Obey the Spirit and fight against the flesh.” This week, we will be learning what it means for us to walk in the Spirit; to take the Spirit for our guide and resist the flesh. It involves both resisting and rejecting the works of the flesh while adopting and encouraging the fruit of the Spirit! As we walk together, let us pray, “Come, Holy Spirit. Be our guide and our strength. Amen!” 8 Core Values Christ Centered We confess the apostolic faith in Jesus Christ according to the Holy Scriptures. We affirm the authority of the Scriptures as the authoritative source and norm, “according to which all doctrines should and must be judged” (Formula of Concord). We accept the ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran Confessions as true witnesses to the Word of God. Mission Driven We believe that the mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel and to make disciples for Christ. We believe