This sermon was written after actions of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly on Friday, August 21st. It is partially in response to the resolutions passed and the gospel assigned for Proper 16 B, John 6:56-69. Full texts of the resolutions and Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson’s response can be found on the ELCA website (www.elca.org).
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Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I spent Friday in front of my computer watching the Churchwide assembly. It was Friday morning and afternoon that these ministry policies were discussed and voted on. The lines at the 12 microphones were long, both the green side, for those in favor of the resolution, and the red side, those opposing the resolution, both sides equally passionate about what they were saying. My heart ached for those in attendance, especially those I know, brothers and sisters from our SOS and from our congregation, Don T. Watching from a computer screen I could feel the tension in my neck and shoulders, I’m sure those in attendance could feel the weight of the world upon their shoulders.

The news media was outside, waiting to report to the world what decisions were made. Sadly, they would only report on one resolution. The Associated Press made it sound like that was the ONLY reason the Lutherans were in Assembly in Minneapolis – many other good things have been done and ministries approved. You see, I believe – and I know others do too – that who we are as ELCA Lutheran Christians is more than our views and opinions of human sexuality. The ELCA website reports that this church has gathered in assembly “to witness to God’s work in the world and renew this church’s commitment to service.”

You know, that’s who we are as one congregation among many in the ELCA --- witnessing to God’s work in the world and committing ourselves to service --- God’s Work, Our Hands.

As I reflect on the four days before Friday when I sat in front of the computer watching the assembly, I thought what did we do – Faith Lutheran – Monday through Thursday? On Monday we gathered “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life,” as a congregation with the family of Ed R. to celebrate his 84 years of life – to stand alongside of his wife and son and daughter in their grief, to offer comfort and prayers of support.

Because of generous giving to the Pastor’s Discretionary fund, I met all day Wednesday and most of the day Thursday with 18 families to offer assistance with rent, water and electric bills. And as I met with them, I sensed their growing frustration with job hunting, and decreased work hours, growing frustration and a diminishing of hope. For these 18 families a little bit of that dark cloud was lifted and a little ray of light was shining to reveal some hope in their lives.

And on Thursday we shared in the ministry of hospitality – Paul E., Barb P., Keith E., Harlene R., and Heather F. joined other churches and businesses at Wilmington College to greet and welcome incoming Freshmen at Wilmington College.

And on Wednesday our Food Pantry volunteers, Amy L., Terri & Delaney R., Allison B., Heather and Sarah F., Linda C., and Linda E., served almost 150 people at the food pantry.

That’s some of what we did this week – with gifts of compassion and mercy, gifts of generosity, gifts of service, gifts of hospitality, and I don’t know about you, but that’s how I want to be known, not what the AP has to say about one resolution at a weeklong churchwide assembly.

But it’s not about me; and it’s not about you. It’s about Christ and making Christ known. It’s about making known the amazing grace and love that Christ has for the world, for all people.

After the voting results of resolution 4, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson took the opportunity to speak pastorally to the assembly. I quickly grabbed my paper and pencil to take notes and hoped I would not lose my internet connection as I had sporadically throughout the afternoon.

From my notes, Bishop Hanson said something like this:
I’ve thought about what I might say as if I were going to a family or a group of people experiencing a loss – and I would read from Romans 8: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And if I were going to a family or group who at one time wondered if they belonged, now are experiencing a clear affirmation that they belonged, that though they had been cut off were now restored, I would read from Ephesians 2: But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; … you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

And if these two groups were together, I would read from Colossians 2:12-15a As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.”

Bishop Hanson concluded by saying we meet one another not in our agreements or disagreements but at the foot of the cross – where God is faithful, where Christ is present, and where, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are one in Christ.

And I would say that I agree with our Bishop --- we meet one another not in our agreements --- because there are many issues on which we do not agree ---but we meet at the foot of the cross. We meet where our Lord Jesus draws us together, and by his blood poured out for us we are saved. We are not saved by what we do or think, but we are saved by what Christ has done for us, and at his cross --- with Jesus Christ crucified and risen --- at the center --- I believe there’s room for all. With Jesus Christ at the center of our faith, we keep our eyes on Jesus and not on the boundaries - we do not have to be the keepers of the door or the keepers of the boundary deciding who is allowed in and who is not.

Today’s gospel reading from John 6 is the culmination of what has happened over the last 5 weeks of reading from this chapter. It began with great crowds listening to Jesus and the feeding of the multitudes with the fish and the loaves. Jesus continued to teach about the bread from heaven and about those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will have eternal life. And the teaching got difficult. And here in these verses we read how it was too much for many to take, and they began to turn away and they were leaving Jesus. And then Jesus turns to the 12 and he asks, “What about you? Do you also wish to go away?” And Simon Peter responds, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”