From: JIM KELSEY <JIM.KELSEY@ecunet.org>
Subject: ELCA Bishops
Date: 8 Jan 2004 15:30:53 -0500
To: AAAA_UP_CHAT.topic@ecunet.org
From: Jim Kelsey

I'm writing this note just to fill you in on what I have been up to the 
past couple of days. Monday through Wednesday this week (Jan 5-7) I was 
down in Chicago (at Mundelein Conference Center) meeting with the 65 or so 
bishops of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). I had been 
asked to represent the Episcopal Church at their annual "Bishops Academy". 
This year, their focus was Ministry, and in particular they were 
discussing the possibility of developing "Lay Presidency" (commissioning 
unordained persons to preside at services of Holy Communion). I was asked 
to represent the Episcopal Church both because of my involvement with the 
Standing Commission on Ministry Development (which developed the canonical 
revisions to Title III passed in Minneapolis at the General Convention 
last summer) and because they wanted to learn about our mutual ministry 
process in Northern Michigan. There was great interest amongst the 
Lutheran Bishops about what has been happening in the UP.

In addition to me, there were representatives from the Presbyterian 
Church, the United Church of Christ (UCC), and the Reformed Church of 
America (RCA) (which, as you no doubt know, is centered in Holland, 
Michigan). These are the "full communion partners" with the ELCA, and it 
was interesting to hear from them as well about what is unfolding in 
baptismal ministry development and local ministry development in each of 
their traditions. What I discovered (not surprisingly) is that what we 
are doing in our diocese is truly on the cutting edge of what almost every 
other denomination is working on as well. Each of us come out of our own 
traditions and polities, but all of us are seeking to develop 
collaborative and indigenous leadership to strengthen and complement the 
conventional seminary-trained leadership which for so long has been the 
norm in our several traditions.

It was really a fruitful couple of days. I learned a lot about how 
ministry is taking shape in other places and in other faith communities, 
and I found the group eager to hear about and to affirm the ministry we 
share in the Upper Peninsula.

As I type this, I am now on the plane, flying to San Antonio, for the 
first meeting of the Standing Commission on Ministry Development since the 
General Convention. I'll return to the diocese on Sunday. I'll let you 
know what happens at that meeting as well. Should be an interesting 
session.

Jim