The Canadian Lutheran January/February 2022 by The Canadian Lutheran

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VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

To the Ends of the

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THANK YOU! In a year of great need, your gifts have changed lives! Your partnership was vital in 2021. As the world faced a second year of challenges brought on by COVID-19, you did not forget those who are in need of nutritious food, clean water and their basic rights — thank you.

Your generosity is saving lives. To learn more about how you made a difference in 2021, visit clwr.org

CONTENTS

FEATURES W W W.C A N A D I A N L U T H E R A N . C A Volume 37 Number 1 WWW.CANADIANLUTHERAN.CA

January/February 2022

Each One Reach One Cambodia Lutherans Living Boldly During COVID-19 Decline and Growth: The Lutheran World Today

6 9 12

VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

DEPARTMENTS table talk

To the Ends of the Earth

regional pastors To the Ends of the

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Cover Art by Alex Steinke

The Canadian Lutheran is the national publication of Lutheran Church–Canada, published in Winnipeg six times per year: January/ February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December under the auspices of the Board of Directors (Committee for Communication and Technology). ISSN #0383-4247 Member: Canadian Christian Communicators Association Editor: Mathew Block Design: Alex Steinke Advertising: Angela Honey Subscriptions: $30/yr Or Buy-One-Gift-One: $50/yr Email: a.honey@lutheranchurch.ca All material and advertising should be in the office of The Canadian Lutheran five weeks prior to publication date. Advertising rate card available upon request. The Canadian Lutheran 3074 Portage Ave. Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 Telephone: 204-895-3433 FAX: 204-897-4319 Email: editor@lutheranchurch.ca Materials published in The Canadian Lutheran, with the exception of Letters to the Editor, news reports, and advertising, receive doctrinal review and approval before publication. Contents of supplements are the responsibility of the organization purchasing the space. ©2022 Lutheran Church–Canada. Reproduction of a single article or column for parish use does not require the permission of The Canadian Lutheran. Such reproductions, however, should credit The Canadian Lutheran as the source. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

West: A Cure for the Winter Doldrums Central: Generations Come and Go East: Nothing New this New Year

22 24 26

president’s Guest Rich or Poor

NEWS SECTIONS International news

national news

Trial begins for Finnish Bishop, MP accused of hate crimes • Guatemalan Lutherans mourn death of former president

Slate of nominees for LCC’s 2022 Synod Convention announced • Purpose & Priority Planning Process Update

west region

Installation at Mt. Calvary

central region

Local radio station interviews Rev. Klages

east region

Warm feet for the streets

mission news

LCC Urges Prayer for Ukraine • Rebuilding in Ukraine

education news

Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Norway visits CLTS • CLS hosts Winter Quest Course: Intentional Mission

21 23 25 27 28

announcements

supplement

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

Support the publication of

advertiSe with us The Canadian Lutheran sells advertising space to offset the cost of printing and shipping the magazine to subscribers. For more information, please contact:

Angela Honey, Advertising Manager a.honey@lutheranchurch.ca

share it with a friend All LCC congregations receive The Canadian Lutheran free of charge. When you ’re finished with your copy of the latest issue, rather than recycling it to the bin, consider sharing it with a friend and bookmarking an article that they might find interesting! If you are not a member of an LCC congregation, subscriptions to the print magazine are available for $30/year or you can “Buy-One/Gift-One” for $50/year ($25 each). For subscriptions, please contact:

Angela Honey, Advertising Manager a.honey@lutheranchurch.ca

tiny talks grow big faith! Tiny Talks with Jesus is a collection of short devotions that teach the basics of the Christian Faith! This booklet is a tool for Parents, Grandparents, Teachers and Pastors too! Use it for home devotions, family prayers or Sunday School to share the Joy of the Good News that God loves us in Christ

Jesus our Saviour!

To order this booklet and other Lutheran Hour Ministry resources - contact us at 1-800-555-6236, helpful@lll.ca or visit lll.ca!

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

TABLE TALK

To the Ends of the Earth by Mathew Block

“I

n the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). So begins the very first verse of Scripture. This mighty God who needs nothing Himself nevertheless chooses to create a world with which He may share His love—to create a world that He may bless. And we read that His creation was “very good” indeed (1:31). It did not stay that way, of course; the whole world was corrupted by the fall into sin by our first parents. Adam’s fall is earth’s fall; in fact, his very name—Adam—is related to the Hebrew word for “earth.” He is, after all, made from the dust of the earth (2:7). And when He is expelled from paradise, God tells him that the earth itself is cursed because of him (3:17). God’s good world is left broken by the fall. But He does not therefore abandon it. No, He still loves the world. And so, He puts in motion a plan to rescue His fallen creation. He sets apart for Himself a holy people, through whom His salvation will come. But even as He sets them apart, He makes it clear that that they are not set apart for themselves; instead, they will be the vehicle through which He brings salvation to the entire world. “In your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,” God promises Abraham (Genesis 22:18). He promises the same to Isaac (26:4) and to Jacob (28:14). In this way, the world is slowly prepared for the coming Messiah—the one of whom Isaiah writes, “I will make You as a light for the nations, that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (49:6). And many long years

later, He comes. God takes on flesh— He becomes a man, like Adam, and steps down into the world He Himself made (John 1:10). Jesus comes to save earth—to rectify what has gone wrong. “For God so loved the world,” as St. John says, “that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And having come to earth, He descends deeper still, content not only to walk upon the ground from which man was made but deigning further to be buried within it. Like a grain of wheat, He is planted in the dust; He “falls into the earth and dies” (John 12:24). But the ground cursed through Adam’s sin could not contain Him; He springs forth in new life, shooting up to bear abundant fruit—the beginning of a new paradise in which we may walk with God again. His death unworks death. His descent into the broken earth heals it. And as the first Adam’s trespass brought the entire world to ruin, so now this new Adam’s sacrifice restores it to its former vitality. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive,” St. Paul writes (1 Corinthians 15:22). New life spreads out from Calvary over all the earth; from out of the empty tomb, new life is growing. We who have been received by Christ into His new creation are called to bear witness to it—to share the love of God for the world with the world. As Jesus sent forth His disciples at the ascension, He sends out His Church even now, saying: “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:18).

In this issue, we reflect on the Gospel’s progress towards the ends of the earth. Rev. Dr. William Mundt recounts for us the expansion of the Church in the time of the apostles, drawing out the lessons it has for us in evangelism today (page six). Rev. J.P. Cima highlights the ongoing outreach of our partner church in Cambodia (page nine). And our third feature provides us with a glimpse at the changing Lutheran world in our time, as churches decline in the West but expand dramatically in places like Africa (page twelve). The mission of the Church goes on. And as it does, we take comfort in the words of David: “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1). All people are already God’s people; we are asked merely to remind them of this fact, and to tell them what God has done for them in Christ Jesus. One day He will return to this world, and then the mission of the Church will be at an end. At that time, He will gather in the harvest which has been sown throughout the world. For “He will send out the angels,” St. Mark writes, “and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven” (Mark 13:27). And then this old broken earth shall finally pass away (13:31); the new heavens and the new earth will be at hand. And it will be very good indeed. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” - Isaiah 65:17

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

Each One Reach One

by William Mundt

n abbreviated history of missions is this: Peter wrote, “Be prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). And believers were prepared to make a defence. And they did. Believers considered it an honour and a privilege to talk about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and the difference Christ made in their lives. Initially, mission was a lot of “each one reach one.” Christians talked about their faith with relatives, friends, employers (even slaves witnessed to their masters), and acquaintances so much that pagans complained. Celsus, an outspoken critic, objected to Christian craftsmen sharing their faith while at work in private homes, as if they knew better than the head of the house what was true. When severe persecution scattered all but the apostles, “those who were scattered went about preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4). Christian evangelism was unique in this way. Milton Rudnick, former president at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, provides insights in his 1984 book Speaking the Gospel Through the Ages. “From the very beginning,” he writes, “people who encountered Jesus

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

were moved to tell others about Him.” The most important method of evangelism was personal conversation. As Peter said, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19). As the church grew, evangelism became more organized. Public preaching became a standard and effective outreach. Prospective Christians were invited to attend worship (at least portions of the service). Great preachers attracted even non-Christians. Literature was used extensively. Apologetic writings defended the faith against false accusations. Evangelistic tracts pleaded with readers, Rudnick says, to “accept Christ as a superior alternative.” The impulse to share was reinforced by the command to share. Jesus sent out not only the Twelve but other disciples too (Luke 10). After His resurrection, the command to tell was emphatically stressed (Matthew 28:19-20). Initially, the strategy seems to have been “tell everyone.” “In a way,” Rudnick notes, “the evangelizing of the Roman world just happened as Christians shared their faith wherever they happened to be.” There was more to it than just that, of course: mission trips were planned, workers commissioned and sent out, letters (epistles) written and circulated,

oversight set up for established congregations, and so forth. Other things drew attention too. Pentecost saw “added that day about three thousand souls” (2:41). Signs and wonders, such as Peter healing a lame man (Acts 3) drew attention too—as did Christians’ communal lifestyle. Jesus had promised: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Erich Beyreuther reminds us that Christianity was visibly different from other religions in three particular ways: 1) Christians spoke of one God, not of gods; 2) this God was gracious, not arbitrary; and 3) faith had an impact on one’s social and personal life. And when opposition arose, a Christian’s often calm acceptance of death—or, as in Stephen’s martyrdom, a plea for God to forgive his executioners (Acts 7)—provided a powerful witness. Miracles often accompanied arrests: Peter was imprisoned but freed by an angel; Herod was struck dead. The result? That often-reoccurring line: “But the Word of the Lord grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:24). Paul is perhaps the greatest missionary of all. As a Pharisee, he persecuted the church massively and was known and feared because of it: “Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:3). On the way to Damascus, Jesus stopped him in his tracks. After Ananias restored his sight and baptized him, Saul, completely transformed and baptized, applied his zeal to proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. In Chapter 13 of Acts, we come to the first of Paul’s missionary journeys. This took him to Cyprus, Paphos (where he was renamed Paul – see Acts 13:9), Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, where the Galatian church was founded. During this journey, he wrote to encourage the Galatians and to correct a false understanding of the Gospel which suggested one needed Christ plus the Law to be saved.

The second journey (49-52 A.D. – see Acts 15:36-18:21) took him to Philippi, Thesassalonica, Beroea, Athens, and Corinth. He often retraced his steps to strengthen, correct, and encourage believers. During these journeys, Paul wrote multiple letters that became known as the epistles (including 1 and 2 Thessalonians) because he had to leave the people in the midst of persecution and was not there to walk through it with them. On Paul’s third journey (53-57 A.D. – see Acts 18:23-21:14), he encouraged the churches planted on his first two journeys. He stayed in Ephesus two to three years. Other stops included Galatia, Phrygia, and Caesarea, where he spent two years in prison. He ended up in prison in Rome (Acts 18:22-28:31). But even here he continued to preach and teach “quite openly and unhindered” (Acts 28:31). The story in Acts ends without telling us what happened to him, although tradition has it that he was released (cf. 2 Timothy 4:16-18). His approach in each case was the same as Jesus’ directive to His disciples: “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons” (Matthew 10). So, Paul began in the synagogues since the Jews knew the prophecies and eagerly awaited the Messiah. He began with reminders of God’s grace and mercy and promises. He preached (once so long that a young man fell asleep and fell out of a window – see Acts 20:7). He argued (see Acts 17:2). Some were persuaded and believed. Others, at Beroea, studied the Scriptures for themselves to test his words. Inevitably, some Jews got jealous and tried to put a stop to Paul’s success, often leading to arrest. There were also internal struggles. In Antioch, a dispute arose over how Jewish one had to be in order to be a Christian (not unlike old arguments about how German one had to be to be a good Lutheran). Some preached

Evangelism

is more of an attitude than a program.

•

There is no one inspired way of “doing evangelism.” Robert Kolb in A Lutheran Understanding of Evangelism tells us: “In the early church when presenting the Gospel to the Jew, the approach was through Old Testament fulfillment, or through the feeling of guilt. When presenting the Gospel to the Greek the avenue of approach was his loneliness, a purpose to life, Christ as the Logos and the Lord.”

•

The challenge remains fo r a l l C h r i s t i a n s t o “b e evangelizing,” for each one to reach one. And this impetus comes from the Gospel: "We love because He first loved us" (I John 4:19).

•

The Gospel of John and the first Epistle of John teach us much concerning evangelism.

***

The book of Acts tells us how the Christian Church grew after Christ’s Ascension. During the first five centuries of its existence the Christian church experienced spectacular growth. Numerically, it increased from about 4,000 followers after Jesus’ resurrection to 43.4 million nominal adherents representing 22.4 percent of the world population early in the sixth century A.D. Geographically, it extended from its starting point in Palestine to all parts of the Roman Empire and beyond. Not long after Emperor Constantine’s conversion, Christianity would become the only legal religion by the end of the fourth century. Paganism and heresy were repressed, and a flood of converts entered the Church. “It was now safe, even advantageous, to be a Christian,” as Rudnick writes.

*** that Gentiles must be circumcised and follow Jewish traditions. A council (the first church convention?) in Jerusalem decided: “we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19-20). After this Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement about John Mark, who had deserted them during their first journey. In the end, they went their separate ways––Barnabas took John with him and Paul took Silas. Paul understood the culture and traditions he was stepping into. In Acts 17, he begins reasoning with Greek philosophers, speaking to them in a familiar way. His address to the Athenians in Acts 17 provides useful hints for outreach approaches: 1. He went where the people were and where public speaking was common (v. 22). 2. He began with a compliment, commenting on how religious the people were. 3. He drew their attention to their own desire for more revelation (v. 23). 4. He offered to “fill in the gaps” in their knowledge. 5. He gave a concise presentation including all the main points. 6. When “some scoffed” (v. 32), he left but remained open to further discussion. 7. He rejoiced that some did become believers (v. 33). External factors aided this work of evangelism: 1) Roman peace and order let people travel freely and safely; 2) There was a common language (Greek) throughout the empire; 3) Other religions were familiar with stories of dying and rising gods as well as rites similar to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 4) Jews had been scattered far and wide throughout the Middle East as prisoners of war or businessmen. There was also formidable resistance. Religious, cultural, and political opposition culminated in persecution. Doctrinal controversies disrupted the Christian community and confused outsiders. Apathy and worldliness periodically

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

set in. Jewish antagonism remained aggressive for 150 years after Paul. Deeply offensive to them was preaching that the Messiah had already come and that Christians were the new Israel. Platonic thinkers found it unbelievable that a god would leave the heavens to live on earth, and they disdained the concept of a resurrection. Greeks were repelled by how new Christianity was. The cross and Christ crucified were regarded as absurd (see 1 Corinthians 1). Intellectuals were contemptuous of truth claims by unlearned people, such as former fishermen (see Acts 4). Strict moral demands seemed silly and were virtually unknown in other religions. Christians seemed anti-social because they did not attend the theatres or games and refused to serve as soldiers or magistrates. And there was evangelistic competition; Judaism was remarkably zealous, as Jesus Himself notes on one occasion: “For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte” (Matthew 23:15). In brief, anyone convinced of a point of view wanted to find followers and sought ways to convince others. The same is still true. When King Solomon observed that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), he was not talking about evangelism and mission—but he could have been. Every belief system in history and the world has made efforts to recruit and retain followers, from Judaism to pagan religions, communism to cancel culture. It is good to study the various approaches different faiths and philosophies have used historically to promote their system of thought and to supplant existing ones—so that we might be both “prepared to make a defense” against others as well as to clearly and effectively “share the hope” of the Gospel within us.

rev. dr. William Mundt

is professor emeritus of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario.

CAMBODIAN LUTHERANS LIVING

boldly DURING COVID-19 BY J.P. CIMA

n the face of it, Cambodia has fared well during the COVID-19 pandemic. With just over 120,000 reported cases and 3,000 deaths in a country of 16.7 million people, Cambodia’s infection rates are far below neighbouring countries. Moreover, the Royal Government of Cambodia has conducted a remarkably successful vaccination campaign to protect its citizens; with more than 80 percent of the total population having received two jabs, Cambodia is among the most vaccinated countries in the world. But these numbers betray the devastating impacts that COVID-19 has had on Cambodia. Heavily dependent on tourism and exports, as well as foreign aid and investment, the restricted movement of both goods and

people due to the pandemic has put stress on Cambodia’s fragile economy. Unemployment and underemployment continue to rise, contributing to poverty rates that exceed pre-pandemic levels. Prolonged school closures and poor accessibility to online education have left many students stranded and at high risk of drop out. Even as individual Christian families struggle with these challenges, churches, too, have been directly and indirectly affected by the pandemic and the havoc it has wreaked. At precisely the time when people are most in material and spiritual need, the church has been most hampered in its ability to meet those needs. On-again-offagain and constantly changing restrictions on religious gatherings have made it difficult for Cambodian pastors, THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

most of whom are already stretched thin working other jobs to support their families, to find ways to meet with and care for their members. After a particularly severe outbreak of COVID-19 in February 2021, congregations in Phnom Penh were prohibited from meeting together for eight months uninterrupted. And yet, as communities whom God has called to care for and nurture each other no matter the circumstances, churches in Cambodia have been bold to reach both in and out during these trying times.

and non-Christians alike. Each family, located in an area with a local CLC congregation, received a package with a month’s worth of food staples—rice, noodles, oil, fish sauce, and sardines. At most distribution sites, training for basic COVID-19 awareness and prevention was provided along with basic hygiene supplies. Most importantly, at all distribution sites God’s Word of love and hope in Jesus Christ was proclaimed alongside the material gifts. Rev. Phanna, who was also the project manager for the food aid, explains: “The food aid that the

20+ CONGREGATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE—IN BOTH WORD AND DEED—THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

In the face of unemployment and increasing poverty, the Cambodia Lutheran Church (CLC), a collection of 20+ congregations throughout the country, saw an opportunity to share—in both word and deed—the love of God in Christ Jesus. “During the pandemic, many people in Cambodia were facing food shortages because COVID-19 came all of a sudden,” says Rev. Bun Phanna, a CLC Board member. In partnership with several international Lutheran organizations, including Lutheran Church–Canada, the CLC provided food aid to more than 350 vulnerable families throughout the country, including Christians

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

Cambodia Lutheran Church has distributed has played a vital role in the lives of the people, providing them with hope. Along with food we have also provided them with the spiritual food of the Gospel to let them know of God’s love and that He is still in control.” On a smaller scale, local churches are also responding creatively. Rev. Bun Sopheap, pastor of Preach Lutheran Church in rural Kampot Province and Chairperson for the CLC, established a rice bank. “I wanted to help not only our church members but also local people in the community who have been facing critical problems due to the widespread COVID-19 pandemic,” reflects Rev. Sopheap. A store of rice is kept on his church’s property, from which needy families can borrow and then pay back without interest over one year. This simple project is just the sort of targeted initiative that can keep struggling families from falling over the brink. To date, Rev. Sopheap’s rice bank has lent more than 1,500 kg of rice to local community members. Beyond meeting a real need, these tangible gifts of love demonstrate to the wider society the servant heart of the Cambodian Christian community, a religious minority comprising only one to two percent of the population. “I have seen the rice bank make a difference in the community,” Rev. Sopheap explains. “It has brought the good news to locals in the community, so that they can see that the God of Christianity is always merciful and cares for the hungry.” The needs are not only material but also spiritual. Rev. Un Songim is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. During the pandemic, he

has recognized both challenges and opportunities. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the church could not meet for large portions of 2020 and 2021. Rev. Songim reflects, “Sometimes, I felt like I was losing a sense of living together as a community or society when the government locked down the city.” Nonetheless, Rev. Songim worked with church youth and musicians to provide regular online worship services, including live broadcasts and interactive Zoom meetings for prayer, song, and the teaching of God’s Word. He also worked to strengthen and establish smaller groups within the church that could meet in-person within government regulations. Even in these virtual and small venues, people could still “encourage and comfort each other with the love of Christ,” says Rev. Songim. As the church closures dragged on, however, Rev. Songim was particularly concerned at how long it had been since most church members had received the Lord’s Supper. To meet this vital need, he announced a two-hour period in which members could drop by in a staggered fashion (so as to abide by government regulations) for a short liturgy, a homily from God’s Word, and to receive the body and blood of Christ. “It is stressful when COVID-19 distances me from being together with others,” Rev. Songim explains, and that reminds us all the more our need for the Sacrament—a tangible reminder that, in ordinary bread and wine, we receive our Lord’s Body and Blood. That Jesus is still Immanuel—“God with us.” By the end of 2021, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen declared that Cambodia was to “live in the new normal,” maintaining basic precautions while fully reopening the country, including the easing of travel restrictions and the eventual reopening of schools at all levels. After an eight-month closure, churches have been permitted to gather again since October 2021. Across the country, people rejoiced as places of business opened their

doors and children went back to school. Churches were delighted to be able to celebrate Christmas, a critical time for outreach. But that new normal is still a tenuous prospect given the persistent struggles with COVID-19 around the world. A recent World Bank report on Cambodia warns: “Risks remain tilted to the downside. Despite accelerated vaccination progress, risks of further disruptions remain high.... The possibility of new or existing variants of the virus spreading in the country could lead to a possible resurgence in new cases. A slowdown in global demand could hurt export-oriented sectors of the economy, while the tourism sector may recover even more slowly than expected.” The recent global spread of Omicron has underscored these risks. Even as they pray for a stop to the pandemic and its devastating effects, Cambodian Christians’ response to the COVID-19 crisis thus far shows that they will live boldly to announce and demonstrate the love of God in Christ Jesus, no matter what the “new normal” turns out to be. Please pray for Revs. Phanna, Sopheap, and Songim, along with the Cambodia Lutheran Church, as well as all Christians throughout the country, that God would sustain and strengthen them to be salt and light for just this time. And join Rev. Phanna in trusting that: “God is in control despite the many difficulties that we are facing. So, we can trust in His promise and saving work for us.”

REV. J.P. CIMA IS A MISSIONARY TO CAMBODIA WITH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD. THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

DECLINE AND GROWTH: A L O O K AT T H E L U T H E R A N W O R L D T O D AY

by Mathew Block

f I ask you to describe a typical Lutheran, what do you imagine? Do you assume it would be someone of German or Scandinavian descent? If so, think again. Today, the typical Lutheran—at least the one actually in church on Sunday morning—is far more likely to be someone from Africa. In fact, the world’s largest Lutheran church body today is in Ethiopia. A lot has changed in the five centuries since the Reformation began. From Wittenberg, Martin Luther’s ideas spread throughout Europe. The Lutheran church which sprang up in response established deep roots in Germany as well as in the Nordic nations and Baltic provinces. Over the next few centuries, Lutherans would eventually go on to proclaim the Gospel in other lands—other continents—leading to the birth of Lutheran missions and churches throughout the world. As time went on, however, not all of these churches remained faithful to their Lutheran heritage—nor to the Scriptures which inspired the Reformation. Church mergers led to a decline (or sometimes even a ban) on

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

Lutheran teaching and practice. New theologians arose who questioned the historicity of the Bible. Less and less emphasis was placed on the Lutheran Confessions as authoritative in the life of the church. Fast-forward to today, and we find state and mainline Lutheran churches which sometimes seem to focus more on contemporary politics than on Jesus Himself.

The situation in Europe and North America The departure from biblical teaching by European Lutheran state churches has resulted in a steady decline in religiosity among rank-and-file members. After all, if what you’re taught from the pulpit isn’t substantially different than what contemporary culture already tells you, why bother going? Many of these people are still counted as members by the state church for historic reasons; but they

never or seldom attend. The result in Europe is church bodies which look large on paper but whose buildings are surprisingly empty come Sunday morning. Without church taxes and continued government support, many of these state churches would find it impossible to continue. Consider, for example, Finland, historically a majorityLutheran country. Even today the national church—the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland—officially counts 3.74 million members, or 67.8 percent of the nation’s entire population. But almost none of these attend church. The result is cavernous cathedrals with just a few dozen worshippers in attendance at Divine Service. The population at large has abandoned the church. That goes a long way to explaining how a Lutheran bishop in Finland has ended up on trial for his Christian faith. Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF)—a partner church of Lutheran Church–Canada—along with Finnish Member of Parliament, Dr. Päivi Räsänen, have been charged with hate crimes for publishing a booklet outlining historic Christian teaching on human sexuality. And there is no outcry, despite the country’s purportedly majority-Lutheran population. We see the same decline at work in mainline Lutheranism in North America. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) stopped publishing its statistics online in 2015, but the Lutheran World Federation reports that, as of 2019, the ELCIC had 95,000 members. That’s down more than a third since 2009’s report of 148,474 members. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), meanwhile, reports a membership of 3.14 million members as of 2020—a drop of more than a million members over ten years (from 4.27 million in 2010). The trajectory is so concerning that the ELCA itself has estimated it will have fewer than 67,000 members total in the United States by 2050—with fewer than 16,000 people in worship as early as 2041. Of course, membership loss is not just affecting mainline Protestant churches; a similar story is taking place in North America’s confessional Lutheran churches, albeit far less precipitously. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, for example, reports a membership of 1.86 million members in its 2020 Annual Report, down 18 percent from 2010’s membership of nearly 2.28 million members. Our own church body, Lutheran Church–Canada, meanwhile, has dropped to 51,640 members as of 2019 from 68,735 in 2009—a drop of nearly 25 percent over ten years.

To be sure, the decline of confessional Lutheranism in North America is slower than that of our mainline counterparts. That’s not particularly surprising: studies have shown that denominations which are more conservative theologically and which hold a higher view of biblical authority have greater resisting power to the effects of declining religiosity in wider society. Confessional Lutherans take pride in our solid grounding in the authority of Scripture and the Book of Concord—and rightly we should. But we have not always passed on that faith as diligently as we should. Our membership losses are a rebuke to our failure over many decades to provide rigorous catechesis and Christian formation to our members, especially our youth. It also speaks to a failure on our part to equip members to winsomely share the Gospel with their neighbours.

Further Afield When we look at North America and Europe, it’s easy to become depressed. But the Lutheran story is far from over; it’s just that the main drama has shifted elsewhere. The Lutheran church is growing, and growing dramatically, in other parts of the world. We’ve already said that the largest Lutheran church body in the world is in Ethiopia. But the story of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) is itself something of a miracle. At its founding in 1959, it counted about 20,000 members. When the country fell to communism, the church suffered brutal persecution; even the church’s General Secretary, Gudina Tumsa, was murdered in 1979. But the church not only survived; it grew. By 2007, the EECMY had nearly 2.3 million members. In 2013, that number had grown to more than 6.1 million. Now, as of 2019, the church reports a membership of 10.4 million members. We see a similar miracle taking place in Madagascar. The Malagasy Lutheran Church (FLM) had 495,000 members in 1979. By 2001, that number had tripled to more than 1.5 million. As of 2019, the FLM has an estimated membership of 4 million people. Similar stories could be told of many other churches in many other nations, if on a smaller scale. In Mozambique, for example, a mission planted by Lutheran Church–Canada’s own Rev. Joseph Khembo Alfazema and now watered by our friends from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil is leading to a marvelous harvest of faith. In 2015, the mission

If I ask you to describe a typical Lutheran, what do you imagine?

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

had about 1,000 members. As of 2021, the Concordia Christ. He is present in Absolution, bestowing mercy on Christian Church in Mozambique has grown to nearly penitent sinners. He is present in the Lord’s Supper, filling 44,000 members! At that rate, they may well overtake and strengthening us with the life of Christ. our numbers in LCC in just a few years. For these reasons, we know that Christ is with us We can and should celebrate stories like these, as also, whatever challenges our own region of the Lutheran the Holy Spirit blesses the proclamation of the Gospel world might be experiencing. But even during this time in other lands and draws believers into the Christian of decline among Lutherans in the West, God sends church. We can and should glimmers of joy. In Germany, thank God for the blessings for example, our partner He is showering upon these church—the Independent people. And we can and Evangelical Lutheran For whether we are small or should pray to God that He Church—saw a multiyear large, rich or poor, joyful or would keep Christians in membership decline arrested these places—and in our own by the miraculous conversion suffering, we are all one body land—steadfast in Christ and of thousands of Iranian together in Jesus Christ... faithful to His Word despite and Afghani refugees to the challenges they face. Christianity. We in Canada And let us be clear: even have likewise been blessed growing churches like these to welcome numerous face challenges. A lack of immigrant groups into our financial resources. Military conflicts. The spread of church family—the Oromo in Winnipeg, for example, heterodox teaching. Theological pressure from outside and the Nuer in Edmonton, among many others. May organizations. The threat of Islamic terrorism. A lack of God continue to enrich our fellowship with these faithful qualified church workers. The difficulties of reaching Lutherans out of other lands! May He continue to draw us out in a pandemic, especially in places without reliable together as one body in Christ. internet access. You can learn more about that united body through Nor should we mistake the blessings of these growing the website of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) churches to mean that that all churches in Africa are at www.ilcouncil.org. LCC is a longtime member of this growing. Plenty face the same plateau or even decline worldwide association of confessional Lutheran churches. that we in the West face. They too are suffering hardship. If you want to learn more about your faithful Lutheran So, even as we “rejoice with those who rejoice,” we must sisters and brothers around the world, the ILC’s website also “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Pray is a good place to start. And the story has a lot of good that God will sustain those faithful pastors who continue news. In 2018, for example, the ILC welcomed 17 new to preach the Word of God clearly and administer the church bodies into membership—including the Malagasy sacraments rightly in the midst of an unwelcoming wider Lutheran Church, highlighted above. Several others have society. Pray for those faithful few who attend when others applied for membership since then, including most recently have fallen away. And, dear Holy Spirit, move them to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. The ILC’s pray for us too. faithfulness to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions makes it a fruitful and encouraging meeting ground for faithful Lutherans from across the world. May God bless the ministry of all such faithful Lutherans wherever they may be. For whether we are small The Lutheran world is certainly changing. And we or large, rich or poor, joyful or suffering, we are all one haven’t space here to fully explore the joys and challenges body together in Jesus Christ—one witness to the world facing Lutherans living in Asia or South America or Eastern of the One who came to save the world. Europe: joys, for example, like the launch of a new hymnal which will unite Spanish-speaking Lutherans across Latin America in closer partnership; challenges, for example, Mathew Block is editor of The Canadian like the hostility of non-Christian majorities in some Lutheran and Communications Manager for parts of Asia. But we thank God that, wherever Christians the International Lutheran Council. may gather, God has promised to be present among them with His grace and His mercy. He is present in the Word of Scripture, creating and sustaining faith. He is present in Baptism, granting forgiveness of sins and uniting us to

One Lord, One Body

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

INTERNATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca Trial begins for Finnish Bishop, MP accused of hate crimes

FINLAND - In a case that has been widely criticized as an infringement on religious freedom, Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola and Dr. Päivi Räsänen were brought to trial in Finland on January 24. The two face charges over the 2004 publication of a booklet authored by Dr. Räsänen (a Finnish Member of Parliament) which articulates historic Christian teaching on human sexuality. Bishop Pohjola (head of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, a partner church

of Lutheran Church–Canada), has been charged as the publisher of the work. Despite an earlier investigation by Helsinki Police which concluded there was nothing illegal about the text, Finland’s Prosecutor General decided to charge the pair with “incitement against a group of people”—a hate crime. In addition, Dr. Räsänen faces several additional charges, including for quoting Scripture in a tweet which criticized the state church for participating in Helsinki Pride. In 2021, the International Lutheran Council (ILC) published a letter signed by the bishops and presidents of dozens of Lutheran church bodies around the world protesting the decision to charge the pair for expressing biblical views on human sexuality. The ILC also sponsored an American tour on religious freedom in which Bishop Pohjola explained the situation taking place in Finland more clearly. The ILC encourages Christians everywhere to keep Dr. Räsänen and

Bishop Pohjola in prayer throughout the trial: Lord God, heavenly Father, You sent Your only begotten Son to stand before Pilate to bear witness to the truth; He sent out His twelve with the promise that they will stand before governors and kings for Your sake, and bear witness before them, for the Gospel must be proclaimed to all nations. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon Finnish Lutheran Bishop Juhana Pohjola and Dr. Päivi Räsänen, that they might continue to proclaim Your Word with courage and clarity as they stand before the Finnish civil court; that Your divine law might convict those who persecute them and that Your Holy Gospel and Spirit would turn their hearts to repentance and true faith; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. ILC News

Guatemalan Lutherans mourn death of former president

GUATEMALA - Guatemalan Lutherans are mourning the death of Rev. Dr. Abdiel Orozco Aguirre, former president of the Lutheran Church in Guatemala (ILG). Dr. Orozco

recently contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized after his condition worsened. He slipped into a coma, eventually passing away on January 22, 2021. Despite being the son of a pastor, Dr. Orozco came to the ministry later in life, having spent much of his life as a medical doctor and immunohematologist. He served as an advisor to Guatemala’s ministry of health and eventually became the head of the country’s network of blood banks. He was introduced to Lutheranism faith while completing doctoral studies in hematology in Houston, Texas, and became involved with Lutheran missions upon his return to Guatemala. After many years as a lay leader in the church, Dr. Orozco began studies

for the pastoral ministry in 2007 and was ordained into the ministry in 2012. In 2015, he was elected president of the ILG, a position to which he was reelected in 2017. He completed his tenure as ILG president in 2019. In addition to serving two terms as president of the ILG, Dr. Orozco also served as National Director for the church’s Lutheran Center for Theological Studies. Devotional services in honour of Dr. Orozco were held on January 24, 2021. A funeral service was held on January 25—the date on which Dr. Orozco would have turned 63 years old. To accommodate health regulations, the services were also broadcast online. ILC News

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

INTERNATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca ILC Latin America regional conference meets in Mexico

Participants in the ILC’s 2021 Latin America regional conference. MEXICO - The conference of the International Lutheran Council’s (ILC) Latin America Region met in Mexico City from December 2-5, 2021, following delays due to the pandemic. The conference brought together representatives from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina; the Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia; the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil; the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile; the Lutheran Church of Guatemala; the Lutheran Synod of Mexico; the Lutheran Church of Panama; the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay; the Evangelical Lutheran Church-Peru; the Lutheran Church of Uruguay; and the Lutheran Church of Venezuela. The ILC’s General Secretary Timothy Quill and Assistant to the General Secretary Roger James were also present, as were a number of other guests. Theological presentations were given on two themes: 1) “The Confessional Orthodox Lutheran Role in a Heterodox and Subjective Context” (Prof. Dr. Clóvis Prunzel of Concordia Seminary in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil); and 2) “Pastoral Vocation: Lack, Stimuli, and

Contextual Factors” (Prof. Dr. Sergio Schelske of Concordia Seminary in Buenos Aires, Argentina). Discussion centered on two areas: 1) the need to recruit a larger number of pastoral candidates; and 2) unique challenges related to opening new missions in each country. During the conference, the Christian Evangelical Lutheran C h u r c h o f B o l i v i a o ff i c i a l l y announced its intention to seek full membership in the ILC after more than a decade as an Associate M e m b e r. O t h e r n o t e w o r t h y events included the signing of a mutual cooperation protocol between the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina (IELA) and the Confessional Church of Chile (ILC-Chile). The gathering also celebrated the forthcoming publication of a new Lutheran hymnal in Spanish after fifteen years of work. The hymnal will be welcomed into use throughout Spanish-speaking countries in the region, as well as in other parts of the world. “It was a great meeting, since it was finally possible to overcome the challenges that have delayed celebrating this moment due to

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

the current pandemic,” noted President Juan Pablo Lanterna of the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile. “It should be counted as a historic moment.” From a report by ILC-Chile President Juan Pablo Lanterna

IELA President Arturo Truenow and ILC-Chile President Juan Pablo Lanterna sign a protocol agreement between their two church bodies.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca Nigerian Lutherans reelect Archbishop

Archbishop Christian Ekong speaks at the LCN’s 2022 Synodical Convention. NIGERIA - The Lutheran Church of Nigeria (LCN) held its 42nd Regular Synodical Council November 2628, 2021, during which time the church reelected Rev. Dr. Christian Ekong to another five-year term as Archbishop and President of the church. The council took place at the LCN’s headquarters in Obot Idim Ibesikpo in Akwa Ibom State. Dr. Ekong was reelected in a 196-78 vote. He was first elected to lead the LCN in 2009. The 2021 council also saw the Rt. Rev. Raphael Aju elected as Vice President of the LCN, as well as elections for the church’s Board of Directors. A little more than a month later, from January 6-9, 2022, the Lutheran Church of Nigeria held its Synodical Convention. During this time, the LCN consecrated four new bishops (Rev. Samuel Essien, Rev. Thomas Gbarato, Rev. Daniel Eshiet, and Rev. Godwin Udosen), ordained more than 40 new pastors, and certified 19 deaconesses for service in the

LCN Archbishop Christian Ekong and Bishop Raphael Aju after the 2021 election. church. The convention also saw the installation of officers elected during the Synodical Council in November 2021. The Synodical Council and the Synodical Convention met under the theme “Called by Christ to Bear Fruit for Jesus,” based on Romans 7:4-7. Other business conducted at the two events included a resolution calling for greater stewardship of

environmental resources in Nigeria and a discussion of the LCN’s Lutheran University project, among other work. The Lutheran Church of Nigeria is a member church of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran churches. ILC News

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

CONVENTION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca CNE Membership Changes

What is the

CNE? Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)'s Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE) is responsible for managing the election process at Convention. The CNE also manages the nomination and vetting process, ensuring nominees have the necessary qualifications and meet requirements of the various boards and commissions, including:

Board of Directors (BOD) Commission on Nominations & Elections (CNE) Commission on Constitutional Matters & Structure (CCMS)

With grateful appreciation for their service, the Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE) of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has accepted the resignation of Rev. Robert Morley (Secretary) and Rev. Lorne Reddemann (Chair) from the commission.

Current CNE members, Rod Johnson and Rev. Keith Hoveland, have been appointed by the commission as chair and secretary respectively for the remainder of the term. Other members of the CNE are: Rev. Michael Meleg, Milton Joneson, and Sharon Schieman.

Slate of nominees for LCC’s 2022 Synod Convention announced Following a synod-wide nomination process over the past nine months conducted by the Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE) for Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s 2022 Convention, the CNE has announced the initial slate of nominees for the LCC board and commissions, as well as the boards of regents for both seminaries. At this time the recommended slates for some commissions or boards have deficiencies in either insufficient number of names to put forward for lay or rostered worker categories or nominees from individual circuits. The CNE will be contacting some individuals that have let their name stand for certain boards or commissions, that have an excess of nominations, to see if they are willing

to let their names stand for a different board or commission. It is prudent to note that the CNE is accepting nominations up to the time of convention in order to supply a complete slate of nominees for all commissions and boards. Nominations may also be made from the floor during the convention. Any delegate making a nomination from the floor must be mindful of the prerequisites, namely, written permission of the candidate, biographical and other information pertinent to the position, and confirmation that vetting has been done. The CNE must be notified in advance for nominations from the floor. Forward your intentions-to-nominate to: convention@lutheranchurch.ca

Commission on Theology & Church Relations (CTCR)

www.LutheranChurchCanada.ca/Synod-Convention-2022

Region Mission & Ministries Councils (RMMC)

2022 Slate of Nominees

A different process is used for the nomination of President, Vice President, Regional Pastors, and Circuit Counsellors. Nominations for these positions are made by member congregations. Results for these nominations will be reported in the next issue of The Canadian Lutheran.

Board of Directors (BOD): To be elected: 5 lay persons; 3 pastors; and 1 deacon (with at least 1 individual from each region). Kirsten Guggenmos (Central) Arnold Drung (East) Lois Griffin (East) Jon Oberholzer (East) Clifford Friesen (West)

Grace Henderson (West) Larry Lechelt (West) Doug Petersen (West) Larry Walter (West) Rev. Ted Giese (Central) Rev. Warren Hamp (East) Rev. Kirk Radford (East) Rev. Kurt Reinhardt (East) Rev. Don Schieman (East) Rev. David Smilek (East)

CONVENTION NEWS www.canadianlutheran.ca Rev. Mark Hennig (West) Rev. Tom Kruesel (West) Dcn. Amanda Hastings (Central) Dcn. Suzanne Eberhard (East)

Commission on Constitution Matters and Structure (CCMS): To be elected: 3 rostered workers, 1 of whom may be a deacon; and 3 laypersons, 1 of whom must be a lawyer (the other member of the CCMS is the secretary of the BOD who is appointed to that office from among the Board members). Curtis Schafer (lawyer) (East) Delton Zehr (East) Ronald Faulkner (West) Rev. Alex Klages (Central) Rev. Joel Kuhl (East) Rev. Paul Schallhorn (East) Rev. Jef Dul (West) Rev. Michael Schutz (West)

Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE): To be elected: 4 rostered workers, at least 3 of whom shall be pastors and 1 may be a deacon; and 3 laypersons (each region is to be represented, if possible, by at least 1 member). Rod Johnson (Central) Milton Joneson (West) Allison (Liz) Schieman(West) Rev. Philip Washeim (West) Rev. Keith Hoveland (West)

Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR): To be elected: 2 rostered workers serving congregations, at least 1 of whom must be a pastor or pastor emeriti; and 2 lay persons. Mathew Block (Central) Jane Jacob (East) Shane Kelly (East) Brian (Brad) Olhman (East) Daniel Smilek (East) Paul Walrath (East) Rev. Joel Kuhl (East) Rev. Paul Williams (East) Rev. Michael Keith (West)

Commission on Adjudication (COA): To be elected: 2 rostered workers (the other members of the COA are 3 lay persons appointed by each regional pastor, at least 1 of whom must be a lawyer). Rev. Kevin Fast (East) Rev. John Rapp (East) Rev. Jody Rinas (East) Rev. Paul Roggow (West)

Regional Mission and Ministry Council (RMMC): To be elected: 1 lay person from each circuit (the RMMC consists of a lay person and the circuit counsellor from each circuit in the region). Central Region Gloria Rathgerber (Assiniboine) Laurent Durand (Northlands) Howard Fiskar (Ontario) Elton Fiege (Qu’Appelle) Henry Drewlow (Red River) Robert Kitlar (Red River) Daryl Walter (Saskatoon) Barb Schentag (Wascana) East Region Paul Otterman (Hamilton) Kim Kuhl (Hanover) Jane Ryan (Hanover) Jane Ford (Kitchener) Stephen Klinck (Kitchener) Kevin Lee (Kitchener) Karl Witzke (Kitchener) Jim Lang (London) Scott Allan (Niagara) Ron Groskleg (Ottawa) Steve Davidson (Stratford) Mark Rohfrietsch (Stratford) David Chant (Toronto) James Krestick (Windsor) West Region Michelle Heumann (Calgary) Charles Von Hahn (Cariboo) Joshua Quinlan (Edmonton) Rob Gafka (Greater Vancouver)

Allen Schellenberg (Greater Vancouver)

Bill Fisher (Lethbridge) Rick Slater (Peace River Circuit) Andrew Tivadar (Peace River) Tiffany Playter (Stony Plain) Sonja Bland (Vancouver Island) Deanna Friesen (Wetaskiwin)

Board of Regents (Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines): To be selected: 1 pastor; and 1 lay person from each region (the names of those selected at the convention are submitted to the BOR which makes the final official election or appointment). Bruno Korst (East) Philip Prozenko (East) Lois Munz (East) Rev. Gerald Andersen (Central) Rev. Ted Giese (Central) Rev. Alex Klages (Central) Rev. Cameron Schnarr (Central) Rev. Mark Danielson (West) Rev. Jeff Dul (West) Rev. Jonathan Kraemer (West) Rev. Jan Pastucha (West) Rev. Dan Abraham (East) Rev. Richard Juritsch (East) Rev. Joel Kuhl (East) Rev. Paul Williams (East)

Board of Regents (Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton): To be selected: 1 pastor; and 1 lay person from each region (the names of those selected at the convention are submitted to the BOR which makes the final official election or appointment). Marion Timm (Central) Tony Marchand (East)

Rev. James Chimirri-Russell (Central)

Rev. Todd Guggenmos (Central) Rev. Alex Klages (Central) Rev. Mark Just (Central) Rev. Clint Magnus (Central) Rev. Rod Parker (Central) Rev. Barry Wood (Central) Rev. Mark Danielson (West) Rev. Terrance Goerz (West) Rev. Keith Haberstock (West) Rev. Tom Kruesel (West) Rev. Allen Lewis (West) Rev. Darren Siegle (West) Rev. Jack Hetzel (East) Rev. Todd Hoeffs (East) Rev. Joel Kuhl (East) Rev. Kurt Lantz (East) Rev. Michael Mayer (East) Rev. Kurt Reinhardt (East) Rev. Paul Williams (East)

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

NATIONAL NEWS

www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC Purpose & Priority Planning Process Update

Calling a CANDIDATE or VICAR? REMINDER !

CANADA - In the last issue of The Canadian Lutheran, we highlighted the Purpose & Priorities Planning P r o c e s s . To r e c a p , L u t h e r a n Church–Canada (LCC) is working on creating a shared vision of the future for our Synod through the involvement of many voices. Our aim is to: • Clarify our mission and priorities; • Define measurable outcomes and accountability standards; • Guide resource allocation and funding priorities; • Enhance communications and transparency; • Position LCC for mission expansion and congregational vitality. Although we were able to accomplish all the initial information gathering tasks through online engagement, we decided to postpone our in-person Planning Retreat from February to April 2022. This as a result of the uncertainty of coming together due to

ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and challenges. However, the planning committee (6 pastors, 12-15 laity) and the LCC Board of Directors will have a committee orientation session in February to prepare them for their collective work ahead in the coming months. Since the postponed Planning Retreat shortens the timeframe available to create the Mission and Ministry Plan prior to the LCC Syndical Convention, we will be presenting a higher-level plan at that time. After the convention, we will develop the detailed action steps with Ministry Action Teams. We ask that you continue to keep the committee, LCC leadership, and this process in your prayers. For further information or if you have questions, comments, or input, please contact David Friesen, LCC Director of Advancement, at:dfriesen@lutheranchurch.ca.

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

Reminder that all requests from congregations for Candidates and Vicars are to be submitted to their Regional Pastor by February 27, 2022. The request forms are on LCC’s website under Congregational Resources. Check the website subtitle of each form to confirm you have the correct documents for calling a candidate or a vicar. Congregations are encouraged to use website fillable forms as scanned, handwritten forms can be difficult to read.

REQUESTS ARE DUE BY FEBRUARY 27, 2022

WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

Installation at Mt. Calvary

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - On November 28, 2021, Rev. Gregory Johnson was installed as pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Rev. Robert Mohns, West Regional Pastor, officiated, administering the Rite of Installation. Rev. Laverne Hautz served as liturgist. Rev. Dr Ralph Mayan, former President of Lutheran Church–Canada and vacancy pastor of Mt. Calvary, served as lector. Seventeen area clergy joined in

the rite, reading Scripture and offering their blessings. In the sermon, Rev. Mohns reminded pastor and people that, ultimately, occasions like this aren’t about them but Jesus. Jesus calls His people to be His Church, and He calls His under-shepherds to preach His Word and administer His Sacraments, in season and out of season. He also calls pastors to take out the garbage. Sin is the garbage in our

lives. It must be taken away. Pastors are called to absolve sinners “in the stead and by the command of Jesus.” Like any garbage, sin is burdensome, but pastors strengthened in the Lord experience the promise, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” It is refreshing to hear in our confused times that Christ’s Church remains concerned with Christ’s forgiveness and salvation, all through the cross. Prayers were offered up, especially for those in the area most affected by flooding. Circuit Counsellor Rev. Wayne Lunderby (Chilliwack) was initially scheduled to serve as liturgist but could not because roads were impassable. Everyone was grateful that Rev. Hautz could help on short notice. The church’s events group brought out the congregation’s fine china. Tea, cake, and other goodies were served to the delight of all. Congregants at Mt. Calvary look forward to a partnership between pastors and people to bring the Gospel to residents of New Westminster and beyond. Photos by Gabor Gasztonyi

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

WEST REGION Contact Rev. Robert Mohns, Regional Pastor | rmohns@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 826. 9950 | THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

WEST REGION NEWS

Alberta and British Columbia - Michelle Heumann, editor

A Cure for the Winter Doldrums from the regional pastor, rev. robert mohns “Teach me the way of Your statutes and I will keep it to the end. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in Your ways.” | Psalm 119:33

he short days and long periods of darkness of winter are upon us. It is a time when the land in the Northern Hemisphere enters a season of rest. In contrast, this time in the church year marks the beginning of the festival season. It is a season that focuses our attention on Jesus and His work of salvation, beginning with Jesus’ incarnation and culminating in His death, resurrection, and ascension—all for us and for our salvation. We get to participate in this familiar journey every year, travelling this welltrodden pilgrimage and tracing out the familiar lines of our salvation as unfolded and revealed to us in sacred Scripture. It is by far a better journey than any other annual pilgrimages, whether real or imagined, to a favourite winter vacation spot. Sometimes, however, our journey is obstructed with the drudgery of everyday life—the distractions and crises of everyday living, the tasks and thoughts of the flesh—and we grow cool and joyless toward our spiritual pilgrimage. We sometimes call these times the winter doldrums. In the days of wind-powered transatlantic travel, seafarers would encounter regions of slack winds, caused by climatic weather depressions. During these times the ship was adrift with no power to move the craft toward the completion

of its journey. This was often referred to as doldrums. The etymology of the term comes from a combination of the word “dull” and “tantrum.” If the period of doldrums was extensive, the seafarers could potentially run out of necessary supplies. Sometimes, a fair trade wind would arrive to send them on again toward their destination. More often, though, the doldrums would be followed by fierce storms and the development of hurricanes. Does that sound like an accurate description of your life experience? It does for me. It is especially at these times that we would do well to turn to our God. Spend time in prayer. Pull out the Book of Psalms and meditate upon it. Go to church when the opportunity affords itself. Attend the Divine Service when it is available. If it’s not available, arrange a time with the pastor when you can simply come into the sanctuary for quiet devotion, speaking out loud the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and a Psalm or other reading from the Scriptures. Speak quietly, but aloud, your prayers. Psalm 119 outlines for us the way of the Christian life as one of Oratio (Prayer), Meditatio (Meditation on the Word of God), and Tentatio (Trials). The whole Psalm is particularly instructive for us in our days. There the psalmist

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

confesses: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant.” In the 33rd verse, the psalmist asks that the Lord would keep him focused on God’s Word: “Teach me the way of Your statutes and I will keep it to the end. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in Your ways.” So, too, in the midst of our wintery doldrums we find ourselves confessing, “Lord I have lost my way.” We find ourselves praying along with the Psalmist, “Seek your servant, teach me the way of Your statutes, turn my eyes from worthless things, give me life in Your ways.” And to our prayers let us always remember to add, “Amen.” I am particularly mindful of Martin Luther’s words on how we should conclude our prayers: “Mark this, that you must always speak the Amen firmly. Never doubt that God in His mercy will surely hear you and say “yes” to your prayers. Never think that you are kneeling or standing alone, rather think that the whole of Christendom, all devout Christians, are standing there beside you and you are standing among them in a common and united petition which God cannot disdain.” May our days’ journey be begun, continued, and ended in prayer and under that great Amen!

CENTRAL REGION NEWS

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The

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

Called to Service OXBOW, Sask. - On March 15, 2021, Rev. Adrian Kramer, wife Rebecca and children—James, Zachariah, Caleb, and Ruth— picked up and moved from Ballarat, Australia, to Canada, to serve in the dual parish of St. John Lutheran, Frobisher, and St. Peter Lutheran, Oxbow. The Kramers arrived in early

August to their new home in Oxbow, after visiting with family in British Columbia and Ontario. Blessed by a God-inspired acceptance, a Divine Installation Service was held on December 11, 2021, and Rev. Kramer’s brotherin-law, Rev. Alex Klages, was the preacher. Rev. Todd Guggenmos, who had been the vacancy pastor, was the liturgist, and Central

R e g i o n a l P a s t o r R e v. D a v i d Haberstock officiated. In total, four of the Central Region’s nine circuits were represented at the installation service. Clergy from left to right: Rev. Alex Klages , Rev. Todd Guggenmos, R e v. D a v i d H a b e r s t o c k , R e v. Randy Kleemola, Rev. Adrian Kramer, Rev. Ted Giese, Vicar Nigel Prozenko, and Rev. Travis Heide.

Local radio station interviews Rev. Klages PEMBINA VALLEY, Man. - On Epiphany, January 6, 2022, Rev. Alex Klages was interviewed by a local radio station about Epiphany and his approach to it this year. The interview was conducted by Jayme Giesbrecht, who has a family member who attends the Lutheran church in Winkler where Rev. Klages is pastor. The radio station, CFAM in Altona, is a station of the Golden West

Radio Network, focused on providing news, information, and entertainment of interest to the community at large. As the region is very highly Christianoriented, a lot of their programming is Christian-focused without them being a Christian radio station. “It was a real honour and privilege to be asked to talk a little about Epiphany on the CFAM Morning Show on January 6,” Rev. Klages said.

“It is really a wonderful thing to live in an area where this sort of thing is of interest to the general public, and to be able to speak openly about your faith in such a way in such a public venue.” To listen to the interview, visit https://www.pembinavalleyonline. com/cfam/epiphany-2022-withpastor-alex-klages.

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

central REGION Contact Rev. david haberstock, Regional Pastor | dhaberstock@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 800. 663. 5673 | THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

CENTRAL REGION NEWS

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and NW Ontario - Michelle Heumann, editor

Generations Come and Go

oly Scripture lays down a pattern in Exodus. Moses, the white-bearded prophet (with a wonder-working staff) led the people out of slavery in Egypt, and he led the next generation in the wilderness and into the promised land. But due to their harsh treatment in Egypt they were weak, and due to their unbelief they wandered the wilderness until only two of that nomadic generation, Joshua and Caleb, entered the land of promise. Instead, the generation born and raised in the wilderness, became the heroes as young adults who conquered the land under Joshua’s leadership. Generations come and go. And yet, this pattern written in the pages of the Bible is a pattern across time and literature, for the Lord knows what He is doing. He is the creator not only of the earth, but of the patterns of reality. Think about Star Wars. Whitebearded space wizard/prophet Obi-Wan Kenobi (technological staff in hand) helps raise up a new hope in young Luke Skywalker. Meanwhile, Luke is protected, assisted, and mentored by the older nomadic wanderer Han Solo. Think of hapless, heroic Harry Potter, encouraged by white-bearded Albus Dumbledore (elder “staff” in hand), and mentored by a middle-aged cast of nomads such as Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Rubeus Hagrid. Or in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, white-bearded Gandalf (staff in hand) mentors and encourages the nomad Strider/Aragorn, who is a protector and mentor to young hero Frodo Baggins. But what does all this have to do with the Church? Well, this pattern of a prophetic generation, a nomadic

from the regional pastor, rev. DAVID HABERSTOCK generation, and heroic generation (followed by a generation of artists before the cycle repeats) is a common one, not only in Scripture, but in history. We are nearing the end of one of these generational cycles. The heroes who fought the great fight at the end of the last cycle were the Greatest Generation, who, as young adults, fought World War II. The generation after them, children during the war, were the silent generation, from which came most of the artists of the 60s, and the oldest generation in our congregations now. In the happy days after the war were born the baby boomers, who, as young adults, heralded a prophetic transformation of society in the 60s and 70s (for good or for ill, I’ll let you decide). They were followed by a generation of nomads, Generation X, who felt adrift in the swirling cultural currents of their childhood and who are now maturing into middle age. The next in line heroic generation, the Millennials, came into young adulthood just in time for a crisis—one we are either in the midst or on the verge of right now. Will there be one or two nomadic middle-aged leaders who emerge for the people of God in the days ahead? Will the young adults of the moment, with their help, become a heroic generation? Will the Lord raise up a faithful prophet or two from the white-bearded baby boomers? What is the Lord up to? I don’t know. But I know that the Church has been built upon the rock of faith, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I know that though the Church was only eight souls in all

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

in Noah’s day, He preserved Noah as a preacher of righteousness, and brought forth a new world through the cleansing waters of the flood. I know that though the Israelites were hard-pressed in slavery in Egypt, the Lord baptized them in the waters of the Rea Sea, freeing them through water, so that on one side they were slaves, and on the other side they were a free people. I know that though they were downtrodden, the Lord raised up their children to conquer the land He promised unto them. It certainly seems that few of my generation, Gen X, have made it through our wilderness wanderings into leadership for the seemingly impossible task in front of us of “conquering the land” in our day. But then, only two of Joshua’s nomad generation made it through their wanderings. Will the Lord again lead His church in some new triumph He has in mind? Will He use such poor clay as my generation, the Millennials, and the baby boomers? I don’t know. But this is the pattern that He has allowed to occur in Scripture, history, and literature. In the end, the only thing that matters is not the faithfulness of one generation or another, but the faithfulness of the Lord and His Word. He promises to save those who trust in His Son’s holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death. As generations come and go, we pass on this faith, as the Lord enables, to our children and grandchildren. But we leave the broad sweeps of history to the Lord, for He is faithful even when we are not.

EAST REGION NEWS

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

Warm feet for the streets ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - The Mary Martha Group of Christ Lutheran Church in St. Catharines created or collected 70 stocking for the downtown city project “Warm Feet for the Streets.” This serves many of the homeless community who seek warmth and comfort in the colder winter months. In addition to a large sock to hold

necessary toiletries, gloves, hats, and scarves, the second sock is stuffed into the toe, so they get a pair of warm socks. Uplifting spiritual care booklets also go into these helpful treasures. Pictured here are some of the volunteers, Susan Honey, Kathy DeKouchay, Wendy Hyatt, and Fran Porteous. Other volunteers

not pictured are Lorraine Kaija, Carole Pink, Ivy Parkhouse, Mary Silver, Mary Saxton, Naomi Hohnberg, and Linda Makey. The generous and joyful support of the congregation especially makes this effort a tremendous success and much needed outreach. Christ Lutheran Church

SHARE YOUR STORIES Contact Michelle Heumann, Regional News Editor | regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca |

EAST REGION Contact Rev. marvin bublitz, Regional Pastor | mbublitz@lutheranchurch.ca | 1. 855. 893. 1466 | THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

EAST REGION NEWS

Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada - Michelle Heumann, editor

Nothing New this New Year from the regional pastor, rev. marvin bublitz

ell, it has happened once again. With the flip of a page, the calendar went from 2021 to 2022. And so we ask that good Lutheran question: “What does this mean?” Each of us will have a different answer. For some, 2022 will be the year they graduate from high school or university. Others will mark it as the year they were married or welcomed their first child into the world. Some will see the baptism or confirmation of their child. For some, 2022 will be the year a loved one is called from this life. These are of course the types of things that people experience year after year. Some of you encountered them in 2021. Others will face them in 2022. So, “what does this mean?” It means exactly what we read in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10: “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has been already in the ages before us.” I have heard some express wishes and hopes for 2022. This is especially true in these days of COVID-19. Many want to put 2021 (and 2020 for that matter) behind them. But it is foolish to think that a simple flip of a page or the change of a date can bring about a new and different year. There is nothing new under the sun. What was will be. So what can we realistically expect in 2022? We can expect just what our Lord has told us. People

will be marrying and given in marriage as in the days of Noah. The love of many will grow cold. There will be wars and rumours of wars. There will be earthquakes and such in nature. All this as time marches on to the day the Lord will return. It is not a few numbers on a calendar that should occupy our thoughts and dreams, nor is it even events of last year or this year that should occupy our thoughts and dreams. Let us consider also the greater things—all that has been since the creation of the world. Contemplate the Father preserving His creation. Remember the redemption which the Son, born of the Virgin, brings to that creation. Rejoice in the Holy Spirit bestowing faith and sanctifying His people. So it has been in the ages before us and will also be tomorrow. In 2022, you can expect and count on the Father preserving you, as He has from before you were even born. You can trust that the Father will continue to preserve His creation in 2022. He loves and cares for His creation. Even when bad things happen to us, He works it for our good. Creation marches from the Garden paradise to the new paradise of heaven. During that journey, what has been will be, for there is nothing new under the sun. That is what we can expect in 2022. There is nothing new under the sun; 2022 will bring the same struggles, fears, and sins. We, as

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

God’s people, will fail. We will be short with our spouses, snap at our kids, disrespect our parents and other authorities, gossip about our neighbours, and generally soil our baptismal robes with the filth of our sin. Not that we want to do that. No, like St. Paul we lament our wretched state. But lamenting and feeling sorry about it won’t change it one iota. Thankfully, there are other things that have been and will be. The Redeemer gave His life-blood to wash us clean of our sinful filth—mercy we receive again and again. What has been will be. When we come to Him in repentance for all those sins, He grants His holy absolution, cleansing us from our sin and iniquity. We can expect and count on the same in 2022. For Jesus Christ is the same last year and this year. His forgiveness is the same. This year the Holy Spirit will also speak the same faith-creating, life-sustaining Word into our hearing—the Word that is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. This year the Lord places His body and blood into ours. What has been will be. As we look ahead to 2022 and all that might be, our focus and hope rests upon our Triune God. It is He Who created us, sustains us, forgives us, and saves us. He is with us all the journey to the Promised Land.

MISSION NEWS

www.canadianlutheran.ca

LCC Urges Prayer for Ukraine

from Ukraine

UKRAINE - Lutheran Church– Canada (LCC) is urging prayer for Ukraine given recent tensions in the region. “Military tension is high here—almost sensed in the air— like never before,” noted Rev. Oleksiy Navrotskyy, Missionaryat-Large for LCC and the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU). “Many of us are psychologically exhausted because of all the television and internet news coverage.” Complicating matters are the fact that Ukraine is on the cusp of another wave of COVID-19, Rev. Navrotskyy notes, and also facing a massive rise in the cost of living. “Right after Christmas, the price for utilities, gasoline, food, and medicine jumped by 10 to 30 percent,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we do not know how deep and how long this crisis will last nor where this road will lead us.” In the midst of the uncertainty, the Lutheran church is encouraging its people to take comfort in Jesus. “During this time, SELCU pastors have been busy preaching hope and faith in the Lord,” Rev. Navrotskyy says, “comforting and encouraging people to trust the Lord and be ready for any potential turbulences.” LCC offers the following prayer to remember the people of Ukraine: Almighty and gracious Lord, source of all compassion, the promise of Your mercy fills our hearts with hope. We entreat You on behalf of our brothers and sisters in eastern Europe living under the threat of war to hear their cries for peace. Uproot from the minds of civil leaders

the desire for worldly gain and the pride of conquest. Grant them counsel through Your holy Word and influence their hearts and minds so that war may be averted and peace prevail. Strengthen the resolve of Your people everywhere that we may grow in the spirit of brotherhood and that all fears and divisions may be overcome by the peace that comes through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Lutheran Church–Canada has been involved in mission work in Ukraine since 1993. Today, the church works in cooperation with the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine to provide seminary education, ministry in orphanages and prisons, and more.

Rebuilding in Ukraine

two years for the church to receive a construction permit, due to the complexity of Ukrainian politics. Finally, in April 2021, construction work was able to begin. By December 2021, a new sanctuary had been built, connected to the surviving portion of the building. In addition to the sanctuary, the new section contains an annex that will be divided into a restroom, nursery, and office. There is still much work to be done, but overall the main structure is complete. Lutheran Church–Canada supported this rebuilding project by providing a large portion of the funding, thanks in large part to the generous donations made by several individual donors, as part of a longterm relationship with SELCU. “We are especially thanking Lutheran Church–Canada as we witness how God has fulfilled this

promise through you, when the roof of our building fell,” Rev. Bevz said, referring to Ecclesiastes 4:9.

DNEPRO, Ukraine - Rev. Sergey Bevz, pastor of Living Water Lutheran Church, a member congregation of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU), has reported that the rebuilding of the church has progressed to the point of being ready for this winter. A few years ago, the roof of the sanctuary collapsed under the weight of a heavy snowfall. It took almost

“Together, with God’s help, the roof and the new building were raised. We are grateful for your help, support, and prayers for us and the reconstruction process. We also pray that, as it is written, you will also have a good reward in your work for the Lord.” “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” - Ecclesiastes 4:9

www.LutheranChurchCanada.ca/Missions/Ukraine/ THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

EDUCATION NEWS

www.canadianlutheran.ca

A COVID-19 Surprise! Nowegian Bishop visits CLTS

ST. CATHARINES - For two weeks, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) had the privilege of having Bishop Torkild Masvie of the Lutheran Church in Norway present

for an extended visit. Bishop Masvie was on his way to the United States but, because of COVID restrictions, could only enter through Canada. That required a two-week layover, which led the bishop to CLTS. During his stay, Bishop Masvie used the seminary’s library for research and also addressed the students at a convocation. He described how, after 23 years as a pastor in the state church of Norway, he realized his conscience made it impossible for him to continue to be a part of a church that had compromised in so many areas of Christian doctrine. The decision led him in 2005 to found the Lutheran Church in Norway (LKN)—an independent confessional Lutheran church.

Over the past fifteen years, the church has grown to include nine parishes. Even though the LKN is small, mission work is a priority. The churc has established a congregation in Iceland and supports Lutheran education for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Israel. Reflecting on his visit, Bishop Masvie was impressed with the warm welcome from the staff, students, and faculty of Concordia. “Everyone has gone out of their way to make me feel at home,” he said. While he was in Canada, Bishop Masvie also participated in talks with Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) officials about the possibility of establishing fellowship between the LKN and LCC.

CLS hosts Winter Quest Course: Intentional Mission in the Bible and in God’s Church

ONLINE - Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton is holding its Winter Quest Course throughout February, delving into the topic of intentional mission in the Bible and in God’s Church, using Jeremiah 29 as a jumping off point: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me

and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart” (29:11-13). “People often wonder what their purpose is in life,” promotional material notes. “We tend to think that a life without a clear purpose is meaningless or unfulfilling. We recognize that purpose is important. But when we turn to the Bible, we sometimes fail to see God’s purpose behind the events, stories, and texts in it. We are so focused on our purpose

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

that we forget to ask about God's purpose as we read His words.” This Quest course is taught by CLS’ newest faculty member, Rev. Dr. Alex Vieira, Assistant Professor of Exegetical (Biblical) Theology. It explores God’s missionary purpose both in the grand narrative and in the apparently minor details of the Bible, noting that mission is not something left up to chance, but rather is a product of God’s intention for His creatures. • Week 1:What is intentional mission? Is the Bible a book about mission? • Week 2: God’s intentional mission in the Bible • Week 3: God’s people’s intentional mission in the Bible • Week 4:Intentional mission and the church today The course is free to attend online. As with CLS’ other Quest Courses, you can also watch sessions after the fact on CLS’ YouTube Channel.

Faithful members have developed over

$79

Your Faith – Your Legacy

MILLION

in charitable gifts within their plans

Empowering God’s People Encouraging Generosity Establishing Legacies

Lutheran Foundation Canada www.lutheranfoundation.ca

38% %

HOW DONORS ALLOCATE THEIR GIFTS

Since 2009 more than

$15.7

16%

MILLION

has already been distributed to the LCC Synodical family

18%

10%

WHY DO DONORS GIVE? Faith

Family

TO BLESS OTHERS AS THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED

Legacy

What impact can

YOU make with a charitable gift in your estate

Funding the Mission Charitable Gift in Your Will Gift of Registered Funds Gift of Life Insurance Gift of Securities Lutheran Foundation Canada lutheranfoundation.ca

SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY AND THE MINISTRY Giving is a personal decision. But did you know that for most of our adult lives, we give out of only 10% of our assets. That’s perfectly logical since the other 90% of our assets are typically non-cash assets or assets being saved up over time for retirement.

find that this option enables you to support your family and the ministries you love, in ways you didn’t even imagine.

But what about that moment when you don’t need those assets anymore. When you are called to glory, all of your earthly possessions (the 10% and the 90%) have to be transferred somewhere. If you are married, this usually happens upon the second-todie. Of course, the easiest transfer is to equally divide up what 75 remains between your heirs. But there is FUNDS another option available that may be even better. In fact, depending on the type of assets you own, you may

WEBINARS

Consider that almost every estate will likely have to pay the government something in the form of taxes. Charitable giving through your estate is one of the best ways to reduce or eliminate these taxes. For example, if you have an RSP or a RIF when you die, and no spouse to leave it to (second-to-die), all of that money will become taxable. As much as you might think your children will get it all, the government gets its share. Now is the time to consider how a charitable gift can change that picture. Speak to one of Foundation’s gift planners to learn more.

Lutheran Foundation Canada provides online webinars to help you create wonderful estate plans that bless your family and the ministries you love.

www.lutheranfoundation.ca/webinars

Lutheran Foundation Canada 3074 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2 877-711-GIFT (4438) GIFT PLANNERS West Region Allen Schellenberg, Exec. Dir. cell: 604-817-7673 allen.schellenberg@ Lutheranfoundation.ca Central Region Allen Schellenberg (acting) Contact info above East Region James Krestick cell: 519-971-1966 jkrestick@lutheranfoundation.ca

Helping

Stewarding Resources

BUILD

your congregation’s If you look back over the history of your congregation, chances are you will find stories of devotion, faithfulness, caring, nurturing, outreach, community, sorrow, joy, celebration, support, life-changing events, heartbreak, uplifting spirits and many, many more. A church is not simply the building we attend to receive Word and Sacrament ministry. A church is the people, gathered together to hear the message of forgiveness and salvation and grow in their faith, so they can be equipped to share that same message beyond the four walls of the building. But a church without adequate resources cannot fulfill its mission and vision. Understanding how these resources can be created, managed, and distributed enables a congregation to make commitments and plans for its future.

Investing for Your Congregation Over the years, many congregations across Synod have received gifted funds or have reserve funds set aside in various financial institutions. You may not realize that Lutheran Foundation Canada provides an investment option for these types of funds. Currently, the Foundation has approximately $18 million in assets under management, with $9 million invested as ‘endowment’ funds and another $9 million invested as ‘custodial’ funds. Endowment Funds are established with money gifted to the Foundation and typically invested into perpetuity, providing annual distributions to support various members of the LCC synodical family. Custodial Funds however, are not donated to the Foundation, but only transferred for investment purposes, and remain the property of the organization that transferred them. These funds may be returned to the investing organization at any time.

Getting Started This service is available to member congregations and organizations of LCC’s synodical family only. It is not for individual investing. The Foundation accepts funds, with a $25K minimum for

investment purposes. All custodial funds are pooled together and placed in the Foundation’s Custodial Investment Accounts. Assets are managed in consultation with Ellement Consulting and some of the same investment managers (TD Asset Mgmt, Romspen Commercial Mortgages, and Mawer Investment Mgmt.) as LCC’s pension funds. This approach creates substantial economies of scale, reducing investment management fees, and providing access to investment options typically unavailable for smaller investment amounts.

Investment Returns Custodial Funds have averaged 6.17% in the Balanced Mandate and 4.34% in

LEGACY Of

FAITH the Conservative Mandate, NET of Investment Fees of 0.5% and Administration Fees of 0.5%. The chart below shows the annual performance by year. (Note: Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.) When comparing these returns to a typical GIC where rates are usually below 2%, the overall value to a congregation can be significant in the long term. Further information on establishing a Custodial Fund is available at www.lutheranfoundation.ca. Look under Resources to access our Custodial Fund Agreement and Investment Policy Statement.

IN MEMORIUM

Rev. Frederick Koehler

Rev. Frederick F. Koehler was called home to glory on January 18, 2021. He was born October 14, 1937 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. After attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and completing his vicarage at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Rev. Koehler was ordained in 1957. Rev. Koehler spent most of his ministry years in Canada. He served: First Lutheran Church (Lloydminster, AB) from 1957-1964; Christ Lutheran Church (Waterloo, Ontario) from 1964-1967, and Church of the Good Shepherd (Winnipeg, MB) from 1967 to his retirement. Rev. Koehler and Gloria retired to the LCMS’ Florida-Georgia District in 1999. They faithfully attended the Veterans of the Cross retreat and found the camaraderie and fellowship of mission particularly helpful as they made the transition to retirement—though even in retirement he continued to serve neighbouring congregations through vacancies and pastoral care. Rev. Koehler was survived by his wife, Gloria, and their children. NOTE: The preceding obituary was inadvertently omitted from 2021’s “In Memorium” in the November/December 2021 issue of The Canadian Lutheran. We regret the error.

TRANSITIONS

www.canadianlutheran.ca/calls-transitions

Rev. Harold Witte, Pastor Emeritus (Edmonton, AB), was called to glory. Rev. Clifford Haberstock, Pastor Emeritus (Edmonton, AB), was called to glory. Rev. Glenn Stresman, Pastor Emeritus (LaSalle, ON), to Emeritus (English District, LCMS). Rev. Mel Graham, Pastor Emeritus (Seagrave, ON), to Emeritus (English District, LCMS). Rev. Darryl Stefanik, St. John’s (Synder, ON) to Emeritus. Rev. Dan Barr, Faith (Atikokan, ON) to Redeemer (Kakabeka Falls, ON). Rev. Daniel Moeller, Emeritus (Inglis, MB) to Emeritus (North Wisconsin District, LCMS).

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PRESIDENT’S GUEST

Rich or Poor

by rev. m.l. smith, lcc missions director

everal years ago, Harvard University invited Mother Theresa to fly to America to give a commencement address. The invitation stated that they desired “the most famous person in one of the world’s poorest nations, to address the world’s richest nation.” Mother Theresa took offense at the statement. “India is not a poor nation,” she responded. “India is a very rich nation. She has a wealth of riches, true spiritual riches. And America is not a rich nation, but a very poor nation—in fact, a desperately poor nation, for she slaughters her own unborn children.” Through spiritual eyes, Mother Theresa was able to see the poverty of our Western society, a society that is considered rich and blessed by worldly standards but is in reality spiritually poor. How could a nation be thought rich when she fails to protect her own unborn, her most vulnerable, from murder? How could a nation be thought rich which not only permits such things but openly promotes and embraces them as acts of personal freedom? No, these are the symptoms of a society that is deeply spiritually impoverished. When you look at North American society through worldly eyes, you may think we are rich; we are certainly blessed with material goods and riches, far more than in many other nations. But what good has that wealth brought us? Has our affluence drawn us closer to God? No. In fact, statistics suggest the opposite: the more affluent a society is, the less religious it is. Why? Well, our Lord Jesus tells us: we cannot serve two masters—God and money—“for either [we] will hate the one and love the other, or [we] will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). The more affluent a society becomes, the more tempted it is to serve the idol of money and worldly matters rather than God. How many of us are guilty of this sin? How many fail to do what God asks because of worldly distractions? How many place worldly matters first and neglect the needs of the Church? We are all guilty of this! We break not only the first commandment but also that other great commandment to love our neighbours as ourselves. At times, we have all failed to speak up for the vulnerable, the unborn, the weak, and downtrodden. We have failed to live as God has called us to. We are very poor indeed. A few years ago, some of our Nicaraguan brethren told me they were envious of our culture’s material wealth. I replied that we should be envious of them for their spiritual wealth! Materially speaking, of course, Nicaragua is a

THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN | January/February 2022

desperately poor country. And yet it is also one of the most spiritually wealthy countries in the world. Nicaraguans understand what is truly important in life. Above all, they are a people of faith. Their devotion to our Lord Jesus, their hunger to grow in their knowledge of Christian teaching, and their eagerness to serve the Church are things we should all aspire to. Having experienced a taste of their culture, I understand Mother Theresa’s words better, for I see in Nicaragua what she saw in India: a culture of great spiritual wealth. When we look at the fruits of our own culture, though, we see a people desperately poor in things of the spirit. And yet, God does not abandon us to our impoverishment. Despite our failures to serve God and neighbour, despite our spiritual poverty, Jesus is still at work here. He comes to us with the power of the cross—calling us to repent, to turn from the worldly things which distract us from loving Him and serving our neighbour, and to understand that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He calls us to trust in Him— the One who came to proclaim good news to the poor and grant liberty to those held captive in sin. Wherever His Word is faithfully proclaimed and His Sacraments rightly administered, He promises to be with us always with His mercy and forgiveness. We need to be reminded of this, both as individuals and as a Church, so that we do not forget where our true treasure, our true spiritual riches and wealth, are found. They are found in Christ Jesus—in the saving grace that He blesses us with, in His holy Word that awakens and strengthens our faith. Despite the spiritual poverty of our culture, Jesus blesses each of us, His Church, with true spiritual riches: with the gift of salvation, with the inheritance of eternal life, and with faith to see the world differently—through spiritual eyes. St. Paul writes: “Look carefully as to how we walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). And again: “Take no part in unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (5:11). I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us to “look carefully” in this way, so that we may discern what is pleasing to the Lord—that we, like Mother Theresa, will look to boldly expose those sins that impoverish our society and guide people instead to the treasure of Christ Jesus.

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MISSION SOCIETY

Want to express your mission heart? Through your directed donations CLMS supports pastoral care, humanitarian aid and theological education in Ukraine, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia and Canada. Contact Pastor Mark Lobitz for the 2022 CLMS Project Poster mclobitz@gmail.com

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I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

isaiah 49:6

The Canadian Lutheran January/February 2022

Articles inside

Rich or Poor

Nothing New this New Year

Generations Come and Go

A Cure for the Winter Doldrums

Decline and Growth: A Look at the Lutheran world today

Cambodian Lutherans living boldly during COVID-19

To the Ends of the Earth

Each One Reach One