L.I.F.T. – provide the task force your thoughts – IMPORTANT
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L.I.F.T. – provide the task force your thoughts – IMPORTANT PDF Print E-mail

“Living Into The Future Together (LIFT): Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA” is a study of the social and economic changes that have occurred over the 20 years since the formation of the ELCA. A 12-member task force was formed in January 2010 to evaluate the organization, governance and interrelationships among the church’s expressions: congregations, synods, and churchwide organizations.

The Task Force is seeking your input, and we are encouraging you strongly to participate — this week. www.liftelca.org is the website. Much information is available about the LIFT effort there. Under the “Get Involved” tab you will find both the individual and group means to participate. Click on the individual questionnaire online to complete the survey. If you and others wish to also participate in group discussions and provide feedback to the task force, you will find here instructions on how to proceed.

This is an opportunity for you to share your input to the shape of the ELCA for its future. The reactions to and perceived consequences of the decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly and the subsequent changes to policy and practice in the ELCA are among the factors to be taken into account in that shaping.

We strongly urge you to complete the questionnaire online, sharing with the Task Force the thoughts of faithful Lutherans who are pleased with movement towards full participation, proud of being Lutheran, and rejoicing at the opportunities for renewed evangelism to do the work of God with our hands. A more-inclusive ELCA is a more diverse ELCA, alive with the message of Christ — better able to live up to the call of the Holy Spirit to be what Christ expects of us and to do what is called for to end oppressions, right wrongs, and heal the injuries suffered by those beset by life.

We just completed our biennial assembly, Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters, about which you will begin hearing in many ways. There was such a spirit of celebration and renewal present during the assembly!! We must commit ourselves to the continuation of the work begun decades ago in such hope and pursued at such sacrifice, at last achieving so great a milestone.

Participating in LIFT is one of the ways to honor that labor, to celebrate that achievement.