The Rev. Walter May, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop and Executive for Synodical and Constituent Relations, brought greetings from the Churchwide staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

“Know that your brothers and sisters throughout the church are grateful for your commitment to the gospel partnership we all share as we live out God’s calling to us,” he said.

• Watch video of Pr. May's presentation

He underlined the harsh realities that the ELCA has faced while trying to deal with dwindling financial resources and underscored the fact that throughout reductions in budgets, the church has not lost its sense of being called for mission. He said the questions before us are: Who are we? Where is God calling us? What is our witness in the context of our identity and mission?

Living into the Future Together (LIFT), has been charged with engaging in conversations that will help the church to more clearly define our identity within this changing context and to identify the ecology of our church and its many networks.

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly gave us a wide angle lens into who we are as a church who gathers around worship, prayer, the means of grace, and the Bible.

“This is also a church engaged in mission, making a major commitment to HIV and AIDS, and increasing our commitment to be part of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative with our partners, Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,” he said.

He highlighted five areas in which the ELCA faithfully lives out its call as God’s missional people. We are a church which:

• Prioritizes evangelical outreach and who reaches out and supports the needs of our neighbors locally, regionally, and globally.
• Strives to be diverse and inclusive and who addresses the “scandalous realities of racism and sexism.”
• Values education and reaching out to youth and young adults.
• Takes leadership seriously and identifies, equips, and supports its leaders.
• Is globally connected and giving.

“In 2009, your synod provided 44% of the mission received from congregations for mission and ministry both within the ELCA and its partner agencies and for our global partners,” said May. “We are a generous church, how can I say thanks enough as I express the gratitude of all those whose lives have been and continue to be touched by all that you have made possible through your ongoing generosity.”