Podcast of sermon added 
Oct. 13, 2007
Dear Colleagues:
On Oct. 11, I was one of a group of Christian church leaders who received a remarkable letter signed by 138 Muslim leaders from throughout the world. The 29-page letter called on Muslims and Christians to work more closely together for peace between our two religious communities. The Royal Academy of Jordan organized the Muslim leaders in this effort. I welcome this extraordinary letter, which was made public as the Islamic religious observance of Ramadan concluded. The text of the open letter is available from news organizations, including the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/MuslimLetter.pdf
I wanted you to be aware that I responded publicly to the Muslim leaders' letter. I refer you to the link below:
http://www.elca.org/bishop/messages/m_071012.html
As always, I continue to pray for you, and I ask that God richly bless your ministry.
In Christ,
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Let me underscore that this third action is not a change in the official documents or policies of the ELCA. Attempts to make such changes were rejected by the assembly.
However, the assembly offered the advice and counsel described above to bishops and others in positions of authority as they make pastoral decisions on matters relating to discipline as issues of human sexuality are being studied throughout the church prior to action by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The third action does not bind bishops to follow this requested course; rather, it expresses the sense of the assembly to encourage restraint in discipline during this time of deliberation.
As we prepare for a social statement on human sexuality in 2009, it is essential that leaders of this church invite ELCA members to participate in the current phase of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality. The development of social statements is participatory in nature. Responses to the third study are welcome until November 1, 2007. Watch for the first draft of the social statement in March 2008. Please encourage thoughtful response to it. You will find more information at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney .
On an afternoon in the middle of the assembly, voting members participated in a "committee of the whole" discussion. I want to share with you the compelling image of that discussion from Bishop Peter Rogness of the Saint Paul Area Synod. He described the long lines of people at every microphone and then wrote, "Since [assembly] rules indicate we alternate speaking pro- and con-, a set of two microphones stands at each station -- one green, one red. I looked at the microphones closest to me and saw Saint Paul Area Synod voting members standing in both lines. I was proud of that. We've been together enough to enjoy and respect each other, and we went to different lines. And then we worshiped together, ate together, did other work together. This synod -- and this church -- is not simply a red line synod or a green line synod. We are church together. We can commit ourselves to living together, faithfully."
You will soon receive in the mail the "Brief Summary of Actions" from the assembly. The ELCA Web site provides information and photos from the assembly at www.elca.org/assembly . In addition, the links that follow will provide more information about the Churchwide Assembly, which you are invited to use as resources for your leadership in this sent church:
Brief summary of actions: www.elca.org/assembly/summary
MSH sermon: www.elca.org/assembly/worship/
MSH verbal report: www.elca.org/assembly/video/070808.html#bishop
I close with deep appreciation for you, for your ministry, and for our partnership in the mission we share. Yes, we are "marked with the cross of Christ forever, claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world." Thanks be to God!
Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Dear Colleagues:
On Oct. 11, I was one of a group of Christian church leaders who received a remarkable letter signed by 138 Muslim leaders from throughout the world. The 29-page letter called on Muslims and Christians to work more closely together for peace between our two religious communities. The Royal Academy of Jordan organized the Muslim leaders in this effort. I welcome this extraordinary letter, which was made public as the Islamic religious observance of Ramadan concluded. The text of the open letter is available from news organizations, including the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/MuslimLetter.pdf
I wanted you to be aware that I responded publicly to the Muslim leaders' letter. I refer you to the link below:
http://www.elca.org/bishop/messages/m_071012.html
As always, I continue to pray for you, and I ask that God richly bless your ministry.
In Christ,
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Let me underscore that this third action is not a change in the official documents or policies of the ELCA. Attempts to make such changes were rejected by the assembly.
However, the assembly offered the advice and counsel described above to bishops and others in positions of authority as they make pastoral decisions on matters relating to discipline as issues of human sexuality are being studied throughout the church prior to action by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The third action does not bind bishops to follow this requested course; rather, it expresses the sense of the assembly to encourage restraint in discipline during this time of deliberation.
As we prepare for a social statement on human sexuality in 2009, it is essential that leaders of this church invite ELCA members to participate in the current phase of the ELCA Studies on Sexuality. The development of social statements is participatory in nature. Responses to the third study are welcome until November 1, 2007. Watch for the first draft of the social statement in March 2008. Please encourage thoughtful response to it. You will find more information at www.elca.org/faithfuljourney .
On an afternoon in the middle of the assembly, voting members participated in a "committee of the whole" discussion. I want to share with you the compelling image of that discussion from Bishop Peter Rogness of the Saint Paul Area Synod. He described the long lines of people at every microphone and then wrote, "Since [assembly] rules indicate we alternate speaking pro- and con-, a set of two microphones stands at each station -- one green, one red. I looked at the microphones closest to me and saw Saint Paul Area Synod voting members standing in both lines. I was proud of that. We've been together enough to enjoy and respect each other, and we went to different lines. And then we worshiped together, ate together, did other work together. This synod -- and this church -- is not simply a red line synod or a green line synod. We are church together. We can commit ourselves to living together, faithfully."
You will soon receive in the mail the "Brief Summary of Actions" from the assembly. The ELCA Web site provides information and photos from the assembly at www.elca.org/assembly . In addition, the links that follow will provide more information about the Churchwide Assembly, which you are invited to use as resources for your leadership in this sent church:
Brief summary of actions: www.elca.org/assembly/summary
MSH sermon: www.elca.org/assembly/worship/
MSH verbal report: www.elca.org/assembly/video/070808.html#bishop
I close with deep appreciation for you, for your ministry, and for our partnership in the mission we share. Yes, we are "marked with the cross of Christ forever, claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world." Thanks be to God!
Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop