2001 Synod Assembly, Minneapolis Area Synod May 31- June 2,2001.

Sharing Faith in a new Century

This was my first and only chance to attend. It really was a pleasant experience to participate and to listen to people and to meet with people there. I was very blessed, encouraged and inspired by the Spirit-filled Synod Assembly.

This was a big gathering with 800 to 900 delegates from the many local congregations consisting of lay delegates and pastors. Everything was so well organized with the Worships, Agenda, Exhibits, 26 Workshops and Meals. The Assembly also had to deal with 20 Resolutions. The one from Central Conference was very up-to-date and to the point: Abolishing the Use of the Death Penalty.

This Assembly was a Thank You and Farewell for Bishop David and Nancy Olson after 14 years of service. Personally I also would like to express my gratitude and thanks for how they welcomed me and my family as newcomers from Norway and presented me to the Synod and how they cared in many ways for our stay here.

The new Bishop elected is Craig E. Johnson. I am convinced he will be a good leader and a blessing to the congregations. I welcome him as well.

May I mention two things that were of special interest and made a special impression on me:

1. The Bishop Election was very different to the system we have in Norway. Because of the state-church system the Bishops are appointed for lifetime service by the Norwegian Government and the King of Norway. In this country the system works out very different. By the registration at the Synod Assembly more than 60 bishop candidates were nominated. Through the process of several ballots during the plenary sessions the new Bishop was elected the last day of the Assembly. The choosing of a Bishop is fully in the hands of the Church.
2. The powerful outreach and mission focus made an impression on me. The Keynote speaker Rev. Heidi Neumark and the Bible Study by Dr. David Tiede did proclaim a powerful Biblical call about Sharing the faith in a new Century addressed to the individuals and the local congregations as well. We have to move from maintenance to growth. Now it is time to listen. It is time to witness. Now it is time not merely to preserve the traditions, but to move on to transform the culture and the world by the power of the Gospel. Jesus is for the whole world, from neighborhood to world-wide. This is a cross cultural and cross religious task.