Refugee work is part of ELCICâs engagement as a church âIn mission for others.â National Bishop Susan C. Johnson, seen here, visiting refugees in Adjumani, north Uganda. Photo: LWF Uganda
Canadian Bishop Johnson reflects on the ecumenical commemoration in Lund
Canadian National Bishop Susan C. Johnson says the October 2016 joint Lutheran - Catholic commemoration of the Reformation “is a wonderful sign of the work of the Holy Spirit… calling us into the unity of the Church.” The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Vice-President for North America spoke to Lutheran World Information about the church’s commitment to sponsor 500 refugees, provide 500 scholarships to schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, plant 500,000 trees, and raise CAD 500,000 for the LWF Endowment Fund in marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
How do you personally feel as 31 October 2016 approaches?
I’m very excited about the joint commemoration in Lund, Sweden. At one point in my life, I would have thought such an event was impossible—the Lutheran and Catholic Church leadership together, commemorating a Reformation anniversary jointly? This is a wonderful sign of the work of the Holy Spirit who continues to work in and among us, calling us into the unity, which Jesus Christ has proclaimed for the Church.
Does the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) regularly collaborate with Catholics, and will you work together in view of the Reformation anniversary?
Firstly, the ELCIC and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have been working together for several decades as members of the Canadian Council of Churches, the umbrella body of 25 Christian denominations that dialogue, witness and engage in common action including peace and justice issues.
Clinging to our identity of being liberated by God’s grace gives us an anchor in the midst of rapid change in both church and society.
Concerning the 2017 Reformation anniversary, there are a number of events being planned here in Canada to recognize the commemoration in an ecumenical way. I currently participate in a Lutheran-Catholic working group that is looking at what we might be able to do together. We have already started working jointly on a study resource to be used by both Lutherans and Catholics. Special ecumenical guests will attend our 16th Biennial Convention [which is the ELCIC’s highest governing body] in July next year. All this will lead towards a number of joint Lutheran-Catholic ecumenical commemorations taking place across the country to mark the anniversary.
What impact is Lund 2016 likely to have on your local ecumenical relations?
The event itself and all the processes around it will certainly lend credibility and strength to the invitation for Catholics and Lutherans in Canada to participate in joint study and come together for common prayer. It is a wonderful kick-start for our work in 2017.
In October 2015, you invited ELCIC congregations to the “500” Reformation challenge on refugees, climate justice and education. What is the progress thus far?
ELCIC members throughout the church are enthusiastically embracing this challenge, demonstrating our understanding of being Liberated by God’s Grace by responding to a world in need. To date we have sponsored 125 refugees from different countries where our partner Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) is collaborating with the LWF and other organizations. Earlier this year, staff from the two Lutheran churches in Canada and colleagues from CLWR welcomed a refugee family of four to Winnipeg, as part of our pledge to sponsor a refugee family for one year.
We have commitments for 22 scholarships for schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land – each scholarship of CAD 1,400 allows a student to attend school for one year, have planted 19,377 trees and donated CAD 116,264 to the LWF Endowment Fund. We are off to a great start on this very ambitious goal and I’m looking forward to all the energy this is gaining and the creative ways in which our church members are engaging in this challenge.
Whether or not we meet all of these challenges, the most important thing for me is the full engagement of our church in living out our call to be a church "In Mission for Others".
The Reformation anniversary theme “Liberated by God’s Grace” puts emphasis on ongoing renewal of the church. What does this entail in your context?
We see ecclesia semper reformanda [ongoing renewal of the church] being lived out as we continue to work for right relationships with Indigenous peoples and on physician-assisted death among other issues. The church looks at itself anew as we reflect theologically on the ordained ministry, explore new ways of working with our ecumenical partners, meet the challenges of declining membership and resources, and work to revitalize our members’ spirituality and discipleship. Clinging to our identity of being liberated by God’s grace gives us an anchor in the midst of rapid change in both church and society.
