“Season of Doubt” When serving as a parish pastor, I would sometimes be asked if it was possible to be a faithful Christian and also doubt. Could one be a disciple and also question? Parishioners would be hesitant to ask for fear that they would face judgment—Divine and mine. Somehow, we’ve gotten it into our […]
The South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Council is pleased to announce that they have affirmed the appointment by Presiding Bishop Eaton of Peter Rogness as the Interim Bishop. Bishop Rogness will begin on September 26th and will serve until July 31, 2020. Rev. Peter and his wife, Gerry, have four adult children and four grandchildren. They […]
“Good Reads” from the Bishop for Your Church Library As I travel around I am getting into books on bluetooth. (My new fangled car doesn’t have a CD player.) Anyway, I was thinking about books that I’d recommend being in each church library for the edification of the community. They are listed below: Honoring Our […]
“Big Look at Small Catechism” Editor’s note: This is reprint of ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s column from July 2014. Just as she did at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly, Eaton encourages people to “dust off” their Small Catechism and take another look at the basics of our faith as we near the 500th anniversary of […]
Deacons: How They Serve (Part 3) July 26, 2018 Following is an educational piece and final installment of a three-part series offered by Bishop Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld on the role of Deacons in this synod and in God’s church. Deacons offer a ministry of Word and Service, sharing the hope of Christ, helping where there […]
“We are the branches” Is it possible to be Lutheran and an ecumenist? Of course, the answer is yes. The ELCA has continued the work of our predecessor churches—the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, the American Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran Church in America—all of which engaged in dialogues with other denominations. When the ELCA […]
Thank you to Bishop Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld for coming to speak to us this week! Thank you also to all of our talented pie bakers, the volunteers who decorated the hall, set up, served, and cleaned up, and everyone who attended the Bishop’s Gathering with us on Tuesday, August 28, 2018. We were able to ask […]
We still need donations of 2 more pies for our gathering with Bishop Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld on August 28th. Can you bake a pie and drop it off in the morning on the 28th? You don’t have to make a specific type of pie; choose your favorite recipe and share it with the Bishop and the […]
Greetings Siblings in Christ of the South-Central Synod, I am so honored and humbled to be your bishop. My official start date was July 1st but if you were involved in the MYLE and Youth Gathering 2018 you know I was in place a week earlier. It was indeed a privilege to start my tenure […]
“Serving the Neighbor in Need” Editor’s note: This is a reprint of the June 2017 column from the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. These are politically charged times. This very sentence in the presiding bishop’s column is likely to raise eyebrows. Across this church I’ve heard stories of parishioners disturbed by […]