CWA Reflection: Pastor David Brandfass

We continue our series of weekly reflections on the 2022 Churchwide Assembly with thoughts from Rev. David Brandfass, with Christ Lutheran in Sedona. Each week we share a 2022 CWA reflection on how we are church together by our synod voting members. View all our 2022 CWA posts here.

Well before the 2022 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the Holy Spirit was alive in this synod’s selection of a group of fantastic voting members. I am humbled to have been part of that group. One of my highlights was being able to work with the truly inspired members of our synod during the Churchwide Assembly. This synod has a tremendous well spring of leadership for which I am continually thankful.

While preparing for a churchwide assembly feels a bit like drinking from a fire hose, the pre-assembly Bible studies helped to form us as we prepared to worship and work under the banner of “Embodying the Word.” Each of the pre-assembly Bible studies helped to guide me as I read through the pre-assembly reports, biographies of those standing for leadership election, and as I paid close attention to pain and sadness across this church caused by the harm done through the actions of this church to the community of Iglesia Lutheran Santa Maria Peregrina.

As I traveled to Columbus, Ohio I wondered where the Holy Spirit was going to lead us as we gathered. As the assembly progressed it was apparent that it was not a question of “if the Holy Spirit was going to lead us” as it became obvious the Holy Spirit is leading this church. One example was the honesty and grace expressed by the members of the community of Iglesia Lutherana Santa María Peregrina in their presentation before the assembly. The churchwide organization’s response made it clear how much work this church must do from top to bottom to prevent the repetition of these events. The members of the assembly are ready to do this work. Are you?

When I left the 2019 assembly I felt as though we faced great challenges as a church, and I wasn’t sure we were up to it. Three years later, on my way home from Columbus, it is obvious we face even greater challenges, but now, through the witness of this assembly, I feel we are ready, led by the Spirit and filled with grace, to meet the challenges faced by Jesus’ church in this twenty-first century. May we all commit ourselves to communicating Jesus at every opportunity;connecting with a million young and diverse new members; and, creating new possibilities of hope and vibrant ministry in the contexts we have been placed.

May all we do be done to the glory of God!