Monday, August 8, 2005
Opening Worship Sermon
Romans 10: 5-15
Matt 14: 22-33
Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop

Grace to you and peace from God our creator and from our crucified and risen Christ. Amen

Welcome to this ninth Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Although it is August in Orlando, I come to this assembly with Advent expectant hopefulness. Almost on tiptoes, I find myself leaning into these days believing that Christ is present and the Holy Spirit is leading us. What a marvelous time to be the church.

I begin with a very important announcement – no, it is not about turning off.
cell phones. I should probably call upon Secretary Almen who gives the announcements with dignity and charm. But I will go ahead. So, if you think there is any possibility that you might forget the announcement, please write it down. Here it is,
–“WALKING ON WATER IS PERMITTED BUT NOT REQUIRED AT THIS ASSEMBLY.”

I suspect that most, if not all of us, as we have prayed, pondered, prepared for this
assembly may have begun to feel as if we come to Orlando carrying the expectation—
dare I say the burden?—that what is called for from us this week is a feat at least as
miraculous as walking on water.

NOT SO. Neither you nor I need to walk on water nor do we need to fear drowning.
Lest in the midst of our discussions and decisions we forget that, it will be ever before us in our assembly theme—
“MARKED WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST FOREVER.”

It was one of the strangest, most somber television commercials I have ever seen (which may explain which I never saw it shown again). The first scene was a funeral home.
As the camera moved among the caskets, a hushed voice declared, “we are waiting for you.” Then it was to a cemetery we were taken. . . .Moving among the tombstones again we heard, “We are waiting for you.” A long pause. . . again the voice “People who do not vacation die on average 20% sooner. So take back your life! Come to Orlando!”

We have not come to Orlando to take back our lives (or “our” church). We are here because in Christ God graciously and mercifully gives our lives back to us.
“Your life is hid with God in Christ”
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away; see everything has become new!”
(2 Cor. 5:17)

YOU ARE MARKED WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST FOREVER
The miracle of this churchwide assembly is occurring even before I declare us to be in session; before one word of debate is uttered; before the results of any votes are known.
It is the miracles that we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will with ONE voice confess our faith— “We believe in one God. . .We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ. . .
We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic church we acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins . . . We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

Did you hear Paul’s words to the Romans and to us? “The word is near you,
On your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim)
because if you confess with your lips that that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

We come to this churchwide assembly not in fear that we or this church might drown but believing that in baptism we have already been buried with Jesus in a death like his—drowned to the powers of sin, death and the devil and raised to newness of life. “In baptism we have died the only death that matters”, wrote St. Francis, “leaving us free to risk every other death for the sake of life.”

Like the terrified disciples crying out in fear from the boat and like frightened, sinking Peter pleading, “Lord, save me.” We, too, know the reality of fear. Yet fear does not become a defining reality. That is no small claim in a world such as ours. We know what fear can do— drive us into despair—alienate us from others—isolate us from the world. Fear often causes us to lash out. . . verbally maligning our neighbors, violently seeking domination over the world rather than peacefully pursuing reconciliation for the sake of the world.

The miracle of this assembly has and is already occurring and no one here has walked on water (yet) So put out the news release – John Brooks – headline , “Miracle in Orlando.”
The story? – ELCA churchwide assembly begins not in fear but in faith— the miracle of Christ’s present. . .with us . . .for us . . .even when we are afraid.

“TAKE HEART” said Jesus to his terrified disciples and to us, “IT IS I.” “DO NOT BE AFRAID.”

I will never forget my first sermon to the ministerium of the Saint Paul Area Synod. I had been called to serve as bishop but we did not know each other well because I had not served in the Synod. I felt that it was important to begin well. That lasted about halfway through the sermon when weariness, sadness and fear washed over me and I began to cry. I had not planned on saying anything but now I needed to explain. I had been up all night driving around looking for our son whom we suspected at age 13 was into chemicals and now had run away from home. We had no idea where he was. With each passing hour we could only fear the worst.
In that moment of utter helplessness and hopelessness, I stood in the pulpit not so much as proclaimer but as a frightened parent confronting the limits of my ability to save our own son.

All that I had to which I could cling was the promise spoken to him in baptism when God said, “Ezra, I will love you steadfastly”, “I will forgive you mercifully” “I will raise you up to life eternally.” “As a sign of that promise, Ezra, you are marked with the cross of Christ forever.” I could not help thinking of that moment when, now 10 years later, Ezra called so excited – “Dad, I just got a letter of acceptance to Augsburg.College.” Thanks be to God.

The miracle of this Orlando assembly will not be our ability to walk on water.
Rather, it is the miracle that we are defined, not by our fears or failures, but by God’s grace through faith for Jesus’ sake. It is the miracle that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Roman 10:13) The miracle of forgiveness.

“MARKED WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST FOREVER” means walking on water is permitted but not required at this assembly. A second very important announcement—WE HAVE NOT COME TO ORLANDO TO TRY TO KEEP AFLOAT A SINKING CHURCH.”

David Letterman occasionally plays a ridiculous game called “Will it Float?” Whenever it comes on Ione and I always ask each other, “Why do we watch this?” Various objects are dropped into a tank of water. David and Paul, his band director, first must guess
whether or not the object will float.

If that is the question you believe that we have gathered in Orlando to answer – “Will we keep this church afloat?.” Well with all due respect, I need to say – “I think that is the wrong question and it is not finally our task.”

Two weeks ago, I called Walter Bouman, retired professor of theology. Walt is–to use his phrase–in his final baptismal vocation–dying from cancer. . dying in Christ.
Oh, how I wish you could have listened in on the conversation. So I will invite you to hear part of it. Walt said, “I have neither pain nor fear. Such peace God has given me.
I look forward to meeting Jesus face to face.” “Oh, Mark, there are so many people praying for Jan and me that I do not have to spend time praying for myself.
So, I am spending my time praying for others. . .for this church. Everyday I pray for the assembly in Orlando and for you” As he spoke, I could see the image of Jesus
up the mountain by himself praying as his disciples encountered battering
winds in their boat and become terrified. I thought of the thousands and thousands of people in this church and our global and ecumenical partners who with Walter are praying for us this week.

Walter continued, “We have so much upon which to draw as a church but nothing can become a substitute for Word and Sacrament. “Oh, Mark, do not let this church forget that which is central to our identity and unity—law and gospel, Word and Sacrament. If we remember that. . . hold to that. . we will be fine. God bless you, bishop. Thanks so much for calling.” Oh, Walter in the midst of your dying and our
turbulent times, you have reminded us of what we know but too often forget,
that this is Christ’s church not ours. Through the means of grace Christ
is present. The Holy Spirit is at work here – forgiving, reconciling, loving , sustaining us
Yes, keeping the church afloat even in troubled waters.

The morning after my conversation with Dr. Bouman word came that former Presiding
Bishop H. George Anderson had suffered a mild stroke. That evening I called the hospital to check on his condition but I did not want to bother him. George heard I was calling and asked for the phone. Although he was quite weak (thankfully now has regained strength) and though he was somewhat searching for words. . . he found them. He was very clear echoing Walt Bouman. “Mark, we must not forget that it is God who makes us holy.” George said, “We are made holy through the Word and Sacrament. Augsburg article VIII is clear.” (Perhaps only George Anderson would be quoting the Confessions
less than 24 hours after a stroke!) He continued, “It is not the character of our leaders or
of the members that makes us holy. Only by God’s grace in Christ. If we forget that we will become a sect not the church. Thank you for calling, Mark. God be with you and God be with this church.” “Good night, George. God grant you healing mercy and peace.”

Walter and George are right. We have not come to Orlando to try to keep afloat a sinking church. We are here to be the church—to be a people who are loved by Jesus
and who love Jesus in return; to be people saved from their sins; to be those who take heart and are not afraid because the crucified. One now risen is here present through
the means of grace. We are here to be the church in which “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.”(Rom 10:12)

“When they (the disciples) got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him (Jesus) saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” Professor Mark Powell, one of our assembly Bible Study leaders, said to our churchwide Cabinet of Executives, “We exist as church to worship God and love Jesus and one way we worship God and love Jesus is by living the way that God wants us to live and doing the work that Jesus would have us do.”

Is that not what we as this church in assembly are called to discern? Please do not misunderstand me. I am not in any way minimizing the significance of what we will discuss and decide in the plenary hall. Yes, those decisions will have an impact on this church. Yet, it is what will occur in this holy space each day that makes us the church. Here the good news of salvation in Christ will be proclaimed. Here sins will be forgiven, Faith will be professed. Intercessions will be offered. Offerings for those in need will be gathered. The saints will be remembered. Bread will be broken. . .wine poured.

In this holy place, we will raise our voices with the disciples praising Jesus declaring,
“Truly your are the Son of God.”
One last announcement—actually it is a word of warning, “BEWARE – SOMEONE IS WATCHING OUR FEET!” (Oh, you may not see anyone’s feet on the large screens but somehow now that I’ve said that, I suspect feet may appear.) As much as we concentrate on the words spoken and focus on the votes taken, when all is said and done the impact of this assembly on the ELCA’s identity, life and mission may depend most upon our feet.

If you have been to my office perhaps you noticed on the floor a large plaster foot. Adults tend to look at it a bit bewildered but don’t say anything. Young people just put the question out there. “Hey, Bishop, what’s with the foot?” I explain that it was a gift from staff colleagues, so that I will remember Pastor Heidi Neumark’s sermon at the service of my installation.

Perhaps some of your recall Heidi looking down at me from the pulpit in Rockafellow Chapel. No, not just looking at me, . . . she was pointing—no, shaking her finger at me saying— “Mark, people will watch your feet . . . where you walk, where you rest, where you lead and allow yourself to be led. Mark, take us to ground zero. Take us to the waste places of our disconnect from each other, from other nations, from the earth, from God. . . that together we might there be made new. Mark, it’s simple, really, just follow the beautiful feet.”
Yes, for those marked with the cross of Christ walking on water is optional. But plunging into troubled waters of suffering and brokenness and despair is not. For there we may glimpse what God is doing—participating in our very being— bringing healing, life and salvation in ways we can hardly imagine.

The most important questions with which we struggle this week just may be these—“Will we proclaim the Good News so that all might believe?” “Will we heed Jesus’ command to come and follow?” “Will we trust Christ’s promise? TAKE HEART. IT IS I. DO NOT BE AFRAID.”

Yes, the risen Christ is in this holy place. Your feet look absolutely beautiful. So, let’s get to work