ELCAGlobe“My sister sent me a message on Facebook shortly after the election of Bp. Eaton.  She has long admired Bp. Mark Hanson and was wondering how it could have happened that he wasn’t re-elected.  All I could say was that I believed the Holy Spirit had led us to a place where few of us who were gathered thought we would be going at the beginning of the Assembly.  I figured there were more than a few people outside of the Convention Center who might be wondering the same thing.  Which is why I asked the Voting Members from our synod to share their thoughts with you.  In this way, we are inviting you into the Assembly Hall to hear what it was like for those who were here.  I expect you’ll hear more about the Assembly when you get a chance to meet some of these people during our upcoming conference and district gatherings.  Thanks for your prayerful support while we have been gathered here in Pittsburgh!”

Bp. Mark W. Holmerud
Sierra Pacific Synod, ELCA

“I think we all came to this with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We saw a calling for change, not in spite of Bishop Hanson or any of the things he’s done for the church, but simply as the Holy Spirit moved us. Bishop Eaton has been called with this movement and will enrich the church and take it to new places.”  

Mariah Seitzinger
Lord of Mercy Lutheran, Sparks, NV

 “From the beginning, this assembly with the theme ‘Always Being Made New’ has seemed to inspire the assembly and direct our actions. This included the Bible study discussion, voting for bishop, secretary, and on the memorials. Much love was expressed to and for Bishop Hansen, glowing expression and accolades for his service and leadership. His demeanor and continued uplifting spirit moves us into the newness of this day.  Great resolutions to discuss and implement as a synod on our return.”

Pr. Linda Boston
Bethlehem Lutheran, Oakland

“The election was totally nonpolitical, but was wholly spiritual. I believe every Christian in the Assembly felt the Spirit at work.”

Doug Miller
SPS Vice President

“I was surprised as anyone at the election of Presiding Bishop-elect Eaton. When I am surprised, generally God is working something new.”

Pr. Jason Bense
Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Sacramento

“I think that like many, I had a very difficult time with this decision. Bishop Hanson has been a phenomenal leader of this church for the past 12 years…  That said, an anniversary or major birthdays are a good time to reflect on how the future is going to be formed. We have laid 25 years of roadwork on our path to the future…we will continue to lay this path forward.  I greet & look forward to moving ahead with Bishop Eaton. She has a vision for this church that she has articulated & I hope that we as a synod & individuals will assist her in realizing.”

Stephanie Leong
First Evangelical Lutheran, Palo Alto

“To the wonderful voices already in the mix I would add that the assembly moved through this ecclesiastical ballot with deep respect, appreciation and gratitude for Bishop Hanson, indeed for all four bishops (Crist, Eaton, Hanson and Svennungsen) who spoke with us about our beloved church. I was so grateful for a process that allowed us to hear perspectives on God’s calling to our church from those four faithful, gifted leaders. I would have been happy for any one of them to be called to serve as our presiding bishop for the next six years.

Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson has served as the most public leader of our ELCA for nearly half of our twenty-five year history together. He has moderated difficult conversations with exceptional grace, humility and good humor. He has set an amazing example for all of us in the church to courageously engage the deepest suffering on this earth with the truth and love of Christ the servant. It is all those gifts of his leadership, combined with his willingness to continue to serve in this capacity if so called, that made it possible for the Spirit to work in this church to call forth the gifts of Presiding Bishop-Elect Eaton to lead the church in the next six years of our life together. This Assembly rather resoundingly affirmed that call and is rejoicing in it as an expression of how we as a church are being made new in Christ.”

Pr. Anita Warner
Advent Lutheran Church, Morgan Hill

“It felt to me that the presence of the spirit was palpable in the Assembly as the election process unfolded. There was much sense of that Bp. Hanson was the right leader at the right time, but now we were being called to some new directions in which Bp. Eaton would be the right leader. If we truly believe that God does indeed make all things new, that the spirit does indeed work in us, both individually and corporately, there is much to celebrate together!”

Margy Schmitt Ajer, Diaconal Minister
Coordinator for Missional Leadership, ELCA Region 2 Denver, CO

“I would second the sentiment that this wasn’t an anti-Hanson vote. He has been nothing but wonderful as a leader for twelve years.  I was in awe in 2009 as he lead us through the difficult process around the sexuality study and consequent policy changes.  However, we simply ended up as an Assembly taking seriously the theme of ‘making all things new.’ The final four candidates gave us a win-win-win-win situation.”

Joe Haletky
First Evangelical Lutheran, Palo Alto

“It’s difficult to comprehend the discernment process of almost 1,000 people–a process that I think is very personal.  I have my own speculations about why the vote went the way it did, but they are really nothing more than ideas and guesses. What I can say is that I did not speak with anyone at the Assembly who was advocating for the “ouster” of Presiding Bishop Hanson, nor did I sense any sense of triumphalism or “winning” after a long, thoughtful process of balloting.  I deeply appreciated what Presiding Bishop-Elect Eaton had to say about re-exploring an identity that is distinctly Lutheran, particularly as we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. I was also comforted by the sense that all four of the finalists would have made very capable leaders.

Change is unsettling and leave-taking is always difficult, especially when it is a bit unexpected. We have been through a lot together with Bishop Hanson. However, a sense of trust both in the leading of the Spirit and the careful selection process will serve us well at this time. It’s a new day, a historic vote, and I think the Assembly is genuinely excited to see what lies ahead. It’s been a fantastic honor to be present for this event and to participate in God’s action within the church.  I also continue to appreciate our denomination’s deep commitment to selecting its leaders via a democratic process that strives to include everyone–both clergy and an intentionally diverse laity. Many Christians do not have this awesome privilege.”

Dale Loepp
St. Mark’s Lutheran, San Francisco

“This election was a celebration of the church, and how humble and graceful we can change hands even in turbulent years. While many outside these halls in Pittsburgh could easily be angry about the decision to elect a new bishop, we should take pause and realize that the Holy Spirit moves in mysterious ways, and many were called to have this church be lead in a new direction.”

Paul Larson
Bethel Lutheran Church, Roseville

“I believe that the Holy Spirit moves and moves in waves. We all felt the stirring passion in Bp. Elizabeth Eaton for the church in every expression down to the individual. She wasn’t in it for the title, but for the change and impact of having the conversations so few have.”

Molly Calhoun
Napa Valley Lutheran, Napa

“It is such a privilege, honor, and joy to be a faculty resource from PLTS at the making of yet another great new chapter of ELCA at this momentous 2013 Churchwide Assembly.  As a fourth generation Lutheran nurtured in India, witnessing the election of the presiding bishop is a joyful moment that I cannot express in words.  Presiding Bishop elect Elizabeth Eaton inspired the assembly with her confidence to lead this church, openness to learn and work with everyone, and a strong faith deeply rooted in the theology of the cross. The Assembly acknowledge it with their voting.

I feel the ELCA has been learning to recognize the leadership from the margins, learning to acknowledge the tradition with critique and gratitude and to move forward into the future in new direction.  It is so powerful to witness the role of young voting members at the assembly to bring radical change in thinking, acting, and moving forward as church. The ELCA is a teaching church witnessing to the gospel and learning to practice what we preach.  As a parent of two young daughters who are also excited about this direction, I feel we have still a long way to go. In a world which continues to be a place of conflict and struggle, the church needs to continue to embrace those in the margins until all become part of the crucified and risen Christ.”

Dr. Moses Penumaka
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary