Welcome to the web site for the 2008 Alaska Synod Assembly

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Now! I mean right Now! God is doing a new thing.  No more waiting, no more delays. God’s actions and grace are breaking in upon us. The new Heaven and new Earth already can be seen. But do you have eyes to see; hearts open to God’s wild imagination possibilities?

God’s Heaven, God’s Earth, God’s People…NOW!   

The theme for our 2008 Assembly weaves together an emphasis on the care of Creation, environmental concerns, apocalyptic tension, and the immediacy of the Gospel. We, who share this extraordinary gift called Alaska, are confronted by the beauty and expanse of this great land and the impact that global climate change is having on our communities and peoples. What is God calling us to? What word can be spoken? What Word is God speaking? 

We are excited to welcome Ken Inskeep from ELCA churchwide and Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago as our speakers and guests for our time together. Come join us for workshops (6:30 pm) on Thursday evening followed by a Synod Welcome gathering at 8:30 pm.   

On Friday evening at 5:30 is the Assembly dinner with recognition, awards and a time to honor chaplains serving in the Alaska Synod. This will be followed Synod Assembly Worship at 7:30 pm. 

I am looking forward to our gathering of brothers and sisters from all around the Alaska Synod.

Blessings, Pastor Michael Keys, Bishop Alaska Synod of ELCA

Jan Brewer, Synod Council

Your synod council has planned a great assembly with a variety of workshops; Bible study let by Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing, author and teacher; fellowship time; and of course elections, resolutions and discussions on the business of the synod.

We have taken note of your comments on previous assemblies and scheduled an assembly with a shorter timeframe. We encourage you to come Thursday evening for dinner, workshops and a social gathering; then stay with us through lunch on Saturday. We hope this new time frame will allow everyone to attend the entire assembly and still return home Saturday if needed.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of the synod and we look forward to seeing you at the 2008 Alaska Synod Assembly. 

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
 

Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 75)

     Grace to you and peace as you gather for your 2008 Synod Assembly. “God’s work. Our hands.” The words of this year’s theme describe what will happen as you gather in assembly. God will be doing God’s work as you hear God’s living word of promise proclaimed and read and as you share in Christ’s supper. You will also be sharing stories of how God’s grace frees this church—each of us, our congregations, synods, and churchwide ministries—to do God’s work for the sake of the Gospel and for the life of the world. Read the rest of the Bishop's letter here.

He is a graduate of Trinity College (B.A., Sociology), Deerfield, Illinois; Marquette University (M.A., Sociology), Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Loyola University of Chicago (Ph. D., Sociology). Prior to his tenure with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) he taught sociology (Associate Professor) at Trinity College. 

His publications include:

“Views on Social Responsibility: The Investment of Pension Funds in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” Review of Religious Research;

“History of Church Growth Research,” in Understanding Church Growth and Decline, David Roozen and Kirk Hadaway, editors;

“Giving Trends in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” Review of Religious Research;

Chasing Down a Rumor: The Death of Mainline Denominations with Robert Bacher, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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