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Book of Faith Initiative

Last summer the churchwide assembly voted to embrace an initiative called "Book of Faith" Lutherans Read the Bible.  Two weeks ago in our Northern Illinois Synod assembly we passed a resolution committing ourselves to becoming a "Book of Faith" synod.  I have reprinted the resolves from that resolution so that you might see the direction we will be taking in the next several years to help ourselves become stronger in our understanding of the Bible and God's Word to us.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,  that we become a "Book of Faith" synod, committing ourselves to live in  and from the Word of God in all our meetings, assemblies and events, so that as we regularly and increasingly hear, read, study, share and are engaged by God's Word, we lead by example in faithful service and holy living; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,  that the bishop of our synod-who "as its pastor, shall be a teacher of the  faith of this church and shall provide leadership for the life and witness of this church"-in coordination with the Synod Advocate, be affirmed in his leadership of this initiative personally and through collaborative programmatic work with congregations of the synod; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,  that all voting members of this synod assembly covenant together to begin a  regular practice of Bible study and prayer, gathering with others in their congregation and/or community to speak and hear the Word from one another; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,  that we celebrate and continue to support and strengthen those places  where Scripture is already taught and engaged, such as Women of the ELCA Bible studies, camping and campus ministries, Diakonia, congregation councils, Sunday school and other congregational groups; and
 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,  that we encourage all congregations to become "Book of Faith"  congregations, which will find expression by

  • exploring new opportunities for engaging the Bible,
  • sending sufficient numbers of members to synod events for training as Bible study leaders, and

• including biblical study as an integral part of all meetings and groups, in order to become more fluent in the first language of faith-the language of Scripture-that we might live into our calling as a people renewed, enlivened, empowered, and sent by the Word.

The Breakfast & Devotions beginning on July 1 is my first attempt to get us started as a "Book of Faith" congregation.  If you have other ideas of how we can engage God's Word, please let me know.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Ralph