Issue 9 - Lutheran Church in Great Britain

TheForumN e w s l e t t e r o fT h e L u t h e r a n C h u r c h i nGreat BritainSummer/Pentecost 2011 ISSUE 9Lutheran Ladies Summer Get Together p3LWF News p4Diakonia p5Interview with ELCE Chairman p6Change for Church p8Archbishop Tutu Visit p9Chairman’s Corner p10CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF THEUNITED LUTHERAN SYNOD IN GREAT BRITAINMy memories of an eventful day in the historyof Lutheranism in Great Britain, by George J RCienciala.Corby, 16 April 1961The Sunday morning service of the St John’sLutheran Church (now known as St Anne’s)took place as usual at 11.00 am in the chapelof the Lutheran Church House at 8 CollinghamGardens, London SW5. Following the service,however, a 41-seater coach drew up in front ofthe building and 19 members of the congregationgot on. Among these were the Rev’d WilliamE Wegener (Pastor of St John’s) and PastorWilliam B Schaeffer (Senior Representative of theLutheran World Federation in Great Britain), alsoDr Johann Schneider (a founder member of StJohn’s), Messrs Bryson and Henderson (seniorleaders from the Church Council) plus 13 otherfolk, including Karol Schlachter, Sylvia Dalen andyours truly (representing the Luther League, avery active young adults group).Our destination was Corby, a new steel townin Northamptonshire. Among the many peopleattracted by the opportunities that this majorindustry provided were refugees from the Balticcountries and Central Europe, a signi cantnumber of whom were Lutherans. A ourishingLatvian congregation had already beenestablished in the Corby area and it had built achurch hall as its worship and social centre. Thiswas also being used by the recently formed StPaul’s Lutheran Church, worshipping in English,with the Rev’d Wayne Stumme as its pastor.The late 1940s,’50 and ‘60s were tumultous yearsin Britain. A large number of people displaced byWorld War II and its aftermath had come to theUnited Kingdom. Many moved on to the Americasand Australasia. Those that stayed, settleddown. Families were re-united where possible,or new ones started. Quite naturally the manyethnic groups often came together for mutualencouragement. Religion played a signi cant partin this. Under the umbrella of the Lutheran Councilof Great Britain, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian andPolish Lutheran Churches had been established.The Scandinavian and German churches hadalready been in England for many years and werelinked to, and supported by, their home churches.Quite naturally the future ministry of thesechurches was of great concern, especially ministryto couples from different ethnic groups whereEnglish was often their common language. Allchurches were also faced by the needs of theirchildren, who were being educated in schoolswhere English was the medium of instruction.Sunday Schools and Summer Camps in thenational language only delayed the drift from theethnic Lutheran fold.Dr Hans Herbert Kramm, the rst post-warpastor of St Mary’s German Lutheran Church inLondon, recognised this need and encouragedthe formation of an English language daughtercongregation. A young Canadian pastor, theRev’d Herbert O Hartig, was called, and on 29July 1951 St Mary’s English Lutheran Churchwas founded. Some years later it changed itsname to St John’s Lutheran Church. Thecontinued on next page1

Lutheran Ladies Summer Get TogetherOn Saturday 18 June a group of 18 ladies met atthe home of Marlies Adam in Leicestershire. Theday began with Sarah Owen leading the MorningPrayers, adapted from the Evangelical LutheranWorship book. The service included a reading ofPsalm 8 and a reading from John’s gospel (14:15-17) on ‘The Promise of the Holy Spirit’:15‘If you love me, you will keep mycommandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, andhe will give you another Advocate, to be with youforever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the worldcannot receive, because it neither sees him norknows him. You know him, because he abideswith you, and he will be in you.’The hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’ and prayersfollowed the reading. The ladies sang withoutinstruments or music, but sang with deep feelingand gusto - they would make a good Lutheranladies Choir. I am sure that there are good malesingers within the LCiGB that would make aLutheran Men’s Choir, as well! Thank you, Sarahand readers.After the service, Marlies introduced a colleaguefrom the University of Leicester Chaplaincy team,Julie-Ann Heath. Julie-Ann gave a lovely, andlively, insight into her life (so far), and how shebecame an Ordained Minister within the Churchof England. Julie-Ann was able to connect withline ‘This is my story, this is my song’ from therefrain of the hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’. Shewas sent to Sunday school, with her brother andwas Con rmed at eleven years old, even thoughshe did not realise ‘what she was signing up to’.Julie-Ann left school at fteen and started workat sixteen years old, as an Of ce Junior. In thisjob, she encountered many new aspects of life,like posh cars, and different people. She wasasked by the company’s director, ‘What wouldyou like to achieve and by when?’ After somethought, she replied ‘I would like your job by thetime I’m 30 years old’. With a lot of hard work anddetermination she achieved this ‘dream’, with allthe perks. She realised that there must be ‘moreto life than this’.To the astonishment of her colleagues andhusband, she left the job. Julie-Ann was ableto try things she had never done before. Sheparticipated in an ALPHA Course, even thoughher ‘faith had not gone anywhere’. This was thestart of a ‘new journey’ in her life with ‘brandnew dreams’. Julie-Ann had a clothes shop forthe ‘larger lady’ (which had been suggested bya friend), as she had experience in textiles. Shethen held an ALPHA Course in her shop, whichwent down well. This led on to Julie-Ann changingher ‘direction in life’. She studied Theology, and isnow a Non-Stipendiary Minister and has no Parishof her own. Julie-Ann is a very busy lady. She is achaplain to international students at the Universityof Leicester, a work place chaplain in the centreof Leicester, takes part in services at LeicesterCathedral, and takes services at other churches.As well as all this she is an accomplished writer,and has published both children’s (Sparky andMirabelle & Maude) and adult (The Angel at theBottom of the Garden) books.She has published these books through her ownpublishing company, Potters Maze, which shestarted with a friend. She is also an artist, a wifeand very modest but not afraid of coming forwardand talking, plus other attributes that we are stillto learn about. We were all able to ask manyquestions about her work, books and so on.As is traditional, a good spread was provided forlunch, which was enjoyed by all. In the afternoonPastor Libby led a Eucharistic Service, which wasmoving. Thank you Pastor Libby. We were ableto socialise over tea and home baked goodiesprovided by several ladies. Thank you one andall. Photos were taken, mainly indoors (due tothe British weather), those taken outside werebetween the rain ‘showers’. We all had a greattime. Thank you Marlies for opening your home forthe annual summer get togetherLivija UpmalisSt Luke’s Lutheran Church, LeedsEventsPhoto Courtesy of Annette Higgins3

Lutheran World FederationPathway for a Common Spiritual Journey:LWF Strategic Plan 2012-2017 Considered by CouncilGENEVA, 10 June 2011 (LWI) - Theology, mutualaccompaniment and service remain centralto The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) as itapproaches the 500th anniversary of the LutheranReformation in 2017, a proposed strategic plan forthe communion says.The draft LWF Strategy 2012-2017 is beingconsidered by the global organization’s Council atits meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, 9 to 14 June,following intensive consultation with memberchurches and partners.“This global strategy of The Lutheran WorldFederation (LWF) lays out a vision and pathwayfor our common spiritual journey as a communionof churches, and for our service to people and theworld,” the draft strategy states.Founded in 1947 as a federation of Lutheranchurches, the LWF’s growing understanding ofitself as a communion of churches with a deepsense of mutual accountability characterizes theproposed strategy.The draft names three priorities:- that the LWF be strengthened in worship andongoing theological discernment, ecumenicaldialogue and interfaith collaboration;- that member churches grow in capacity forholistic mission and deepen their relationshipswith each other;- that effective and empowering diakonia (churchsocial service) address human suffering, injusticeand emergencies.The document notes that theological re ection,advocacy and public witness, and gender justiceare critical to support the priorities, while effectivecommunication and nancial sustainability areimportant to building the LWF’s sustainability andeffectiveness.The LWF embarked on the strategic renewal asa communion of 145 member churches with 70million members worldwide, rich in theologicaltraditions and committed to a continuingreformation, according to the plan.“To be Lutheran is to be freed by grace to love andserve the neighbor. Our service in the world, and ourcare for creation, are integral to our Lutheran identity.”Lutherans serve in a world characterized byincreased connectivity and interdependence butwidening economic and technological gaps, the4proposed strategy states.“Because globalization is built on neo-liberaldoctrines of individualism, idolatry of markets, andacquisition of wealth, it has led to a growing dividebetween rich and poor people.”Migration, climate change and shifts in thereligious landscape will also shape the work of theLWF, the draft strategy maintains.Still, theology should remain a core activity for all levelsof the global Lutheran Communion and it should beenriched by the understandings gained from churchesengaged with the suffering of the world.“The anniversary of the Reformation in 2017provides a powerful focal point for furtherformation as a communion and the reaf rmationof our ecumenical commitment,” the proposedstrategy says.It calls for member churches to work together,share resources, learn from each other and beaccountable to one another as they meet themission challenges in their various contexts.The plan commits to developing the capacityof member churches, encouraging interchurchrelationships and networks, and the cultivation offuture leaders, including women and youth.Diakonia continues to be an essential calling ofthe Lutheran Communion, the draft adds, statingthat alongside its ecumenical and interfaithpartners the LWF must continue to work withcommunities to counter injustice, exclusion andthe ravages of con ict and natural disasters.“Diakonia is central to what it means to be church.Christians are called by God to live out diakonia intheir daily lives and in what they do.”The proposed strategic plan calls for memberchurches to be better equipped to respondto human suffering and for the LWF to be aneffective voice for justice, peace and humanrights. It urges that LWF’s global humanitarian anddevelopment programs focus on marginalized andvulnerable people.It commits to supporting the role of memberchurches in their local diakonia efforts, furtherdeveloping the LWF’s global humanitarian anddevelopment programs and partnerships withthe World Council of Churches, the EcumenicalAdvocacy Alliance, the ACT Alliance and theYWCA.continued on next page

DiakoniaEverybody attending the LCiGB Synod in Marchheard a very interesting presentation by Rev’d DrRoy Long and Deacon Seija Frears concerningthe Diaconate, a subject we will be hearing moreabout in the future as the LCiGB considers thepossibility of having Deacons in our church.Currently, Seija is the only Lutheran Deaconworking here, as she came to England with herstatus as Deacon already recognised.Synod agreed to set up a working party that nowmeets in Leeds under the chairmanship of DrLong, which will report back to the LCiGB Councilin due course.The Lutheran World Federation is also lookinganew at Diakonia as an integral part of beingChurch. The Following quotation is from the mostrecent publication from LWF:“From the very beginning it became imperativefor the Christian community to give continuityto Jesus’ diaconal mission. The memory of histeaching certainly shaped the values and qualitiesof their lifestyle: ‘For I have set you an example,that you also should do as I have done to you.’(John 13:15) and; ‘As the Father has sent me, so Isend you,’ (John 20:21).Thus, diakonia became a fundamental concept inthe life of the Christian congregations all over theRoman Empire. Diakonia also became the termfor the designation of leadership positions in theChurch.The story of the installation of the seven newleaders in the congregation in Jerusalem in Acts 6,shows how the marginalization of Greek widowschallenged the church’s inclusive nature. It wasnot only the dignity of those ignored in the dailydiakonia that was at risk, but the very diaconalquality of the fellowship. To ignore this would beto ignore the devastating power of sin and itspotential to destroy what God has reconciled inChrist.The installation of the seven, all of whom hadGreek names and therefore probably representedthe widows’ cultural and social environment, wasnot merely a practical matter in order to havethings done better. It was an act of securing thefundamental self-understanding of the Church,for the well-being of the whole fellowship andfor public witness. The seven were all ‘full ofthe Spirit,’ a reminder that the Holy Spirit, whois giving life to the Church, also is the blessingpower for its diaconal lifestyle. The storyconcludes: ‘The word of God continued to spread;the number of the disciples increased greatly inJerusalem …’ (Acts 6:7).Diakonia therefore, is related to the congregation’sethos and structures. In other words, it is bothan expression of what the church is by its verynature, and what is manifested in its daily life,plans and projects. It is therefore natural todesignate certain concrete actions as diakonia.”Pastor Libby Toomsalu(taken from ‘Lutherans Up North’ summer 2011)NewsLWF, cont’dThe LWF should remain well governed, supportedby a communion of ce that is nanciallysustainable, professional and accountable.The organization must have a clear missionand direction, adequate human and nancialresources, strong leadership and adaptablecommunications.“Balancing intentions with resources andinstitutional capacity will be key to being effectivein a given year and to the LWF’s ongoingsustainability,” the plan states. It calls for qualitygovernance structures that reect the rich diversityof the communion.The proposed strategy urges increased visibilityfor the LWF and its work and for communicationefforts to support communion relationships andfundraising, using technologies that help connectmembers to the communion.Read more about the strategic planning processand download the Strategy Proposal at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/index.php/themes/lwfstrategic-planning-processThere are around 140 participants in this year’sCouncil meeting, including LWF member churchrepresentatives, invited guests, interpreters,accredited media and LWF staff. The meeting isbeing held at the Ecumenical Center in Geneva,Switzerland, under the theme, “Discerning OurCommon Journey.”The 50-member Council is the LWF’s governingbody in the six-year period between Assemblies,and meets annually. The current Council wasappointed at the July 2010 Eleventh Assembly inStuttgart, Germany. It comprises the Presidentand Treasurer as well as lay and ordainedpersons representing the different LWF regions.5

InterviewInterview with the Chairman of the EvangelicalChurch in England (ELCE)The following is an Interview with Rev’d JonEhlers, Chairman of the Evangelical LutheranChurch of England (ELCE). ‘The British Lutheran’,a publication of the ELCE, conducted an interviewwith Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga in theirJune issue. The questions below which are inquotations are taken from that interview but turnedaround in order that Rev’d Ehlers might give hisperspective.The ELCE started in 1896 in London. Now theELCE has congregations throughout Great Britainand has just celebrated the 50th anniversary ofits congregation in Wales. How has the ELCEbeen able to keep their Lutheran communityfeeling connected across the UK and across thegenerations?‘What are the challenges you [ELCE] face?’The number one challenged faced by the ELCEis how do we faithfully preach, teach, and confessrepentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’name clearly and boldly to our friends andneighbours.The challenges of supporting full time pastoralpositions will also come into sharper focus, andour patterns of ministry, which have already begunto change, may have to further develop over thecoming years. This may mean non-stipendiary,part-time, or multi parish pastorates. Congregationsare also reviewing their situations and we maynd that renting or sharing premise is the mostaffordable and viable option for the future.Community is a very important aspect of life inthe ELCE. Our focus each year tends to be onour annual synod convention, where pastors andrepresentatives of each congregation gather fora weekend of worship, fellowship, business, andfun. Here we share the highs and lows of the pastyear as we pray for each other and give mutualsupport. Various Boards and Committees of theELCE also host regular conferences and retreatsthroughout the year, and all members of the ELCEare encouraged to attend. We have an annualFamily Camp and Retreat, which have provento be very popular. Our clergy have an annualpastors study week and two Barnes Conferencesduring each year, and this helps build collegialityamong the clergy.Over the next couple of years the practicalimplications of being part of a synod where we“walk together in Christ”, will be further explored,and it is our prayer that this rich history of mutualsupport and encouragement will continue to growand expand.Being a relatively small church in a country thathas a very prevalent State church, how do youthink the ELCE has been able to keep going sostrong over the past century?Thanks for being so kind and commenting thatwe have been ‘going strong’ for a century. Thehonest answer is, it has nothing to do with us,but it is entirely by the grace of God. We are verysmall, and often nd survival a struggle, but Godhas been wonderful to us and provided ‘our dailybread’ so that the ministry of Word and Sacramentcontinues among us in 14 congregations and 5mission stations throughout the UK.This said, the challenge is then not to concentrateon just surviving, but on looking outside our wallsand discerning ways to more effectively andef ciently share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.The ELCE is over a hundred years old. Can youtell us a short history of the ELCE? How did itcome about?In 1896 ve German bakers in Kentish Towndecided they wanted to have Lutheran Servicesin England. So they each pledged to donate 20%of their income to ensure that a Lutheran pastorcould minister to them. They then contactedConcordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, and aGerman-speaking pastor was sent to KentishTown. A few years, later, a second congregation,Holy Trinity, was begun in Tottenham.These congregations continued to worship inGerman until the time of World War II, when it wasdecided to switch to English speaking services.In the 1950’s, Dr George Pearce was sent toserve in London, and he came up with a grandvision to begin Lutheran Missions throughout theUK. For the next 20 years numerous missionswere planted. Many of these missions grew intoindependent congregations.In 1962, West eld House, our theological trainingcollege in Cambridge, was founded. Since thenit has help to educate hundreds of pastors,including several in the LCiGB. Recently, we haveexpanded Westeld House by adding LutherHall, giving us the capability of hosting up to 23students at one time. It is our prayer that West eldHouse will continue to play a major role in theeducation of Lutheran pastors worldwide.6continued on next page

ELCE, cont’dThe expansion of the ELCE came to an end inthe early 1970’s following the death of Dr Pearce.Then began a time to catch our breath. Overthe next 30 years support from the LutheranChurch Missouri Synod was reduced, and theELCE underwent some contractions with theloss of congregations in Shef eld, Liverpool, andSunbury. But around the turn of the century, anew congregation was begun in Brandon, Suffolk,and several local congregations undertookbeginning mission stations. Currently we have 14congregations and ve mission stations.How would you describe your role as Chairmanof the ELCE? What kind of responsibilities doyou hold and how does this role t into the ELCEchurch structure? How do you stay in touch withyour wider church across the country?The role of Chairman is, frankly, not well de nedin our constitution. However, I view the positionas pastor to the pastors and the members of theELCE. It is my prayer that God might use me,and the other pastoral members of our ExecutiveCouncil, as shepherds to His shepherds. Thisinvolves praying for pastors, congregations, andindividuals within the ELCE. It involves regularvisits to congregations and pastors to discusscongregational and synod issues and aspirations.These visits are the most rewarding aspect ofbeing Chairman.But the role of Chairman also carries with it agreat deal of administration and paperwork. Itmeans trying to ensure that all our endeavoursrun smoothly and legally. It means ensuring allour policies conform to governmental regulations,and this is not always easy. This is a particularchallenge for a small church body with limitedhuman resources and money.The position of Chairman also means regularcontact with Church leaders from the ILC(International Lutheran Council) and otherdenominations. This has also proven to be a realjoy, and it is my goal to try and improve relationsbetween ILC churches, especially in Europe.‘The LCiGB and the ELCE share a commonhistory largely through the weaving ofpersonalities and stories and events. [Such as]when the ELCE was involved in the LutheranCouncil of Great Britain, associations andfellowship with the Lutheran Church of Polandin Exile, and students who studied at West eldHouse. Over the decades, we’ve had timesof warm fellowship and times of cool distancebetween us. Yet it seems we will always be twoLutheran churches. What is your distinctivenessas Lutherans? How do you understand yourLutheran-ness?’This is a very intriguing question, and onethat both the ELCE and the LCiGB plan ongrappling with when we have our next joint clergyconference. The most obvious difference betweenthe two churches is that the ELCE does not ordainwomen into the of ce of the pastoral ministry.While this is the most noticeable differencebetween us, I suspect it represents a differencein how each church reads, interprets, and appliesGod’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions.However, our clergy will be exploring these issuestogether soon, and I am really looking forwardto getting to know more about the LCiGB’sway of interpreting the Bible and the LutheranConfessions. It is my prayer that we can bothlearn a lot from each other.‘Of course the LCiGB says it is Lutheran too. Yetwe are two distinct church bodies. How do youperceive the LCiGB?’The ELCE values our relationship with the LCiGB,and we pray that our ties will increase over thecoming years. However, it is our prayer that allLutherans would once again claim their Scripturaland Confessional heritage. It is our concern thatmany Lutheran Churches in the LWF, with whomthe LCiGB is in fellowship, have abandoned theBible and our Confessions in order to follow thespirit of the age. And this is of grave concern tous, because Lutherans should be theologians ofthe cross, not theologians of glory.How do you see the future of the ELCE?God only knows the future of the ELCE, and, quitefrankly, that gives me great comfort. The survivalor growth of the ELCE is only in the hands ofJesus Christ, the Lord of His Church. We pray,plan, worship, and witness, but God reigns.We, however, are optimistic about the future ofthe ELCE. The work and ministry of West eldHouse continues to be a blessing to Lutheransworldwide, and we pray it will continue to go fromstrength to strength.Currently we are preparing to launch a 24-houra day, seven days a week Internet radio station,Lutheran Radio UK. This unique experiment,scheduled to begin in March 2012 will reach outaround the world with the proclamation of JesusChrist through worship, prayer, study, news,music, talk shows, and much more. This is anamazingly exciting project, and we pray God willuse it to bring the forgiveness of Jesus Christ tomany around the UK and the world. After all, thatis why the ELCE and the LCiGB are here.Interview7

Change for ChurchLCiGB 50th Anniversary FundraisingFor the mission and development of the LCiGBRemember the collection boxes wehanded out at Synod in April 2011?We asked you to collect your loosechange and donate it to the LCiGB’s50th Anniversary fundraising appeal,to support the work of our church andensure we can keep growing for the next50 years!Our theme is Donating in multiples of 50:•500 pennies make £5.00•50 x 20p coins makes £10.00•50 x 50p coins makes £25.00Every donation is a blessing, and no amount is too small to count!Of course, if you’re able to write a cheque for £50, £500, or even £5,000 we would loveyou to do that too!Gift Aid your donation to make it grow by 20%To enable us to reclaim Gift Aid on your donation, please contact your congregation’sTreasurer for a Gift Aid form… an extra 20% just by signing a form, and the amount wereclaim soon adds up signi cantly.“Change” has been a key theme during our 50th anniversary year. The LCiGB changedso far this year in terms of governance, policies, procedures and operations as well as inthe way we communicate. There will be more change to come as we work to develop andoperate in ways that are compliant with UK law and Charity Commission guidance forbest practice.We are moving into a new era for mission and development of the LCiGB. It is importantto develop strategies to provide additional clergy for our congregations. Resources, bothhuman and nancial, are necessary to make progress. If you love your church, then knowthat it is important to give your time, talents and donations to sustain the LCiGB and itscongregations into the next 50 years. In these nancially stringent times, it is not onlymoney that is needed. Knowledge, talents, skills and your time are equally important and ifyou can donate these, then that is a vital contribution to the church surviving into the future.Questions? Queries? Want to order a collection box?To nd out more please speak to your congregation’s Treasurer__________________Or contact the LCiGB Treasurer, Mrs Linda Bruch: treasurer@lutheranchurch.co.ukCheques can be made payable to “LCiGB” and sent to:8Mrs Linda Bruch, LCiGB Treasurer,13 Trevethan Road, Falmouth TR11 2AS

Chaplaincy to University of Leicester Honoured byVisit of Archbishop Desmond TutuThe University of Leicester has given ArchbishopTutu an honorary doctorate. Having a very busyschedule, he still agreed to visit the Chaplaincy tothe University.Archbishop Tutu holds the unique academicdistinction of having a category of degree namedafter him. British graduates who are awarded alower second-class degree are said to receive a“Desmond” - that is a 2:2.Born in Transvaal in 1931, Desmond Tutu wasordained as an Anglican Priest in 1960 andcame to Britain two years later to study at King’sCollege, London for a Bachelors and MastersDegree in Theology. He returned to South Africa in1967, teaching at the University of Fort Hare andthe National University of Lesotho, during whichhe started to stand out as a leading critic of theapartheid regime in South Africa. In 1972, Tutureturned to the UK, working for the World Councilof Churches in Kent until 1975.Returning to his homeland, he became Bishopof Lesotho in 1976 and then Secretary-Generalof the South African Council of Churches. Fromhis position as Secretary-General, he wasable to use his speeches and writing to furtherthe anti-apartheid cause. After the collapse ofapartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela asPresident of South Africa, Tutu chaired the Truthand Reconciliation Commission, which examinedhuman rights violations. He retired as Archbishopof Cape Town in 1996.During his visit to the Leicester Chaplaincy, theArchbishop met some of the chaplains, answeredsome questions and was interviewed by the localradio station, Radio Leicester.Many of us will remember his visit for a long time,especially his infectious laughter.Marlies AdamTrinity Lutheran Church, NottinghamNewsArchbishop Tutu with Members of the ChaplaincyCouncil and Marlies Adam, Lutheran Chaplain.Photo courtesy of Marlies Adam.In AugustEach day I do see you GodHelp me to see you each day.Ladies and men in the hot sunare walking beside the Thames.We are west of Henley,the bank is full with theirbodies. They are my neighbours.As I work to wishthe best for eachI begin better to see you God,and less of me.PoetryPeter MathersSt Anne’s Lutheran Church, London9

Chairman’s CornerDear Forum Readers,When I was approached by leaders of LCiGBto serve as Chairperson of this great Church,I was told that this was a new position createdby the adoption of the regulations of the CharityCommission for England and Wales andCompanies House. Not long ago, before LCiGBadopted these regulations it was the Bishop, orearlier the Dean, who played the role of chairmanand performed the necessary tasks – chairingthe annual Synod, and between Synods, theExecutive Committee meetings, now calledCouncil meetings, four to ve times a year. Notmuch really. Often these meetings would be heldon Saturdays. It is a voluntary job, like most ofthe other Council positions, so I knew roughlywhat I was expected to do and the range ofresponsibilities to be entrusted with me.Now after more than one and a half years sinceI assumed the position of chairman, I havediscovered that, apart from chairing churchmeetings, a crucial task as Chairman of LCiGBis to promote communication. Communicationis required among congregation leaders,pastors and Council members. Moreover, inthe memorable Synod held at the historicalSt Luke’s in Leeds last March, I heard churchrepresentatives call for more information aboutwhat the Council did for the Church and what theywas planned for them in the year to come. At thesame time, the practice of sharing the Minutesof the Council meeting with all congregationleaders was considered obsolete due to a growingconcern regarding privacy and con dentiality. Forall these reasons, a new column, ‘Chairman’sCorner’, will now feature in every issue of ‘TheForum’. And so, this is my very rst message foryou.2011 is the year LCiGB will celebrate its 50thanniversary. While this landmark event wasmentioned by Bishop Jana when I attended my rst Council meeting in June 2010, the planningof the anniversary almost always gave wayto other more imminent matters, until the lastmeeting in early June. At that meeting more solidplanning was in place, and a day’s event is nowscheduled for 15 October 2011, to be held inLondon. Presentations, a Communion service,reception and music will be the order of the day.Each congregation of the LCiGB will be asked toset up a photo board to not only add colour to thevenue but bring back fond memories of the graceand love of God given to them. We will also takethe opportunity to collect the ‘Change-for-Church’donation boxes that were designed to mark theanniversary. A guest list has already been drafted.Former St Anne’s pastor, Rev’d Ron Englund, hasalready accepted an invitation to preach. I amtasked to set up live stream cast via the Internetfor the day’s celebration so that friends andchurch members who live afar and cannot travelto London can join in with the fun. Many moregoodies are promised. There will be more newsabout the 50th anniversary in the next issue of‘The Forum’.Light and joyous matters aside, serious matters,especially in relation to meeting the standardrequirements of Charity Commission andCompanies House have been the focus of ourmeetings. While we do not want to lose sight ofthe Christian church way of serving our folks andrunning ministries, we have spent a lot of time andenergy in sharpening our governance. Writing jobdescriptions for Council ofcers, Bishop, Dean,Chair, Vice-chair and Treasurer; drafting andformulating policies on employment, disciplinaryand grievance procedures for pastors and nonclergystaff; reviewing and con rming the statusof clergy, including an approved list of clergyand retired pastors; and reactivating the FinanceCommittee is just some of the work we have done.The agenda of every Council meeting was almostalways lled up with lots of administrative issues.Whether they were ongoing issues or new onesjust sprung up out of an incident, we treated themas part of our effort to build towards a bettergoverned,well-re ned system that would lay goodground work for stewardship of a Church that is 50years old and yet has so much potential to grow.Indeed we have been so blessed by His graciousand abundance love that our faith as Lutheranshas grown stronger than ever. Please rememberthe Council and the members in your prayers aswe deal with complicated issues such as humanresources and nances.In the next column, I hope to share with you theresult of our ‘strategic planning’ for the Church.If you have done this kind of corporate thinkingin your job before, you know what I mean. Evenif this term is new to you, we encourage you tovisit this column in the next issue of ‘The Forum’,when I will share with you more details of whatwe will envisage for LCiGB for the 51st year of itsministries and beyond.Yours in Christ,David LinChairperson, LCiGB10

Celebrating 50 years of the LCiGB:Members share their memoriesMy rst visit to St Anne’s in London was prompted by a programme I collected from aTourist Information Centre. It was a dark night (no oodlights then) and I walked rightpast the church. A kind person redirected me. My attendance corresponded with the rst Jazz Vespers almost 25 years ago (November 1986). I spent three years attendingevening services while going to an Anglican church in the morning. I took formalmembership following the death of my husband, and the rest, as they say, is history.Rosemary WarnerSt Anne’s Lutheran Church, LondonSongfest • 29 October, 2011 • St Luke’s, LeedsThe day will begin at 10.30am with a Service of the Word, followed by a talk byBishop Emeritus Walter Jagucki on why Lutherans worship the way they do. Theafternoon will include the opportunity to learn and sing some new hymns as wellas practise a new liturgy specially devised for smaller congregations. The day willend with a Eucharist Service involving the new liturgy. All are welcome to join thecongregation of St Luke’s to celebrate Reformation Sunday the following day.LCiGB Directory ContServices in SwahiliLondonSt Anne’s Lutheran Church, Gresham Street, LondonEC2VServices every rst and third Sunday: 14:00Website: www.stanneslutheranchurch.orgReadingImani Lutheran Mission ChurchServices held at St Andrew’s URC, London Road,Reading, Berks RG1 5BDServices every Sunday of the month: 14:30pmServices in TigrinyaLondonEritrean Wengelawit Lutheran ChurchServices held at St Andrews, Frognall Lane, FinchleyNW3Services every Sunday: 13:30Website: www.wlcl.co.ukLCiGB Contact InformationBishop: Jana Jeruma-GrinbergaEmail: bishop@lutheranchurch.co.ukAdministrator: Rosanna MasonEmail: admin@lutheranchurch.co.ukEditors: Sarah and Robin FarrowEmail: editor@lutheranchurch.co.ukAddress: LCiGB, c/o Churches Together in England,27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HHPhone: 020 3384 1928Website: www.lutheranchurch.co.ukThe Lutheran Church in Great Britain is a memberchurch of the Lutheran World FederationThe Lutheran Church in Great Britain Limited is a company registered in England and WalesRegistered Number: 7034897 | Registered Charity Number: 1137050