In the name of the father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit+
The answer to this is two pronged: the one part is the reality that we need to understand that all ministries exist contextually, that is as contexts change, in the most healthy of situations, congregations should be ready and able to adapt to changing contexts. The bishop and staff can be instrumental in using the Synods resources to help congregations to discern what is in their immediate neighborhood, what ’hole’ or deficits in care exist, and how each congregation can develop a niche for itself, creating new innovative way of being useful in the neighborhood, and subsequent discipleship, which is a key to reversing decline.
When there is no longer need for our witness in a context, we have to be willing to accept that perhaps ministry in one form should give way to other forms of ministry, sometimes in the same location, and sometimes in different locations. But whatever the location, context needs to be of utmost consideration if our mission as church will remain relevant. I ministered to people of Holy Trinity Hollis, to accept that ministry the way it was in that location had to give way to another ministry in another location in Valley Stream. Most members of Holy Trinity Lutheran church from Hollis, moved to New Hope Lutheran Church, Valley Stream and built strong healthy relationships with other members.
I did seek out and used the gifts of people of all ages. I managed disagreements in a healthy respectful manner. There were many occasions where members were encouraged to share their faith with others. I interacted with the local community, I lived my faith openly in my daily life and I encouraged congregational members to do the same. I built mutual relationship with people in the congregation’s neighborhood and the community.
The bishop should help congregations make decisions about new ways of being church, this can include mergers, reallocating of assets towards new form of ministry. Bishop, as the synod’s pastor, should also help facilitate the grieving process that stems naturally from ending of one iteration of ministry, while also spurring on the growth of new ministries.
The bishop can also be instrumental in helping struggling congregations use their own resources to establish entrepreneurial ministry that aligns with their respective plans, while also creating sustainability needed to attract the right pastoral staff with vision to help to build the congregation further. As of now, congregational vitality is nearly not possible in some congregations because they cannot afford to call a dynamic leader and this puts them in a hole of decline. The bishop and staff with empathy can create a scaffolding of support so that when a struggling congregation extends a call, the congregation is already on the rebound, and can support a full-time pastor who can help move the congregation forward nurturing them in faith and helping them to deepen their relationship with God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit+
I think faith formation would be easier if it were more accessible, and there were some way to get many congregations to participate in together. I am thinking, for instance of something like a Bishop’s confirmation camp, etc.
We also need to put our money where our mouth is. There is a need to have someone on the bishop’s staff dedicated to faith formation whose assignment will be faith formation in a large scale events say twice a year ( spring/fall), and then task them with small events across the synod’s quadrants once a month. As a bishop, I would support and strengthen campus ministries and the diaconal programs and give them well-deserved attention in synod forums.
As bishop, I will have a plan in action to partner with the local Lutheran camps and join together with our partners in communion to bring our youth together in various faith-based events/camps. These camp pipeline for youth can be very helpful in the cultivation and shaping of leaders and future pastors.
We, as a synod cannot afford to continue with the attitudes that ignores the current state of decline of youth in church because they are the future of the church. It is our responsibility to help them grow in their faith involving them in maintaining a sense of God’s active presence and mission as the focus of ministry. (1 Timothy 4: 12)
What is your understanding of our synod’s current strategic plan, and how would you advance that plan as Bishop?
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit+
As bishop I would advance the strategic plan by putting emphasis on Evangelism, the Gospel and not closing congregations. I will also add the issue of Justice as part of the plan.
As assistant to the bishop, I am a liaison for the Anti-racism trainings and Multicultural events under the umbrella of “Sent” Committee of the strategic plan.
It has done well in many instances. It is because this plan that we started Anti-racism trainings for all people in the synod. We added to this trainings a bilingual training and internalized racism . Racism has not been eradicated in our synod, but a seed has been planted to all who attended trainings.
As bishop I will continue with these trainings in different settings and I will explore to train our own trainers.
As for multicultural events, I must say I have witnessed young people, and adults come together for the first time to participate in discussion of faith based issues and this has brought them closer as children of God.
I know some congregations have received grants and are happy with the plan, but this all came about because of the strategic plan. I would go back to the drawing board and see what need to be strengthen and what need to be changed according to the needs of people in congregations.
What do you see as the principal challenge of our synod in the next six years, and how will you approach and address it?
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit+
One thing that I keep hearing in general is that this new bishop may have a tough road ahead because they will have to make some really tough decisions. There are also misconceptions about the role of a bishop, if I become a bishop, my administration will not be a continuation of the past bishop’s administration, but I will hit a reset button.
This synod is perceived as discriminatory, harbors disunity, dysfunctional and not transparent.
There is a great need for bringing Gospel back and listen to what God is calling us as the synod to do in His glory. I will make it a friendly transparent synod guided by the love of Jesus Christ.
The Long Island part of the synod and Staten Island feel disconnected. I would build strong, healthy relationships among pastors by visiting them and spend time with them in their own setting. Have one on one with them know their needs, listen to their joy and their struggle. Pray with them and encourage them. I will also plan to worship in different congregations in all geographical areas of the synod.
Along with physical distance, there is theological diversity across the synod, I will serve as a bridge to help have much needed conversation.
Bishop McCoid has occasionally mentioned that there is huge lack of transparency in the synod office, and while this is not often intentional, it breeds mistrust. There also needs to be healing from the last bishop’s administration. It is in the healing process that we will need to nurture each other’s faith while encouraging everyone to deepen their relationship with God. Synod staff will know that they are servants of the people and not some kind of lords with power and arrogance.
As bishop I will endeavor to continue bishop McCoid’s work of creating checks, balances, and accountability measures.
Mission support is becoming less and less every month, we need to look into the means by which to fund the synod, this is a challenge. There is a misconception about how funds from the sale of synod properties are spent. We have not been able to explain convincingly although grants are given.
The issue of racism especially in a synod like ours cannot be ignored, because serving our God is not about what color one is, it is about loving God with all your heart and serving with commitment.
We are a Sanctuary synod, as bishop I will make sure that immigrants from all over the world who end up in New York are welcome.
I think there should also be a focus on ministries that are doing well in the synod, because there is something to learn from them. Maybe creating a partnership program between struggling congregations and those that are doing good work (not based on size) and congregations should be able to opt in.
Another challenge is about our youth (I have said more about this earlier on) bishop will have to be intentional about young people in our church.
As Bishop, what steps will you take for self-care? How can congregations be a support for the office of Bishop? How will you, as Bishop, also encourage self-care for pastors, deacons, and synod lay leaders?
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit+
As for me my care starts with prayers, I am a member of a group of ten Christian women from different denominations, we meet once a week for prayers and listen to each other’s testimonies, we support and encourage each other in the faith we all believe in.
I like to take some walks in the evenings when the weather allows.
I go to concerts when I can.
I take day off every Friday.
As bishop, I will encourage pastors, deacon and synod lay leaders to make sure they take their days off, do some exercises, have fun and do what they can to help them to relax.
As bishop, I will ask congregations to pray for the office of the bishop always.