Communicating our identity as a synod
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
All too often we don’t fully appreciate “everyday” blessings. When blessings are routine, we may not think about them much at all. We may not recognize them for the blessings they really are. We may lag in our thanks to God for those many good things that he does for us even without our asking.
I believe that’s true about the blessings that God gives us through this extended spiritual family that we call the Wisconsin Synod. We may not consciously think of how God blesses us in our synod. We may tend to focus on what’s wrong instead of rejoicing in what’s right. We sometimes allow those outside of our synod to define us and characterize us. We may become apologetic, defensive, maybe even sometimes a little embarrassed when it comes to our synod and what it represents. And failing to appreciate what God graciously does for us, we miss opportunities to fully benefit from those blessings and to invite others to be part of this synod in which those blessings come to us.
Over the next year, it seems good for us to remember and to emphasize some of those blessings; to remind ourselves of what this synod stands for, what it does, and why we are a part of it. You’ve already seen a few hints of those reminders in the “Together” newsletter and in WELS Connection. In the January issue of Forward in Christ (p. 32), you’ll see the first in a series of columns summarizing those blessings, focusing on our identity: Who are we? Where does WELS stand? What is our synod for, as opposed to what we are against?
You will also see efforts to sharpen and define our synod’s identity as we work to improve the look and content of all WELS communications. Already we’ve begun to plan for the redesign our synod’s Web site, aiming to make it more usable for our members and more effective in communicating who we are to the outside world.
Highlighting the blessings of our synod will not be an exercise in boasting or an attempt to paint an unrealistically positive picture of ourselves. Rather, in reviewing our blessings, we will humbly appreciate them more for ourselves, we will unite around our common mission, and we will be more likely to want others to share in those blessings with us.
Not another one!
At this time of year, your mailboxes are filled with two things: Christmas cards—and appeals for donations. If you are like me, you look forward to the first; you can easily be annoyed by the second.
We are well aware that you receive numerous funding appeals from many different organizations, including your synod and its ministerial education schools. Please note that the Conference of Presidents will be taking a comprehensive look at the number and type of funding appeals being sent out from the synod and its various areas of ministry. (The synod doesn’t control the appeals sent out by WELS-affiliated organizations that are not a part of the synod structure.) The issue is a somewhat complicated one, and the COP will be doing all it can to address the situation.
In the meantime, please be patient. Please continue to exercise your God-given judgment as to which of these requests for support fit in with your faith-filled stewardship of God’s blessings.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: Christmas, COP, donation, FIC, Together, WELS Connection
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