who is redeemer? redeemer is a member church in the sepa synod and elca consisting of 82 members....

WHO IS REDEEMER?WHO IS REDEEMER?• Redeemer is a member church in the SEPA

Synod and ELCA consisting of 82 members.

• Although we are more than 100 years in Lutheran ministry, we are young and vibrant.

• We have lots of ideas for energizing urban churches and the talent to implement new ideas.

• Redeemer is 118 years old. We have owned and occupied the same parish building in East Falls neighborhood and have always operated a strong Lutheran ministry.

• We are planning a gala celebration of our 100th year in our current building at which we plan to dedicate our newly renovated fellowship hall. YOU ARE INVITED!

WHO IS REDEEMER?WHO IS REDEEMER?

• Redeemer has been without a pastor for most of the last 10 years.

• Redeemer has strong relationships with many SEPA-rostered part-time and supply pastors who have served long-term, including Pastor Harvey Davis, who has been honored at this assembly.

• With God’s help, we have developed strong and able lay leadership, while continually looking for pastoral assistance.


• We are culturally diverse with members representing at least five countries.

• We are racially diverse, but our diversity is faithfully united under a common Lutheran ministry.


• We are multilingual. English and Swahili are spoken by most members, but prayers are also raised in French and several African tribal languages. We have successfully fostered an accepting atmosphere for people with diverse backgrounds.


• We are a fast-growing church. Membership has increased six-fold in the past ten years.

• Extra services have been added. We now have services every Sunday and Saturday.

• We also have comprehensive three-hour worship and Bible study mid-week.

• We sponsor numerous cultural and social events each year — all faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ and Lutheran tenants of faith.


Redeemer’s membership includes talented lay people with skills in

•Finance•Architecture•Construction•Communication•Publishing•Public Relations•Design

•Teaching•Nursing•Music•Social Work•Accounting•Paralegal•Real Estate

•Business Entrepreneurs•Event Coordination•Community Development•Two retired clergyAND MORE


So what’s the problem?

So what’s the problem?

Synod Council, acting on a letter from a supply pastor who was

serving only one of our two weekly services and who was upset that we had started using a different supply

pastor, invoked constitutional provision S13.24 and in June 2007

placed Redeemer under INVOLUNTARY SYNODICAL

ADMINISTRATION

Synod Council, acting on a letter from a supply pastor who was

serving only one of our two weekly services and who was upset that we had started using a different supply

pastor, invoked constitutional provision S13.24 and in June 2007

placed Redeemer under INVOLUNTARY SYNODICAL

ADMINISTRATION

Synod CouncilACTED BEFORE they

INVESTIGATED this pastor’s claims.

Synod CouncilACTED BEFORE they

INVESTIGATED this pastor’s claims.

OLD ADAGE: Look before you leap!

FIVE MONTHS passed beforeRedeemer Congregation

was informed of Synod Council’s actions.

This had been period of particularly strong ministry and the congregation immediately opposed the action as unconstitutional and unwarranted.

FIVE MONTHS passed beforeRedeemer Congregation

was informed of Synod Council’s actions.

This had been period of particularly strong ministry and the congregation immediately opposed the action as unconstitutional and unwarranted.

THE MAJOR ISSUETHE MAJOR ISSUE

Does Redeemer fit the constitutional criteria for INVOLUNTARY SYNODICAL

ADMINISTRATIONunder S13.24?

NO!

THE MAJOR ISSUETHE MAJOR ISSUE

Let’s look at the whatSynod’s Constitution

says.

Constitutional Provision S13.24Constitutional Provision S13.24

S13.24. If any congregation of this synod is disbanded, or if the

members of a congregation agree that it is no longer possible for

it to function as such, or if it is the opinion of the Synod Council

that the membership of a congregation has become so scattered

or so diminished in numbers as to make it impractical for such

congregation to fulfill the purposes for which it was organized or

that it is necessary for this synod to protect the congregation’s

property from waste and deterioration, the Synod Council, itself

or through trustees appointed by it, may take charge and control

of the property of the congregation to hold, manage, and convey

the same on behalf of this synod. The congregation shall have

the right to appeal the decision to the Synod Assembly.

Let’s break that down.

Let’s break that down.

If any congregation of this synod is disbanded

Redeemer IS NOT a disbanded congregation


or if the members of a congregation agree that it is no longer possible

for it to function as such

Redeemer members HAVE NOT agreed

that it is no longer possible to function as such and have proven otherwise with

an active and expanding ministry.


In fact, Redeemer’s unanimous council presented a carefully structured MINISTRY PLAN to Bishop Burkat on November 1, 2007.

At that point, Redeemer consisted of 72 members.At this time we also presented a

resolution to call a pastor we had been working with for months.

This information has been left out of every report presented

by the Synod trustees.

We would challenge any other church of any size

to develop such a comprehensive ministry plan,

which has been praised by independent experts.

or if it is the opinion of the Synod Council that the

membership of a congregation has become so

scattered or so diminished in numbers as to make it

impractical for such congregation to fulfill the

purposes for which it was organized


REDEEMER IS NOT SCATTEREDAll but two of Redeemer’s 82 members

live within four miles of the church.

The additional two live in our neighborhood for significant parts of the year and attend regularly.

One of these holds associate member status.


REDEEMER IS NOT DIMINISHEDRedeemer has grown six-fold

in the last three years.49 new members in 2007,

bringing Redeemer’s total membership to 76.6 new members in 2008,

bringing Redeemer’s total membership to 82.Unfortunately, significant opportunities

to continue this growth have been hampered by synod actions.


Using the ELCA’s own statistics Redeemer

actually rates as a mid-sized congregation in the ELCA

Take a look!


Synod’s Own Statistics Show Redeemer as the ONLY Growing Small Congregation

St John – Ambler -12.5% Declining

Grace – Broomall -19.1% Declining

Nativity – Chester -32.3% Declining

First – Collingdale -15.0% Declining

Immanuel - E Lansdowne 0.0% Stable

St John-Tinicum – Essington -20.0% Declining

Bethany – Philadelphia -26.6% Declining

Epiphany – Philadelphia -20.0% Declining

Freedom of Faith -4.5% Stable

Old Zion Evangelical – Philadelphia 0% Stable

Our Saviour - Philadelphia, -83.8% Declining

Redeemer – Philadelphia +12% Growing(2004 statistics) List continues

From the ELCA’s 2006 statistics

About 50% of congregations in the ELCA are smaller than

Redeemer.

Are 50% scattered or diminished?

Are you one of the churches which is

smaller than Redeemer?

or that it is necessary for this synod to protect the congregation’s property from waste and deterioration,


Even the Synod Trustees have never proposed that

Redeemer’s property is in danger of waste or deterioration.

Redeemer steadfastly manages and maintains its property and buildings.

In fact, Redeemer, entered a major renovation project this past year which is nearing completion

and funded underthe Ministry Plan we presented

to the bishop in 2007.

the Synod Council, itself or through trustees appointed by it, may take charge and control of the property of the congregation to hold, manage, and

convey the same on behalf of this synod.

Synod is utilizing this provision to take possession and control of our property and close our church.


NOT ONE of the criteria necessary

for the Synod Councilto take action under

Constitutional Provision S13.24has been met.

The Final Stipulation of S13.24

The congregation shall have

the right to appeal the decision

to the Synod Assembly.

The Final Stipulation of S13.24

The congregation shall have

the right to appeal the decision

to the Synod Assembly.

Our Right to AppealOur Right to Appeal

Synod immediately looked for ways to deny us our right to appeal.(The constitution does not state guidelines.)

• They questioned our right to hire an attorney

• They questioned whether the council could make the appeal or if the congregation should vote.


Redeemer took votes both ways

• Full 10-member council voted unanimously

• Congregation voted unanimously

• Synod Trustees attempted to close and our church BEFORE there was an opportunity for our appeal to be heard.


• Synod maintained our appeal had not been filed properly until SEVEN days before last year’s Synod Assembly, when they changed their mind.

Our Right to AppealOur Right to Appeal• At last year’s Synod Assembly

Synod Trustees presented a report which had NEVER been shared with our congregation.

• This report, complete with many inaccuracies, was summarized again in this year’s minutes.

• We were expected to respond to a report we had never heard.


• Following last year’s Synod Assembly, Redeemer’s leaders responded in detail to the highly inaccurate report. We sent copies to every Synod Council member for which we could find an address. No Synod Council members responded or researched the facts independently.


• By Synod trying to close our church, taking our property and source of income before we could appeal.

IN SUMMARY, our right to appeal has been compromised by:


• Synod suing Redeemer and two of our church officers personally before we could appeal, thereby creating a venue where we were appealing to the people who were suing us!



• Synod’s control of the format for appeal. The constitution does not give guidelines for appeal and one would hope the venue would allow for full and fair review of the issues.


Would you want the future of your church and ministry

decided in 15 minutes?

BIBLICAL ADAGE: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The criteria which the Constitution requires in order for Synod to invoke

Constitutional Provision S13.24HAVE NOT BEEN MET.

Therefore, Synod Assembly should vote to overturn the decision of Synod Council

by voting YES to the question on this ballot.

The Ballot Vote

In your vote today, please support Redeemer’s unique and

vibrant ministry.


For the past 17 months we have attempted to communicate ideas for

resolving our issues with the bishop and synod council.

We have been effectively rebuked at every turn, with no response to a dozen

proposals.


We wrote to ELCA Presiding Bishop Hanson, who responded to both our

congregation and Bishop Burkat advising us to work cooperatively to

resolve our issues.

Synod has not responded to Bishop Hanson’s advice.


RUMOR and INNUENDOhas unfairly reigned for the past year,

making it acceptable to dismiss Redeemer as

an unreasonable and difficult group of people.

It is time for a course correction in the manner Synod deals with small

congregations.

Let’s look at some of theRUMORS and

unsupported allegations.

Let’s look at some of theRUMORS and

unsupported allegations.

The age-old adage rings true here:

Saying it does not make it so!

The age-old adage rings true here:

Saying it does not make it so!

RUMOR 1:Redeemer tried to have

the bishop arrested.

RUMOR 1:Redeemer tried to have

the bishop arrested.

There was NEVER a threat to have the

bishop or any one else arrested.

There was NEVER a threat to have the

bishop or any one else arrested.

Missing from the story reported at last year’s Synod Assembly and from the

Synod’s allegations in court documents is this fact:

On February 24, 2007, Synod officials came to Redeemer with a lawyer and a locksmith waiting curbside to assist in

seizing Redeemer’s property and closing the church.

FACT

Redeemer suggested calling the police to keep the confrontation from escalating.

As we stated clearly that day, we wanted no one arrested, but we wanted legal questions involving the ownership of property to be settled

through legal channels.

FACT

RUMOR 2:Redeemer has squandered

its money.

RUMOR 2:Redeemer has squandered

its money.

We have not squandered our money.

We have not squandered our money.

We spend our money faithfully and carefully on our ministry and we have had success. The Synod Trustee’s report gives

NOT ONE example of squandered or misspent money.

Synod’s support would have maximized our ministry investments!

We spend our money faithfully and carefully on our ministry and we have had success. The Synod Trustee’s report gives

NOT ONE example of squandered or misspent money.

Synod’s support would have maximized our ministry investments!

FACT

STEWARDSHIP is STRONG

We meet our budget.We have a plan for ministry

stewardship and growth which could be model for any SEPA

congregation.

STEWARDSHIP is STRONG

We meet our budget.We have a plan for ministry

stewardship and growth which could be model for any SEPA

congregation.

We challenge any congregation of any size to institute a

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM such as the one we pioneered

successfully this year!

We’ll be glad to share it!

We challenge any congregation of any size to institute a

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM such as the one we pioneered

successfully this year!

We’ll be glad to share it!

RUMOR 3:Redeemer is adversarial.

Redeemer has responded to unwarranted attacks.

We ADVOCATED for our ministrywith the fervor of our faith.

FACT

We have always sought to work cooperatively and respectfully with

synod.

We remain faithful to biblical and Lutheran tenants of faith.

FACT

RUMOR 4RUMOR 4

Redeemer’s leaders

have failed to follow its own constitution.

FACT• Synod has read a list of constitutional infractions,

but have not mentioned that all of these “infractions” took place in 2005-2006 when Redeemer was attempting to unite with Epiphany congregation following a covenant written by and approved by both congregations. We were actively combining leadership roles among the two groups.

• This merger attempt was with Synod’s full knowledge.

FACT• Epiphany’s sudden decision to close and

Pastor Timothy Muse’s decision to leave with short notice, forced us to abandon the covenant and return to our constitution. Within a few months of Epiphany’s departure we had restored our congregation and council to constitutional levels.

• Although Synod was aware of this situation, they offered no guidance.

We are talented, resourceful people!


• We have found new ways to fund our ministry.

• We have developed a bilingual liturgy.

• We have united diverse groups of people into one worshiping and serving community.



• We are breaking new ground in ministry!

• We serve God, and our faithful in our Lutheran heritage and ministry.

• It would be wrong to abandon the strong efforts of many good Lutherans from around the world who now make up Redeemer.

Remedies to this situation need notbe hurtful and destructive.

Redeemer has been taking the initiative in proposing remedies that would safeguard the interests of both Synod and Redeemer

and joint ministries.

REMEDIESto this SITUATION

REMEDIESto this SITUATION

Synod Assembly shouldconsider advising Synod Council to follow one of these remedies

before destroying a 118-year old ministry which

affects the Christian faith of many and the culture of a whole

community.

SUGGESTED REMEDY 1SUGGESTED REMEDY 1

• Providing a pastor for a period of three years and re-evaluating our ministry after we have worked cooperatively with synod for a period of time (as Bishop Hanson suggested).

LEARN from the African Experience

of Truth and Reconciliation

Name an impartial panel to investigate the conflicting claims and

find common ground for resolution.



• As the ELCA is considering restructuring, ask that body to explore the idea of forming a nongeographical synod for churches so congregations have options and synod/congregation issues do not boil down to personality and power feuds.

Please voteto SUPPORTREDEEMER’s

MINISTRY and APPEAL.

who is redeemer? redeemer is a member church in the sepa synod and elca consisting of 82 members....

Documents

placed redeemer

major issuedoes redeemer

strong ministry

strong lutheran ministry

sepa synod

common lutheran ministry

beforeredeemer congregation

constitutional provision