Volume35. Issue 2

July 28, 2017 Volume 35, Issue 5

Official Publication of the National Lutheran Secretariat, VdC

Connecting National & Local Secretariats

Orientation to NLS/VdC Annual Gathering

Facilitators Paul Schmidlin and Butch Seeley gave a hearty “Welcome to the 2017 Gathering” to all first time attendees. Approximately half of the attendees were newcomers. One very important piece of information disseminated during the Orien-tation session was the instruction to download an app called “Event Base” to personal iphone or android devices. The app contains scheduling and pertinent event information for the 2017 Gathering. Example: Programs for Chapel will be found on the app instead of printed in hard copy. From all the great sessions to be offered throughout the event, most likely the most important take away, Per Butch Seeley, should be from col-laboration and sharing amongst the attendees. Discussing issues and problems being encountered by the various Secretariats with those who have encountered and found successful strategies to take home and im-plement, is quite valuable to the ultimate success of the Secretariats. Butch wants us to leave here “Fired Up” with enthusiasm to share Jesus with the world.

Opening Worship Inspires

The 2017 Via de Cristo National Lutheran Secretariat Annual Gathering officially opened Thursday afternoon with an uplifting and inspiring worship service in Pugh Auditorium at Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina. In his sermon, Pr. Alfredo Oviedo encouraged our VdC communities to be honest and authentic in addressing the many issues facing the world today. In asking us to be like Christ, he used a bumper sticker analogy, “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.” Pr. Oviedo said that sometimes we walk, and sometimes we even quack, but to be truly authentic requires us to go even deeper in living a Christian life. Pr. Oviedo reminded us that when we received our crosses at the end of our weekends, we were told, “Christ is counting on you”, and that our response was, “and we are counting on Christ.” He also talked about the history of VdC from its start as Cursillo in Majorca, Spain in 1949. Pr. Alfredo is pastor of Grace Lutheran in Hendersonville, NC, with a focus on multi-cultural ministry. He suggested we think about these three questions: “How does Via de Cristo help us to love Christ? How does it look for us in community to be like Christ? And, How can others help us?” During the service, Rev. Dr. Mark Marxhausen, NLS Spiritual Director, commissioned the delegates. He encouraged us to have open minds to experience and learn as we spend this time together so that we can share the joy when we return home to our Secretariats.

Friday

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BISHOP SMITH KEYNOTE

In the keynote address on Thursday, Bishop Tim Smith from the NC Synod of

the ELCA, used stories and humor to talk about Martin Luther, to share what

it means to be a Lutheran especially in light of the 500th anniversary of the

Reformation this year, and to challenge attendees to make the Via de Cristo

movement part of the “amazing thing” the Holy Spirit is doing throughout

the world.

Bishop Tim shared that in the year 2000, Martin Luther was named by Time Magazine as the third

most influential person in the previous five hundred years. He said that in Luther’s time, the world

had progressed during the Dark Ages to the point that it was getting ready for a change, and “was

looking for a hero” -- and that Luther, even though he was “one messed-up puppy,” was an instiga-

tor of that change.

The bishop debunked several myths, including that Luther was the first to translate a Bible into the

language of the people. Some twice-removed German versions were already in place, but Luther

was the first to translate directly from Greek and Hebrew and put that translation into the people’s

hands. He also described the door on which Luther posted the 95 Theses as somewhat similar to

the blogs of today, where writers post to receive feedback and seek debate about their ideas. How-

ever, Luther’s argument that indulgences should not be sold, and that forgiveness could not be pur-

chased raised the ire of the church.

From a personal side, Bishop Tim that he is Lutheran because it is a

deeply, deeply spiritual and theological movement, and because of the

denomination’s focus on being made right with God through grace and

faith, apart from works.

He noted that the norms of the Lutheran Church are: #5 – Traditions, #4 – Confession, #3 – Creeds,

#2 – Scriptures, and at #1 is the Gospel, which is Jesus. He emphasized that the Gospel is a living

person, and very much alive and well and loose in the world.

Smith also discussed scriptural interpretation and, when studying scripture, the need to look at the

big picture, including understanding the context, analogies, using scripture to interpret scripture,

and understanding literary types and differing cultural interpretations.

Smith has been the N.C. Bishop since 2015. He was introduced by Pr. John Propst, who said Bishop

Tim learned his teamwork and partnership skills while dribbling the basketball at UNC-Chapel Hill

with Dean Smith as his coach. He attended Western N.C. Men’s VdC #19 where he sat at the table

of Luke.

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Checkout: By 11:00 am Sunday, July 30, 2017.

Earlier Departures: Arrange ahead to leave keys with someone at Registration.

Hospitality Friday Night: N.C. Cheeses, beverages & Cakes and entertainment—Magnolia Lob-

by.

Hospitality Saturday Night: Ice Cream, Cake & Music at North Campus Cafeteria by Magnolia.

Lost & Found: Hospitality area 1st floor Magnolia Hall.

Meal Cards: Good through breakfast on Sunday.

Name Magnets in your room: Please mount magnet outside your door and be surprised.

Palanca Posters: 4th floor of Benson Center

Prayer Chapel: Rm 404 Benson Center.

Room Key & Key Cards: You will be billed by Wake Forest for lost or unreturned keys items.

Business Meeting #1

The business meeting opened with singing “Come Holy Spirit”. Then Steve Gielda opened

the meeting and thanked the NLS board for their grace; he missed last year’s annual gath-

ering because his wife had a medical emergency. He expressed appreciation to the Host

Committee for this year. All board members were introduced.

Wendy Showalter introduced new Secretariats: Texas Gulf Coast & Calgary, Canada; and

presented a banner to Lake Gaston, NC which was incorporated in 2016.

Steve Gielda reviewed 2016 Goals and presented NLS’ goals for 2017. NLS goals for 2017 include develop-

ing a 5 year plan for NLS, updating rollos to focus on key material and allow more time for table discussion

and interaction. Another goal is to continue implementation of a 3-part pastor growth strategy. NLS devel-

oped a video for pastors to clarify what VDC is about. VA DC area Bishop Dick Graham was very enthusias-

tic about VDC and will be presenting the video at the ELCA council of bishops the end of September.

Steve shared the power of patience and introduced Executive Director Paul Schmidlin.

Paul challenged each of us to participate fully in 4th day living and thus transform our

environments! Participating in reunion groups and ultreyas (floating reunion groups)

are key. Seeking spiritual direction for how and where the Holy Spirit is leading is also

beneficial.

An overview of proposed changes to the Constitution and ByLaws were given. One change is removal of

the word autonomous; Constitution Article #3 + 11 are required for NLS to maintain 501C3 status. Consti-

tution Article #6 relates to delegates being present –physical (or via technology). ByLaw 5.3 is related to

number of delegates; 5.5 is regarding suspension of a Secretariat. These will be discussed at Friday’s busi-

ness meeting and voted on in the afternoon business session.

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NLS Mission Statement: By grace, with the Holy Spirit, we challenge leaders to discover and achieve

their personal calling, assisting them to influence their environments with the Gospel.

The CONEXIONES is an official publication of The National Lutheran Secretariat (NLS) organization representing Via de Cristo, or Way of Christ, ministries throughout the United States. There are 45

VdC Secretariats, representing about 123,246 people, are affiliated with NLS.

The mission of this publication is to inform and encourage secretariats with news and information from the various activities and events at the Annual NLS/VdC 2017 Gathering.

Carol J. Reedstrom, Editor 19396 552 Avenue Mankato, MN 56001 newsletter@viadecristo.org (c) 507-469-9470

Time Event Map # Location

7:00 a.m. Breakfast 5 The Pit ~ Reynolda Hall Cafeteria

8:15 a.m. Worship 6 Pugh Auditorium ~ Benson Center

9:30 a.m. Business Meeting #2 6 Rm 401 ~ Benson Center

10:30 a.m. 10 min. Break

10:40 a.m. Presentation/Discussion: Preparing

the Soil ~ Pastor Cedrick Gibb 6 Benson Center #401 (All Sections)

12:10 p.m. Lunch 5 The Pit ~ Reynolda Hall Cafeteria

1:15 p.m. Development Workshops 6 Benson Center

2:15 p.m. 15 min Break

2:30 p.m. Business Meeting #3 Rm 401 ~ Benson Center

3:45 p.m. 15 min Break

4:00 p.m. Presentation/Discussion#2: Pruning

the Vine ~ Ellick Morey Benson Center #401 (All Sections)

5:30 p.m. Dinner The Pit ~ Reynolda Hall Cafeteria

6:45 p.m. Regional Meetings #1 Benson Center (see details)

8:00 p.m. Evening Vespers Pugh Auditorium ~ Benson Center

8:45 p.m. Hospitality & Fellowship 1st Floor ~ Magnolia Dorm

Campus Police: 336-758-4566 / 911 *** from a cell phone: 1-336-758-5911

Guest Services: 336-758-1755 (24 hours a day x 7 Days a week)

Host Co-Chairs: Brett Koceja @ 336-580-794 & Bob Lewis @ 336-310-1628

Hospitality: Vicki McCombs @ 704-425-1588

Housing/Registration: Ann Lashley @ 704-641-76157 & Conda Lashley @ 704-641-7092

Transportation: Gerald Cline @ 336-650-2067