Global Mission

The Synod Global Mission Committee exists to help church members and congregations learn what is going on in this important area of ministry, and become involved as desired.

Here are some examples of what we offer.
Global Mission Event
Each year the committee hosts a Global Mission Event in one of our synod congregations. The event features a keynote speaker who can shed some light on what it is like to live out Lutheran Christian faith in another cultural context. In 2008 our speaker was Bishop Victoria Cortez of the Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope, a small but dynamic church in the western hemisphere’s second poorest country. The annual event also provides opportunities for experiencing and learning about global music as well as attending a wide range of workshops presented by people, including youth, who have been involved in mission work or who have experiences relating to other religions or cultures. Opportunities for getting involved are presented.

Companion Church Program
The committee also oversees our synod’s companion church program. Currently, the Oregon Synod enjoys a strong and continually developing companion relationship with the Augsburg Lutheran Church in Poland. Many of our congregations have partner churches in Poland. The potential for such connections is wide open. Any congregation can enter into such a partner relationship. Additionally, each year there is a synod Poland trip open to anyone interested. Generally, these trips involve visiting a local congregation and helping conduct an English Bible camp for youth. There are lots of opportunities to meet with people, visit in homes and see some of the countryside and other sights. We have also been able at times to host Polish visitors to the Oregon Synod. Currently the committee is in process of exploring partner relationships with Lutheran churches in Ethiopia and the Nicaraguan church mentioned above.

A Personal Story (Pr. Nick Doversberger)
My own interest in global mission goes back a long ways. I grew up in a time when people still often thought of mission in terms of “us” going to help “them”. We imagined we had the answers, and they needed our help. Of course, we’ve come quite a way since then, and very much for the good. Now global mission involves us in partnerships with people and churches in different places. We learn from each other. Christians from around the world have as much—or more—to share with us as we have to give them. They can teach us so much about lay ministry, working for justice, evangelism, caring for creation, teaching children, discipleship and commitment to Christ, and joyful faith. It is an ongoing blessing to meet these people, hear their stories and catch something of their faith and vision. I encourage you to contact me or anyone else on our synod’s Global Mission Committee. We would be delighted to help you make connections and learn more.

The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning.”.

In Review

Oregon Synod Global Mission Event
February 2, 2008, Zoar Lutheran Church, Canby, Oregon

Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke and Bishop Victoria Cortez Rodriguez

The Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) holds a Global Mission Event annually. This year's event was held February 2 at Zoar Lutheran, Canby with the founder of the Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Hope, Bishop Victoria Cortez Rodriguez, as the keynote presenter.

Bishop Cortez, who also serves as vice-president of the Lutheran World Federation for the Latin America and Caribbean region, impressed the crowd of more than 140 Lutherans from across Oregon with her wisdom and humor.

Bishop Cortez recounted the history of the Lutheran church in Nicaragua for the refugee community of Salvadorans who settled there during the years of the civil war in El Salvador. The attendees were deeply moved by her personal story of fleeing her native El Salvador and arriving in Nicaragua with nothing – no property, no friends, and no family – but literally bumping into Christian friends who had fled earlier. They greeted her with “Today the Lutheran Church has arrived in Nicaragua !”

Bishop Cortez shared that the church is almost 80 percent young people. It has been through the youth that the parents, young families, and elders have joined the church. The church is deeply involved in the lives of the poor and emphasizes the importance of showing the love of Christ. She stressed the inclusion of all people. “I’m not interested in whether people become Lutheran,” she said. “I invite anyone who wants to share the Word of God.”

For Bishop Cortez it is important to continue the development of the faith community. “ We tell the Good News through Word (sacraments) and service. All of us can be pastors. We can all give something to the church as volunteers. We have to share our faith in Jesus Christ, not just keep it inside of us.” This understanding that all can be pastors is lived out daily. Each of their communities has a pastoral team which works under the supervision of ordained pastors. Besides the regular activities of the congregation, these teams also work in the development of the community, especially among women and children, and farming.

Bishop Cortez went on to explain her understanding of the term companionship. She said, “Companionship is our ability to reach out our arms to embrace and to walk together. We don’t hold out our hand and ask how much money will you give me? We hold out our hand for a handshake. The Nicaraguan people have a richness of faith because we have Jesus in our heart. We are a church filled with enthusiasm. We want to share that with you.”

Later in the day the bishop spoke with participants during 2 one-hour workshops.

During those 2 workshop times, 25 presenters offered 19 workshops on topics such as creating dialogue between Christians and Muslims, the evolution of global mission, encouragement of cultural competency, fair trade, global music in congregations, work of the ELCA Hunger Appeal, mission work during retirement, and more.

Just about anyone can take advantage of this learning event to broaden their understanding of global mission, gather resources, network with others and discover new ways to enhance congregational and individual global mission. Next year’s event will be held at Our Savour's Lutheran Church in Salem on February 7. For more information contact the Oregon Synod Global Mission Chair, Delores Vilstrup at 503-281-4191

The Oregon Synod (www.oregonsynod.org) is made up of 118 congregations and more than 45,000 members. The Oregon Synod Office is in Portland.

The ELCA is the nation's largest Lutheran denomination with more than 5 million baptized members in more than 10,657 congregations organized into 65 synods. Find out more about the ELCA at www.elca.org.

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