Togetherness Takes Work

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:3

During a conversation over dinner with two missionaries and their wives, the comment was made that each couple finds out how long they can be apart before it becomes counterproductive.  A few years later, I learned that the number for our marriage is 17.  We had been apart for two weeks before, but during one stretch my first year as district president, we did not see each other for seventeen days.  It was too long apart because togetherness takes work.

In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul writes for the congregation to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”  Our congregations have banded together for the sake of Christ, sharing in a common confession and a common work.  We hold to the truth of God’s Word as taught in the Lutheran Confessions.  Our congregations have a shared mission and often a shared history.  However, togetherness takes work.

As more congregations enter into shared ministry partnerships, it is about more than just sharing expenses or sharing a pastor.  It means gathering togethering around the Word of God and growing together in Christ.  Congregation’s leaders cannot simply meet together once a year to approve a budget.  Keeping the unity of the Spirit takes effort.  However, when congregational presidents get together on their own for prayer and support, they are making efforts to be united.  When the elders from a shared ministry meet together rather than separately, they are growing together in Christ.  When the congregations of a circuit meet yearly for a circuit forum for the sake of their common work, they recognize that togetherness takes work.  My hope is that every congregation in the District would see opportunities in partnering together with other congregations for the sake of our common confession and mission.  However, remember that it takes work.  But the Holy Spirit is indeed at work among church leaders who gather together around the Word of God to consider how they might work together for the sake of Christ and His Church.

Prayer – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, through Word and Spirit, You both enliven the minds and sanctify the hearts of Your people.  Make us to be a people united in the true faith and sharing in the common work of confessing Christ to an unbelieving world that through our work together many may be brought to saving faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan