Did
you miss Bishop Eaton speaking for the ELCA Malaria Campaign on Monday
evening? If so keep reading to hear her comments along with the presentation
of our synod check to Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson at the 2011 Churchwide
Assembly in Orlando.
"Elizabeth
Eaton, the Northeastern Ohio Synod. I speak in favor of the ELCA Malaria
Campaign. We are a pilot synod, the co-chairs are three young adults under
the age of 30, Pastor Megan Elliott of Abiding Savior, Alliance, and Young
Adults in Global Mission, Matt Bishop and Rebeckah Selnick. Our co-chairs
set a target for each congregation based on average worship attendance. Our
congregations have been creative in achieving their goals using
Vacation Bible
Schools, Wednesdays in Lent, Malaria in May, and a whole narthex filled with
wire mosquitoes at Emmanuel in New Philadelphia.
You can access this on
You Tube / clothes hanger mosquito.
We
were saddened by the drop in support that forced the painful reduction in
work force at the churchwide organization and the resulting decision to
withdraw from the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. Our Synod has also
experienced a decrease in mission support which resulted in cuts in time and
compensation for the entire staff. But in tough times, it is important to
turn outward and not in on ourselves. The ELCA Malaria Campaign reminds us
we are part of something greater than ourselves, and we are neither helpless
nor poor.
Therefore, the Northeastern Ohio Synod is committed to meeting its original
goal of $250,000. The Northeastern Ohio Synod thanks Bishop Hanson and the
ELCA Malaria Campaign for the opportunity to make a difference in the world
and presents this mosquito and a check, which, combined with funds already
sent to the Malaria Campaign, brings our total to $1 41,278.23."
Remember - we will continue to stay on course
to achieve our synod goal of $250,000. We need YOUR help to eliminate
this deadly disease.
