In 2006, the Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering referenced the passage below as its theme. The theme was Full Serve, with intent to remind us that we are given the gifts to serve for the “common good”.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”                                                            1 Corinthians 12:4-7

I recently heard a speaker share what he felt were four signposts needed in our communities today. We need loving centred communities. We need communities that have a sense of unity. We need communities that work together. We need communities that have a sense of hope and knowledge that we are blessed.

The speaker felt that some of this was missing, that we had become an individualistic society and had lost a sense of the “common good”.

The challenge for us as a church is to keep this perspective- to have a sense of the “common good”. We have a structure that sets us apart- three expressions of the ELCIC (congregations; synod; national). We often carry an attitude that says we’ll take care of ourselves before others - those who are outside of our norm, our sphere, those we don’t see or interact with on a daily basis.
At a recent gathering of ELCA and ELCIC bishops a presenter identified several roles for a bishop. We are to be pastor to the pastors, a regional manager for a denomination, a teaching theologian, a mission director and a public representative of the denomination. The roles seem to imply that a bishop is to care for the church in such a way that it is “for the common good”, that we take care of individual leaders and congregations needs. The overarching role, however,  is to care for that which represents the bigger picture, the commonalities of ministry, the mission of Jesus Christ in the world through the perspective of our own denomination.

Oversight of the common good is not an easy task but when leaders and congregations reflect a ministry of this understanding of the “whole”; it takes on a life of its own. One of the ways that is visible in our synod is in the area strategy meetings. Groups or cells of congregations have been coming together, setting aside denominational boundaries, past histories and conflicts between congregations and even the need of congregations to have one pastor per congregation. These congregations are looking at how the gospel can be proclaimed in their area and how they can accomplish God’s mission “together”.

This new reality is not without growing pains, but creativity about the future overcomes some of the pain. Lay leadership in worship, community development and programming is growing. A group of congregations have come together to support an internship, to gift the wider church a training ground for future rostered leaders. There is a sense of excitement that they are “doing something new” and it is making a difference.

We know that not all congregations will survive this new reality, but relationships are being built that will help sustain faith in small communities. We also know that structures in the church can hinder new different opportunities to spread the good news, but judicatory leaders are on board to assist and re-develop as necessary.

This new “emerging church” model is enabling congregations to take hold of their future and be a part of the “common good”. The question being asked is “How is your congregation helping God’s mission in the world in new and creative ways that stretch boundaries and create new opportunities to be the church in this new reality?”

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