21!

In the U.S. the number "21" is almost immediately associated with the age at which young people are no longer legally considered minors. By that time they should have reached a certain degree of maturity, society has determined. Attending the 21st synod assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Urals, Siberia, and Far East (Oct. 12-14), I could see that the same can be said of our church. On its 21st birthday, there is already a lot of life experience to look back upon - miraculous developments, tragic mistakes.... And all of it now can be seen in the light of moving towards spiritual maturity. 

This synod saw me "maturing" into my call by giving a sermon at the opening worship and being made Acting Dean ("probst") of the Central and Eastern Siberian Deanery, but much more important was what I saw and heard from others there - the founding of new congregations in the Urals, the pursuit of theological education by people in the Far East, the ordination of a young man from Omsk who grew up in their Sunday School and the installation of a local leader for women's ministries, just to give a few examples.

As with any 21 year-old, there are probably even more challenges lying ahead than behind. This church will continue to grow into maturity as it strives to work on stewardship, questions of theology and liturgical practice (Holy Communion was noted as an area that the pastors will look at during their meeting in the spring), as well as congregational redevelopment in those places that have not been able to adapt to the changing situation here in the past two decades (most especially the emigration of large numbers of German Russians).  

Now it is time to let the pictures do the talking. 

Bishop Otto Schaude reading his report to the assembly.

Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia and our Acting Archbishop, Dietrich Brauer, conversing with a delegate from our region, Elma. 

I gave a report on our region, as did leaders from the Far East, Omsk and the Urals.

Pastor Dmitry leading the closing worship.

Youth choir in the Omsk congregation

Ordination of Vladimir Vinogradov

Installation of Tatyana Serebrova as head of women's ministries.

Synod delegates as guests

After the Synod Assembly there was a seminar for
church leaders; I was given the opportunity to feel
 like a teacher for a little while again.

Anastasia was one of my students
in Novosaratovka. She has just
now begun her internship in Omsk...
and she also just celebrated her birthday.