James Bischoff

Advent and the color blue are very much centered on hope. Hope is what I have for the ELCA. Hope that the Spirit of God will be at work to bring an end to a policy that discriminates and is harmful to both clergy (including prospective clergy) and congregations.

I know first-hand about those hurts. After twenty-three years of ordained ministry in the ALC and the ELCA I have been dismissed. My ministry gifts were reaffirmed and recognized but since I was in violation of the policy my participation, as a pastor, was no longer needed. How simple to end a life-long journey of prayer, study, commitment, and love. How simple it was for the church that has been a part of me since conception and played a major role in my development to say “Thanks, but no thanks. All of a sudden, you’re not acceptable. You’re outside of the policy.”

All of this from a church that claims to be built on God’s grace, mercy, and justification. All this from a church whose history is built on throwing church policies aside. All of this from a church that claims to be welcoming and inclusive except…

I still have hope. I still have hope that no other pastor, deacon, associate-in-ministry, or seminarian will ever have to live in fear that the church will reject them because they dare to live life as God created them.

Originally a part of the collection of stoles housed by ReconcilingWorks (formerly known as Lutherans Concerned), this stole was donated by them to the Shower of Stoles Project in 2015.