National Lutheran bishop visits campus for state conference
July 11, 2014
The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, who is bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is visiting Roanoke College this week for Power in the Spirit, an annual conference sponsored by the Virginia Synod of the ELCA. The following is a news release from the Virginia Synod announcing Eaton's visit and the conference's schedule.
Salem, Va. - The Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will be in Salem, Va. July 10-12 to speak at a Lutheran conference called Power in the Spirit.
Power in the Spirit is an inspirational conference sponsored by the Virginia Synod of the ELCA for everyone who wishes to explore God's call to service. The event is held at Roanoke College and will include keynote speakers Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Reverend Rolf Jacobson, music and a variety of small group workshops.
Elizabeth Smythe is the organizer of the event and has called it "the church camp for adults."
"I am wildly excited about Power in the Spirit 2014," Smythe said. "Participants will come away with experiences in worship, leadership, knowledge of our Lutheran faith, community and a chance to slow down and be the Church. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will bring her vision and her mission for the ELCA- surely a blessing for those in attendance."
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton is the fourth presiding Bishop (and the first female Presiding Bishop) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) where her tenure began November 1, 2013. Bishop Eaton was ordained in 1981. She attended the College of Wooster where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 1977 and then went to Harvard Divinity School where she earned a Master of Divinity degree.
Rev. Rolf Jacobson joined the Luther Seminary faculty as assistant professor of Old Testament in July 2003. Prior to joining the seminary, he taught at Augsburg College in Minneapolis as an assistant professor of religion. He emphasizes that the purpose of biblical text is not just from preaching or teaching, but that the Scriptures must also be used in pastoral care, personal spiritual growth, and for the shaping of Christian mission and theology.
Music will be provided by Nancy Delaney, the director of church music at Christ Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Va. and Scott Weidler, the Interim Director for Worship for the ELCA.
Power in the Spirit will also be participating in a statewide service project through the Virginia Synod of the ELCA called Got Glitter?. The goal of this project is to collect art supplies that will be used by five Lutheran Family Services Day Support Centers by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information about the Got Glitter? service project contact Ellen Bushman at 757-722-4707.
For additional information about Power in the Spirit, call the Virginia Synod office at 540-389-1000 or visit vasynod.org.
Kayla Fuller
Director of Communications
Office: 540-389-1000
Cell: 276-492-0508
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