The Bishop's Corner

Greetings to you and welcome to my page!
Because Central Great Lakes Synod covers such a wide area, I hope to use this page as a way of keeping in touch with all the synod's members and friends.
At the request of the Synod Council, I have collected notices about some of my actions as Bishop and you can read these below.
If there are additional things that you would like me to comment on, please let me know via email: bishop@cglsynod.org.
Yours in the faith,
+ Thorvald "Wally" Noe-Effingway


August 14, 2007: Bishop Noe-Effingway has issued a Pastoral Letter to report on the Churchwide Assembly and to call synod clergy to live in celibacy until a social statement on sexuality can be adopted by the ELCA.

August 14, 2007: Bishop Noe-Effingway has issued a Pastoral Letter to report on the Churchwide Assembly and to call synod clergy to live in celibacy until a social statement on sexuality can be adopted by the ELCA.

3/14/07: BISHOP THORVALD NOE-EFFINGWAY'S PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING THE APPEAL PROCESS OF THE DISCIPLINE HEARING CASE OF PASTOR SOPHIE FORTRESSON, KEEPER OF THE LIGHT LUTHERAN CHURCH, NEEBISH ISLAND:

On Wednesday, February 16, 2007, the disciplinary hearing committee looking into the matter of Pr. Sophie Fortresson's conduct issued a verdict dismissing the charges.

According to the procedures of this church, any party in a disciplinary matter may appeal the decision of a discipline committee. Consequently, today, Wednesday, March 14, 2007, the Central Great Lakes Synod and I are filing an appeal to examine the possibility that the hearing committee has abused its discretion and issued an improper ruling.

As I have stated repeatedly in this matter, because the discipline process continues, I will make no further comments at this time. When the time is right, I will issue additional public statements.

Please continue to pray for everyone involved in this process.

Wally Noe-Effingway
Bishop
Central Great Lakes Synod

2/28/07: PUBLIC STATEMENT OF BISHOP NOE-EFFINGWAY:

The Disciplinary Hearing Committee has delivered its opinion and has determined that the charges I have filed regarding the Rev. Sophie Fortresson are to be dismissed and that no disciplinary action will be taken.

However, the policy of this church has been and remains clear, and the enforcement of the policy through disciplinary proceedings is not a lost cause. I am convinced that Pastor Fortresson is truly in violation of this church's policy, and the charges against her would have been sustained if the appropriate churchwide resources had been able to devote their full attention to this matter.

There is a 30-day period in which parties to disciplinary actions may seek an appeal within the church. I have not yet determined how to proceed.

The decision to seek Pastor Fortresson's removal from the ministry of this church was not an easy one for me because I respect both the pastor's work and the congregation at Keeper of the Light on Neebish Island.

Nevertheless, it remains my responsibility as bishop of this synod to enforce the established standards of this church, especially in view of the fact that the 2005 Churchwide Assembly declined to create a process by which exceptions to these standards could be granted.

As this church continues prayerfully to consider the issue of gay or lesbian clergy in committed relationships, rest assured that both the synod and I will continue to search for ways to live together faithfully in the midst of our disagreements.

Wally Noe-Effingway
Bishop
Central Great Lakes Synod

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