July 20, 2013

The Week That Was

By Bishop Craig Schweitzer

It’s been a remarkable week, but I’m glad to be on my way home (Due to plane and weather issues, I didn’t make it all the way home). What I’d like to offer tonight is a little synopsis of the past week that was in my life and ministry. May something here bless your journey, because you know what…Jesus loves you!
20130719-235537.jpgHere’s a summary of this week

1. 2 days with Suzanne Stabile from Life in the Trinity Ministries learning a whole lot about the Enneagram. Suzanne is one of the leading teachers on the Enneagram. After spending the week with her, I think she is THE leading teacher in the US on this subject. I am blessed to have had this time with her, to learn from her, and am forever thankful to call her a sister in Christ.

2.A day and a half with Tony Jones. Tony is someone who deeply loves the church, but isn’t afraid to throw a hand grenade in the middle to stir up the status quo. His passion is to challenge the church to think differently about herself then she did in 1954 and to celebrate the many ways that God is alive and active in the midst of 2013. Needless to say, I was challenged by him. And I’m thankful that I was. The Texas heat has nothing on the heat Tony Jones brings to the church!

3. A day and a half with Brian McLaren. Brian has had a significant impact on my faith journey for many years. To be able to “sit at his feet” and walk through the book of Acts together was a significantly holy time for me. Brian is a glorious gift to the church who believes very deeply that the good news of the gospel of our savior Jesus Christ is for all of God’s children. His grace filled challenge to us pastors was to not be afraid to proclaim and live the out the truth of God’s love in every way possible in our congregations.

A few take always from the week –

1. Silence is a good and holy thing and one of the most significant disciplines that children of God can seek to enter into regularly.

2. Every so often, in the midst of our silence, it’s OK to stir things up In order to affirm that we are truly focused on God’s presence in our lives and God’s work in the world.

3. And finally, all of us are called as followers of Jesus to constantly ask the question, “Who is outside?” I think this may be the most challenging question we face and one that the church needs to continually ask just as it has been asking since the first followers of the risen Jesus did so long ago. By asking this question, we too will quickly discover that nobody is outside of the loving embrace of God.

About Bishop Craig Schweitzer

The Rev. Craig Schweitzer, of Bismarck, was elected as bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod on July 17, 2020, in the first-ever digital Synod Assembly. A historic event, Schweitzer is the first bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to be elected in an online assembly. Bishop Craig Schweitzer began serving the Western North Dakota Synod-ELCA on September 1, 2020. He has always seen himself as an easy-going person who seeks to daily discover anew how God is present in his life and the world in which he lives and serves. Prior to service in the Office of Bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod, Bishop Craig served at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck, ND as Music and Worship Minister (lay staff from 2002-2010), Associate Pastor (2010-2014), and Senior Pastor (2014-2020). Beyond his service in the church, he has an eclectic background that is a diverse collection of musical, educational, and business experiences ranging from live concert production and promotion to recording studios and live performance to music education. Throughout all of his professional and personal experiences, the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Rome have been a guiding light that has kept him grounded in whatever work God was calling him into – “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7) Bishop Craig is a graduate of the University of Mary in Bismarck with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership. He also holds a certificate degree in Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA. He was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament on September 16, 2010. Outside of his life as Bishop, Bishop Craig enjoys reading, all music, a little golf, a cold beverage with friends, and intentional times of quiet. And, of course, spending time with his wife Wendy and their adult twin daughters Ilia and Taegan. View all posts by Bishop Craig Schweitzer
This entry was posted on Saturday, July 20th, 2013 at 5:03 am and posted in The Church in The World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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