I have the utmost respect for many in career paths that I could not even begin to imagine making them part of the 9-5, Monday-Friday routine. But for some, the work cannot possibly be contained to those 8 hours each day. Teachers must be all-in attentive to their students during the day, but must ensure they grade papers and tend to whatever preparations for the days ahead, especially the ones who want to go beyond the bare minimum curriculum adherence. Then, there are the social workers, who must be in constant contact with such students who may be facing their fair share of struggles on the home front, all the while facing constant criticism at the possibility of even slightly altering that home front in hopes of nourishing the child’s life for the better. No pressure at all with such dedicated-beyond-belief impacters on some of the most vulnerable lives in this world.
Now, for those who somehow managed to pull off both in a lifetime is a whole ‘nother level of patience-testing and compassion-reaching that is beyond my understanding. And so it was for a young man on the south side of Chicago: a seventh-grade teacher before becoming a social worker. And then, the pesky Lutherans got to him in 1996. Of course, it had to happen at one of our tried-and-true potlucks. It was there that he learned about a local ministry mentoring to the youth of the community. It was only natural with his patience and compassion beyond understanding that he would join that as well. But it didn’t stop there.
The pesky Lutherans started to pester a bit more: they insisted he had all these gifts to share that could be magnified if he had a chance for some grace-preaching and boundless Communion-sharing. For two years he didn’t believe he had it in him. But the Holy Spirit, with some Lutheran help, kept pestering. Eventually, he caved in. Those gifts were so profound that he founded a congregation on the same south side of Chicago, geared to raising awareness of God’s love that can reach even in such a place that might be looked down upon by others. But it didn’t stop there.
Soon enough, other Lutherans caught wind of his ministry that emerged from a 7th grade classroom and thrived from there. He would be elected as Bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod. But it didn’t stop there. Last week, when ELCA Lutherans from all over the country gathered for its Churchwide Assembly, they elected Bishop Yehiel Curry to serve as our Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
And yet again…no pressure at all. But rest assured, the same patience needed for a 7th grade classroom is still there. The same compassion for families on the south side of Chicago is still there. And perhaps a little bit of Holy Spirit/Lutheran pestering in helping people believe that they have something to offer to do their part in sharing the boundless love of God with the world is just as much in him now as well. He said shortly after his election to the assembly: “Perhaps I’m out there in one of you. I never saw myself as good enough, so for two years, I said no. I finally said yes. When I said yes, your support, this church’s support, of that ministry meant everything.” But it doesn’t stop there.
We must be ever so careful, because when we actually offer whole-hearted support to those in our churchly midst, we might just empower someone to believe that the Gospel can be proclaimed in them. We must be ever so careful that the Holy Spirit is craving to keep on reaching out to lives often overlooked. We must be ever so careful that we can actually still lift people up in convincing them that Christ is Risen in them, too. So, for soon-to-be Presiding Bishop Curry and for those who aren’t quite so sure they can say, “yes,” just yet, God’s blessings to them now and forever! Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Brad
To view a recording of the final ballot of the election and Bishop Curry speaking to the assembly please click the link below:
Rev. Yehiel Curry Elected Presiding Bishop of the ELCA | ELCA Churchwide Assembly 2025. - YouTube