In Memoriam - John Schreiber

Even as his friends and family gather to celebrate his life and mourn his death today, John Schreiber, bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA, is being remembered by his hometown press as a "visionary" who "championed racial equality and social justice."

So he was. And so he did.

I want to honor John's memory today by remembering why he was committed to these things --- and why he dared to risk and to speak and to act for the sake of them.

In an October 2007 newsletter article, John wrote to the people of his synod:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

These are words Jesus is leaving with his disciples right before he ascends into heaven. Jesus was essentially telling his followers then, and is telling us now, that God’s dream for this world is to eventually make all things new. That was shown to be God’s intent for the world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and is something that we are to witness to in all kinds of places. We are to witness to God’s dream in the places right around us where we are comfortable (Jerusalem), in the places where we are uncomfortable (all Judea and Samaria), and even to places we have never seen (the ends of the earth). God’s dream for the world becomes our mission! 

John was a champion for justice and equality for all people - regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, or whatever else - because he believed that God's dream of salvation, blessing, unity, reconciliation, forgiveness, wholeness, and freedom is for everyone - no exceptions. He called us, as the church, to do no more and no less than to simply be a part of what God is up to in and for the sake of this world. He understood this to mean being engaged in both justice and evangelism. John challenged us - all of us, not just the people of Southeast Michigan - to become a whosoever church because he believed that is what God is dreaming for our world. And he knew that it is our job, as the church, to be up to what God is up to - to care about what God cares about - to see what God sees - and to be useful in God's mission. 

At least from where I'm standing, John Schreiber was one of those leaders in our church who really got it. And he wasn't afraid to put himself out there for it. As we say good-bye to him today we can be assured: John was - is now and forevermore will be - deeply loved by God. But it is important to also say this: John Schreiber was useful to God, too.

His clear voice, his ability to tell the truth with humility and with humor, and his radical commitment to being a part of God's loving mission in this world will be missed.

I don't know for sure that John read The Evangelizing Church: A Lutheran Contribution, but he would certainly have resonated with this definition of a whosoever church:

"God has a passion that all persons should hear about be invited to participate in this new life that comes through Jesus Christ. the focus of God's intent is always toward all persons, referred to in the Bible as 'whosoever,' and meaning everyone (John 3:16). God has a passion that this good news should be taken to the entire world that all may hear it. The focus of God's passion is always toward 'the ends of the earth,' what might be referred to as everywhere (Acts 1:8). God has a passion that all of life should flourish - that the mission of God should function within all of creation, and this means everything (Matthew 28:19).

"God's passion is for the gospel to go everywhere so that everyone might be invited to receive redemption that relates to everything. In God's plan, the church is given the incredible privilege of sharing this good news about new life in Christ with all who have not heard. The gift is a call. The call is a gift. This is the evangelizing task of the church." 

(Bliese, Van Gelder, et al, Augsburg Fortress, 2005)

Thanks for all you have done, John. We'll take it from here.

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According to the synod's website, John's family has requested memorials to the "Building Here, Building There" campaign of the Southeast Michigan Synod, the ministries of the Southeast Michigan Synod, or St. Thomas Lutheran Church, where Rev. Colleen Kamke, the Bishop’s wife, serves as pastor. Please keep Colleen and their children in your prayers. 

Comments

[Ivy]

The LTSG community here has been keeping his family and synod in prayer. One of the middlers is from MI, but I'm not sure if it's that particular synod. Peace.