Nebraska Synod ELCA

Written by Bishop-Elect Scott Alan Johnson

The route from my family’s house in Fremont to my parents’ house in Wakefield includes over 30 miles of travel on U.S. Highway 275 from Fremont to West Point. If you’ve traveled that highway in the last few years, you know that 275 is undergoing a massive overhaul that will, in time, expand it from two lanes to four between Scribner and Norfolk. When it’s done, it’s going to be a great road. At the moment, though, things are a little rough because the road is under construction. There’s no way to rebuild a major highway without slowing down the traffic it will need to continue handling during the construction process.

The last time we drove to Wakefield, my daughter was driving and I was in the front passenger seat. My daughter, who is driving on a learner’s permit until she turns 16 this winter, hadn’t previously driven through the construction zones on 275. Wisely, she slowed down when she was uncertain, making sure to leave plenty of space between our car and those around us, and she asked me to be sure to tell her where to turn because she was still learning how to make this drive (to be perfectly honest, she’s a better driver than I was at her age). We both noted the signs that encourage all drivers to slow down, watch for workers, and be aware that travel is a little different when a road is under construction.

You’ve seen in these communications that there’s a major overhaul taking place among the staff of the Nebraska Synod. We are currently under construction, very much like Highway 275, and this construction is going to cause things to slow down and be a little uncertain until that construction is done. The ongoing staff and I will be working diligently to minimize the delays when possible, but you can’t rebuild a synod staff without slowing down the traffic that staff will need to continue handling during the construction process.

God has truly blessed the Nebraska Synod through the good work that Bishop Brian Maas, Pastor Carol Mapa, Diane Harpster, Pastor Megan Morrow, Lisa Kramme, Pastor Jon Mapa, and Pastor Juliet Focken have done. This is where the “under construction” metaphor falls short; roads get rebuilt when they’re no longer able to serve their purpose, but these servants can and will continue to serve God and the church in new and exciting ways. Please pray for them, and pray for all of us as we continue to seek the best way forward as your Nebraska Synod staff, currently under construction but working hard to serve you and God to the best of our abilities.