Reformed Evangelical Synod of America

Father Robert Lyons offers a prayer of benediction over Deacon Greg Elsbernd as he becomes a professed religious solitary within the Reformed Evangelical Synod of America.

Gregory Jude Elsbernd, a deacon of the Reformed Evangelical Synod of America, began his first year as a vowed religious solitary with the taking of vows at the Divine Service on Sunday, October 4th. Father Robert Lyons offered a homily on the day’s readings, in which the meaning of the profession was elaborated upon in light of the universal call to holiness. After taking his vows, Brother Elsbernd was invested with a simple black crucifix, a symbol of his profession. While he remains attached to the RESA Mission in Johnson County (Indiana) as his parish of record, he will now take up residence at Saint Francis of Assisi Hermitage in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later this fall, the Hermitage plans to begin construction on a chapel which will serve as a house of  worship and a hub of outreach ministry.

Please keep Brother Elsbernd in your prayers as he embarks on this new stage in his journey of faith.

The Reformed Evangelical Synod of America recognizes the validity of special callings called “Christian Sodalities”. We understand Christian Sodalities in this light expressed in Chapter 34 of our Articles of Religion:

Throughout the history of the Church, men and women, married and unmarried, clergy and lay alike have formed religious, fraternal, and missionary organizations or sodalities to commit themselves to God for special service and to carry out the labors of specific Christian vocations in the church and world. No pride or superiority should be attached to such service and these organizations retain their legitimacy so long as they serve to carry out the mission of Christ in accordance with Holy Scripture, without seeking to supplant, but rather support, the public ministry of Christ’s Church and operating in coordination with the Church’s lawful spiritual authority.

Deacon Greg, by God’s grace, is establishing a mission house and base for preaching the Gospel. He will be evangelizing and gathering God’s holy people for worship while exercising a diaconal ministry of service in Christ’s Name. Thank you for your prayers on his behalf. +Chuck