VELKD General Synod Unites in Singing “Bless the Lord Oh My Soul” with Young Reformers Virtual Choir

By Moyette Marrett

“The Holy Spirit carves a way through the Internet,” said Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm as he described a special moment of unity in the Holy Spirit during a meeting of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) Synod in Dresden on November 8.

The special moment occurred as Synod members, Lutheran German Bishops and ecumenical guests spontaneously joined in singing “Bless the Lord Oh My Soul” as they watched a video of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Global Young Reformers Network’s First Virtual choir performing the song.

The choir of 18 young Lutherans from around the world was one of the highlights of the inaugural virtual conference of Global Young Reformers Network on Reformation Day 2014, which explored questions of Christian faith and Lutheran identity under the theme, “Freed by God’s Love to Change the World.”

“We had a real experience of the Holy Spirit in which the Internet also played a role as we listened the choir. The Synod agreed and so we were altogether connected across continents in singing the same song.” Bishop Bedford-Strohm said.

The main theme of this year’s Synod was “Communicating the Gospel in a Digitalized Society” and how the Internet, Facebook, YouTube and social media can be used as opportunities for the church.

LWF Youth Secretary Caroline Richter and Julia Braband, Steering member and Coordinator of the Network for Central and Western Europe, presented the work of the Global Young Reformers Network and the Social Network – “a Lutheran Facebook” - as examples of best practice.

“This was a truly unique moment where “virtual spiritual life meets the analogue church,” Richter added.