I’ve been pondering that a lot. Have we become a timid church?” Hanson asked the ELCA leaders. A sign of a timid church is one that describes itself by what it has lost and what it lacks, he said. Such a church is one that tries to hold onto the past and preserve what was, Hanson said.
A church that defines itself by controversies and partisan divisions “will become a weary and timid church,” Hanson said. A timid church has lost confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit to work through the gospel, he said. The presiding bishop also said he is “deeply concerned” that leaders preach with a sense of confidence.