Click on Glorious Dei to view the most recent newsletter. Past issues: 24:07 Happy Hour Evangelism; 24:06 It's Pentecost; 24:05 Intro; 24:04 He is Risen; 24:03 Be Of Good Courage; 23:12 A Spiritual Exercise; 23:09 Getting to Know You; 23:07 Joy?; 23:06 Farewell; 23:05 Advice & Call; 23:04; 23:03 The Love of Christ Abounds; 23:02 Need to Find a Way to Love; 23:01 Love, the Universal Glue; 22:12 Advent & Hope; 22:11 Christ's Cycle; 22:09 A New Look at Matthew; 22:08 Perfect In Every Way; 22:06 Shooting; 22:05 A Number of Days; 22:04 Renewal; 22:03 The Transformational Path; 22:02 The Antonine Plague Lesson; 22:01 Chairs instead of pews?; 21:12 Living in Advent; 21:11 Cloud of Witnesses; 21:10 Biblical Basics?; 21:09 Slipping Into the Future; 21:08 We Belong to God; 21:07 It Takes More Than a Village; 21:06 Pentecost-Coming or Going; 21:05 A Return?; 21:04 A Season of Penance; 21:03 Lenten Reflection; 21:02 The Racist Lawyer; 20:12 Look to Fore; 20:10 Where are the Christians?; 20:09 Remember to Laugh; 20:08 The Bonding, the Blessing; To view, click on Welcoming Congregations above. ELCA News For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us (Ephesians 2:14). Just a few weeks ago in my June column for Living Lutheran I wrote, "I can't think of an election cycle more fraught and divisive than this one. People all across the political spectrum claim that life as we know it is on the line. It's not possible to agree to disagree—one must decide and put a stake in the ground. There is the potential for violence." That potential is now a reality after last weekend's shooting at a Trump campaign rally that killed Corey D. Comperatore and injured other attendees. I am thankful that former President Trump's injury was minor and pray for his recovery alongside those affected. I also wrote, "But division and violence don't have to be our inevitable future." I believe this and that God calls this church to say a definitive "no" to political violence now and in the future. Political violence has a long history but no place in democracy. This church belongs to God, and our unity in Christ is a grace-filled and healing gift in a fractured society. As the ELCA we have theological and community resources to meet this moment through worship, discipleship and civic engagement. In the face of violence, God's resolve for peace in human communities is unshakable. In proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ's forgiveness, healing and new life, the church addresses the ultimate root of violence. God calls us as church together in this moment to hear and embody this good news by embracing our identity as peacemakers through active civic engagement grounded in our baptismal identity and our institutional witness to foster justice, racial and social equity, reconciliation, and healing with compassion and imagination. Last weekend's shooting has distressed and destabilized our nation. Political violence breeds fear and can set in motion cycles of violence that will further shatter us. Consider how, as individuals and communities in our life together, you will:
Our inevitable future belongs to God. In this certainty and bound together in Christian hope, consider how you can join me in ongoing prayer and actions for our nation, a peaceful election season, the safety of candidates for office, and a bold and life-giving witness of our church in the time ahead. In Christ, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Holy God, Resources:
I am disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which clears the way for onerous civil and criminal penalties for unsheltered neighbors forced to sleep in parks or on other public property. This could jeopardize the work of Lutheran ministries and organizations dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness. As a church, we are called by God's grace to love and serve the most vulnerable and marginalized neighbors in our communities. Worshiping communities in the ELCA include people experiencing homelessness, which is not a moral failing; often it results from societal factors such as lack of affordable housing, stagnant wages and lack of affordable access to mental health services. Fining or imprisoning people without addressing these root causes drains public resources better directed at supportive housing services. Criminalizing homelessness is misguided both ethically and pragmatically. As Christians, we are called to embrace marginalized neighbors with compassion, not punishment. Penalizing people for lacking adequate housing runs counter to our core tenets of justice and dignity. Christ himself had "nowhere to lay his head" (Luke 9:58) and the prophet Isaiah urges the people of God to "bring the homeless poor into your house" (Isaiah 58:7). Criminalizing their circumstances compounds their suffering and diminishes their opportunities to find stability. The ELCA upholds the dignity of all people, affirming in its 1990 social message "Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment" that "God's love in Jesus Christ … [moves] us to care for homeless people as God cares for all." I call on our elected leaders and public servants to implement solutions rooted in basic human rights. Rather than punish those without shelter, we need to support policies and investments in affordable housing, boost homelessness prevention resources, collaborate with ministries and expand supportive services. As a church, we can: Criminalizing homelessness is an injustice we must reject. We remain committed to advocating for our unhoused neighbors. In Christ, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton CHICAGO — The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer was reelected June 14 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 13-15 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church, Mesa, Ariz. Hutterer was reelected on the first ballot, with 201 votes. The Rev. Peter S. Perry, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Glendale, Ariz., received 17 votes. Hutterer was elected bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod in 2018. Previously she served as chief development officer (2017-1018) and as director of congregational relations and volunteers (2012-2017) with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest in Phoenix, Ariz.; as executive director of Faith in the City in Minneapolis (2008-2012); and as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pontiac, Ill. (2004-2008). The bishop received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from Augsburg University, Minneapolis, in 1999 and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in 2004. Augsburg is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities, and Luther is one of seven ELCA seminaries. Information about the Grand Canyon Synod is available at gcsynod.org/. - - - About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: |
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For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us (Ephesians 2:14). Just a few weeks ago in my June column for Living Lutheran I wrote, "I can't think of an election cycle more fraught and divisive than this one. People all across the political spectrum claim that life as we know it is on the line. It's not possible to agree to disagree—one must decide and put a stake in the ground. There is the potential for violence." That potential is now a reality after last weekend's shooting at a Trump campaign rally that killed Corey D. Comperatore and injured other attendees. I am thankful that former President Trump's injury was minor and pray for his recovery alongside those affected. I also wrote, "But division and violence don't have to be our inevitable future." I believe this and that God calls this church to say a definitive "no" to political violence now and in the future. Political violence has a long history but no place in democracy. This church belongs to God, and our unity in Christ is a grace-filled and healing gift in a fractured society. As the ELCA we have theological and community resources to meet this moment through worship, discipleship and civic engagement. In the face of violence, God's resolve for peace in human communities is unshakable. In proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ's forgiveness, healing and new life, the church addresses the ultimate root of violence. God calls us as church together in this moment to hear and embody this good news by embracing our identity as peacemakers through active civic engagement grounded in our baptismal identity and our institutional witness to foster justice, racial and social equity, reconciliation, and healing with compassion and imagination. Last weekend's shooting has distressed and destabilized our nation. Political violence breeds fear and can set in motion cycles of violence that will further shatter us. Consider how, as individuals and communities in our life together, you will:
Our inevitable future belongs to God. In this certainty and bound together in Christian hope, consider how you can join me in ongoing prayer and actions for our nation, a peaceful election season, the safety of candidates for office, and a bold and life-giving witness of our church in the time ahead. In Christ, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Holy God, Resources:
I am disappointed by the Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which clears the way for onerous civil and criminal penalties for unsheltered neighbors forced to sleep in parks or on other public property. This could jeopardize the work of Lutheran ministries and organizations dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness. As a church, we are called by God's grace to love and serve the most vulnerable and marginalized neighbors in our communities. Worshiping communities in the ELCA include people experiencing homelessness, which is not a moral failing; often it results from societal factors such as lack of affordable housing, stagnant wages and lack of affordable access to mental health services. Fining or imprisoning people without addressing these root causes drains public resources better directed at supportive housing services. Criminalizing homelessness is misguided both ethically and pragmatically. As Christians, we are called to embrace marginalized neighbors with compassion, not punishment. Penalizing people for lacking adequate housing runs counter to our core tenets of justice and dignity. Christ himself had "nowhere to lay his head" (Luke 9:58) and the prophet Isaiah urges the people of God to "bring the homeless poor into your house" (Isaiah 58:7). Criminalizing their circumstances compounds their suffering and diminishes their opportunities to find stability. The ELCA upholds the dignity of all people, affirming in its 1990 social message "Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment" that "God's love in Jesus Christ … [moves] us to care for homeless people as God cares for all." I call on our elected leaders and public servants to implement solutions rooted in basic human rights. Rather than punish those without shelter, we need to support policies and investments in affordable housing, boost homelessness prevention resources, collaborate with ministries and expand supportive services. As a church, we can: Criminalizing homelessness is an injustice we must reject. We remain committed to advocating for our unhoused neighbors. In Christ, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton CHICAGO — The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer was reelected June 14 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 13-15 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church, Mesa, Ariz. Hutterer was reelected on the first ballot, with 201 votes. The Rev. Peter S. Perry, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, Glendale, Ariz., received 17 votes. Hutterer was elected bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod in 2018. Previously she served as chief development officer (2017-1018) and as director of congregational relations and volunteers (2012-2017) with Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest in Phoenix, Ariz.; as executive director of Faith in the City in Minneapolis (2008-2012); and as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pontiac, Ill. (2004-2008). The bishop received a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from Augsburg University, Minneapolis, in 1999 and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in 2004. Augsburg is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities, and Luther is one of seven ELCA seminaries. Information about the Grand Canyon Synod is available at gcsynod.org/. - - - About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: CHICAGO — The Rev. Vivian J. Davila, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was elected June 8 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 7-8 at the Disciples of Christ Christian Center in Bayamon. Davila was elected on the fourth ballot, with 42 votes. The Rev. Leonardo G. Ñanco, pastor of Iglesia Evangélica Luterana San Marcos, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, received 19 votes. The bishop-elect has served as pastor of Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Sión, Bayamon, since 2006. Previously she was pastor of Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Ascención in Dorado, Puerto Rico (2001-2006). Davila earned her Master of Arts from the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus in 1992 and her Master of Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, San Juan, in 2000. She will begin her term Sept. 1 and be installed Nov. 9 (location to be determined). The Rev. Idalia C. Negrón Caamaño, who has served as synod bishop since 2018, is retiring. Information about the Caribbean Synod is available at facebook.com/elcalcs. - - - About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: CHICAGO — The Rev. Martin R. Halom, Bloomer, Wis., was elected June 8 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 7-8 at the W.R. Davies Student Center of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. Halom was elected on the fourth ballot, with 241 votes. The Rev. Karen Behling, pastor of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls, Wis., received 57 votes. The bishop-elect has served as pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Bloomer since 2012. Previously he was associate campus pastor of University Lutheran Church in East Lansing, Mich. (2003-2012), and associate pastor of American Lutheran Church in Rantoul, Ill. (1999-2003). Halom earned his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, in 1993, and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 1999. Luther College is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities; Luther Seminary is one of seven ELCA seminaries. He will be installed Sept. 15 (location to be determined). The Rev. Laurie Skow-Anderson is retiring after serving the synod as director for evangelical mission (2014-2018) and as bishop (2018-2024). Information about the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin is available at nwswi.org/. - - - About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: For information contact: CHICAGO — The Rev. Timothy M. Graham, Fort Wayne, Ind., was elected June 8 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 7-9 at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo Center in Louisville, Ky. Graham was elected on the fifth ballot, with 206 votes. The Rev. Adrianne M. Meier, senior pastor of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Ind., received 110 votes. The bishop-elect has served Messiah Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, first as an associate pastor (2010-2015) and then as senior pastor (2015 to present). Previously he was pastor of Light of the Cross Lutheran Worship Center in Fort Wayne (2007-2010). Graham earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2001 and a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, in 2007. Wartburg is one of seven ELCA seminaries. He will take office Sept. 1 and be installed Oct. 12 (location to be determined). The Rev. William O. Gafkjen, who has served as synod bishop since 2010, will be retiring. Information about the Indiana-Kentucky Synod is available at https://iksynod.org/. - - - About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: |