Posts in ELCA
Journal of Lutheran Ethics, October/November edition
Journal of Lutheran Ethics, October/November edition

Journal of Lutheran Ethics (JLE) is a free, bimonthly, ecclesial online publication living out the Lutheran tradition of addressing social issues theologically, using the resources of historical, theological, and ethical tradition, biblical interpretation, and social sciences.

In an age of conflict and division between political parties and within political parties, between churches and within churches, American Christians often mourn disagreement, regret the diversity of opinion, and sigh for unity. This issue looks into the reality of disagreement in our nation and in our churches without rebuke. Disagreement, even radical and even uncivil disagreement, is a part of human social life, including church life. Thus, this issue is dedicated to answering the following question both theologically and practically: How do we have dialogue and debate on social and political issues with our neighbors?

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment
ELCA Church Council welcomes 23 new members
ELCA Church Council welcomes 23 new members

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met at the Lutheran Center in Chicago, Nov. 7-10. Twenty-three new members, elected by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly, were welcomed. The council serves as the ELCA's board of directors and interim legislative authority between meetings of the Churchwide Assembly.

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment
Living Lutheran: The cost of nondiscipleship
Living Lutheran: The cost of nondiscipleship

In The Great Omission: Rediscovering Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship, author Dallas Willard examines the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—in particular, the German theologian’s venerated book The Cost of Discipleship. Willard concludes that the cost of “nondiscipleship” is even higher: “In short, it costs exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring.”

In his many temple talks, Jesus undoubtedly rubbed his listeners the wrong way. He didn’t sugarcoat the terrors, torments or trials of discipleship. But he also encouraged them not to crumble when persecuted for his sake because God sees their hearts.

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ELCA, Living LutheranBrian FlatgardComment
Lessons from Lutheran Campus Ministry Network's two-year research study
Lessons from Lutheran Campus Ministry Network's two-year research study

Roland Martinson, professor emeritus of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., was a lead researcher for the Lutheran Campus Ministry Study. He said the results reveal that Lutheran campus ministries make an impact, and the most common characteristic students referenced as being transformative was the sense of a quality, anchoring community. In fact, 97% of students said Lutheran campus ministry provides a welcoming, inclusive and safe place.

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Lutheran Campus Ministry, ELCABrian FlatgardComment
Faith Lens: End of the World as We Know it
Faith Lens: End of the World as We Know it

A lot of television and film media use the end of the world as a setting or plot point to tell a story. The Day After Tomorrow details the end of the world with the onset of a second ice age, while Seeking a Friend for the End of the World follows two characters who are spending their last days on earth before an asteroid hits, finding what really matters in the end. Other post-apocalyptic media tackle what life is like if you happen to survive some cataclysmic event. The Walking Dead tells this tale using a zombie apocalypse as a catalyst while The Hunger Games examines how power can corrupt and consume life while desperately attempting to preserve it. 

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ELCABrian FlatgardFaith Lens Comment
Church Mutual updates risk management resource page
Church Mutual updates risk management resource page

Church Mutual has posted a new resource on tips for managing risk for sanctuary congregations, which can be found here: https://www.churchmutual.com/13471/Providing-safe-harbor

As a reminder, Church Mutual makes its safety resources available to all ELCA congregations, and links to them can be found on our Risk Management page on the ELCA site: https://www.elca.org/About/Churchwide/Office-of-the-Secretary/Risk-Management

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ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardComment
Bishops reflect on military chaplaincy
Bishops reflect on military chaplaincy

This year, for the first time in the church’s history, the ELCA installed two synod bishops who are serving as reserve military chaplains. Michael Lozano is bishop of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod and a chaplain in the Army Reserve, and Bill Tesch is bishop of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod and a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve. Living Lutheran asked the bishops about their experiences as military chaplains and how congregations can care for service members and veterans.

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ELCA, Living LutheranBrian Flatgard Comment
Faith Lens: It's a Trap!
Faith Lens: It's a Trap!

Marriage is a complicated thing. Some families come from traditional marriages and others are blended. Marriage takes a lot of commitment, work and faithfulness. There are also many reasons to get married, but the primary reason, according to an article from Pew Research,  is to marry for love. 88% cited love as an important reason to get married. Other reasons listed are commitment, companionship and to have children.

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ELCABrian FlatgardFaith LensComment
Angeline Neo, International Women Leaders scholar from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Angeline Neo, International Women Leaders scholar from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Angeline Neo has found a home away from home at Wartburg College, where she’s studying under an International Women Leaders scholarship. “I want to walk away from Wartburg and leave my mark,” Angeline said in a profile on the Wartburg website. Read her profile here.

You can support women leaders such as Angeline. Give a gift to International Women Leaders today.

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ELCABrian FlatgardComment