April Update: Advocacy Connections
from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director, ELCA Witness in Society Partial expanded content from Advocacy Connections: April 2022 CRITICAL HOUSING INCREASES IN BUDGET | CLIMATE AWARENESS IN BUDGET AND BEYOND | RESPONSE TO MYANMAR (BURMA) | END IN SIGHT FOR TITLE 42 | FAIR HOUSING MONTH CRITICAL HOUSING INCREASES IN BUDGET: Since original overdue deadline of the budget passed last October, hundreds of Lutherans contacted their members to end the inaction and include increases in critical needs such as housing aid and homeless assistance. In the final version, advocates…
Some Rationales on the PhD of Choice
One thing that gave me the final push to pursue the PhD where I am is seeing where the PhD in theology leads, even from prestigious schools. I cannot justify going into exorbitant amount of debt (which I already have from undergrad and seminary) to earn a degree even from a prestigious school with so-called “funding” (and most UK schools don’t even have that) that will not finally result in landing a career that 1) fits naturally with the focus of the degree (like being a full time prof), and 2) doesn’t provide a job that will pay enough to…
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession – April 24
These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Worship resources for the crisis in Eastern Europe: Follow this link to access resources to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. Several prayers are provided that could be used during the prayers of intercession or at other…
April 24, 2022–Opening Doors and Hearts
Jason Fisher, Champaign, IL Warm-up Question Name some reasons someone might lock themselves in their room? What would it be like to live your whole life without leaving that room? What would you miss? Opening Doors and Hearts Kristen Berthiaume and her family live in Alabama. They wanted to promote racial justice in their community. Seeing that nationwide protests and demands for justice were often met with open racism and ignorance, the family decided to create an Anti-racist Little Library in front of their home. Kristen noticed that books about racial justice were high on bestseller lists. So, she stocked…
My Final Word on My PhD Status
I have decided to go ahead and pursue the PhD in theology (Reformed Dogmatics) with Martin Luther School of Bible and Theology. It has taken me time to process, research, pray, and reflect how I should go about this. In the end this PhD is what the Lord has set before me. Martin Luther School of Bible and Theology is the Divinity School (we could say) of the General Lutheran Church (denomination) based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The denomination itself has existed since 2014, and claims to be the offshoot of the descendants from the former Evangelical Lutheran General…
Prompts for Prayers of Intercession-April 17, 2022
These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod. Worship resources for the crisis in Eastern Europe: Worship resources are available to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. Visit this link to access a wide variety of resources and prayers for general use. Additional newly-composed worship…
A Holy Confluence: A Reminder of our Interconnection
By Kristen Opalinski For the first time in decades we are witnessing a confluence of significant religious holy days and cultural traditions during the month of April. As Christians move through Holy Week, we do so knowing that many of our neighbors of other religions are also journeying through their holy days, including Vaisakhi, Mahavir Jayanti, Passover, Ramadan, and Theravada New Year. For Muslims, Jews, Christians, Baha’is, Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and others, this moment of convergence serves as a reminder of our interconnectedness. As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America this is also a time to remember…
The Last Word on a Reformed Doctrine of Election and Reprobation
You go online in the Reformed space, and you get the same old trope on a doctrine of election and reprobation; you essentially get the L (imited Atonement) of the TULIP served up as the ‘hard teaching’ Gospel truth reality about the way God relates to part of humanity in a God-world relation. I am here to set the record straight once and for all! This is simply not how God has related to the world, and this based on the analogy of the incarnation. We aren’t groping around in the darkness for snipes, but as Christians, instead, we have…
Title 42 Points to Need for Humane Asylum System
By Giovana Oaxaca, ELCA program director for migration The announcement of the Biden administration of an end date for Title 42 is a welcome step forward towards restoring access to the right to seek asylum. Rather than promote a safe, orderly or humane process, Title 42 wound up increasing risk and vulnerability. Our Lutheran tradition teaches “hospitality for the uprooted is a way to live out the biblical call to love the neighbor in response to God’s love in Jesus Christ” (ELCA social message on “Immigration,” pg. 3). The human repercussions of Title 42 will be felt for years to…
Situation Report: Texas-Louisiana Tornadoes
Situation: On March 21-22, a storm system moved through several southern states, including Texas and Louisiana. It spawned multiple tornadoes, including an EF-3 tornado in Arabi, La., which killed one and damaged dozens of homes. Response: The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, with support from Lutheran Disaster Response, is addressing immediate needs for those impacted by the storms. In Arabi, Gethsemane Lutheran Church-Chalmette is coordinating with other organizations to distribute food supplies and expects the need for its own food pantry to grow. The church’s preschool is also welcoming in students from a nearby preschool that was damaged in…