An Open Letter to Mr. Daniel J. Lehmann
Editor, The Lutheran, Magazine of the ELCA
8765 W. Higgins Rd.
Chicago, IL 60631
Dear Sir:
I am writing in response to your editorial in the October 2010 issue of The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA. In that editorial you write about the formation of a new Lutheran church body, the North American Lutheran Church. You make a number of statements that are either petty or untrue, creating a false impression.
1) You observe that “the NALC becomes, in the eyes of this magazine, one more Lutheran denomination” and you assert that “The Lutheran won’t give it any special coverage just because of its heritage.” Why not? The Lutheran should serve the people of the ELCA and not only the bureaucracy at Higgins Road. The NALC is composed entirely of congregations and pastors who left behind many close friends and relatives in the ELCA. The NALC is therefore not just another Lutheran church body, no matter what you say. It will always have a special relationship to the ELCA as “a chip off the old block.” Don’t you think the people of the ELCA deserve to be kept informed about what their friends and relatives are experiencing in the NALC? Your response is pitifully petty, a mere defensive reaction born of resentment.
2) You observe that “the magazine turned down an advertisement sought by organizers of the NALC gathering. It promoted a theological symposium that served as a run-up to the constituting convention.” These statements are half-truths. As a journalist you should pay attention to the pesky little things called “facts.” I was the initiator and coordinator of the theological conference, “Seeking New Directions for Lutheranism.” I know what happened, down to every detail. The fact is that Lutheranism in North American has been and is theologically in disarray, in a state of confusion. My idea was to ask CORE to sponsor a free theological conference for all Lutherans, to discuss the identity and future of Lutheranism with integrity in an ecumenical age. When this conference was planned and announced, there was not a hint about the formation of a new church body. The theological conference was announced at the CORE assembly in September, 2009, Fishers, Indiana, at which time there was no proposal for a new church body on the table. Our theological conference was organized as a function of CORE, pure and simple. What possible objection could you as a journalist or editor have to that, unless you had already taken the side of the bureaucrats in the church struggle that led to the 2009 ELCA assembly in Minneapolis? The fact that the organization of the NALC took place chronologically soon after the theological conference was an after-thought. The advertisement that you turned down was sought by the officers of CORE and not by the organizers of the NALC, as you suggest. The ad was for a conference sponsored by CORE. Not a single word suggested anything about creating a new church body. When we planned the conference, selected the speakers, and produced the brochure, we knew nothing about the NALC, nor was it on anyone’s radar screen.
3. You observe that “many if not all of those involved were still on the ELCA roster, but their actions were schismatic.” Now, as a self-professed schismatic yourself, you should know from experience that neither the conference itself nor any of the speakers were guilty of actions that were schismatic. Who are you to judge that their actions were schismatic? All of the speakers are ordained ministers of the ELCA and have served for decades as professors of theology at its colleges or seminaries, in some cases more than 50 years. Neither the theme nor the aim of the conference was to call for or to promote the creation of a new church body. We are all church theologians and not church politicians. We covered the loci of Lutheran dogmatics -- the authority and interpretation of Scripture, the doctrine of the Trinity, the centrality of Christ, the nature and purpose of the Church, Christian ethics, and so forth. The Lutheran theology embedded in these lectures stands on its own feet, and does not ride piggy-back on the church-political actions to start a new church. You should know that theologians who promise to serve the whole church of Jesus Christ are not beholden to the officials of any Protestant denomination. Over the years all of us speak across the ecumenical spectrum, at Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, and Evangelical institutions. Is there something un-Lutheran or un-churchly about that? Now that the NALC is organized, as theologians we are free to speak at its events, just as we are free to speak at any non-ELCA Lutheran church bodies. That may be too difficult to grasp by those who think and act as though church theologians should be the functionaries of church bureaucrats who manipulate the levers of power. If Martin Luther were here, he might say with Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
4. You ask “why would the magazine assist with highlighting an event aimed at distracting, if not undermining, the ELCA?” What do you know about the aim of the theological conference? The brochure states the aim this way: “This theological conference will reaffirm the original aim of Lutheranism to be a reforming movement within the whole church that is both evangelical in preaching and orthodox in doctrine. Each of the presenters will focus on a particular article of faith at risk in Lutheranism today and spell out what we confess on the basis of Holy Scripture, the ancient Creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions. We invite all Lutherans in North America to come together to reclaim the great tradition that witnesses faithfully to Jesus Christ, builds his Church on earth, and proclaims the Gospel of salvation to the nations.” Those are scary words, but only to heterodox revisionists moved by a different spirit and loyal to different principles and standards.
More than eight hundred persons attended the theological conference. You were invited too. Editors from non-Lutheran magazines chose to attend, for example, Christianity Today, Touchstone, inter alia. You chose not to attend, even though it was a major theological event within the orbit of the ELCA. There is a reason for this, and we know what it is. Lutheranism began in history as a movement of critical theology, biblical and dogmatic. The lackeys of the church bureaucracy at that time were opposed to Luther and his reforming and renewing efforts. They could not tolerate criticism. All the theologians who spoke at the theological conference in Columbus, 2010, are responding to the theological crisis in American Lutheranism. They have been critics of various aspects of the ELCA from its earliest beginnings, for example, the quota system, radical theological feminism, antinomianism, etc. The two “Call to Faithfulness Conferences” at St. Olaf College in 1990 and 1992 put the spotlight on a number of critical theological issues. Those who have ears to hear heard, and the rest plugged their ears.
Is there something un-Lutheran about raising voices in protest and criticism of false teachings and practices going on in the church? That’s what theologians do. Lutheran theologians have been doing that from the get-go. Understandably, then and now the church politicians don’t like to hear it. What is the mission of The Lutheran? Is the ELCA beyond criticism, so that critical theological voices should be ignored, muted, and regarded as schismatic? That is what the bureaucrats charged against Luther when they tried to muzzle him. Does The Lutheran have a greater obligation to heed the wishes of the bureaucrats of the ELCA than to hear the voices of its theologians? Do the bureaucrats who have served the ELCA for a few years have a greater right to address the ELCA than its theologians who have served its various educational institutions for many years?
A schism has occurred now. You seem to exhibit no understanding of what caused it. It’s not the case that a few pastors and congregations woke up one morning and said, “Hey, let’s start a new church? Wouldn’t that be fun?” Every historical event has a cause. We know what caused the schism. There would have been no schism except for the ELCA assembly decisions in Minneapolis, August, 2009. The game is now hard-ball and you have joined in, using the kind of tactics applied against you in that other schism to which you refer.
You end your editorial with a quotation from Luther: “The most dangerous sin of all is the presumption of righteousness.” Your editorial reeks with the kind of self-righteousness Luther had in mind.
My question to you is: As a journalist, why can’t you be fair to all parties involved in the debates and discussions going on within the ELCA? Why do you need to be a partisan beholden to its bureaucracy? If that is the mission of The Lutheran, maybe that explains why it has fewer and fewer subscribers and readers, as you yourself have acknowledged.
I am sending this as an “Open Letter,” because I do not expect to see it in The Lutheran magazine. Nor do I want it edited so as to make it say things I did not write. I have had that experience before.
Sincerely,
Carl E. Braaten
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
First issue of "NALC News" is now online
The first issue of the new NALC News is online.
Here is what you can read in the October newsletter:
+ North American Lutheran Church is constituted.
+ Provisional leaders to guide NALC for first year.
+ Provisional regional deans are announced.
+ Hope does not disappoint us.
+ NALC is experiencing rapid growth.
Here is what you can read in the October newsletter:
+ North American Lutheran Church is constituted.
+ Provisional leaders to guide NALC for first year.
+ Provisional regional deans are announced.
+ Hope does not disappoint us.
+ NALC is experiencing rapid growth.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
October "CORE Connection" newsletter
CORE Connection - News from Lutheran CORE - October 2010 is now online.
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Lutheran CORE plans future ministry.
+ A new season has begun for Lutheran CORE.
New Moderator reflects on Lutheran CORE’s future mission.
+ NALC announces provisional regional deans.
+ Synod refuses to let congregation leave ELCA.
+ ELCA synod services attack "bound consciences" of those who uphold Biblical teaching on sexuality.
+ Reply to Bishop Chilstrom.
Here is what you can read in this month’s newsletter:
+ Lutheran CORE plans future ministry.
+ A new season has begun for Lutheran CORE.
New Moderator reflects on Lutheran CORE’s future mission.
+ NALC announces provisional regional deans.
+ Synod refuses to let congregation leave ELCA.
+ ELCA synod services attack "bound consciences" of those who uphold Biblical teaching on sexuality.
+ Reply to Bishop Chilstrom.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
NALC announces provisional regional deans
The North American Lutheran Church has announced the appointment of 18 regional deans who will serve with NALC Bishop Paull Spring in providing pastoral care to NALC congregations and pastors.
At its Sept. 27-28 meeting, the NALC’s Executive Committee authorized Bishop Paull Spring to appoint the deans to serve the NALC during its initial year.
The immediate appointment of the deans was necessary to serve the large number of congregations and individuals who are considering the possibility of joining the NALC.
Regional deans also will provide information and pastoral care to individuals and congregations that are considering joining the NALC.
The provisional deans are a part of the transitional organization of the NALC. The deans will serve for the first year of the NALC until their successors are elected by the congregations in the area they serve.
The current leaders of the NALC are serving the church body provisionally for its first year. They were elected by Lutheran CORE’s 2010 Convocation to serve the NALC for its first year. The congregations that join the NALC will elect their own leaders at the NALC’s first convocation in 2011.
The NALC constitution explains the role of deans as to “support the work of the bishop by conducting similar functions in their respective areas. Deans shall serve as pastor to pastors, their families, and congregations and will conduct a ministry of teaching and visitation with pastors and congregations.”
Conversations are in process to find deans for other areas. Additional deans will be announced as appointments are made.
The following regional deans have been appointed:
California, Hawaii and Nevada — The Rev. Daniel Selbo, San Jose, Calif.
Caribbean and Spanish-speaking Ministries — The Rev. Eddy Perez of Miami, Fla.
Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah — The Rev. David Wendel, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Florida — The Rev. Rebecca Heber, Lake Mary, Fla.
Illinois — The Rev. James Lehmann, Thomasboro, Ill.
Iowa — The Rev. Kenneth Kimball, Waterville, Iowa.
Northern Minnesota — The Rev. Timothy Lundeen, Erskine, Minn.
Montana, western North Dakota, western South Dakota, and Wyoming — The Rev. David Baer, Whitewood, S.D.
North Carolina — The Rev. Jason Sigmon, Newton, N.C., and the Rev. Carl Haynes, Salisbury, N.C.
Ohio — The Rev. Ronald Warren, Grove City, Ohio.
Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey — The Rev. Michael Tavella, Abington, Pa.
Western Pennsylvania — The Rev. Eric Riesen, Pittsburgh, Pa.
South Carolina — The Rev. Ralph Kempski, Aiken, S.C.
Northeastern Texas and Louisiana — The Rev. Mark Braaten, Tyler, Texas.
Southwestern Texas — The Rev. David Priem, Fredericksburg, Texas.
Washington and Oregon — The Rev. Victor Langford, Seattle, Wash.
West Virginia — The Rev. Richard Mahan, Charleston, W.Va.
At its Sept. 27-28 meeting, the NALC’s Executive Committee authorized Bishop Paull Spring to appoint the deans to serve the NALC during its initial year.
The immediate appointment of the deans was necessary to serve the large number of congregations and individuals who are considering the possibility of joining the NALC.
Regional deans also will provide information and pastoral care to individuals and congregations that are considering joining the NALC.
The provisional deans are a part of the transitional organization of the NALC. The deans will serve for the first year of the NALC until their successors are elected by the congregations in the area they serve.
The current leaders of the NALC are serving the church body provisionally for its first year. They were elected by Lutheran CORE’s 2010 Convocation to serve the NALC for its first year. The congregations that join the NALC will elect their own leaders at the NALC’s first convocation in 2011.
The NALC constitution explains the role of deans as to “support the work of the bishop by conducting similar functions in their respective areas. Deans shall serve as pastor to pastors, their families, and congregations and will conduct a ministry of teaching and visitation with pastors and congregations.”
Conversations are in process to find deans for other areas. Additional deans will be announced as appointments are made.
The following regional deans have been appointed:
California, Hawaii and Nevada — The Rev. Daniel Selbo, San Jose, Calif.
Caribbean and Spanish-speaking Ministries — The Rev. Eddy Perez of Miami, Fla.
Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah — The Rev. David Wendel, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Florida — The Rev. Rebecca Heber, Lake Mary, Fla.
Illinois — The Rev. James Lehmann, Thomasboro, Ill.
Iowa — The Rev. Kenneth Kimball, Waterville, Iowa.
Northern Minnesota — The Rev. Timothy Lundeen, Erskine, Minn.
Montana, western North Dakota, western South Dakota, and Wyoming — The Rev. David Baer, Whitewood, S.D.
North Carolina — The Rev. Jason Sigmon, Newton, N.C., and the Rev. Carl Haynes, Salisbury, N.C.
Ohio — The Rev. Ronald Warren, Grove City, Ohio.
Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey — The Rev. Michael Tavella, Abington, Pa.
Western Pennsylvania — The Rev. Eric Riesen, Pittsburgh, Pa.
South Carolina — The Rev. Ralph Kempski, Aiken, S.C.
Northeastern Texas and Louisiana — The Rev. Mark Braaten, Tyler, Texas.
Southwestern Texas — The Rev. David Priem, Fredericksburg, Texas.
Washington and Oregon — The Rev. Victor Langford, Seattle, Wash.
West Virginia — The Rev. Richard Mahan, Charleston, W.Va.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Nebraska Synod refuses to let congregation leave
A congregation in Nebraska has been told that its synod will not let it leave the ELCA in spite of voting twice to leave the church body by more than the required two-thirds majority.
Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Neb., twice voted to end its ELCA affiliation. Its first vote was 164-72 on May 23 (69.5 percent), and its second vote was 199-69 to leave (74.3 percent) on Aug. 22. An earlier attempt at a vote on Feb. 14 failed to get the two-thirds majority 136-78 (63.5 percent).
“The Nebraska Synod Council has voted 11-1 to retain Bethel Lutheran Church in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” the synod announced in a Sept. 18 statement.
According to the statement, Nebraska Synod Bishop David deFreese said that the situation at the 950-member congregation saddens him because of the hurt people have experienced in the process.
“There are no winners or losers when a family fights,” deFreese said. “My fervent prayer is that those who disagree will be able to sit down, with honest and heartfelt conversation, and decide together whether they can serve Jesus their Christ as one community or if they must be two.”
A congregation wishing to leave the ELCA must have two votes at which a two-thirds majority of those members voting choose to leave. In addition, a congregation that was a member of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) must “receive synodical approval before terminating their membership” in the ELCA. Bethel is a former LCA congregation.
“Decisions of whether to release a congregation are made on a case-by-case basis. Factors considered by the synod council include how the mission field can best be served, the number of people willing to sustain an ELCA congregational presence in the community and the strength of their vision and plans for mission,” the Nebraska synod statement said.
This is believed to be the second time that a synod has refused to allow a congregation that has followed the required procedures and attained the necessary votes to leave the ELCA.
In spite of unanimous votes, Florida-Bahamas Synod refuses to let congregation leave
The members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fort Pierce, Fla., voted unanimously in two required votes to end their affiliation with the ELCA.
But the Florida-Bahamas Synod Council decided in February that it would not allow the 105-member congregation to leave the ELCA.
St. Peter has joined another church body, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC).
ELCA Secretary David Swartling has said that the ELCA will not allow congregations to be members of more than one church body. The synod’s action demonstrates that the synod would rather allow the dual affiliation than let the congregation leave.
Most ELCA synods have allowed congregations a gracious exit
Most ELCA synods have taken a more gracious approach with congregations that choose to leave the ELCA. The synods have granted “synodical approval” to congregations that wish to change their church body affiliation.
The Rev. B. Penrose Hoover, bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod in Pennsylvania, has said that he believes that allowing an amicable parting of the ways may some day encourage an equally gracious return.
As of Oct. 1, nearly 400 congregations have had successful first votes to leave the ELCA. 258 congregations have completed both required votes.
Texas synod taking a hard line against those who leave
Some ELCA synods are finding ways to take a hard line against congregations and pastors that leave the ELCA other than refusing to grant “synodical approval” to leave.
According to a Sept. 20 statement from the bishop and deans of the Southwestern Texas Synod, “it is not appropriate” for active or retired ELCA pastors to lead worship or preach in any congregation that leaves the ELCA. Specifically, they are not “to provide Sunday supply” for those congregations.
The directive also states that former ELCA pastors are not to be invited to ELCA meetings of ELCA pastors. However, “in other settings, like local ministerial associations or lectionary study groups, relationships may be similar to those of other denominations who are a part of that group.”
It is not known whether the directive from Texas is unique to that synod or part of a national ELCA effort.
Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Neb., twice voted to end its ELCA affiliation. Its first vote was 164-72 on May 23 (69.5 percent), and its second vote was 199-69 to leave (74.3 percent) on Aug. 22. An earlier attempt at a vote on Feb. 14 failed to get the two-thirds majority 136-78 (63.5 percent).
“The Nebraska Synod Council has voted 11-1 to retain Bethel Lutheran Church in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,” the synod announced in a Sept. 18 statement.
According to the statement, Nebraska Synod Bishop David deFreese said that the situation at the 950-member congregation saddens him because of the hurt people have experienced in the process.
“There are no winners or losers when a family fights,” deFreese said. “My fervent prayer is that those who disagree will be able to sit down, with honest and heartfelt conversation, and decide together whether they can serve Jesus their Christ as one community or if they must be two.”
A congregation wishing to leave the ELCA must have two votes at which a two-thirds majority of those members voting choose to leave. In addition, a congregation that was a member of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) must “receive synodical approval before terminating their membership” in the ELCA. Bethel is a former LCA congregation.
“Decisions of whether to release a congregation are made on a case-by-case basis. Factors considered by the synod council include how the mission field can best be served, the number of people willing to sustain an ELCA congregational presence in the community and the strength of their vision and plans for mission,” the Nebraska synod statement said.
This is believed to be the second time that a synod has refused to allow a congregation that has followed the required procedures and attained the necessary votes to leave the ELCA.
In spite of unanimous votes, Florida-Bahamas Synod refuses to let congregation leave
The members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fort Pierce, Fla., voted unanimously in two required votes to end their affiliation with the ELCA.
But the Florida-Bahamas Synod Council decided in February that it would not allow the 105-member congregation to leave the ELCA.
St. Peter has joined another church body, Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC).
ELCA Secretary David Swartling has said that the ELCA will not allow congregations to be members of more than one church body. The synod’s action demonstrates that the synod would rather allow the dual affiliation than let the congregation leave.
Most ELCA synods have allowed congregations a gracious exit
Most ELCA synods have taken a more gracious approach with congregations that choose to leave the ELCA. The synods have granted “synodical approval” to congregations that wish to change their church body affiliation.
The Rev. B. Penrose Hoover, bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod in Pennsylvania, has said that he believes that allowing an amicable parting of the ways may some day encourage an equally gracious return.
As of Oct. 1, nearly 400 congregations have had successful first votes to leave the ELCA. 258 congregations have completed both required votes.
Texas synod taking a hard line against those who leave
Some ELCA synods are finding ways to take a hard line against congregations and pastors that leave the ELCA other than refusing to grant “synodical approval” to leave.
According to a Sept. 20 statement from the bishop and deans of the Southwestern Texas Synod, “it is not appropriate” for active or retired ELCA pastors to lead worship or preach in any congregation that leaves the ELCA. Specifically, they are not “to provide Sunday supply” for those congregations.
The directive also states that former ELCA pastors are not to be invited to ELCA meetings of ELCA pastors. However, “in other settings, like local ministerial associations or lectionary study groups, relationships may be similar to those of other denominations who are a part of that group.”
It is not known whether the directive from Texas is unique to that synod or part of a national ELCA effort.
Friday, October 08, 2010
ELCA continues focus on race and racial politics
In spite of recent budget shortfalls, the ELCA continues its focus on race and racial politics.
In an Oct. 6 press release, the ELCA announced the biennial meeting of its European American Lutheran Association (EALA). “The purpose of the EALA is to dismantle racism, white privilege and white power by recognizing and confessing our individual and corporate sin and addressing institutional racism in the church,” said Kathy B. Long, EALA president, Redmond, Wash., according to the press release.
“Because white privilege is so insidious, we as the EALA need to spend time together on such common ground and continue to caucus and learn how to notice our privilege and how it affects all of us,” she told the ELCA news service.
The association’s gathering, Oct. 28-30 in Milwaukee, will hear “a keynote presentation on the issues of privilege, oppression and social inequality” from Dr. Allan G. Johnson. Johnson is the author of the books, "The Gender Knot: Unraveling Our Patriarchal Legacy" and "Privilege, Power and Difference."
The ELCA Church Council affirmed the EALA's creation as the church’s sixth ethnic association in November 2006, the press release explained.
According to the ELCA website, the purpose of the association is “to live out our commitment to dismantle racism and white privilege by ‘speaking truth to power’ within the institutional church and the wider society.”
In an Oct. 6 press release, the ELCA announced the biennial meeting of its European American Lutheran Association (EALA). “The purpose of the EALA is to dismantle racism, white privilege and white power by recognizing and confessing our individual and corporate sin and addressing institutional racism in the church,” said Kathy B. Long, EALA president, Redmond, Wash., according to the press release.
“Because white privilege is so insidious, we as the EALA need to spend time together on such common ground and continue to caucus and learn how to notice our privilege and how it affects all of us,” she told the ELCA news service.
The association’s gathering, Oct. 28-30 in Milwaukee, will hear “a keynote presentation on the issues of privilege, oppression and social inequality” from Dr. Allan G. Johnson. Johnson is the author of the books, "The Gender Knot: Unraveling Our Patriarchal Legacy" and "Privilege, Power and Difference."
The ELCA Church Council affirmed the EALA's creation as the church’s sixth ethnic association in November 2006, the press release explained.
According to the ELCA website, the purpose of the association is “to live out our commitment to dismantle racism and white privilege by ‘speaking truth to power’ within the institutional church and the wider society.”
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Parishes leaving ELCA find an unexpected price to pay
Religion News Service offers an interesting article entitled "Parishes leaving ELCA find an unexpected price to pay."
The article notes the difficulties faced by mission congregations, especially those composed of immigrants from Africa. These congregations are steadfastly opposed to the ELCA's new teaching and practice on same-sex sexual relationships. But the ELCA expects them to repay all mission support received if they leave the ELCA.
You can read the article here.
The article notes the difficulties faced by mission congregations, especially those composed of immigrants from Africa. These congregations are steadfastly opposed to the ELCA's new teaching and practice on same-sex sexual relationships. But the ELCA expects them to repay all mission support received if they leave the ELCA.
You can read the article here.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
ELCA drops out of Lutheran Malaria Initiative; Lutheran World Relief and LCMS to continue joint effort to combat malaria
ELCA leaders announced Sept. 30 that the ELCA has ended its involvement in the Lutheran Malaria Initiative that had been approved by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. They blamed budget shortfalls for the decision.
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative was to be a shared effort by the ELCA, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Lutheran World Relief, and the United Nations Foundation, in a program that seeks to eliminate malaria in south-Saharan Africa by 2015. In 2009, the ELCA reported the fund-raising goal of the combined effort as $75 million.
The Rev. John Nunes, president of Lutheran World Relief, expressed disappointment in the ELCA’s withdrawal from the Lutheran Malaria Initiative Oct. 1 on LWR’s blog.
“Yesterday, our friends and colleagues at the ELCA announced their withdrawal from LMI. We’re disappointed by this news, and while we regret that ELCA will no longer be part of LMI, we affirm that they remain a valued and valuable partner of LWR,” Nunes wrote.
“While the ELCA leadership has decided not to make LMI a churchwide campaign, individual ELCA congregations continue to play an important role in the movement,” he added.
“LWR’s Board of Directors continues to affirm LMI as an important priority, and the LCMS voted overwhelmingly in favor of it at their convention this summer. Malaria is preventable and treatable, and Lutherans are doing something about it,” Nunes said.
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative was approved in a 989-11 vote by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. This July, the LCMS national Convention also voted 1,047-19 to be a part of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative.
According to an online report from The Lutheran magazine, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson announced the decision in a Sept. 30 e-mail to churchwide staff.
“In recent months, mission support [benevolence funds that congregations pass on to synods, a percentage of which synods share with the churchwide organization] to the ELCA and support of ELCA World Hunger have declined significantly, and many synods and congregations are also struggling to deal with hard financial realities,” Hanson wrote.
“In the light of this difficult economic situation, ELCA leadership has determined that a $30 million campaign around malaria, which was to be tested in the current biennium, is not feasible at this time. Therefore, the decision has been made to withdraw the ELCA’s grant proposal to the United Nations Foundation and to end the partnership that was entitled ‘Lutheran Malaria Initiative.’”
Instead of participating in the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, the ELCA will have its own malaria fund-raising effort.
“The new ELCA initiative, will carry forward much of the work that the ELCA had been doing under the rubric of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative,” Hanson wrote. “The ELCA Malaria Campaign, as it will now be known, will direct all of its funds to our companion churches in Africa (90 percent) and to our fund-raising efforts (10 percent).”
Many have wondered how the decision to withdraw from the Lutheran Malaria Initiative was made, given that the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, “the chief legislative authority of the ELCA,” approved the ELCA’s participation in the effort.
The ELCA News Service reported that Hanson would bring a proposal for the revised malaria effort to the ELCA Church Council.
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative is also partnering with “Nothing But Nets” to bring Lutherans an exciting way to get involved in the fight against malaria!
“Nothing But Nets” is a global, grass-roots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares effort, the United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated magazine.
You can learn more about the Lutheran Malaria Initiative and give online at www.lutheranmalaria.org or www.lwr.org.
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative was to be a shared effort by the ELCA, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Lutheran World Relief, and the United Nations Foundation, in a program that seeks to eliminate malaria in south-Saharan Africa by 2015. In 2009, the ELCA reported the fund-raising goal of the combined effort as $75 million.
The Rev. John Nunes, president of Lutheran World Relief, expressed disappointment in the ELCA’s withdrawal from the Lutheran Malaria Initiative Oct. 1 on LWR’s blog.
“Yesterday, our friends and colleagues at the ELCA announced their withdrawal from LMI. We’re disappointed by this news, and while we regret that ELCA will no longer be part of LMI, we affirm that they remain a valued and valuable partner of LWR,” Nunes wrote.
“While the ELCA leadership has decided not to make LMI a churchwide campaign, individual ELCA congregations continue to play an important role in the movement,” he added.
“LWR’s Board of Directors continues to affirm LMI as an important priority, and the LCMS voted overwhelmingly in favor of it at their convention this summer. Malaria is preventable and treatable, and Lutherans are doing something about it,” Nunes said.
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative was approved in a 989-11 vote by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. This July, the LCMS national Convention also voted 1,047-19 to be a part of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative.
According to an online report from The Lutheran magazine, ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson announced the decision in a Sept. 30 e-mail to churchwide staff.
“In recent months, mission support [benevolence funds that congregations pass on to synods, a percentage of which synods share with the churchwide organization] to the ELCA and support of ELCA World Hunger have declined significantly, and many synods and congregations are also struggling to deal with hard financial realities,” Hanson wrote.
“In the light of this difficult economic situation, ELCA leadership has determined that a $30 million campaign around malaria, which was to be tested in the current biennium, is not feasible at this time. Therefore, the decision has been made to withdraw the ELCA’s grant proposal to the United Nations Foundation and to end the partnership that was entitled ‘Lutheran Malaria Initiative.’”
Instead of participating in the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, the ELCA will have its own malaria fund-raising effort.
“The new ELCA initiative, will carry forward much of the work that the ELCA had been doing under the rubric of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative,” Hanson wrote. “The ELCA Malaria Campaign, as it will now be known, will direct all of its funds to our companion churches in Africa (90 percent) and to our fund-raising efforts (10 percent).”
Many have wondered how the decision to withdraw from the Lutheran Malaria Initiative was made, given that the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, “the chief legislative authority of the ELCA,” approved the ELCA’s participation in the effort.
The ELCA News Service reported that Hanson would bring a proposal for the revised malaria effort to the ELCA Church Council.
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative is also partnering with “Nothing But Nets” to bring Lutherans an exciting way to get involved in the fight against malaria!
“Nothing But Nets” is a global, grass-roots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares effort, the United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated magazine.
You can learn more about the Lutheran Malaria Initiative and give online at www.lutheranmalaria.org or www.lwr.org.
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