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Letters to the editor


Good, bad news needed for reality check Passion Play, blessings or privileges, sin articles spark divergent responses


® MAY 2011


www.thelutheran.org $2.50


Pastoral calls a work in progress 20 Plus study guide 26


E-giving takes root amid checks, cash 14


Pentecost promises not to be overlooked 16


Disaster crew carries repair to the max 28


Youth ministry creates peacemakers 30





Often the good news stories come from churches that have honestly faced up to daunting problems.


Life-changing impact During one of my group visits to Oberammergau, Germany (May, page 36), a man returned to tell his pastor, “Something happened when I wit- nessed this (Passion Play). I have never been baptized and now I’m ready.” I had a chance to return to Oberammer- gau later that year. I visited with the sister of Christian Stunkel, the play’s director. My parting words: “Please tell your brother to remind the cast that they are not only doing 111 plays. They are


literally changing lives.” The Rev. Lester W. Hoffmann Phoenix


Count me out ’


I thank The Lutheran for publishing arti- cles about harsh realities in our ELCA churches. While such news isn’t popu- lar and some wish to avoid it, it needs to be shared so members can deal with the issue faithfully. I also commend the magazine for reporting many instances of good news in congregational life. Often the good news stories come from churches that have honestly faced up to daunting problems. They have positive leaders who set boundaries, call people to accountability, and maintain a positive spirit of working together to serve the Lord and God’s people. I serve a small rural parish that has long faced negative circumstances, but which still strives to share the hope of Christ with its mem-


bers and community. The Rev. Charles M. Horn Dola, Ohio


48 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


Am I the only person not enthralled at seeing the Passion Play last year? It is a six-hour performance in German. I received an English translation but soon realized that if I’m reading the script I’m not seeing what is happening on stage. There is a dinner break between the two acts, but each act is about three hours. I started to envy the woman a few rows in front who passed out and


was carried out on a stretcher. Robert Mellen Peru, Ill.


Blessed to share What a blessing to read “Blessings or privileges?” (April, page 28). I’ve often felt the tension between what my privi- leged life offers me and what I see as blessings. The article made this abun- dantly clear. The question for us all must be: “How do we share our bless- ings and our privilege?” The blessings part seems easier. Sharing our privilege


will take more thought and prayer. Jack Mortenson Mitchell, S.D.


Eye of the beholder


“Blessings or privileges?” raised huge questions: Who cares? Does God care? Who are we to judge this issue? Anyone who considers they are blessed enjoys the privilege to feel that way. Does this really merit a study guide or a theologi- cal academic review? Does it matter that the blessings to one person are not


necessarily considered blessings by all? Len Paulson Sun Lakes, Ariz


Piece went too far


While there are sinners among us who extol the values of our market-based, free-enterprise economy, the U.S. has long supported it, and for The Lutheran to present our free enterprise values as “economic sins” is immensely offen- sive (April, page 20). The reference to “markets” and “free enterprise” as “sins of our culture” was irresponsible and politically slanted. If the ELCA intends to become a left-wing, socialist organi- zation, interjecting itself to tear down our economy, it’s no wonder member-


ship is down by 2 percent. John A. Broadwell Seneca, S.C.


Don’t forget workplace I am glad to see the 2011 ELCA Church- wide Assembly emphasis on “Freed in Christ to Serve” (April, page 50). However, the “to serve” part is missing examples of where most of the church spends most of our waking hours—at work. “Christ at the crossroads” (page 16) gets it right with the story of the TSA agent. Decisions we make in our work, how we relate to supervisors, peers or clients, are shaped by faith if faith is truly foundational in our lives. I would like to hear that how I do my


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