My view


Smith and Mary Baker Eddy) falsely claimed their visions were godsent, how can one say with certainty that von


Bingen’s visions were godsent? Joel Gerlach Wauwatosa, Wis.


Tell the whole story


I found it most interesting that you fea- ture von Bingen as one of the “Best this month.” Perhaps you aren’t aware that one of her strongest positions was oppo- sition to same-sex relationships, both for men and for women. According to von Bingen, these were a denial of God’s intentions for us and an expression of love of self as opposed to love of oth- ers. To omit this from a summary of her


teachings is to falsify what she stood for. Margaret Rasmussen Lombard, Ill.


Personal is better What a delight and blessing to read the feature on Daniel W. Erlander (June, 30). In the late 1950s, I attended a Luther League leadership school in Wahoo, Neb. All of us introduced ourselves, and after I gave my name a staff member responded, “Dan Erlander would like to know you.” I never forgot that kind com- ment, especially when I capped a long career as a volunteer in the church by being commissioned as an associate in ministry and later serving in my congre- gation. Thank you, Dan, for the reminder


of the value of personal contact. Ramona Carlin Baltimore


Send “Letters” to: Letters to the Editor, The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183; fax: (773) 380- 2409; e-mail lutheran@thelutheran. org. Please include your name, city and state. Your letter will be considered for publication unless you state other- wise. The Lutheran publishes letters rep- resentative of those received on a given subject. Be brief and limit your letter to a single topic. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Letters must be signed, but a request for anonymity will be hon- ored if the subject matter is personally sensitive.


“My view” submis- sions should be 400 words on a societal event or issue or on issues in the life of the ELCA. All submis- sions are subject to editing. Send to: “My view, ” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; e-mail: lutheran@ thelutheran.org; fax: 773-380-2409.


Roberts is a profes- sor of psychology emeritus at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.


By Bruce Roberts


The distracted church Emerging old age needs to be addressed


I


recently placed this classified ad in The Lutheran: “I need examples of how churches enable members over 65 to feel that they matter.” I received excellent exam- ples of what some congregations do to create welcoming and engaging environments for over-65 members. But I also received this reply: “Where is the Lutheran


church for those of us lifelong Lutherans over 65? Cer- tainly not in our parish!” Actually, I heard from several people who were discouraged that their congregation was generally ignoring older adults. I was surprised to hear those expressions of pain and


frustration. I probably shouldn’t have been. I study the ways churches and other social institutions can empower older adults toward feelings of well-being. Yet I was blind- sided by the reality that for some people the church, one of the most important foundations of their life, was neglect- ing them during the very years when it could be the most helpful. What if, I thought with dismay, this quandary is true for many older adults, not just a few? While speaking to one of my older long-time col- leagues, a founder of some Lutheran church efforts to reach out to older adults, he mentioned that he felt discour- aged. “The church is just not aware of the significance of this issue,” he said. Why? Is it, as my friend implied, a lack of understand- ing the significance of emerging old age? Is there con- fusion about the likely benefits for both the church and older adults? Perhaps those who make decisions have an image of leadership that doesn’t include empowering the unempowered.


Perhaps the church is too distracted.


Older adults typically need and appreciate feeling they are adding to life in some ways. They want to be respected as responsible, contributing members of their community. Even homebound members and nursing home residents would like to feel they contribute to their community and are important people to their caregivers. To feel invisible or to experience being just a receiver of care are both sources of negative emotions at a time when older adults are most vulnerable to loneliness and a sense of insignificance. My delusions of innocence about the plight of some older adults don’t count. We must ask what works in successful congregations. We must ask even our shiest seniors what might work for them. Let’s find the courage to change the things we can. Share what you try. Share what works. M


August 2011 49


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