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he ELCA Office of the Secre- tary is now updating informa- tion about congregations disaffili- ating from the ELCA on a quar- terly basis. As of June 30, 926 congrega- tions had taken first votes to dis- affiliate from the ELCA. These 926 congregations took a total of 1,004 first votes. Of those, 699 passed and 305 failed. There have been 671 second votes; 637 passed and 34 failed. Of those, 625 have completed the termina- tion process and are no longer on the roster of congregations of the ELCA. Of the disaffiliating congre- gations, about two-thirds are from rural communities or small towns of less than 10,000. Since March 31, the numbers represent 15 additional congregations that passed first votes and six addi- tional congregations that passed second votes.


Most of the votes came in reaction to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly’s votes on sexuality.


To anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these [political] issues, you tell them there is no place better. … Because ultimately, these are not just political issues—they are moral issues.


First lady Michelle Obama, speaking in Nashville, Tenn., to the quadrennial Gen- eral Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church June 28.


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thing from live streaming a funeral service or creating memorial Web pages with videos and photos, to producing “QR code” chips that can adhere to tombstones. When visi- tors scan the QR codes with a smart- phone, they get a Web page with photos, videos or a comment section where they can share memories.


Robe to be on display To celebrate Peter Muhlenberg Day and the 300th birthday of Henry Muhlenberg on Aug. 12, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg’s cleri- cal robe (see below) will be on dis- play at Emanuel Lutheran Church, Woodstock, Va. John Peter Gabriel


In this photo from 2007, PBS History Detec- tives host Elyse Luray (left) talks with Mary Redline, library archives/proj- ect manager at the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia, about Peter Muhlenberg’s cloak (see “Robe to be on display),” which is part of the school’s histori- cal collection.


10 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


Muhlenberg was a Lutheran pastor in Virginia and a regimental com- mander in the Revolutionary War. Henry Muhlenberg was a patriarch of American Lutheranism, who helped start Lutheran churches from Pennsylvania to Georgia in the 1700s. The exhibit will include 21 panels about the Muhlenberg family. Eight other regional churches with a connection to Muhlenberg will be involved in the event. In the future the exhibit will travel to three other churches in Virginia.


Fire evacuees head to church Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp in Bell- vue, Colo., received word from the Larimer County Sheriff Depart- ment in June that it was to evacuate all campers, guests and staff due to the High Park fire. Evacuated camp- ers and staff rendezvoused about 63 miles away at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colo. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, pastor of Trin- ity, said the church was not the only place in town providing support. “We coordinated with a variety of local businesses to provide dinner,” she said. “A local hotel loaned tow- els and a local gym offered the use of showers.” Other ELCA congrega- tions in Fort Collins—Spirit of Joy, Shepherd of the Hills and Our Sav- iour—also helped in the effort.


Norwegian denied Chinese visa


Kjell Magne Bondevik, a Lutheran pastor and former Norwegian prime minister, was scheduled to be a moderator at a World Council of Churches meeting in Nanjing, China, June 12 but was denied a visa. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary, said the council was “disappointed and surprised.” No official reason was announced. Bondevik said he believes it could have been retalia- tion for his satisfaction with the Nor- wegian Nobel Committee’s decision


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