Contents News 8 Crisis in Syria continues 10 New wine, new wineskins 14 Singing a new tune


Cover story Features


27 Study guide 28 Families make a ‘Right Turn’


20 The power of Lutheran words Theology is where theory and practice meet


NOVEMBER 2012 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 11


The Lutheran is the magazine of the ELCA


Subscriptions/customer service Subscription issues, address changes, billing questions:


e-mail—subscriptions@augsburgfortress.org Editorial offices:


8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631 (800) 638-3522; (773) 380-2540 Fax: (773) 380-2409


E-mail: lutheran@thelutheran.org Web: www.thelutheran.org


The Lutheran is a member of the Associated Church Press


Editor Daniel J. Lehmann lutheran.editor@thelutheran.org


16 Portico chief touts ministry transition


18 Deeper understandings End-times: Scripture a witness to ways Christians can ignore fear-mongering


30 Aging well Congregations help seniors connect & serve


34 Russia: Caring for former enemies Higher education


36 ‘Best hope in not blowing up the world’ Pacific Lutheran University prepares students to be competent world citizens


44 Setting the table for six Ecumenical campus ministry in La Crosse does something new


46 ELCA seminaries prepare for demographic change One answer continues to be TEEM


32 Having cancer, talking cancer 50 Higher education news Departments


3 Elements of the Lord’s day


40 From college to medical school


4 Editor 62 Two months out 63 Pass the faith 64 Best this month


65 Faces 66 Classifieds/Deaths 67 Crossword 68 Letters 69 My view 70 Presiding bishop


For breaking news, see www.thelutheran.org or www.elca.org/news COVER ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL D. WATSON/SHUTTERSTOCK


Section editors Julie B. Sevig Congregations & Community julie.sevig@thelutheran.org Elizabeth Hunter Church & World elizabeth.hunter@thelutheran.org


Manager, editorial production Andrea Pohlmann Kulik andrea.pohlmann@thelutheran.org


Manager, editorial art Michael D. Watson michael .watson@thelutheran.org


Director, circulation/marketing Curtis Peterson curtis.peterson@thelutheran.org


Contributing editor Jeff Favre jjfavre@gmail.com


Study guide editor Robert C. Blezard rcblezard@hotmail.com


Senior administrative assistant Barbara A. Fletcher barbara.fletcher@thelutheran.org


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The Lutheran is published monthly through Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440. (ISSN 0024-743X USPS 322080)


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Copyright ©2012 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without written permission from the publishers. Printed in the U.S.A.


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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Lutheran, Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, PO Box 1553, Minneapolis MN 55440-8730.


The Lutheran magazine belongs to the people of the ELCA in all our diversity. The magazine: ■ Nurtures awareness of Christ’s presence in our lives and the world.


■ Shares stories of God’s people living their faith. ■ Connects us with the global Christian community. ■ Provides an open forum for discussion. ■ Challenges us to bring God’s grace and care to all.


phone—(800) 328-4648


November 2012 5


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