female pastors “serious mistakes,” saying the ordinations won’t be recognized—at least for now. The decisions by the Maryland-based Columbia Union Conference and the California-based Pacific Union Conference came as the worldwide church is in the midst of a broad study of the “theology of ordination” that is expected to be considered at the denomination’s 2015 General Conference Session.
Where are the Lutherans? The Reformation didn’t end in 1517, so “why aren’t the Lutheran churches much more on the forefront [of finan- cial and ecological crises]?” Mar- tin Junge, Lutheran World Federa- tion general secretary, asked global Lutherans gathered for an October theological education consultation in Wittenberg, Germany. Why is this the case, he asked, “when the Lutheran concept of freedom in the public space, which finds its bound- aries in the suffering neighbor, is such a strong contribution to move beyond the predicament in which the human family finds itself today?”
Tension in Tanzania
After Islamic extremists burned Christian churches and buildings in Tanzania’s coastal region, Lutherans said they would continue to work for peace in the communities. In Mbagala, Dar es Salaam, one Lutheran church was burned down after reports of a Quran being defaced. The 20 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania urged Christians to resist the temptation to seek revenge. Lutheran World Federation General Secretary Martin Junge called upon Tanzania’s government to ensure religious free- dom and enforce its laws.
Ethnic associations meet
Members of the ELCA American Indian and Alaska Native Associa-
500 years of experience 2012 was a big birthday year for Lutheran Memorial Church in Pierre, S.D.
Five members—Fern Lyngstad (left), Irene Caldwell, Ralph Henrickson, Alma Buechler and Albina Stageberg—turned 100. The congregation celebrated in mid-September when two had turned 100 and the other three were soon to have birthdays. The honorees were recognized during worship and at a potluck fol- lowing the service. Members sang a favorite hymn of each, and family members spoke about life lessons they had received from the mothers and father—testa- ments of hard work, strong character and great faith, said the local newspaper.
tion held their biennial conference with the ELCA European American Lutheran Association Oct. 18-21 in Prior Lake, Minn. The 50 partici- pants studied the cross-cultural book of Ruth with Diane Jacobson, an ELCA Book of Faith leader and pro- fessor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. They also heard a sermon from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson and a presentation from Crossroads Anti-racism Organizing and Training.
A kick of precision
Throughout his life, Anthony Star- ego, a member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Brick, N.J., has relied on routine. So when he kicked the winning field goal for his football team in October, “it was no surprise that he took three measured steps back, then one to the side. He paused and leaned his upper body back, star- ing at the spot where the football would be placed,” reported the New
Jersey Star-Ledger. His parents call Anthony’s reliance on routine per- haps the most glaring symptom of his autism. It was the senior’s obses- sion with detail that enabled him to become a hero when he booted the ball between the goal posts with 21 seconds left, enabling Brick High School to defeat the heavy favorite Toms River North, 24-21.
Fighting sex trafficking
Age 13—that’s the average age UNI- CEF reports that girls enter the com- 12
Quote
A lot of the younger people are very spotty in their attendance at worship, but if we have a mission project, they’re here.
The Rev. Eileen W. Lindner, former editor of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, on a study that shows a dramatic rise in the
number of Americans with no religious affilia- tion. She was quoted by TheNew York Times.
December 2012 11
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