Editor
By Daniel J. Lehmann
Hard news that needs digesting
Awareness critical for decisions Another
bath toy? Encourage young children to splash in the waters of baptism through your gift of The Little Lutheran magazine. Little mariners will meet Mallory, who set nine paralympic swimming records. They’ll learn about Noah’s big boat, Jesus’ baptism and the woman at the well. Subscribe at www.
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$2.50 Volume 3, Issue 6 January 2010 T
he New Year always brings promise of things new and/or different. Yet it remains difficult to move forward without coming to grips with the past and present. Hence our cover story on “The shrinking church” (page 22). A few of those
quoted in this wide-ranging piece weren’t too enthused about participating. They’ve lived with the downward trends among ELCA congregations over the past several years and would just as soon talk about something else. Yet you’ll find in this straightforward overview of our 9,600-plus congrega- tions an absolutely necessary recognition of our declining membership and wor- ship attendance. Sure the statistics are sobering, but you can’t launch revitaliza- tion efforts without acknowledging the current situation. And that condition is far from hopeless. Sprinkled throughout the article are stories of congregations that are models for tackling redevelopment of congregational life through self- discovery and transformation or praiseworthy examples of congregations that faced the reality of their lack of viability and shut down in ways that continue to serve the greater church.
The editors realize not everyone wants to read this type of article. It remains
the charge of the magazine to share stories of God’s people living out their faith, in ways that edify as well as educate and inform. We’ll move on to another dimension of our Zeitgeist in the March issue with a cover story on “resur- rection wonders”—congregations that once appeared doomed but have found renewed purpose and energy in their communities, a new niche of ministry. Elsewhere, 2013 gives us a chance to consider our 25 years together as the ELCA. Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson pointed out in a recent open letter about the anniversary year that in this time span we’ve started 435 congre- gations, ordained nearly 8,000 pastors, sent more than 2,000 missionaries to serve around the world, and contributed more than $350 million to end hunger and poverty. He points out in his column (page 50) that the anniversary theme “Always being made new” is not just about the church’s past but also its future. Part of that future will be shaped through the Churchwide Assembly, our
Friends Adults, see back cover
church’s highest governing body, at its Aug. 12-17 gathering in Pittsburgh. Vot- ing members will elect the ELCA’s two highest officers, the presiding bishop and secretary. Hanson has told the Conference of Bishops and Church Council he will be available to serve a third term if called. Secretary David D. Swartling informed those groups he will not seek a second term. And while still in the development stages, the assembly will likely consider a five-year campaign pegged to the ELCA’s anniversary to bolster funding for new congregations, grants to revitalize parishes, scholarships and anti-hunger work, and to address malaria and other global ministry projects (page 8). The church is, indeed, always being made new.
It remains the charge of the magazine to share stories ... that edify as well as educate and inform.
4 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
MICHAEL D. WATSON
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