Contents News 8 Church Council endorses concept of anniversary campaign 16 Glimpses of new life


10 New archbishop of Canterbury inherits divided communion 12 Lutherans in ‘religiously diverse’ Congress


Cover story Features


28 Study guide 22 The shrinking church


22 The shrinking church Congregations look for solutions as they face declines in membership


JANUARY 2013 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 1


The Lutheran is the magazine of the ELCA


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


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


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


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


14 Helping in hurricane’s aftermath Just when things seemed hopeless, people showed up


20 Deeper understandings American Muslims: Homegrown as well as from 68 nations


30 Interns learn ropes, congregations witness growth Location-bound seminarians, costs pose challenges


34 Wholly and holy different Son ‘kidnaps’ father for a final trip to worship


38 Holden Village hits the road 50-year-old ministry finds opportunity in environmental cleanup effort


32 Ecumenical & interreligious Departments


3 Elements of the Lord’s day


36 Peru: Not too small to reach out


4 Editor 41 Two months out 42 Best this month 43 Faces 44 Higher education


45 Light side 46 Classifieds 46 Deaths 47 Crossword 48 Letters 49 My view 50 Presiding bishop


For breaking news, see www.thelutheran.org or www.elca.org/news COVER PHOTO: ANN ARBOR MILLER


Contributing editor Jeff Favre jjfavre@gmail.com


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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.


January 2013 5


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