News 9
tries became citizens. Doe and fam- ily members fled from encroaching violence as it spread into their village during a civil war in the late 1980s. They stayed in a refugee camp for 14 years until they were able to immi- grate to the U.S. in 2004.
Bible quotes on a roll Some Norwegian Lutheran leaders weren’t amused when a Finnish com- pany printed verses from Matthew and 1 Corinthians on toilet paper sold in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Metsa Tissue’s rolls included such quotes as Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Laila Riksaasen Dahl, bishop of Tunsberg, Church of Norway, told the Vaart Land newspaper that it showed “bad taste” and a “lack of respect.” Spokes-
person Christina von Trampe told Reuters that Metsa Tissue’s intention was “to spread love and joy,” not reli- gious messages. She added: “People like to read small, happy messages while sitting on the toilet.”
Resurrection in Haiti
Dedicated Feb. 14, the Gressier Model Village, southwest of Port- au-Prince, Haiti, is an example of resurrection and a major part of the ELCA’s commitment to accompany the Lutheran Church of Haiti after the country’s 2010 earthquake. The village features 150 eco-friendly homes with rainwater catchment systems and solar panels to help financially strapped families. It was planned with community gathering space, and each member has a say in how the village is run.
Episcopal ‘conciliation’ In a conciliation agreement, the Epis- copal Church stipulated that bishops may not help breakaway congrega- tions take assets out of the denomi- nation. Nine bishops who supported breakaway congregations in Texas and Illinois signed the agreement and expressed “regret for any harm.” The bishops agreed to stop supporting those congregations in court cases, at least until the church’s 2015 General Convention. Conciliation “doesn’t achieve full reconciliation,” said Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. “It is a step in that direction.”
Budget debate Surrounded by baskets of fish and bread, clergy opposed the Repub- lican budget plan that came before the House on March 20. “There is enough to go around if we share,” proclaimed one activist at the event hosted by liberal Christian and Jewish advocates. They described the budget proposal as “immoral” because it cuts government pro- grams for the poor. Robert Shapiro, a fellow at the Georgetown Univer- sity business school in Washington, D.C., urged caution: “The problem with the moral case in politics is that morality differs from person to per- son. It gets you into a situation where compromise is impossible.”
12 Quote
Rubble creations Thanks to community support and the creativity of its members, Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church, Brant Beach, N.J., collected more than $90,000 toward recon- struction of its building that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. A fraction of those funds came from the sale of jewelry fashioned from keys and hardwood salvaged from a damaged piano. It’s called the Parsova (parts of a) Piano Project (
www.holytrinitylbi.org). Janet Nelson, member and artisan, found beauty in the remains, and the congregation avoided putting it in the trash heap by “upcy- cling” pieces into ornaments and pins, some of which are sold at two galleries.
10 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
For us, in our time, this means confronting bigotry and hatred in all of its forms, racism, especially anti-Semitism. … And let us never forget the link between the two. For our sons and daughters are not born to hate, they are taught to hate.”
President Barack Obama, speaking at Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.
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