News T
By the staff of The Lutheran, ELCA News Service and Religion News Service
Council recommends raising additional $69 million
he ELCA Church Council rec- ommended April 6 that the 2013 Churchwide Assembly approve a proposed 25th ELCA anniversary fundraising campaign and a pro- posed social statement on criminal justice. The assembly meets Aug. 12-17 in Pittsburgh.
The 25th anniversary campaign
would expand 2014-2018 ELCA fundraising goals from $121 mil- lion to $190 million, growing sup- port for new congregations, leader- ship, global mission and more. For campaign expenses, the council allocated $5 million in council- designated funds derived from a 2012 income overage.
Council members voted unani-
mously to recommend the 2013 assembly adopt “The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries,” a proposed criminal jus- tice statement with implementing resolutions. They extended consid- eration of a proposed social state- ment on justice for women until the
Synod bishop arrested
Bruce H. Burnside, bishop of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, faced tentative charges of homi- cide by intoxicated driving after a crash April 7 that killed a 52-year- old woman, according to the Wis- consin State Journal. Burnside, 59, was arrested after he allegedly hit a female pedestrian at the northbound off-ramp of Highway 151 in Sun Prai- rie, Wis. David Berggren, a pastor of Our Savior Lutheran in Sun Prairie, told the Journal that Burnside was on his way to an afternoon meeting at the church. A former pastor of St.
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2019 assembly. In other action, the council:
• Authorized creation of a Theo- logical Education Advisory Coun- cil, with members appointed by the Church Council’s executive com- mittee. Over the next two years, the advisory group will regularly meet with seminary presidents, board chairs and bishops to con- sider how ELCA theological edu- cation can “address in a holistic manner issues in leadership devel- opment, theological education, candidacy and call, and the rosters of this church,” the action stated. • Approved the concept of an ELCA Philosophy of Benefits with medical plan and pricing options for churchwide workers to address changes due to U.S. health-care reform beginning January 2014. Portico (formerly the ELCA Board of Pensions) will bring a final proposal for consid- eration by the council at its August 2013 meeting.
Stephen Lutheran Church in Monona, Wis., Burnside was elected to a six- year term as bishop in 2007, facing re-election this month. The victim, who had not been publicly identified at presstime, was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where she later died.
‘Jesus’ can be hacked Be warned, Lutherans: While Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, his name is not a good choice for Inter- net security. “Jesus” is one of the 25 most hacked passwords on the Inter- net, according to SplashData. The Lord’s name is as easily cracked as
“password,” “123456,” “12345678” and “ninja.” SplashData warns against using the same password for entertainment, email, social network- ing and financial services. If your faith affects your password, you’re advised to use longer passwords that make sense only to you, with mixed characters.
Deportations deferred Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service reported that the Obama administration decided March 15 to continue deferring for another 18 months the deportation of Liberi- ans who fled to the U.S. to escape civil war. LIRS CEO and President Linda Hartke called the decision “just and compassionate,” adding, “LIRS has long advocated for this step.” Extending the deferral helps the country’s post-war recovery, she said, as “Liberia’s infrastructure does not yet have the capacity to manage a sudden flood of Liberians back into the country.”
North Dakota & abortion North Dakota became the nation’s toughest state on abortion in March as lawmakers approved a law ban- ning the procedure once a heartbeat is detectable (as early as six weeks into pregnancy) as well as those based on gender selection or genetic defects such as Down syndrome. Physicians who perform an abortion in violation of the law could face felony charges. Lawmakers were gearing up for a fight since the law challenges the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
AA wrestles with roots What constitutes the heart of Alco- holics Anonymous’ spirituality is a matter of spirited debate, and reform- ers say the group has drifted from its core principles. The 75-year-old organization has more than 100,000
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