questions and issues. Many of you have wel- comed these chal- lenging issues; some have asked hard questions. Every response has been valued as contributing to the conversation.
Let me end with this exchange on the creeds by Robin Steinke and Gary Simpson (Decem- ber 2011, page 18): Steinke:
SHUTTERSTOCK
that have been raised are as simple as your faith in the God of Jesus Christ and as complex as the questions that rise up from your work, joys and suf- ferings. As Nelson Rivera wrote in his essay on evolution (April 2013, page 18): “God’s deep involvement [in creation] does not preclude the messiness of an evolving world. Creation is not a closed system, but an open one: it’s not yet all that it could be or become. We can say then that the universe is still unfinished. The future of creation is therefore intimately related and dependent on God’s own future. The world is imperfect and suffers from its own imperfections, including accident, pain and suffering. From an evolu- tionary perspective, we see more possibilities in dealing realistically with these difficult questions.” The deep faith of our teaching theologians has called out to your deep faith. Thus many of you have shared that this series has been a deepening of your education. Now, as the series continues, we will extend the conversation to a wider group of theologians: the fac- ulties of our church-related colleges
and from seminaries in full commu- nion with the ELCA. The theological resources of the eight seminaries and our 26 colleges are enormous, and we are delighted to share them with you. An exciting series of topics has been lined up by the seminary presi- dents, and we pray you will engage the questions. Coming in August: “Why not atheism?” And watch for articles on “What does it mean to be Lutheran and ecumenical?”; “Is Jesus the only savior?”; “Grace, faith and word alone”; “How do Lutherans understand the incarnation?”; “What does neighborliness mean?”; “What do Lutherans mean by mission?”; “What will the church of the future look like?”; “How do we talk about money in the church?”; “Do Luther- ans have something to say about evangelism?”; “What shall we say about war and ethics?”; “How shall we pray?”; “What do Lutherans have to say about freedom?”; and “Why do Lutherans care so much about education?”
The intention of the eight semi- nary presidents was to create con- versations in congregations and in homes around important theological
Finally, the free-
dom to confess the revelation of God that is ecumenical and evangelical is delightful. Sometimes amid dif- ficulties and controversy it’s easy to forget the joy in God that comes as gift and promise. Confessing doesn’t presume that all questions have been resolved. Confessing faith in the tri- une God frees us to continue to raise questions in community. It means we are let in on the end of the story of God for the world. The end of the story is that God says yes to the whole of creation. God loves us into being, grafts us into God’s own self and promises to stay with us through it all. There is nothing that could be more delightful. Simpson: Delightful, indeed. Congregations across the ELCA are taking on new opportunities to exercise their missional imagina- tions, trusting in the promising God who holds and opens the future. That means gracefully crossing new boundaries, going where we’ve never gone before. During the church’s missionary journeys, the creeds left some things out. They don’t address every question. They do, helpfully, offer supple resilience, without rigidity.
July 2013 19
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