Letters to the editor
Will Herzfeld made many contributions Readers take aim at atheists, climate, humility articles, plus cartoon
AUGUST 2013 •
www.thelutheran.org • $2.50 ®
sons we are losing members. John Kulma Mentor, Ohio
Looking back, leaning forward 20
Thank you for the great issue, “Look- ing back, leaning forward” (August, page 20). It’s unfortunate there was not room to recognize the contributions of the Rev. Will Herzfeld in “Lead- ers ‘back then’ left their marks” (page 27). Although Herzfeld was not on the national scene for as long as Herbert Chilstrom or David Preus, nevertheless he led a small band of faithful exiles from the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, helped form the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and became one of the catalysts for the for- mation of the ELCA. I am grateful for his leadership and his contribution to
our diversity. The Rev. Leonard A. Hoffmann Dubuque, Iowa
Careful with words In the cover story, Montana Synod Bishop Jessica Crist’s comment on congregations leaving the ELCA being “analogous to cleaning the rolls” was unfortunate. Do we now clean the rolls when there is a difference in the ELCA, or do we find a solution to the problem? This may be one of the rea-
48 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
Don’t know that Jesus A letter writer in the August issue (page 48) responded to “the woman who said people are leaving the ELCA because we’ve gotten away from the teachings of Jesus.” He said we should remember “how tolerant and accepting [Jesus] was. Tolerance is the backbone of his teachings.” My dictionary defines tol- erance as “the capacity for or practice of recognizing and respecting the opin- ions, practices or behavior of others.”
I’m sorry. I don’t know that Jesus. Ken Steeber Luray, Va.
Best of the best
Thank you for the article on atheists by Lisa E. Dahill (August, page 18). I’ve been studying the reality of the “nones.” The insight Dahill brought to having dia- logue with members of this group helped me a great deal in understanding who I am and what my next action should be. The “Deeper understandings” column has been important to me and Dahill’s
essay is the best of the best. Larry Kiewel Belle Plaine, Minn.
Taking care of creation I am an ELCA Lutheran for two rea- sons. One is that I was raised that way. The other, and more important to my lifelong support of our denomination, is exemplified by “Urgent: Creation care” (July, page 20). We have the com- mitment and courage to care for all of
God’s creation—including the Earth. Jack C. Westman Madison, Wis.
Unbalanced report In the July issue, the editor’s column (page 4), cover story and study guide did not balance its position on cli- mate change by mentioning that since 1998 there has been an unexplained standstill in the heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and that recent climate data are not in line with global warm- ing models. Rather, The Lutheran took an essentially partisan position in a contentious political debate, thereby excluding, alienating and not respect- ing the diversity of the views of those in the ELCA skeptical of dire predic-
tions by environmental scientists. Eric Olson New York City
Drop the agenda In reporting on synod assemblies (July, page 36) why would the headline and accomplishments of the Rev. R. Guy Erwin include his sexual orientation? You did not even mention Erwin’s many educational accomplishments or his service to our Lord’s calling or mission. The fact that he is gay was touted purely as a political statement by the magazine. Erwin stated it quite well, “… the sexual orientation of the bishop may not be very important.” The Lutheran needs to stop pushing its agenda and report what
people need to know. Brenda Murphy Bristol, Va.
Be humble, accepting Excellent “My view” by James W. Schoeld on an urgent call to humility (July, page 49). May we all be more humble and more accepting of others
and their opinions. Judi Stock Wooster, Ohio
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52