Letters
Two major options for Sunday school Lutheran
WWI story, suicide & language columns, letters spark opinions • Special coverage: Women’s triennial gathering 24
SEPTEMBER 2014
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Reinventing Sunday school
Story Page 16
28 Work and faith 34 WWI revisited 38 Church rain gardens Study
guide Page 22
I’ve reread the article on new approaches to Sunday school (Sep- tember, page 16) and can find no mention of outdoor ministry or early childhood education as pos- sible replacements. A week of sum- mer camp offers almost 100 hours for Christian education. After I retired, I was asked to study early childhood education for our parish. I quickly saw its potential: Up to 40 hours a week with 3- and 4-year-olds and parents willing to pay. We built a curriculum around the stories of the patriarchs and opened full and now are thinking to expand. You must go first class. It must be a major commit- ment of the staff and congregation and your finances. The Rev. Roy E. Gulliford Sarasota, Fla.
Lesson learned The article on World War I (Septem- ber, page 34) was incisive, relevant and inclusive. Here’s an additional thought. The mass slaughter was over
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unimportant issues. About the only good thing that came out of the war was that two men, a German Lutheran and a British Quaker, shook hands on the day it began and pledged to main- tain “a fellowship of reconciliation.” Out of that grew more than 40 such fellowships around the world, includ- ing one here that played a pivotal role in the struggle for civil rights. The Rev. Lloyd A. Berg Staten Island, N.Y.
Depression an illness Peter W. Marty’s article on suicide (September, page 3) brought to mind my struggles with depression for which I was hospitalized. The feel- ing of hopelessness was devastating. It didn’t help when I received a let- ter from a parishioner informing me that if I had enough faith I would not have to be hospitalized. I have four children. With the exception of our older son, who had a mild bout with depression, one tried suicide on two occasions and two were killed in sep- arate car accidents while they were depressed. Depression is an illness. Just as cancer leads to death, so severe depressions also lead to death. The Rev. William S. Corkish The Villages, Fla.
Shape up I wasn’t surprised The Lutheran chose not to publish my letter critiqu- ing Marty’s “God language” column (August, page 3). Critical opinions of your progressive agenda evidently aren’t welcome. I get that. What you don’t get is the negativity that you cre- ate among faithful members by your revisionist agenda. Longtime mem- bers have demanded that their maga-
zine delivery be stopped because of what is published. Apparently you can’t find a way to appeal to your tar- get audience without offending those old “Bible-thumpers.” Or maybe you don’t care? You can do better. Glenn Kaijala New Bern, N.C.
Happy to be back I recently started subscribing again to The Lutheran and am impressed with how it has improved. I especially appreciate “Challenging conversa- tions” by Marty. I may not agree all the time with him, but the man cer- tainly gives me food for thought with every column. I suggest that his essays be compiled for publication at some point as I would love to have them all. Thanks again for such a high quality magazine. I’m glad I returned. Alma Edgerly Alexandria, Va.
Think again The Book of Faith initiative went right past some people. One letter writer (September, page 48) asked, “Is God ever referred to in the Bible as anything but ‘he’?” Yes: Spring of Living Waters, Rock of Ages, Mighty Fortress, Light, Shepherd, Guardian, Physician. Another reader wrote, “I thought the Bible was a staunch critic of envy.” No. Poor people with needs envy. Rich people covet. Covetousness is wanting, and grabbing, whatever anyone else has, even when you don’t need it. Read the story of David and Bathsheba. Maybe if we were closer to speaking the same language we could have fewer silly “factual” arguments. John McNabb Berkeley, Calif.
The
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