Homeless Jesus finds a place Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley,
Ariz., became the permanent home of a life-size bronze sculpture titled “Homeless Jesus” when it was dedi- cated Nov. 23. Participating were Jayne Baker, deacon (left); Ryan Hersch, pas- tor; and seminarian Bill Miller. The bronze piece was created by Canadian sculptor Timothy P. Schmalz. Ascension will be the exclusive location for the sculpture in the Phoenix area. Currently, four other major markets worldwide also have a copy. The sculpture’s image, intended to elicit com- passion, refl ection and unease among onlookers, has sparked controversy in other cities.
Finnish vote
After Finland’s parliament voted Nov. 28 to allow same-sex marriages (same-sex unions have been legal since 2002), Kari Mäkinen, arch- 10
ELCA bishops & LIRS back immigration changes
T
he ELCA Conference of Bishops and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Service issued in November sep- arate statements of support for President Barack Obama’s immi- gration policies that would defer deportations of some 5 million undocumented immigrants. “We support this compassion-
ate first step toward reforming an immigration system that is flawed and requires many of our neighbors to live in the shadows in fear,” the bishops wrote. LIRS welcomed the president’s
action, but said it was no substi- tute for legislation to fix the U.S. immigration system. The bish- ops agreed, saying the president’s
action “does not provide a path to citizenship, establish policies that prioritize family unity or create more efficient channels for entry of new migrant workers.” The bishops said they hoped
Congress would address those issues as well as family detention, “which undermines our values as a people of faith and a nation of welcome.” Treatment of immigrants is “a
core religious value,” the bishops said, adding: “To welcome the stranger is to welcome a child of God. In the New Testament (Mat- thew 25:40), Jesus tells us to wel- come the stranger, for ‘just as you did it to one of the least of these … you did it to me.’ ”
January 2015 9
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