Editor notes
By Daniel J. Lehmann Care of earth
includes people Faith drives us to act for both
O
ur cover story profiles Lutherans working to care for creation (page 16). These are interesting and different tales all joined by
“an activism that has been shaped by faith.” Following is a story that illustrates why some of
these folks do what they do. Marvin R. Jonasen is pastor of Shishmaref Lutheran Church on Sarichef Island in Alaska. The barrier island near the Bering Strait, about 120 miles due north of Nome, has been washing away for the last 20 years. By some estimates 40 percent of the island has eroded into the sea over recent
years as the waters off Sarichef Island freeze later and later in winter, allowing storms to rip away at the land. Dramatic photos of buildings collapsing into the sea moved one journalist to title a book The Last Days of Shishmaref. “This is a reality that cannot be denied, or simply brushed off as a pass-
ing variation in weather patterns. Sarichef Island is slowly washing away and with it—unless the global climate realities change significantly and soon—the ground upon which the village of Shishmaref sits will cease to exist,” Jonasen wrote to the magazine. Articles highlighting this situation appeared in December 2004 and March
2009 issues of The Lutheran. What’s at stake is more than a piece of land van- ishing due to climate change and the relocation of the local population. “Last Christmas Eve, what we had was a living photograph of 164 children
and 10 teachers/helpers gathered in the front of the sanctuary … that brought together the community in a moment of faith, hope and love that truly reflected a culture that has faced tremendous chal- lenges throughout its history …,” Jona- sen said. Assumptions about what’s best for the
What’s at stake is more than a piece of land vanishing due
indigenous Inupiaq people generally do not take into account “deeply rooted cultural understandings steeped in the traditional subsistence hunting way of life,” Jonasen said. “Shishmaref is not a remote village on the edge of the earth, it is a people cre-
to climate change ....
ated in God’s image,” he added. “It’s a community nestled amid a vast wilderness in which respect for life, the land and all its inhabitants is crucial to existence and ability to maintain the delicate balance that such an incredible place offers. “Turning a collective blind eye to such concerns will not make the problem
go away. Instead, it will only cause the heightening wave of an uncertain future to impact even more lives, more cultures, more people.” With Easter joy upon us, spring greenery advancing across the continent,
and the hope and promise of a new baseball season, it’s easy to walk away from the twin issues of climate and sociological change. Let’s not, keeping our eyes on the problem, minds open to solutions and hearts in prayer for guidance.
4
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The Lutheran magazine belongs to the people of the ELCA in all our diversity. The magazine:
• Nurtures awareness of Christ’s presence in our lives and the world. • Shares stories of God’s people living their faith. • Connects us with the global Christian community. • Provides an open forum for discussion. • Challenges us to bring God’s grace and care to all.
MICHAEL D. WATSON
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