Editor notes
By Daniel J. Lehmann The Reformation
and ‘The Lutheran’ Keeping us connected a top job
O
ur presiding bishop offers insight into what it means to be a Lutheran today in her column (page 50), a timely reflection given obser-
vance of the Reformation each October and the 500th anniversary of the historic event in 2017.
After good-naturedly casting out caricatures often used to describe Lutherans
in the U.S., she concludes: “If culture and cuisine don’t define us, our theology must.” She then states the case for God’s grace and the transformational relation- ship it offers, binding us together and defining us as Lutherans. This is where The Lutheran comes in, with October being a significant month
for the magazine. For October is also a time when many congregations prepare their budgets for the coming year, and those budgets impact The Lutheran. Leaders in every ELCA congregation will receive a letter this month from me
asking congregations that subscribe to The Lutheran to renew and for those with- out a subscription plan to buy one. That letter and this column are the only means the magazine has to promote itself—there is no circulation sales team. Here’s the pitch: Relationships are vital to the health of con-
‘The Lutheran’ is
gregations, the entirety of the ELCA and The Lutheran. The magazine’s charge is to establish a connection with members to help them grow in faith and assist them in the mission efforts of their congregations and the larger church. The Lutheran is where members find news
where members find news and views on faith, Scripture,
mission, advocacy and more.
and views on faith, Scripture, mission, advo- cacy and more. The magazine is a resource for education, outreach and evange- lism while providing a forum for discussion on issues of the day. Members of subscribing congregations know this. Their subscriptions to The
Lutheran keep them informed of events and issues impacting Lutherans. They also have access online to more than 9,000 archived articles and 400 study guides, making subscription renewals a solid investment of congregational resources. Non-subscribing congregations can learn how affordable subscription plans
to The Lutheran can be when purchased in sufficient number of copies. For more information about subscriptions, call 800-328-4648, visit
www.thelutheran.org or email
subscriptions@augsburgfortress.org. Subscription revenue keeps the magazine’s doors open. Advertising sales help, but subscriptions drive operations. Leaders have the ability to increase their congregation members’ knowledge of
the many ministries ELCA congregations, synods and the churchwide organiza- tion support. With a subscription to The Lutheran, we can walk alongside each other as we live out the ELCA’s tagline “God’s work. Our hands.” Here ends the marketing effort, maybe not inspiring but it’s necessary work. Thanks for your patience. I pray we deepen our relationship in 2016.
4
www.thelutheran.org
The Lutheran is the magazine of the ELCA
Subscriptions & customer service Subscription issues, address changes, billing questions: phone—800-328-4648 email—subscriptions@
augsburgfortress.org
Editorial offices: 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631
800-638-3522; 773-380-2540 Fax: 773-380-2409 Email:
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The Lutheran is a member of the Associated Church Press
Editor & director, Publications Daniel J. Lehmann
lutheran@thelutheran.org
Associate director, Publications Melissa Ramirez Cooper & Public Relations
melissa.ramirezcooper@elca.org
Managing editor Julie B. Sevig
julie.sevig@
thelutheran.org
Associate editors Megan Brandsrud
megan.brandsrud@
thelutheran.org
Erin Strybis
erin.strybis@
thelutheran.org
Manager, editorial services Andrea Pohlmann Kulik
andrea.pohlmann@thelutheran.org
Manager, graphics Michelle Goodman and artistic direction
michelle.goodman@thelutheran.org
Associate art director Kathryn Hillert Brewer
kathryn@brewer-com.com
Strategic communications Barbara A. Fletcher coordinator
barbara.fletcher@thelutheran.org
Advertising
advertising@thelutheran.org
The Lutheran is published monthly through Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440. (ISSN 0024-743X USPS 322080)
For display and classified advertising sales: 800-638-3522, ext. 2541;
advertising@thelutheran.org. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement.
Subscription rates: $19.95 a year; outside N. America add $9.20 for postage. Payable in U.S. funds. Send subscription requests to The Lutheran Circulation, Augsburg Fortress, PO Box 1553, Minneapolis, MN 55440-8730. Or subscribe online:
www.thelutheran.org.
On tape: Customer Service, Box 1553, Minneapolis, MN 55440; 800- 328-4648.
On microfilm: National Archive Publishing Company (NAPC), 300 N. Zeeb Rd., PO Box 998, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998.
Copyright ©2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without written permission from the publishers. Printed in the U.S.A.
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Lutheran, Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, PO Box 1553, Minneapolis MN 55440-8730.
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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