Contents News
8 Judge dismisses portion of Augsburg Fortress lawsuit 10 BOP chief Kapanke to retire in September
Cover story 14 Hard Lenten lesson
20 Coming to grips with struggling congregations Challenges abound, but so do ministry responses
22 Shuttered congregation ... keeps on giving to community
25 Congregation stops, looks around ... sees what’s going down—now up
27 Study guide Features 20 Hope amid struggle
16 Two-point parish with a twist In hard times, these congregations look to a pastor who’s had a hard life
18 Ambience is more than pillows Congregation’s welcome rests in the theology of the cross
28 Between us Bright red apples and humility
33 The Spirit lifts our faith ... and we’re cleared for takeoff
37 Bible camp: Technology takes you there And keeps you there
30 The vulnerable in our pews Departments
3 A Lutheran Christian life for today
4 Editor 39 Two months out 40 Youngchurch 41 Pass the faith 42 Best this month 43 Faces
34 Politics: Good guys vs. bad guys? For breaking news, see
www.thelutheran.org or
www.elca.org/news
44 Higher education 45 Light side 46 Classifieds 46 Deaths 47 Crossword 48 Letters 49 My view 50 Presiding bishop
MARCH 2011 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 3
The Lutheran is the magazine of the ELCA
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Editor Daniel J. Lehmann
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Associate editors Julie B. Sevig Congregations & Community
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thelutheran.org Elizabeth Hunter Church & World
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Editorial production mngr. Andrea S. Pohlmann
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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.
COVER: TERRY FROCK AT THE GYM ST. PAUL LUTHERAN HELPED BUILD IN WESTMINSTER, MD., WHEN THE CONGREGATION CLOSED. FROCK IS HOLDING HIS GRANDMOTHER’S BIBLE, DATED 1899, THAT WAS FOUND ON A BOOKSHELF IN THE CHURCH AFTER IT CLOSED. PHOTO BY LISA HELFERT.
phone—(800) 328-4648
March 2011 5
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