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Editor


By Daniel J. Lehmann


Getting focused on the future


Mission clearly takes center stage


Another toy


plane?


Give a gift that invites a child to soar on the wings of faith. The Little Lutheran has stories a little aviator will love. Children will meet Bill McDonald, who fl ew with the Tuskegee Airmen. They’ll delight to discover that God created fl ying things: birds and bugs. To subscribe visit www. thelittlelutheran.org or call 800-328-4648.


$2.50 Volume 3, Issue 10 May/June 2010 D


uring the ELCA Conference of Bishops’ spring meeting, I jested with one bishop after each business session that I was still looking for “the lead”—the most important issue of the gathering. After a few days of serious and


purposeful discussions but still no striking item, a former bishop opined: “That’s your lead. Things are settling down. They are going about the busi- ness of the church.” He wasn’t suggesting all was rosy. Consultations with congregations tak-


ing votes to leave the ELCA continue, but at a greatly reduced pace. Financial concerns at the congregation, synod and churchwide level are still there, but contributions appear to have evened out. Critics still find fault with this or that action of the church—most of it subject to heartfelt differences, some just plain incorrect. Rather than being defined by others, ELCA leaders are focusing on mission that members can rally around. The agenda of the Church Council’s April meeting confirmed this shift.


There were no pressing items to further reduce the staff and programs of the churchwide organization, no downwardly revised budgets. Yes, the work of the Living into the Future Together task force offered a host of recommended changes to the Church Council that acknowledge the ELCA’s changed fortunes. But life isn’t static. At all levels we still feel the lingering impact of the Great Recession, a general diminution of the importance of religious life in the U.S. and a church-dividing controversy. From government to business to private organizations, change is afoot because of the changing world in which we live. Take a look at the letters to the editor this month (page 48). You’ll see sev- eral positive comments about our church and a few critical ones. Again, on the whole the mood has shifted (I can guarantee that by publishing this opinion I’ll hear from the unconvinced). To give but one example, examine the graceful dif- ferences typified by the following two readers to my query last month whether the magazine should feature a seasonal cover for Christmas and Easter. “I like the Easter image on the cover of The Lutheran (April). It does mean a lot to me to have cover designs celebrating the Christmas and Easter litur- gical seasons. Thank you!” said Julane Swank of Southlake, Texas.


“Certainly you’ve worked in the church long


enough to know you can’t please everyone. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide and give low credence to the complainers. If but a few complained about the Christmas cover, don’t worry. There were hundreds of thousands of us who found it just fine. Relax!” said Rod Broding of Battle Lake, Minn. It’s not in my nature, but I’ll give it a try. And thanks for both letters. M


another Adults, see back cover


4 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org Love one


From government to business to private organizations, change is afoot because of the changing world in which we live.


MICHAEL D. WATSON


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