This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Contents News


8 Iowa farmers lift hay & spirits in Texas 10 Episcopal seminary lands in Lutheran Center


22 Churches get creative to survive


Cover story Features


28 Study guide 16 Without God


20 Deeper understandings Authority of the Bible: A conversation between—and for—Lutherans


33 ‘Holy hot dish’ Serving meals makes sister congregations grow


30 Communities raise pastors


36 Living free from violence In Dadaab, Kenya, Lutherans help women rebuild their lives


Higher education


38 Community connections ELCA colleges make life better for their neighbors


46 Road trip! Campus ministry students visit a seminary, camp & congregation


48 ‘God’s love is what they pass on’ Fair trade is a mission for a Wittenberg University grad, students and faculty


52 Higher education news 34 Giving hope in Ohio Departments


3 10 Bible stories that breathe life


42 Dealing with pastoral debt


4 Editor 64 Youngchurch 65 Pass the faith 66 Best this month 67 Faces 68 Two months out


69 Light side 70 Classifieds 70 Deaths 71 Crossword 72 Letters 73 My view 74 Presiding bishop


For breaking news, see www.thelutheran.org or www.elca.org/news


22 Getting creative Tough times call for clever measures & ministry


NOVEMBER 2011 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 11


The Lutheran is the magazine of the ELCA


Subscriptions/customer service Subscription issues, address changes, billing questions:


e-mail—subscriptions@augsburgfortress.org Editorial offices:


8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631 (800) 638-3522; (773) 380-2540 Fax: (773) 380-2409


E-mail: lutheran@thelutheran.org Web: www.thelutheran.org


The Lutheran is a member of the Associated Church Press


Editor Daniel J. Lehmann lutheran.editor@thelutheran.org


Associate editors Julie B. Sevig Congregations & Community julie.sevig@thelutheran.org Elizabeth Hunter Church & World elizabeth.hunter@thelutheran.org


Editorial production mngr. Andrea Pohlmann Kulik andrea.pohlmann@thelutheran.org


Art director Michael D. Watson michael .watson@thelutheran.org


Web manager and Amber Leberman associate art director amber.leberman@thelutheran.org


Circulation/marketing director Curtis Peterson curtis.peterson@thelutheran.org


Contributing editor Jeff Favre jjfavre@gmail.com


Study guide editor Rob Blezard rcblezard@hotmail.com


Assistant to the editor Barbara A. Fletcher 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: $17.95 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 ©2011 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.


Nonprofit Periodicals Postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional mailing offices.


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Lutheran, Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, PO Box 1553, Minneapolis MN 55440-8730.


phone—(800) 328-4648


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: MICHAEL BOYD, JENNIFER BOYD & DON ICKEN FROM TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, BREWSTER, N.Y. PHOTO BY AMY C. ELLIOTT.


November 2011 5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76