Letters to the editor


Keep the big questions before the church Letter writers, cover stories spark variety of opinions


®


NOVEMBER 2011 www.thelutheran.org $2.50


Getting creative


Tough times call


for clever measures 22 Plus study guide 28


Without God 16 Authority of Bible 20 Raising a pastor 30 Easing hopelessness 34


Higher education: 26-page report 38


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We were studying and considering the Gospels, not the constitution; the meaning of the cross and resurrection, not American exceptionalism; stewardship of God’s beautiful creation, not some fundamentals on plunder of the earth ….


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Thanks for the excellent articles in the November issue on the economics of congregational ministry (page 22), including the costs of theological school and compensation for rostered people (42). How about asking questions that address even deeper, long-term impli- cations? In a 2008 article, a seminary professor predicted the church in the 21st century will look much more like that of the first century: small groups of Christians meeting in private homes, garages, coffeehouses, etc. What then


48 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


about the traditional model of broad and deep theological education at semi- naries preparing rostered people for full-time ministry? Will it disappear? Will it fundamentally shift to a model based on brief, occasional training for bivocational and/or volunteer leaders? Let’s ask such questions in a direct and forceful manner. And, above all, keep


the dialogue going. The Rev. Alan J. Watt New Braunfels, Texas


Work builds bonds Most congregations could reduce spending and create understanding and unity by using the talents in the con- gregation to supply most of the main- tenance, rather than spending money to have these things done. When several members work together, you create pride in your church and establish a


bond among members. Maynard W. Hartke Litchfield, Ill.


Experience says otherwise I enjoyed the article “Without God” (November, page 16). However, the picture painted was unnecessarily bleak. I am privileged to include agnos- tics and atheists among my acquain- tances, and they most decidedly do not find their lives impoverished and ulti- mately futile. They find transcendence in relationships and take comfort from the recent findings of quantum physics indicating not a deterministic world


but a probabilistic one. Kathy Schuen Portage, Mich.


Eyes wide open


In a letter to the editor (November, page 72) a writer states: “The scien-


tific foundation for evolution has been established for more than a century.” While true, there are serious scien- tists who challenge Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. I suggest www. dissentfromdarwin.org as a begin- ning point. William Dembski is another leading scientist who advocates intelli- gent design. This work is not to be dis- missed as another tactic of fundamen- talism. If we believe in the pursuit of


truth, these are two places to start. The Rev. Tony Metze Columbia, S.C.


Carry on I wanted to put in a word of support for continuing with “one size fits all” for The Lutheran’s future (October, page 4). ELCA members have already lost a great deal of what I once so admired about our denomination—the “family ties” of using a common worship order regardless of location, and common materials for activities like vacation Bible school and Sunday school. We, like the rest of society, are becoming so fragmented and divided along all kinds of interests and emphases that the last thing we need is special-interest pub- lications to try to please everybody. Keep providing a balanced and caring perspective on the life of our denomi- national family in particular and the


whole Christian family in general. The Rev. Thomas G. Bruner Berrysburg, Pa.


Power of the pen


As a wordsmith who serves the needs of the institutional church, I want to com- mend The Lutheran for spotlighting 11 authors whose work doesn’t stay inside the walls of churchly enterprises (Octo- ber, page 20). These folks are examples


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