My view
Tough all over “Pastoral debt” (November, page 42) was shocking. Many college graduates going into various professions have sig- nificant debt, not just pastors. Forbes and The New York Times stated that the average debt for a college graduate in 2009 was $24,000. Most won’t have a housing allowance or paid sabbatical. They will work lots of uncompensated overtime and still be expected to vol- unteer at their church. In this time of unemployment, underemployment, fro- zen salaries and fixed incomes, clergy need to get in touch with reality. Con- gregations should not be asked to pay off a pastor’s college debts or to provide
grants to seminaries. Faye Schuler Center Valley, Pa.
Alinsky a pioneer I was shocked to see a letter (October, page 48) attacking Saul Alinsky and his pioneering ideas on community organization as being anti-capitalist. He was an inspiration in helping orga- nize those in poverty in city neighbor- hoods. His writings and actions were the foundation of urban affairs courses in the 1960s. I often found the business community very interested in organized neighborhoods and learning more about the residents’ needs. Even William F. Buckley, certainly a strong capitalist, called Alinsky “very close to being an organizational genius.” We could use
many more Saul Alinskys. Earl Finkler Medford, Wis.
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lutheran@thelutheran.org. Please include your name, city and state. Your letter will be considered for publication unless you state otherwise. The Lutheran publishes letters representa- tive of those received on a given subject. Be brief and limit your letter to a single topic. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Letters must be signed, but a re- quest for anonymity will be honored if the subject matter is personally sensitive.
“My view” submis- sions should be 400 words on a societal event or issue or on issues in the life of the ELCA. All submis- sions are subject to editing. Send to: “My view, ” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; email: lutheran@
thelutheran.org; fax: 773-380-2409.
By Alan Charlson
Election participation Bringing salt, light to the debate
W
Charlson is a com- munity bank trust officer and a mem- ber of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa.
e Americans are struggling through a combination of economic challenges unique in our history. Our parents or grandparents and older neighbors did
experience the impact of a nationwide financial collapse leading to the Great Depression of the1930s. At that time they did not have to face real limits on the financial capa- bility of the federal government to meet its commitments. We do, and as a result we will have to make decisions that will reshape the relationship of our nation’s government to its citizens. Difficult economic policy choices will likely be the central focus of the 2012 presidential and congressional election campaigns. The impact of decisions we make will be real and immediate. We will no longer be able to avoid the connections between competing policy alternatives and the people they affect. Funds committed to maintaining our Medicare ben- efits won’t be available for infrastructure projects to make our economy more efficient and help put our neighbors back to work. Tax cuts that leave more money in our pock- ets will reduce the resources available to provide a safety net for our neighbors who have lost jobs, homes and health insurance in the downturn. As American citizens we are privileged to be able to
participate in the decisions that will affect our economic future. As Christians our participation should reflect the values of our faith.
There is clearly a role for the ELCA and its congrega- tions in helping us evaluate legitimate alternative view- points from a biblical perspective. Let us ask our trained leaders to develop discussion guides drawn from the rich vein of teaching throughout the Scriptures about our relationships with our neighbors, our money and our government. We should not expect to be able to engage in discussion
about these critical, close to home issues without strong expressions of emotion. However, we should be able to join together in study with a sense of gratitude for the blessings we enjoy and an attitude of respect for our broth- ers and sisters in Christ whose opinions differ from ours. May we avoid being drawn into the vortex of anger that has characterized so much of the national debate up to this point. Hopefully, we’ll achieve more thoughtful, balanced
perspectives that will enable us to be salt and light in the debate of our larger communities. M
January 2012 49
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