My view
of Lutheranism. We need to be aware of them and be ready to allow the dis- agreements—being sure that we agree that Jesus Christ is our only salva- tion. Peter W. Marty is the first thing I look for: always something we need to consider in our daily lives, always well-written, always well-phrased. The presiding bishop also speaks from his heart and faith. Things we need to know, things we need to pray about. Keep us aware of where our church is and where it is going. The world keeps
changing. Christ remains firm. Gloria Current Sidney, Ohio
Get it straight I applaud Andover Newton Seminary for recognizing that a change is needed (December, page 10). Like most semi- naries they are fixing the wrong prob- lem. We continue to crank out pastors who are led to believe they will be (and are expected to be) CEOs of a congre- gation. When pastors, seminaries and church leaders figure out pastors are supposed to be pastors and train them to be, we’ll all be better off. Laypeople are usually far more capable of leading a congregation than is a typical pastor. Recognize that the Spirit works just as well, and as often, in/through people sitting in the pews, not just in/through folks who are ordained. The church is in trouble because we continue to elevate ordained ministry above all
others. The Rev. Ron Hovick Chula Vista, Calif.
Send “Letters” to: Letters to the Editor, The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183; fax: 773-380- 2409; email
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.
By Jennifer Ohman-Rodriguez
Notice us home Welcome all who enter church
H
Ohman-Rodriguez is a child develop- ment specialist and freelance writer. She and her family recently moved to North Liberty, Iowa, where they are exploring congre- gations. They are members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa.
i! We’re here. We’ve come to worship. We’re new … or maybe we just haven’t been here for a while. We look a little reserved. That’s because we’re a bit cau- tious, maybe even scared. You see, we are looking for something—a home. This home is currently your home, or at least it feels like your home. We aren’t sure we belong here. We’re not even sure we are wanted here. But ... this is the thing. If you notice us, we may light up—sort of like your dog does when you call her name. Your noticing awakens us. It brings us to life and into exis- tence in this home.
If you pretend to not notice us—because let’s be frank, you do know we are here—then we are faceless. And the more you don’t notice us, the more we want to leave because who wants to be a living non-existent? We squirm and count the minutes until we are “sent” or, in our case, “sent away.” And really, waiting until we share the peace together
is way too late to notice us. We’ve already been around for at least 20 minutes, if not longer. If all of a sudden you smile and shake our hands, we think to ourselves, “What was that?” So notice us. Notice us, the strangers in your midst. Acknowledge us and in doing so welcome us. Welcome us as fellow children of God who are holy in God’s eyes and therefore holy in yours.
Greet us even if in the back of your mind you think we
“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.
are members who haven’t been around for a while. Be bold, courageous and welcoming, and by doing so give us face, voice and home. Jesus noticed all sorts of people, especially people who were culturally invisible. Jesus noticed people who were begging, collecting taxes, of different ethnic or religious groups, or suffering from disease or mental illness. Jesus noticed these people and in doing so reminded them of life itself—theirs and of their eternally existent home with God.
Here’s a challenge. Notice us next Sunday. Let your
noticing gather us in and welcome us home. Gather us as Jesus gathered the invisibles of his time.
And then when we are sent back out into the world, we will be gone only temporarily—until next week. M
February 2012 49
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