News
Iowans mourn death of gay teenager H
undreds of mourners, many wearing pink, filled Grace
Lutheran Church, Primghar, Iowa, on April 19 to remember Kenneth J. Weishuhn Jr., 14, who four days earlier took his own life. Weishuhn had been bullied since
coming out as gay only weeks ear- lier. According to the Western Iowa Synod office, the youth and his mother, Jeannie Chambers, were members of Grace, where his grand- mother, CeCe Chambers, serves as office secretary. Kim Peterson, who officiated at
the funeral, implored Weishuhn’s classmates and community to put an end to bullying and to forgive. “I knew we would have people attending the funeral from all points on the spectrum—from nonbe- lievers to people active in their churches,” the ELCA pastor told The Lutheran. “This was an oppor- tunity to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. In this context I spoke not only about anti-bullying, but forgiveness and letting go of the hurt by taking the pain to the cross of Jesus.”
By all accounts, Weishuhn was a kindhearted, fun-loving teenager. But when he told friends he was
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Belief study released Belief in God is slowly declining in most countries, say researchers at the University of Chicago. Their report, “Beliefs about God Across Time and Countries,” states that the “truest of the true believers” can still be found in developing countries and Roman Catholic societies, with the Philip- pines scoring the highest belief (94 percent). At the opposite end is the former East Germany (13 percent). Data collected from 30 countries in 1991, 1998 or 2008 indicate belief
10 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
increased with age (highest for those 68 or older, lowest for those younger than 28). The U.S. was ranked fifth (60.6 percent).
It’s about ‘thanks-living’
Want to explore a daily practice of thanks? The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg’s Steward- ship of Life Institute sponsors an “Adventures in Thanks-Living” blog written by Sharron Blezard, an ELCA pastor. Go online at http://
adventuresinthanksliving.com.
gay, the harassment and bullying began at school, by cell phone and on Facebook, officials said. In response, The Sioux City Jour-
nal devoted the entire front page of its April 22 issue to an anti-bullying editorial: “We must make it clear in our actions and our words that bullying will not be tolerated. ... How many times have each of us witnessed an act of bullying and said little or nothing? … Stand up. Be heard. And don’t back down. Together, we can put a stop to bullying.”
In October 2010, ELCA Presid- ing Bishop Mark S. Hanson joined thousands of “It Gets Better” video essays telling youth who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender: “I’ve listened with pain and shock to reports of young people taking their lives because they’ve been bullied and tormented for being different, for being gay or perceived to be gay, for being the people God created them to be .... “You are a beloved child of God.
Your life carries the dignity and the beauty of God’s creation. God has called you by name and claimed you forever. There’s a place for you in this world. And in this church.”
Not converts, but reverts The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life says more than half of Americans have switched religions at least once, with 9 percent saying they’ve returned to the pews, practices and prayers that shaped them. They’re not converts, they’re reverts. And denominations are stepping up efforts to reclaim, re-energize and re-educate these fallen-away faithful. Roman Catho- lic parishes are tending to returnees who often fear their actions or choices will keep them from the sacraments. Evangelical churches steer reverts to Bible study groups. Rabbis reach out to young adults through a program called “Next Dor (generation).”
Arnison leads book network Nancy D. Arnison, former director of ELCA World Hunger, was named executive director of the Theological Book Network, Grand Rapids, Mich. She succeeded founder Kurt Berends on April 26 after completing her doc- torate studies in theology and ethics at the University of Chicago Divinity School. Theological Book Network is a nonprofit supplier of resources to seminaries and schools worldwide. Arnison, an attorney, most recently served as an interim vice president for Lutheran Immigration and Refu- gee Service, Baltimore.
WCC finances shaping up
The World Council of Churches, a Geneva-based ecumenical group to which the ELCA belongs, reported that its pension fund is now “out of a deficit position,” thanks to a $24 million bank loan. Leaders attributed the deficit to the financial crisis and a growing imbalance between retirees (70 percent) and active members (30 percent) who contribute to the fund’s balance. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary, said the organiza- tion hopes to leverage Geneva real estate it owns.
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