Letters to the editor


Domestic abuse article strikes a few chords God language, reading teacher, inactives, year dates draw choice words


JUNE 2012


www.thelutheran.org $2.50


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Mission trips


Story 20, study guide 26


Build an experience


Trash talk in the Bible 14


Wangerin: Naomi prepares a bride 28


Chaplains lend a listening ear 32


service referrals and other needs. The reality was clearly captured in the front page headline: “1 in 3 is harmed by domestic abuse.” I am glad the maga- zine brought attention to this sensi- tive but important subject, offering a faith foundation for the immediate and brave responses needed to deal with


this issue. Sara Calderon Philadelphia


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I am glad the magazine brought attention to this sensitive but important subject, off ering a faith foundation for the immediate and brave responses needed to deal with [domestic abuse].


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I was so touched by the bold cover on the The Lutheran’s May edition regard- ing domestic violence and the exten- sive coverage provided on the subject (page 20). I have been a member of the board of The Lutheran Settlement House of Philadelphia for five years. One of the efforts contributing to its wide outreach has been its Bilingual Domestic Violence Program. It col- laborates with other domestic violence programs and the city to operate the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hot- line that provides victims of domestic and dating abuse with crisis interven- tion and counseling, safety planning,


48 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


Left out again The sexist bias of The Lutheran and the ELCA has again reared its ugly head in the articles in the May edi- tion. I was astonished that there was no mention of men being abused. I know that all too well. I was abused by my ex-wife. Time after time I read about the inhumane treatment men give to women. But what about the men who are abused? Some of these so-called support groups will tell you that it was my fault, there must be some reason she did that to me. It took me a long time and much counseling to get over my anger at the organizations that did


nothing to help me. Michael Jacobsen Loma Linda, Calif.


Don’t shout Amen The heavenly host weeps when one proclaims hallelujah over people “straying away from the church” (May, page 48). Reconnecting with God is cause for rejoicing, but to dis- connect with the church is both bla- tantly anti-scriptural and an abandon- ment of partners in Christ. We need each other to carry out Christ’s mis-


sion in our world today. The Rev. D. Randall Faro Chehalis, Wash.


Hold the condemnation A letter writer stepped back into the 1960s in the June issue (page 48) when he decried God being referred to in the feminine as radical feminist language. Really? Isn’t God life-giving, nurtur- ing, loving and protective? Sounds like a mother to me. The writer also referred to “elites” who used the term chairperson. Being inclusive does not deserve condemnation. Applying ugly, dated names to what you find uncom- fortable and non-male doesn’t improve


our society or our church. Kathleen Alexander The Woodlands, Texas


No need for switch


I understand that in scientific journals, textbooks and newspapers the terms have changed from Before Christ and Anno Domini (year of our Lord) to Before Common Era and Common Era because “we share history with people of many faiths,” as noted by editors of the Lutheran Study Bible. I get it and will become politically correct when referring to these times outside my church. However, no self-respecting atheist, Jew or Muslim is ever going to open up that Bible edition. Why in the world did the powers that be throw out


B.C. and A.D. in our ELCA Bible? Shirley Fawcett Jenison, Mich.


Will not bend


It is interesting and somewhat surpris- ing that Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson jumped to the conclusion that Trayvon Martin’s death had something to do with racism (May, page 50). Two months after the incident all the facts are still unknown. Why do some clergy see things in terms of race, gender and sex-


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