On newsletter design, by Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator

Hey church newsletter writers,

Thanks for all the hard work you do on those newsletters. I and many others read and enjoy them every month, online and in print, and know how much work you are doing to make them look so good. A few of you are coming out weekly online these days, as well. Mountain View in Edgewood and Pilgrim in Puyallup are just a couple. Wow. You are truly appreciated.

Just to touch base on the synod newsletter and where I'm at, I've been tweaking the design lately, and think I'm just about where I want to be for now with the March newsletter, considering what I work with, which is the simple, clunky and hard-to-use Word. The March newsletter should be up shortly today at http://www.lutheranssw.org/news-publications.

My overall intention was to make the newsletter more screen-friendly and readable.

I'm not reinventing the wheel here — this is pretty standard stuff, but I switched the body text from the great newspaper font, Times New Roman, to the more simple, one-tone family of Arial fonts, though I could have just as well gone with Swiss. I stayed at 11 point, but Arial takes up a lot more room than Times New Roman. That's especially true since I loosened up the tracking, or space between the lines, so I'm at a 1 to 1.1 ratio now. I surely would have gone even looser, maybe a 1 to 1.2 or 1.3 ratio, like The Seattle Times online does, had it not been taking up so much room.

I also put a whopping 8 points between each paragraph as stepping stones for the eye between paragraphs.

I retained Times New Roman for the headlines, but unbolded it and bumped up the size from 16 point to 18 point to compensate. The idea was to retain the elegance that this magnificent font offers, but not to task readers with it in the body copy since most of you are reading it online now (A Garmond is just as beautiful for headlines, you choose, lovely or just as lovely). I'm working on an 8.5-by-11 page, but if I were working on a folded half page, I'd bump the heads down to 16 and probably 14.

Besides having a goal of being more screen-friendly, my overall style goal was to try for a look of simple elegance. For me, that means the discipline of never going outside of two font families, even though it's a bunch of fun to fool around with fonts. It means not bolding too much of anything without a good reason, flush-lefting everything, rag-righting everything and most of all, banning gimmicky graphics. Anything that says "clip art" on it should never see the light of day in a newsletter. I know some of you disagree, considering the amount of clip art being used. To me, it's cluttery, distracting, condescending and childlike. I may be guilty of "gimmicky" with the shadow I'm putting behind the photos in the synod newsletter. But I'm hoping I'm being subtle enough. I like the pop.

I'm hoping my redesign is quiet enough that no one will notice.

Another thing I did was to do away with indents. Also, I stuck with one column going across the page. Yes, I know it's a long journey with no rest stop for the eye. But while two- or three-column newsletters work in hard print, they don't on the screen, because the reader has to scroll up and down.

My particular big problem was having two logos on the cover, that of the ELCA and of the synod. Both look like beach balls; in fact, the synod logo has the same colors in the same locations as the ELCA logo. When I stuck both of them on the cover, it started to look like a beach-blanket bingo party with Frankie and Annette. So I think I'm going to go with the synod logo on the cover because it's our brand, and place the ELCA logo somewhere inside where it doesn't matter designwise. I might just lose it, however.

See Rachel's beach-ball failure in the February synod newsletter at http://www.lutheranssw.org/news-publications.

On my finished PDF newsletter, I'm keeping mine down to 1 megabyte and no bigger. It's asking readers too much to take the time to download something gigantic. It looks as if most everyone is keeping below that, but there are a few who are at 2, 3 and even 4 megabytes.

That means I have to keep my photo files as small as I can without compromising clarity. I'm not putting a photo that's any bigger than 75 kb or so, usually.

We had a newsletter writers' design and content forum about 5 years ago in the synod office. If there's interest, let's have another in early summer after the assembly blows over. I'd invite in some of the e-newsletter heroes of our synod to help lead. We had about 15 attendees last time. That's a good number.

Keep on writing and designing — I feel I know each one of you because I've seen your stuff all these years. But in fact, I only know some of you. Let me know what you would do to improve my redesign, or if you'd like me to critique yours.

Rachel

P.S. I think the most important thing any of us can do is to put all our identification on the cover. That includes the congregation's pastor, address, phone, email, essential staff and contacts, website, blog, Facebook page and mission statement. I run mine ID stuff down one side, same font, same size, 9 point, simple, simple, simple. There are a lot of newsletters in our synod that have that essential reaching-out stuff inside or lack it altogether. The newsletter is a great evangelism tool, if done right. I'm working on it; I know you are, too.

If you haven't received the March synod newsletter to see my redesign, email me at rachelpritchett@msn.com.

Former synod pastor Gary Jepsen featured in TNT ...

... over the weekend, on a story on gay and lesbian pastors that's getting a lot of traction. The Rev. Jepsen served at Pilgrim of Puyallup before leaving.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/25/2041700/tacoma-area-church-splits-over.html

Bishop Hofstad takes part in Vatican visit

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad returned from Rome on Feb. 16 after meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican officials to discuss the relationship between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Roman Catholic Church.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson; the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, executive for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations; Bishop Jessica R. Crist, chair of the Conference of Bishops; and Bishop Hofstad, chair of the Conference of Bishops committee of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, traveled to Rome for two days of meetings on Feb. 14 and 15.

They met with the heads of two Pontifical Councils — The Promotion of Christian Unity, and Interreligious Dialogue. They also spent time with the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as well as the Secretariat of State. On the second day, the four ELCA representatives had an audience with Pope Benedict.

This remarkable exchange was the latest in more than 30 years of formal dialogues between the two churches in the United States. Bishop Hofstad called the meetings “a very good strengthening of relationship between our two churches, as well as an exploration of how Lutherans and Roman Catholics might approach a healing observance of the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017."

There were assurances on both sides that this dialogue can and must continue in the coming months and years.

Bread for the World chief speaks tomorrow, Sunday, in Tacoma

Bread for the World President David Beckmann is the featured speaker, preacher and teacher at two days’ worth of events in the greater Tacoma area titled “Exodus from Hunger.”

Sponsored by Associated Ministries and area churches, Beckmann will preach on Feb. 26 at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services at Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood, 3505 122nd Ave. E. That evening, he will deliver a community address about ending hunger from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church, 6730 N 17th St., Tacoma. No reservations are necessary; donations are requested.

On Feb. 27, Beckmann will be featured in a dialog, address and luncheon from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mark's. The cost is $40.

St. John's in Chehalis seeks lay youth minister

Readers,

I'm rerunning the blurb below. This is a vibrant, wonderful congregation, and if I lived closer to Chehalis, I'd definitely make this my church. They have a lot of young people here, and the congregation really needs a lay youth minister in place pretty soon. So look around and see if you know anyone who might be suited here. Like I said, it's an uplifting, positive, really fun group of people at St. John's.

— Rachel Pritchett, communicator

St. John’s Lutheran Church of Chehalis seeks a part-time lay youth minister to work with middle- and high-school students. The applicant should be creative in planning and executing fellowship and service activities, as well as qualified to lead in spiritual formation. The position is 12 hours a week. St. John’s has a congregation of about 400 worshipers including 40 youth. Contact the Rev. D. Randall Faro at (360) 748-4741.

Deadlines coming

The deadline to submit copy and photos for the March synod newsletter "Moments for Mission" is Friday, Feb. 24. That also is the deadline for the May synod insert to The Lutheran magazine of the ELCA.

Rachel Pritchett
rachelpritchett@msn.com
(206) 498-0920, cell

Triple Crown? It could happen

By Rachel Pritchett, synod communicator

No one can seem to keep up with the Rev. Mary Davison, 70.

Wiry and full of energy, the retired Tacoma-area pastor has hiked all 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail, mostly by herself. She is almost done hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. That would be 2,600 miles.

"I just can't seem to hang up my hiking gear yet, because I'm going to start the Continental Divide Trail," she said. One foot in front of the other, Davidson will attempt that trail — between 2,300 miles and 3,100 miles, depending on route choices — starting in April and perhaps continuing over the next five years.

If she completes that third ambitious attempt, she'll have triumphed in the hikers' "Triple Crown." She may become the oldest female to do so.

"I'm not a fast hiker, but stubbornness is my strong point," she said. Davison averages about a dozen miles a day.

"It's beautiful. You meet incredible interesting people. There's tremendous goal-setting, problem-solving and learning about yourself, others and this wonderful creation" she said. Somethings she gathers hikers she encounters and worships using Marty Haugen's "Holden Evening Prayer."

"On the long hikes I miss the worshiping community," said Davison, who had a knee replacement last year.

Davison's a lifelong hiker, but got her start in long-distance hiking when she completed the Wonderland Trail at Mount Rainier at 60 with her daughter. Her progress can be tracked at trailjournals.com. Search for "Medicare Pastor."

One pastor's preference to be in the blessing business

By the Rev. Kim Latterell, Creator Lutheran Church of Bonney Lake, creatorpastor@comcast.net

Maybe it’s time for churches to get out of the wedding business. While I’ve enjoyed being a part of that special day for couples for over 30 years as their pastor, I would rather have every couple complete all the legal work necessary for publicly recognized relationships ahead of time. In short, I’d rather they first get legally married before a justice of the peace and then come to the church for a special celebration and blessing among friends and the community of faith. I would be content for the state to handle all the legal requirements that support marriage and the protection of partners and family while allowing pastors, priests and rabbis the opportunity to focus on marriage preparation and the celebration of the couple’s promises to each other before family and God. I prefer to be in the blessing business.

Such a change, I suspect, would be welcomed by many pastors who feel pressed at times to perform weddings for couples with little faith or connection to any faith community but who want "the traditional wedding."

It would allow the state to uphold constitutional rights of every citizen (thus allowing for a variety of marital expressions) while allowing individual faith communities the opportunity to be selective in whom they choose to offer "God’s blessing" on this new relationship. Religious communities that support the right of all adult people to marry as they choose, can offer blessing upon those relationships, while those who define marriage more narrowly are free to bless only those marriages that fit with their faith perspective.

At its root, irrespective of either the state or the church, marriage is built on the promises shared between two people as they commit themselves wholeheartedly to one another for a lifetime of love and care. The state has a vested interest in marriage as a foundational social and economic relationship for stable community life. The church has a vested interest in marriage as a significant means for the protection and support of spouse and children as they seek to create a loving and safe home. Restrictions on the race, gender, sexual orientation, age (as adults), social status and religious differences need to play no part in defining whose relationship is legally recognized and protected.

Yet individual faith communities would retain latitude in which ones they choose to "bless."

At weddings in which I officiate, I appreciate that my role no longer declares, "I pronounce you man and wife" (especially since my words can’t change gender!), nor, "I pronounce you husband and wife." Rather, after the couple has exchanged their vows, my role is to declare simply, "By the promises made before God, family and friends, (name) and (name) have bound themselves to one another in marriage." It seems to me that the words "have bound themselves to one another" are what truly define any and every marriage made under heaven. I’m quite content to let the state legalize those vows, and willing to let faith communities choose whether or not to speak a God-blessing upon those promises, though I suspect in the end, God retains the right to bless whomever God so chooses, independent of our limited views, prejudices and practices.

Dispatches from the most recent Synod Council meeting

Readers,

This report is from Rick Nelson on the latest Synod Council meeting. Besides being a member of the Synod Council, Rick also is editor and publisher of the Wahkiakum County Eagle in Cathlamet, and knows very well how to write and meet deadlines. I think you'll be hearing more here and in the newsletter and Lutheran supplement from Rick, not only about the Synod Council meetings, but also the Hunger Committee meetings, and maybe some news and feature stories. Thanks so much, Rick. It's great to have two of us pulling this wagon.

— Rachel Pritchett

By Rick Nelson, Synod Council member

Members of the Southwestern Washington Synod Council discussed the theme of the 2012 synod assembly, the synod's finances and possible options for the Living Stones Prison Ministry when it held its January 21 teleconference.

Scheduled for May 18 to 19 at the Vancouver Hilton, the synod assembly theme, said Bishop Robert D. Hofstad, will be "Sunday Faith on Monday Morning." Speakers will explore the notion of how people express their Christian faith in their daily lives and vocations.

The keynote speaker, whom Bishop Hofstad will be Gov. Christine Gregoire. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America churchwide representative will be Secretary David Swartling, a former Seattle attorney and synod vice president.

Synod Finances

Bishop Hofstad and synod Treasurer Andreas Udbye reported the synod will likely finish the 2011-2012 fiscal year with revenues approximately $60,000 below the budgeted amount. The synod budget totaled $960,000, and actual revenue will be close to $900,000, Udbye said.

Hofstad said that, because of ongoing expense reductions, the actual shortfall to the synod will be around $12,000. Hofstad said he planned for a $40,000 shortfall and had already reduced spending. The synod's churchwide contribution, which is based on a percentage of revenue, was automatically reduced with the decline in revenue.

Hofstad said that the synod also has received some unexpected funds from the Lutheran Community Foundation in Minneapolis that could reduce the deficit further. Also, two congregations which have been behind their normal giving levels have pledged to catch up, and three congregations have pledged to increase their giving to the synod.

Council members noted that the synod has had to adjust spending for the past two years to meet its expenses. The council and synod staff committed to the issue of declining revenue by promoting mission support to the synod.

Living Stones ministry

The council also addressed the Living Stones Prison Ministry at the Washington Correctional Center for Men in Shelton. The synod assembly voted to start the ministry six years ago, Bishop Hofstad said, with the expectation that the program would become self supporting through support from synod congregations.

The program costs about $95,000 per year, Hofstad said, and support from congregations only brings in just over $30,000. "Five year ago, none of us knew the economic downturn would happen," Hofstad said. "Several congregations have reduced giving or dropped it."

Hofstad outlined an idea to reduce spending while maintaining the ministry; he plans to present a concrete proposal to the council when it meets March 31 in Olympia.

"If we continue to value this as a ministry, it's incumbent upon us to find it a way to make it work," commented Synod Vic President Jim Hushagen.

Celebration lifting up incarcerated women this Saturday

Readers, organizer Joan Nelson tells me this event is near-full, but there's probably still room for you. I went last year, and discovered quite a few of our congregation members quietly supporting Empowering Life, which helps women and their families as they tackle successful lives on the outside. It's got a valentine's theme. Here's an earlier blurb with the specifics. — Rachel Pritchett

An Empowering Life benefit to help incarcerated women prepare to exit into the world takes place fro 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 11 at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church, 6730 N 17th St., Tacoma. Dinner, dessert, a silent auction and entertainment is planned. Women who have been incarcerated will talk about how Empowering Life helped them and their families succeed afterward. The suggested donation is $15. To make reservations, contact Joan Nelson at joan2nelson@comcast.net or (253) 208-3307.

Lutheran theologian aims to widen the conversation

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

SEATTLE — Newly arrived Lutheran theologian Michael Reid Trice has begun at the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, where future religious leaders are taught ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

"What we're doing now is building out a more robust interreligious platform in an intentionally ecumenical climate," said Trice, who now holds the title of assistant dean of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, a new position at the university with Jesuit roots.

That means more staff and new graduate-level curricula focused on increasing students' fluency and comfort level in conversation that no longer falls silent at the borders of Christianity.

"Tomorrow's leaders have to know the challenges of an increasingly diverse religious world we inhabit together," Trice said. "We'll have students leaving STM with an increased toolbox where they navigate what truly works and what doesn’t."

The effort is funded in part by grants from the Henry Luce and Bill and Melinda Gates foundations.

Trice said interreligious dialogue means becoming proficient in explaining your faith to others, and effectively and sensitively engaging in dialogue. It means listening carefully to others as they explain their own beliefs, and also asking the deeper questions. And it means finding common ground on issues from worship to injustices that plague our shared humanity.

"Yesterday’s emphasis on toleration meets today’s demands for solidarity reflected in social movements around the world,” according to Trice.

"Here's where theology gets traction for students’ beliefs in the community, where the faith we confess begins to walk with other people," Trice said.

It's also pure evangelism.

"We're actually right at the core of our evangelical witness when theology and practice are seamless. That's a undeniable public witness."

The future of theological education must focus on an intentionally ecumenical and theologically fluid student body that has responses to the religious challenges of the 21st century, Trice said.

STM and Seattle U are national leaders in the trend. And it's no accident it's happening in the Pacific Northwest, second most unchurched region of the United States next to New England.

"The Pacific Northwest is on the curve of a spiritual and public struggle with the concept of being a believing community, while re-imagining traditional structures," he said.

Trice, 42, came to STM and Seattle U from Chicago, where he was the associate executive of ecumenical and interreligious relations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. His career has included work with Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches. He has served on behalf of Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson on the White House Task force for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation.

He earned a doctorate in constructive theology from Loyola University at Chicago in collaboration with the University of Munich, and holds two masters degrees in theology from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and Duke University in North Carolina.

At STM, Trice also is an assistant professor of practical theology. He has relocated from Chicago to Shoreline.

Youth event includes service project, experimental worship

The Pierce County Youth Hunger Summit taking place Saturday, March 3, in Tacoma offers a full day of service and worship to benefit causes that fight hunger.

Starting at 9 a.m. and continuing through lunch until 4 p.m., the day starts with a service project and ends with taking part in experimental forms of worship and education.

It happens at Mason United Methodist Church, 2710 N. Madison St., Tacoma.

For more information, including cost, contact by Feb. 22 Terri Heckroth at creatorterri@comcast.net or 253-862-7700; or Heidi Calhour and heidic@associatedministries.org, 253-383-3056, Ext. 117.

The event is sponsored by Associated Ministries and others.

Column: More apt to give with our wallets than of personal time, commitment

By the Rev. Kim Latterell, Creator Lutheran Church of Bonney Lake, creatorpastor@comcast.net

For several decades I’ve served moderately well-off congregations who are quite adept at giving and committed to doing charitable acts.

More than a tithe of congregational giving is expended each month in support of both local community and larger church needs apart from ourselves. In fact, my current congregation has a strong (albeit quiet) reputation for its willingness to consistently put significant dollars into feeding, housing, and serving those in need through food banks, Sumner Family Service and a host of other support groups. We help build houses through Habitat for Humanity, send adult and youth groups on annual national and international mission and work trips, do the seasonal food baskets and clothing drives.

But like many faith communities, we are quicker with our wallets for charitable giving than with personal time and commitment to address and change systemic challenges that keep the poor desperate and trapped. While charity can be an immediate response, justice demands so much more when our intention is to truly make a lasting difference for more than just those who stand before us.

Still we keep trying to grow in our awareness and our response. We worked for nearly two years to connect with the community organizing group Sound Alliance. We currently support a multifaith advocacy group called Faith Action Network. We invite speakers in for adult education classes on local and area needs. And we listen as scripture regularly encourages us through sermons and study to engage ourselves in the life of the local and larger community. We know political engagement is an essential arena for Christian faith because politics (not partisanship) speaks best to our life together.

We are discovering that knowing is not the same as doing and in fact, knowing without doing can create a level of guilt that inhibits action even further. I suspect one of the biggest obstacles in congregations like the ones I’ve served has much to do with the majority of us being at least moderately well off economically and socially. Our lives are safe enough to minimize our own sense of risk, and secure enough to shelter us from our neighbor’s desperate and growing needs. The temptation often is to settle for altruism flavored by compassion instead of justice centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Add an inborn Lutheran tendency towards quietism, that desire to help row but not rock the boat, and the call for justice for more than just us can slip into the background.

Middle-class churches, like the middle-class of society, carry an inherent fear of falling, of failing, if sufficient attention is not centered on our own survival. It often seems prudent to give until it begins to help but usually not until it challenges, not if the giving of time and money costs so much it changes our lifestyle too. Charity is much safer than advocacy and a hand-out much more convenient than the challenge of arm-in-arm action. As a larger faith community, we need reminders that it takes both to accomplish a hand-up, a leg-up, a step-up for all God’s children. God-willing all faith communities will one day learn to rock the boat hard enough to create opportunities for every boat to be raised together.

Lives of Christians in Guatemala the focus of upcoming Silverdale Lay School of Theology

The Rev. Amanda Olsen de Castillo, former intern at Silverdale Lutheran Church and now serving in a Lutheran congregation in Guatemala, is the featured speaker of the upcoming annual Silverdale Lutheran Church Lay School of Theology. Taking place March 3 to 4, three sessions are planned.

The first, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3, looks at being Christian in Guatemala. Dinner follows from 5 to 6 p.m. In the evening, from 6 to 7:30, participants will learn about Christians daily life in the Central American country in session two.

The third session, from 9:40 to 10:40 a.m. Sunday, March 4, addresses mutual mission. The cost is $10 per person per session, or $15 for two, with no charge for the third session. The suggested donation for dinner is $10 per person or $20 per family. More information and registration is at http://www.silverdalelutheran.org/Lay_School_of_Theology.php.

Some upcoming events in the synod ...

Event aimed at helping incarcerated women

An Empowering Life benefit to help incarcerated women prepare to exit into the world takes place fro 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 11 at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church, 6730 N 17th St., Tacoma. Dinner, dessert, a silent auction and entertainment is planned. Women who have been incarcerated will talk about how Empowering Life helped them and their families succeed afterward. The suggested donation is $15. To make reservations, contact Joan Nelson at joan2nelson@comcast.net or (253) 208-3307, or send a check to Nelson at P.O. Box 1803, Gig Harbor, WA 98335.

Help for couples offered

The Rev. Greg Kaurin of Messiah Lutheran Church of Auburn and wife Dr. Pauline Kaurin will present a series of courses at the church to help couples keep their relationships strong. They take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday evenings between Feb. 12 and March 15. For more information, contact Darrel Dietz at dietz1948@yahoo.com.

Augustana Symphonic Band performs at PLU

The Augustana Symphonic Band of Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., will perform at 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at Lagerquist Hall at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma as part of a West Coast tour. Playing since 1874, the band will present traditional and eclectic selection. No reservations are required and the concert is free. A free-will offering will be taken.

Women conduct spring retreat at Dumas Bay

The Rev. Jan Otto of All Saints Lutheran of Auburn is the headliner for the Spring Retreat of the Southwestern Washington Women of the ELCA, to take place April 20 to 22 at Dumas Bay Centre of Federal Way. Workshops on keeping homes free from too many chemicals and other topics will be offered. The cost is $165 and includes everything. More more information, contact Carol Fossum at (360) 620-5368 or carolfossum@comcast.net.

Seeking English teachers for next summer in China

By the Rev. Steve Ray, executive director, chinaconnect

Once again, chinaconnect is in search of volunteers to teach English this summer in China. One doesn’t need to be a trained teacher, but have a willing heart to give of themselves to teach oral English to Chinese English teachers. Dates are from July 1 to 30 with an option for travel to Xi’an and Lhasa, Tibet, after teaching. Cost for this program is $1,400 (not including airfare, China Visa, or after-teaching travel).

Building upon last summer’s success, chinaconnect is also planning a youth culture and service project this summer. Our service project will be spending three days at an orphanage near Tianjin, and six days in the city Nanchang, Jiangxi Province working with the a large high school. The dates are July 11 to 26 with sightseeing in Beijing and Nanchang area. The cost for this program is $1,275 (not including airfare and China visa). Groups and individuals are welcome to apply.

For further details, please contact me at sray@chinaconnectonline.org or (253) 225-5989.
chinaconnect looks forward to hearing from you. Join us as we serve the people of China this summer. Also save the date of April 21, where a chinaconnect evening of celebration will take place at 6 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma.

Posting

FAN administrator chief: Faith Action Network of Washington State seeks a director of administration and mission advancement. The position in Seattle is full-time with benefits and salary depends on experience. FAN is an interfaith partnership of faith-based communities and individuals. For more information, visit www.fanwa.org or contact the Rev. Rich Gamble at richg@ccsww.org

Proposed resolution supports ELCA malaria campaign

By Rick Nelson, Hunger Committee member

Voting members of the 2012 Assembly of the Southwestern Washington Synod will consider a resolution to support the Malaria Campaign of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. On Jan. 2, the Synod Hunger Committee agreed to join the synod's Global Mission Committee and Women of the ELCA group in co-sponsoring the resolution in support of the campaign.

The document calls on individuals and congregations to commit themselves to continue as partners in the healing ministry of Jesus by preventing and treating malaria through prayer, advocacy, education and fundraising. The resolution also calls on the three co-sponsors to provide resources for congregations.

The 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly overwhelmingly voted to launch the Malaria Campaign. According to the ELCA Malaria Blog, nearly 800,000 people die each year from malaria, most children under age 5. The disease is preventable and treatable. Churches already have the structure to reach individuals and communities that other organizations can’t reach, but they need financial support, and the synod participation in the campaign will address that need.

On the Web: www.elca.org.

Bread for the World president to keynote Tacoma event

Bread for the World President David Beckmann is the featured speaker, preacher and teacher at two days’ worth of events in the greater Tacoma area titled “Exodus from Hunger.”

Sponsored by Associated Ministries and area churches, Beckmann will preach on Feb. 26 at the 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. services at Mountain View Lutheran Church of Edgewood, 3505 122nd Ave. E. That evening, he will deliver a community address about ending hunger from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s by The Narrows Lutheran Church, 6730 N 17th St., Tacoma. No reservations are necessary; donations are requested.

On Feb. 27, Beckmann will be featured in a dialog, address and luncheon from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mark's. The cost is $30 before Feb. 21 and $40 after. To make reservations, contact Michele Cotton at (253) 383-3056, Ext. 107. Or, registration forms are available at www.associatedministries.org.

From the Bishop's Convocation

Pastors and other church leaders convened Jan. 24 and 25 at the Seabeck Conference Center for this annual Bishop’s Convocation, a chance to pray, study and have fellowship. The featured speaker was the Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim, professor of the Old Testament at Luther Seminary. Bishop Robert D. Hofstad delivered his Bishop’s Report and preached.


Fretheim: Church is walking in the wilderness
The church is wandering in the wilderness, Fretheim told pastors, much like the Israelites who wandered through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land. Once central, church often today is on the margin. As such, it is in a period of re-examining unchanging and narrow interpretations of biblical law, and asking whether wider interpretations can take into account a quickly changing world, according to Fretheim.
Wandering in the wilderness is a time of change. The Israelites evolved from a mentality of enslavement to one of liberation in the wilderness. “Ongoing revision of law emerges in the journey of the wilderness,” he said.


Hofstad: Smaller synod must focus on pastoral care
Bishop Hofstad had numbers to illustrate that the synod, which stretches from south of Seattle to the Oregon border, and from the Cascades to the ocean, has shrunk.
In 1996, 114 congregations supported a synod budget of 1.25 million. Congregations have closed or merged, thanks to the recession, and some have left over the sexuality vote. Today, 92 congregations support a synod budget of $960,000, and two more congregations may leave soon. Funding for synod’s Living Stones Prison Congregation in Shelton is in jeopardy.
A smaller synod has sharpened its focus on “pastoral care,” which must remain strong, he said.
“I believe the future of synod work will be pastoral care, specifically preventative care,” the bishop said, adding it’s needed the most now. That means assisting pastors to avert crisis before it starts, helping them when they are underpaid, and standing with them in the toughest of times. Some congregations have stepped forth with added funds to help.