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Voices of Faith

My take: The great value of a pastor’s divided attention

There is an undercurrent at the pastor’s book launch (or community-garden opening or when she flies to present another workshop). A raised eyebrow, some crossed arms or whispered questions shake…

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Living Faithfully

Raising a cheerful giver

Strewn across our bed were the remnants of our toddler’s Christmas haul—stacks of new outfits, empty cardboard boxes, a tower of books, a stuffed reindeer. I turned to my husband…

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Living Faithfully

Strength in prayer

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is located in the heart of Lebanon, Pa., a small postindustrial city whose major steel plant closed in the 1980s. Two years into her ministry there,…

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Living Faithfully

One congregation, six future ministers

Many churches boast of raising up a minister every generation or two, but at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa, six members are currently on the path to ministry—five as…

The core issue: How we interpret the Bible
Voices of Faith

The core issue: How we interpret the Bible

Editor’s note: In this five–part series, former ELCA Presiding Bishop Herbert Chilstrom examines the authority and interpretation of the Bible. Part four explored biblical contextualization throughout church history. Whenever the church…

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Voices of Faith

Lutherans build bridges in America

I’d spent most of my time with Southern Baptists and Pentecostals by the time I was ready to visit Appalachia and central Pennsylvania, bound for the fabled green hills that…

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Voices of Faith

Bent

In the Gospel for the last Sunday of August (Luke 13:10-17), Jesus rebukes temple leaders who question him for healing a woman who had endured a bent posture for 18…

“God is present  every day”
Voices of Faith

“God is present every day”

Walking and greeting everyone she passes with a heartfelt “Good morning,” Jennifer Ginn regularly exercises not only her body but also her soul.  “I meet God on the track at…

2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly – Day six
Living Faithfully

2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly – Day six

The sixth and final day of the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly began Aug. 10 with worship at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. The service featured youth and young adult leaders…

2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly – Day five
Living Faithfully

2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly – Day five

On day five of the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, voting members and guests reconvened Aug. 9 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. The assembly adopted the social statement “Faith, Sexism…