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Living Faithfully

Assembly: A new, unified roster for lay professionals

The Churchwide Assembly voted 864-32 to create a new category of lay professional leaders, to be called deacons. There was no floor discussion of the change in how the church…

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Living Faithfully

Assembly: Interfaith, global leaders bring greetings

Of the many visitors to bring greetings to the Churchwide Assembly, arguably the most poignant came from Rabbi David Sandmel, director of interfaith affairs for the Anti-Defamation League, and Sayyid…

Assembly: On the way
Living Faithfully

Assembly: On the way

Embracing what many called a special moment in ecumenical history, the Churchwide Assembly endorsed a document listing 32 points of agreement with the Roman Catholic Church, declaring that some issues…

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Living Faithfully

ELCA assembly marked by unity

The New Orleans nickname, “The Big Easy,” may have influenced the voting members of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which met here Aug. 8-13. Most major decisions, including a breakthrough ecumenical…

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Voices of Faith

On forgiveness

The system is broken. The trust is broken. The air conditioner is broken. We hear these words swirling around us every day this summer. During this season of disarray, surrounded…

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Living Faithfully

Holy trek to college

As my daughter Junie prepares to go to college this fall, I think of our journey over the last year as a sort of spiritual pilgrimage. By naming the college…

Young adults pursue ALT-ernate experience after college, high school
Mission & Ministry

Young adults pursue ALT-ernate experience after college, high school

For many young adults, the arrival of August signifies the start of the college journey, a time to pack bags, leave home (maybe) and study independently among thousands of other…

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Living Faithfully

Called to redemptive, resurrecting activity

Like many cities, Portland, Ore., grapples with a lack of affordable housing. Members of Salt and Light Lutheran Church recently worked with the Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good (MACG),…

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Voices of Faith

Grounded in grace: The well that will never run dry

A young boy lived in the country near a well that his grandfather had dug. The boy was fascinated by seeing his grandmother lower her bucket and bring up water…