What a great, personal story about Chris Pollock (September, page 12). What a horribly impersonal headline on that story. “Man grasps college, church & future” sounds like something that may appear in The New York Times or the Chicago Tribune, where it will be read by thousands who know nothing of Chris Pollock. But The Lutheran’s readership is all members of Chris’ family in Christ and in Lutheranism. Why not the headline: “Chris grasps college, church and future”? How about The Lutheran coming into the relational age and getting rid of headlines that use the word “man” and the use of formalized, impersonal last names only to identify people in articles? We all go by first names these days. Even pastors. And that’s good. That’s relational!
Torrey Barcanic
Cottonwood, Ariz.
Jesus loves us all
Thank you to The Lutheran and Pastor Megan Rohrer for “Extending and receiving welcome” (September, page 34). Please continue the dialogue and education for Jesus loves us all, no matter what.
Christy Lind
Broomfield, Colo.
Words of love
Thank you for including an article concerning transgender identity, as well as highlighting the ministry of Pastor Megan Rohrer. While I do not identify as transgender myself, I find it incredibly important for churches, such as the ELCA, to be highlighting issues of sexuality and gender in official publications. This article was not only informative to members attempting to understand trans-issues, but also served as words of love and support to at least one young person in the country who has been questioning his gender.
Nicholas Jaech
Seattle
The ‘Q’ in LGBTQ
“Extending and receiving welcome” shocked me not for the content of the story, which I found to be beautifully bold, but for defining the “Q” in LGBTQ as “queer.” I understand the term to be acceptable within the gay and lesbian community, but it still stands as a pejorative label when used by others. When “Q” was originally added to LGBT, it was to include those who had not yet determined their sexuality and were “questioning” … [which] better speaks to young people who are in the process of discerning their sexuality, letting them know that they are not alone.
The Rev. Douglas A. Hill
Littleton, Colo.
Bearing fruit
As a pastor who has just begun to serve an English-Spanish congregation and who once served in an African-American congregation, I was particularly interested in the chart “Racial diversity by U.S. religious groups” (September, page 8). I think it’s always good for us to do some “soul-searching” when our efforts to reach non-white, non-English-speaking people seem not to be bearing fruit.
The Rev. Ron Nits
Yakima, Wash.
A subpar job
This was a very eye-opening chart that shows the ELCA has done a very subpar job in building a presence among non-white Americans. However, I did not see much on the why this has happened or what is being done to change this poor demographic effort by the ELCA. If I recall correctly, some 20 or so years ago the ELCA put forth a goal of reaching a 10 percent non-white membership level for a time in the future. How about publishing … an honest, balanced explanation on why the ELCA failed to achieve a 10 percent membership level and may have even fallen behind from what it was 25 years ago?
Ronald Entzminger
Arlington Heights, Ill.
Editor’s note: The February 2016 cover story will address multiculturalism in the ELCA.
A land of laws
I read with dismay ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton’s comment in “Immigration move” (September, page 50). “We have always been a people who provide refuge for those seeking asylum.” I believe she leaves out one important fact—the U.S. provides for people who seek asylum legally. Nowhere does she state this and, as a matter of fact, has always left out this argument. We are a land of laws and they are meant to be followed.
Janet Bercik
Rio Rico, Ariz.
Crosswords
The Crossword “Scriptural ‘labor’ ” (September, page 47) was the best one in a long time, and I hope you print more of them by Richard Bansemer. I can never get very far with some of the very hard ones, but this one was easier and more enjoyable.
Carol Schering
New Lenox, Ill.
Frontline work
I enjoy the magazine so much, and I would not like to see it go to an online format only. I enjoy reading the printed word so much. I get the feeling that your ministry is a difficult one. I was retired for six years and now am serving a congregation again because they needed help and called me. This is frontline work, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Please know that your ministry is excellent and appreciated. Don’t let comments like “lame” get you down, as I know you understand. Keep up your great work, and God bless our ELCA.
The Rev. Dennis N. Nelson
Shawano, Wis.
