Lutheran World Federation Council Passes Two Resolutions on the Middle East
June 20 the Lutheran World Federation Council passed two resolutions related to the Middle East.
The resolution supporting Arab Christians in the Middle East supports the efforts of the “Fellowship of Middle East Council of Churches (FMECC) to sustain the Christian presence in the Middle East as a witness for the gospel of love and the sake of moderation.” The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land is lifted up as a member church of the LWF in the region doing this work. The resolution also states that the LWF supports these churches “for the role they play in building a modern civil society that respects internationally-recognized human rights, including freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and promotes gender justice.”
A second resolution about Israel and Palestine highlights that “the well-known core issues that would be part of a final status agreement are still unresolved – borders, security, settlements, movement and access, refugees, mutual recognition and the status of Jerusalem.” The resolution supports both the French and Arab Peace Initiatives and calls on member churches to promote the participation of their own governments.
We want to create a space for sharing the stories and experiences of the Gathering. A place that wasn’t filled with the latest updates or specific details, but rather a place for those who love and are transformed by this ministry to share their stories, best practices, and insights.
There are plans for youth participants, adult leaders, Gathering staff, team leaders, artists, speakers, learning partners, and host city leaders to contribute to the blog over the next few months. As we enter the preparation phase of the Gathering, we will call on adult leaders and others to share their experiences and helpful tips. But our plans are flexible, and we will see how the story of the 2018 Gathering unfolds.
If there are people you would like to hear from or things you would like to see told on the blog, please let us know by email.
We invite you to subscribe to our blog. This is a separate list from our gNews, so be sure to sign up. In fact, it would be great for everyone in your congregation or ministry to sign up, so they too can read first-hand the impact the Gathering has on individuals and communities.
Molly Beck Dean,
Gathering Director
De la persecución al testimonio
Por Elizabeth Eaton
Desde hace muchos meses nos han estado pidiendo algún tipo de declaración sobre la persecución de los cristianos en todo el mundo. Parece ser una cuestión sin complicaciones: Los cristianos están sufriendo en Iraq y Siria, en Nigeria y Egipto. Los palestinos cristianos encuentran una presión intensa. Los cristianos de algunas partes de la India están amenazados. Algunos incluso dirían que los cristianos estadounidenses se encuentran en estado de sitio. Las atrocidades cometidas contra los cristianos por el Estado Islámico, Boko Haram, al-Shabab y otros aparecen con regularidad en las noticias. Escuchamos que en años recientes han sufrido martirio más cristianos que en los primeros tres siglos del movimiento cristiano.
Cada caso de violencia contra los cristianos es profundamente doloroso. Existen hermanos y hermanas en todo el mundo cuyas vidas forman parte de la pasión de Cristo. En algunos países están persiguiendo a algunas personas porque son cristianas. Pero esta es una cuestión compleja. ¿Están sufriendo y muriendo los cristianos como testigos de la fe? Sí. Pero en muchos lugares el conflicto interreligioso ha sido utilizado como un pretexto calculado para conseguir ventajas políticas. El discurso de religión contra religión, o de religión contra la sociedad, es una forma eficaz de generar apoyo para la causa de alguien específico. Lamentablemente, la sospecha y el miedo al “otro” conducen a la intolerancia y la discriminación.
La persecución a los cristianos no es nueva. Los mártires han existido desde los principios de la iglesia. Esteban sufrió martirio con el consentimiento de Pablo, quien fue martirizado por el imperio romano. Pablo citó los salmos, escribiendo: “Por tu causa siempre nos llevan a la muerte; ¡nos tratan como a ovejas para el matadero!” (Romanos 8:36).
La indignación es una reacción natural a las decapitaciones y las crucifixiones. El instinto de devolver el golpe es comprensible. Muchos luteranos aceptan que la fuerza letal puede ser necesaria en un mundo desolado. La venganza, sin embargo, no es una opción para un cristiano.
Elevo mis oraciones porque ninguno de ustedes sufra nunca la violencia por la fe, pero cada generación ha tenido que hacer frente a la hostilidad. El teólogo alemán Dietrich Bonhoeffer escribió: “Soportar la cruz no es una tragedia, es el sufrimiento que es fruto de una alianza exclusiva con Jesucristo”.
“Mártir” es una palabra griega que significa “testigo”, “dar testimonio”. Un testigo también puede ser un símbolo que testifique que se ha logrado una acción prometida. Cuando hablamos sobre la persecución de los cristianos, la verdadera cuestión es: “¿Cuál será nuestro testimonio?”
Esta es una historia de cómo respondieron a esa pregunta algunos luteranos de Etiopía. Sucedió en uno de nuestros sínodos compañeros. Unos musulmanes quemaron una iglesia pensando que estaban atacando a católicos romanos. Pero por error quemaron una iglesia luterana. Fueron arrestados y enviados a la cárcel. En esa región el cuidado de la higiene y alimentación de los prisioneros es responsabilidad de sus familias. Pero los miembros de la iglesia luterana pidieron a las autoridades que les permitieran cavar las letrinas de los prisioneros y alimentarlos. Ese fue su testimonio ante la persecución.
Los cristianos no son los únicos a los que se identifica y persigue por su religión. Se ha reportado que el Estado Islámico ha asesinado a más musulmanes que a miembros de cualquier otro grupo. Nuestro testimonio debe ser el de trabajadores por la paz y defensores de las minorías religiosas en nuestro país y en todo el mundo. Debemos ser los que alcemos la voz cuando se caracterice falsamente a religiones enteras por las acciones de unos extremistas. No aceptaríamos que se definiera al cristianismo por el Ku Klux Klan o el movimiento de Identidad Cristiana. No debemos definir a comunidades enteras por la distorsión de su religión.
La cruz es el símbolo visual que nos ha dado Dios de que se ha alcanzado una acción prometida. Es la señal de Dios en la arena. Es el testimonio de Dios de la verdad de que “en todo esto somos más que vencedores por medio de aquel que nos amó. Pues estoy convencida de que ni la muerte ni la vida, ni los ángeles ni los demonios, ni lo presente ni lo por venir, ni los poderes, ni lo alto ni lo profundo, ni cosa alguna en toda la creación, podrá apartarnos del amor que Dios nos ha manifestado en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor” (Romanos 8:37-39).
Mensaje mensual de la obispa presidente de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América. Esta columna apareció por primera vez en la edición de junio de 2016 de la revista en inglés The Lutheran. Reimpreso con permiso.
We pray for migrant families today.
We are deeply saddened by the Supreme Court’s decision today on Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA+) programs. This 4-4 decision will result in the continued separation of families, forcing them to live life in the shadows. As a church with deep immigrant roots and ministry in migrant communities, we pray today for the safety and well-being of the young people, sons, daughters, and parents that will be affected by the Court’s ruling in United States v. Texas. The Supreme Court decision sends this issue back to lower courts, effectively preventing the implementation of an executive order that would have provided parents of U.S. citizen children and some young people relief from deportation.
The ELCA will continue to be in ministry with migrant communities and work towards policies that reflect our biblical calling to welcome all children of God into our communities. As we are reminded in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Let us strive ever to love at all times, and provide hope and comfort to our brothers and sisters in this time of adversity.
Learn more about the faith community’s response to today’s decision. Statements will be posted as they are made available:
From accompaniment to advocacy: Reflections on Central America migration
The reflections you will encounter are from Gettysburg seminarians who traveled to Honduras and Guatemala earlier this year in order to better understand the conditions driving so many to leave their communities. The words you will read are excerpts from reports the students wrote as part of the class that brought them on this trip. The videos were recorded for ELCA Advocacy. Each entry highlights something the author learned when they met individuals from communities the ELCA accompanies or is in relationship with. We hope these reflections show the amazing power that individuals have to move from accompaniment to action by walking and advocating alongside affected communities.
We would like to thank Gettysburg Seminary and all of the students who shared their stories with us.
(All names and locations referred to in these reflections have been changed to protect community members.)
A call that all Christians have – by Chris Schaefer
The power people of faith have to connect and listen
A reflection by Alaide Vilchis Ibarra, Assistant Director for Migration Policy
As a new(ish) U.S. citizen, I am always curious about what drives so many of us to be advocates in this country. These reflections remind me that when people of faith spiritually connect and truly listen to others, even those whose language we might not speak, God gives us an amazing power for good.
I am humbled that these seminarians chose to share faithful reflections about their trip to Central America, and I am proud that they viewed advocacy as part of their responsibility as faith leaders. I also know that there are thousands
of others who are out educating friends and neighbors about issues affecting their communities, visiting their elected officials to discuss their concern for brothers and sisters who live in poverty, and work in ministries that provide hope and support for people throughout the world.
As you read these reflections, I hope you take with you a sense of the amazing power that exists in sharing what we learn through accompaniment with others in community and with those in power so that we may live in a world where everyone is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
In the final reflection of this series, we will hear again from Chris Schaefer. Chris traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak with his elected officials about his experience in Central America. His movement from accompaniment to advocacy serves as a great example of the impact people of faith can have in affecting positive policy change.
Protecting our environment and protecting each other – by Kayla Edmonds
https://youtu.be/yQqbzYaqs7g
“La lucha” “The struggle”
…The most surprising part of our trip to Central America was the massive impact that climate change plays in migration. Due to climate change the communities that had two growing seasons now only have one…If the crop doesn’t come through then they either have to go without or take out loans.
What exactly does accompaniment mean?
A friend of mine explained it to me by using the story from the bible the Road to Emmaus. In the road to Emmaus story, two of Jesus disciples are walking along the road to Emmaus when Jesus appears to them and walks alongside them. We are not Jesus in this story. I don’t think I can emphasize this enough. We. Are. Not. Jesus. We are one of the disciples and our neighbors in Central America are the other disciple. And as we are walking along together, Jesus comes and walks along beside of all of us.
Statistics vs. the real story
We see statistics all the time on migration. Rarely though do we ever hear the stories of those who have migrated or tried to migrate. These people are not numbers; they are real people who are simply trying to provide for themselves and their families a better life. I wasn’t sure what to expect from our trip to Central America, I had never been out of the country or even on a plane for that matter…
Through this trip I realized just how small my world and my view of the world truly was. And for that I am truly grateful. I am more aware of the world outside of my little world and of the need to walk beside of our brothers and sisters in Central America and beyond. Nothing has ever impacted me as much as this trip did, and I look forward to seeing how this experience will shape and change my future ministry.
“I knew how much they were giving up” – by Ariel Williams
He wanted to be home – by Patrick Ballard
Reflexiónes de unaperegrina – Reflections from a sojourner – by Jennifer Crist
“El sacrificio” “Thesacrifice“
We began [our visit] by watching families and jovenes arriving at the end of their attempt to migrate…As we waited outside for the buses of deported migrants to arrive… I wondered who might arrive on the bus that had just been deported from the US due to increased ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids…
There were many more families traveling together than I expected… One could transport these families to somewhere like Disney World, stepping off of the shuttle bus after a long day of lines and rides and eating; carrying backpacks and sweaters. But these families were not returning from any vacation. Instead of their backpacks carrying all that they needed for one day at the park, their backpacks were carrying all of their possessions, everything they needed to traverse multiple countries. I wonder what I would put in my backpack? What if my backpack got stolen? What would I do? Unfortunately, I imagine most of these families have faced these questions…
Our final visit of the day was to … a neighborhood claimed as a territory of the MS-18 gang… A twenty-five year old woman, named Luz, spoke about her journey north to Mexico, where she worked until she felt she could no longer be separated from her baby who remained in Honduras. As she talked, she often paused, expressing her gratitude to God. She spoke of the reasons she left, as being intimately interwoven with the violence of the neighborhood: “Here the colonia is very dangerous. Living here limits us. There is not work, because when they hear we are from this area, they don’t hire us. We can’t get a loan, because of our address here. One doesn’t LIVE like this, with insecurity and fear.”…Despite all of her negative experiences, she spoke of the hope she had felt when CASM [the Comisión de Acción Social Menonita] connected with her. She said, “Thank God….No one ever helped me like that before.”
“Arroz Blanco” “White rice”
Despite being tired from a long day and food preparation in the hot, dark kitchen, I was pleasantly surprised by a migrant passing through, named Marco…Both of our childhood families were very poor. My mother would prepare white rice with a little bit of milk and sugar for us for dinner; Marco’s mother would prepare arrozblanco with a little bit of coffee and sugar for him for dinner. We both only realized as adults that this was because our mothers were poor and couldn’t afford better dinners. To this day, he and I both adore white rice prepared the way our mother’s had prepared it when we were children. White rice is our comfort food. As I watched Marco depart the next day, I embraced him and whispered, “¡Te cuidas!” as I thought of his mother and of my oldest Guatemalan sons. Though our experiences had been similar in childhood, I was born in a different geographical location, not needing to make a perilous journey to a better future. While I could freely travel into and out of his country, he had to endure violence and hardship in order to enter mine. A wave of guilt washed over me as I watched him depart with his backpack…
“La Lucha“ “The struggle”
[I] found myself reading about Jesus in the desert being tempted by Satan. As I read about Jesus enduring many things (hunger, humiliation, etc.), I was reminded of stories that I had heard of hardship in traveling to El Norte….stories of hunger, violence, and violation of basic human rights. After Jesus endured the temptation, Luke’s version simply has Jesus returning home. And that is the reality of many migrants as well. I imagine when Jesus returned home, he was tired from his journey in the desert, but he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. According to the writer of Luke, Jesus did not go home to rest from his journey in the wilderness, but instead he began his public ministry of teaching. And as Jesus stood up in his “home congregation” and revealed his authority from God, he also announced his job description to those who were gathered: to bring good news to the poor and to liberate the oppressed. Jesus was focusing on justice and mercy.
After returning home…
As I finish this [reflection], the community I have been gathering as a mission developer, Communities of Hope, is preparing to gather in a coffee shop in Harrisburg, PA. We will sing, hear God’s Word, and share a meal together. However, we also intentionally decided that at every worship service we would have an advocacy component within our liturgy. I will share one of the stories from Honduras (listed below) with the community tonight.
¿Porquéestánaquí? – by Chris Schaefer
On our first full day of travel in Honduras, we had the opportunity to visit with a small Lutheran community that gathered regularly at a home in [a] small village. While there, several gentlemen shared their stories of attempts to migrate north to Mexico and the United States. They demonstrated great candor in relating many of the trials, hardships, and set-backs they had experienced before leaving their families and friends behind… After the gentlemen wrapped up their accounts, a patriarch of the village stood up and asked our group, “¿Porquéestánaquí?” or, “Why are you here?”
He continued by expressing some confusion as to our purpose because after all of the questions and answers exchanged between our groups he was still unsure why we would come all this way to ask about information that we already knew, particularly regarding why folks were migrating and what faced them on their journeys. Many of us had to admit that we were actually fairly ignorant about the causes of the immigration crisis… The patriarch’s question struck a chord with me, though, and forced me to reexamine my reasoning in accompanying this group, as well as why our group was there as a whole.
Seeing the faces of our neighbors
The staggering statistics that surround these stories are often too vast to comprehend and fully internalize, but the story of an individual allows and enables us to see the faces of our neighbors and better live out our calling as Christians to love and care for all of our neighbors, regardless of whether they live right next door or in a country far from our home.
As we continued on the trip, my preconceived notions about the intelligence and abilities of those living in the Northern Triangle were continually shattered and rebuilt in a way where I could better see the true nature of partnership in community and how these strangers living in a foreign land demonstrated true discipleship…
Kindling a stronger sense of love, compassion, and justice
I drew great inspiration and strength from our interactions, and because of that, a stronger sense of love, compassion, and justice has been kindled within me, and I am quite certain that the Holy Spirit was present and active in, with, and among us.
Their strength and courage and trust in God in all things has helped tear down walls of fear and anxiety that surrounded me. I feel strengthened and invigorated to live out mycalling as a Christian and I plan to take the stories that were so trustingly and generously shared with us and pass them to others so that the Spirit may work through them as the Spirit has worked in me.
Eaton escribe carta a líderes de la ELCA invitándoles a que prediquen sobre raza, diversidad e inclusión
17 de junio de 2016
Estimados líderes ordenados de la ELCA:
Que la gracia y la paz sean con ustedes en el nombre de Jesucristo. Hoy nos unimos a nuestros hermanos y hermanas de todo el mundo para conmemorar el aniversario de los nueve mártires de Emanuel. Seguimos llorando la pérdida de esas nueve vidas preciosas, y oramos para que sus familias puedan hallar consuelo en el amor de Dios.
Durante el último año, hemos lidiado como nación, y como iglesia, con los retos de enfrentar el racismo. Juntos a través de nuestros diversos ministerios, la ELCA ha participado en oraciones llenas de lamento y ha ido en pos de actos de justicia racial y reconciliación. Estos también han sido tiempos de intensificar la colaboración con nuestros compañeros ecuménicos, entre ellos la Iglesia Episcopal Metodista Africana (AME, por sus siglas en inglés).
El Consejo de Obispos de AME emitió una poderosa declaración para marcar el aniversario de Charleston: http://disciples.org/ecumenical/statement-m-e-bishops-charleston-anniversary/
Deseo dirigir su atención a tres llamados a la acción que les invito a considerar:
Llamamos a otras comuniones, en particular a nuestras comuniones predominantemente blancas, a unirse a nosotros para predicar e instruir y para condenar el racismo.
El Consejo de Obispos de la Iglesia Episcopal Metodista Africana solicita que, durante el fin de semana del 24 al 26 de junio, los clérigos de todo el país busquen un intercambio de púlpito con otra iglesia o grupo religioso y prediquen sobre raza, diversidad e inclusión. Además, que organicen momentos de compañerismo e interacciones entre congregaciones locales. Este intercambio se debe llevar a cabo con una organización cristiana o interreligiosa de una raza o religión distinta. (Por favor, consideren el próximo fin de semana como el inicio de una temporada para tales intercambios, continuando durante los meses de verano).
Que clérigos y organizaciones interreligiosas locales inicien diálogos con líderes políticos locales sobre cuestiones de vigilancia policiaca, educación, vivienda y otros temas donde la raza es un factor e impacta a cualquier grupo de manera negativa.
La tragedia del 17 de junio del 2015, personificó la relación compleja de nuestra iglesia con el racismo. Nuestra relación con el atacante —Dylann Roof, quien era un miembro de una congregación de la ELCA— como también con dos de las víctimas abatidas —la Reverenda Clementa Pinckney y el Reverendo Daniel Simmons, quienes eran egresados del Seminario Teológico Luterano del Sur, en Columbia, Carolina del Sur— nos recuerda tanto nuestra complicidad como nuestro llamado. Juntos confesamos que somos cautivos del pecado de racismo y, al mismo tiempo, nos regocijamos en la libertad que tenemos en Cristo Jesús, quien ha “derribado mediante su sacrificio el muro de enemistad que nos separaba” (Efesios 2:14). Que Dios nos siga guiando mientras buscamos el arrepentimiento y la renovación, la justicia racial y la reconciliación entre todos los hijos preciosos de Dios.
En Cristo,
Elizabeth A. Eaton
Obispa presidente de la ELCA emite carta en respuesta a la masacre en Orlando
CHICAGO (ELCA) — La reverenda Elizabeth A. Eaton, obispa presidente de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América (ELCA), emitió una carta en respuesta a la masacre del 12 de junio que cobró las vidas de 49 personas en un centro nocturno de Orlando, Florida. Este es el tiroteo masivo más sangriento en la historia de Estados Unidos. En la carta Eaton declara: “Debemos buscar la paz y reconciliación a la cacofonía del odio y la división. Debemos vivir la verdad de que todas las personas son creadas a imagen de Dios”.
La carta de Eaton continúa:
Estimados hermanos y hermanas en Cristo:
“Y Dios creó al ser humano a su imagen; lo creó a imagen de Dios. Hombre y mujer los creó”. Génesis 1:27
Nos estamos matando a nosotros mismos. Creemos que todas las personas son creadas a imagen de Dios. Toda la humanidad se asemeja a una familia. Las personas asesinadas en Orlando no eran “otros” abstractos, ellas son nosotros. Pero de alguna forma, en la mente de un atacante seriamente perturbado, la comunidad LGBTQ estaba separada de nuestra humanidad común. Esta separación provocó que 49 de nosotros fuéramos asesinados y 54 de nosotros fuéramos heridos.
Vivimos en una sociedad cada vez más dividida y polarizada. Muy a menudo nos separamos en grupos con ideas afines y dejamos fuera a los demás. Esta división no está muy alejada de la demonización. Ayer, fuimos testigos de las consecuencias trágicas que esto conlleva.
Existe otra forma. En Cristo, Dios se ha reconciliado con el mundo. Jesús vivió entre nosotros compartiendo nuestra humanidad. Murió por nosotros para restaurar nuestra humanidad. Dios nos invita a esta obra reconciliadora. Este debe ser nuestro testimonio como Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América. El perpetrador de este crimen de odio no salió de la nada. Fue moldeado por nuestra cultura de división, que a su vez ha sido deformada por la manipulación de nuestros miedos. Eso no es lo que somos. San Pablo escribió: “Por lo tanto, si alguno está en Cristo, es una nueva creación. ¡Lo viejo ha pasado, ha llegado ya lo nuevo! Todo esto proviene de Dios, quien por medio de Cristo nos reconcilió consigo mismo y nos dio el ministerio de la reconciliación: esto es, que en Cristo, Dios estaba reconciliando al mundo consigo mismo, no tomándole en cuenta sus pecados y encargándonos a nosotros el mensaje de la reconciliación. Así que somos embajadores de Cristo, como si Dios los exhortara a ustedes por medio de nosotros: ‘En nombre de Cristo les rogamos que se reconcilien con Dios’”. (2 Corintios 5:17-20).
Nuestra labor empieza ahora. Necesitamos autoanalizarnos, individualmente y como iglesia, para reconocer las maneras en que hemos dividido y en las que hemos sido divididos. Debemos apoyar a quienes que han sido relegados al papel de “los otros”. Debemos buscar la paz y la reconciliación a la cacofonía del odio y la división. Debemos vivir la verdad de que todas las personas son creadas a imagen de Dios.
Esta mañana el personal de las oficinas nacionales de la ELCA se unió en duelo y oración. Oramos por todas aquellas personas que murieron en la masacre de Orlando y recordamos a las nueve víctimas de Charleston que murieron hace apenas un año. Oramos por la familia del atacante, por nuestros hermanos y hermanas de la comunidad LGBTQ y por nuestros hermanos y hermanas musulmanes que ahora se enfrentan al temor de represalias. Oramos por que el Príncipe de Paz nos permita ver el día en que dejemos de matarnos entre nosotros.
Su hermana en Cristo,
Elizabeth A. Eaton
Obispa presidente
Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América
Sobre la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América:
La ELCA es una de las mayores denominaciones cristianas en Estados Unidos con más de 3.7 millones de miembros en casi 9,300 congregaciones en los 50 estados y la región del Caribe. Conocida como la iglesia de “La obra de Dios. Nuestras manos”, la ELCA enfatiza la gracia salvadora de Dios por medio de la fe en Jesucristo, la unidad entre los cristianos y el servicio en el mundo. Las raíces de la ELCA se hallan en los escritos del reformista alemán Martín Lutero.
“Voting for the First Time”- by Rev. Steve Jerbi, contributing blogger
Voting for the First Time
For a moment, my home state was in the political spotlight. Literally. I walked into Lakefront Brewery (it was a work meeting, honestly!) and Chris Matthews and a crew from MSNBC are broadcasting live. Wisconsin had the only primary in the country on Tuesday, April 7. The frontrunners were expected to lose. There was a lot of talk about momentum pushes, brokered conventions and the almighty delegate counts.
In addition to the presidential primaries there were also many general elections. There was a state supreme court election and dozens of municipal elections. I live in Milwaukee where the sins of the city are legion: most segregated city; highest achievement gap; highest incarceration rate for black men; 5th poorest city; international hub for human trafficking; worst place in America to be black. We’ve had a breakdown in police-community relations as officers sexually assault citizens during unwarranted body cavity searches; a citizen calls 911 and the responding officer rapes her; issues of excessive force; racial disparity in traffic stops. The Black Lives Matter movement has rallied around the killing of Dontre Hamilton.
Yes, there are also amazing things happening in my city. There are incredible assets among us. We are making strides in multiple areas of justice. But even as someone who operates from the conviction of abundance rather than from the despair of what is lacking, there is a clear reality check: things here are bad. This ish is messed up.
When the votes were counted and winners declared, all but 1 incumbent in Milwaukee city and county elections won. This was a clear affirmation of the status quo.
Let me be clear – I like some of these incumbents. I work with them. But let’s remember – this ish is messed up. And the voters had a chance to elect some change but opted not to do so.
It is enough to make me think maybe rallying from the despair is a better plan. Politicians always go negative. It is a clear motivator. They do it because it works.
My congregation is deeply political. We are not partisan but we do not shy away from issues that affect our members and our city. Political and electoral solutions are never the only solution, but they are often a part of the solution. We register voters during worship. We preach about voting and pray for voters. We have candidates engage our congregation around issues. We march in the streets. We meet with legislators. We partner with faith-based organizing groups. We partner with secular advocates for workers rights. We aren’t just down with the struggle, we’re deep in it.
So in the midst of what was a depressing electoral outcome, an amazing thing happened. Sabryna, newly 18, was going to vote in her first election. And I as her pastor was invited to share that moment. A little after 8 am, I picked up Sabryna and her mom, Anna. We share the same polling place and we all went to vote. Anna was voter 100. I was 101. Sabryna needed to register so she was a little further down the line. But here were three folks, voting blocks from our congregation. We went to the polls together. The church rejoiced as a member marked this rite of passage in American democracy. We embodied #ELCAVotes.
Voting for the first time.
All Peoples Church member Sabryna, takes a selfie after voting for the first time.
Pastor Steve Jerbi, Sabryna and her mom Anna at the voting polls in Milwaukee.
Our Lutheran tradition teaches us we need to engage deeply in the world, not retreat from it. We can’t fulfill our baptismal covenant to strive for peace and justice in all the world by opting out. We can get frustrated with the outcomes but we cannot become so discouraged that we don’t show up. We go to the polls because it is one of the tools of change and we don’t leave our tools unused.
Voting wasn’t the mechanism to bring a change in political leadership to Milwaukee. This inspires our congregation to explore the other tools available to us. We can identify other assets. We will organize, educate, and advocate to change the statistics and more importantly the lives in our city. And come time for the next election, Sabryna will be ready to use the power of the vote again.
Rev. Steve Jerbi, is the senior pastor atAll Peoples Churchin Milwaukee, WI. He earned a Bachelors of Arts from theUniversity of Montana – Missoulain English Literature with an Environmental Studies minor. He graduated from theLutheran School of Theology at Chicagowith a Masters of Divinity and an environmental ministry emphasis. Pastor Steve is a passionate leader in youth and cross-generational ministry and the interconnected work of racial, economic and environmental justice. Pastor Steve along with his wife Jennifer are raising two grade-school daughters.
Meet the ELCA World Hunger 2016 Summer Interns!
Hello! My name is Scott Van Daalen. I am originally from Waverly, Iowa, and a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. This summer, I have a great opportunity to intern with the ELCA World Hunger Education and Engagement team. ELCA World Hunger has been one of my interests for the past couple of years so I am looking forward to learning more this summer. In high school, I had the opportunity to work on a project that focused on raising awareness and funds for both the ELCA Malaria Campaign and the United Methodist “Imagine No Malaria” Campaign. (Read more about Scott’s project here – https://www.livinglutheran.org/2013/10/running-malaria/)
Another interest of mine is the connection between media and the church. This fall, I will be entering my senior year at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota, where I am studying Media Ministry, a program that combines film production, graphic design, and ministry.
I am very excited to be here, and I am very thankful for the opportunity!
Hello everyone, my name is Micah Kassahun, and I am the ELCA World Hunger Fundraising intern. I am a rising senior at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, studying Public Health and Biology. Due to the nature of my studies, I am very interested in hospital administration, social justice, poverty (both national and international) and issues regarding medical access.
At Purdue, I enjoy serving with Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship on campus as a worship leader and bible study leader. Through my experiences with this ministry, I have learned to make my faith my own and to be unashamed of the Gospel wherever I go.
In the future I hope to obtain a Masters in Public Health (MPH) and possibly move into the corporate world while serving in a capacity related to providing medical access for those in need and aiding my surrounding community.
For fun, I really enjoy competitive sports, playing music and spending time with friends.
I am really excited and blessed to be a part of the ELCA World Hunger team and to see how the Lord uses this Church to spread God’s Word in different ways!
I am Shubira Bocko, and I am the ELCA World Hunger Education Intern this summer! My passion for serving others dates back to my time on the south side of Chicago because there were so many opportunities to make a difference. Through Reformation Lutheran Church, I served meals to homeless people during Thanksgiving, visited nursing homes during Christmas and mentored my peers. I attained my B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Community Sociology at Wartburg College. In college, courses like Community Sociology and Intercultural Studies made me start thinking about a career in international development. These courses opened my eyes to poverty-related issues going on in other parts of the world, and I wanted to make a difference.
One year after college, I was accepted into Peace Corps program in the Philippines. My work there involved providing health education to families and teaching children and youth life skills. Five months into my service, Typhoon Haiyan hit the island where I was living. Shortly after the typhoon, I was evacuated, and I returned to the U.S. However, I was transferred to Peace Corps Tanzania, where I was born, and being given a chance to go serve home was a blessing.
In Tanzania, I had the pleasure of serving as a health teacher at the health clinic in Dodoma. The highlight of my service was working with women and teaching them about nutrition, contraceptive options and HIV prevention. Having served in Peace Corps for two years and learning about the problems that women and children go through – hunger being on top of the list – I wanted an opportunity to learn more about hunger and see ways I can help. I am glad that I will be serving as a World Hunger Education Intern through the ELCA, and I am looking forward to this enriching experience!
ELCJHL Rev. Mitri Raheb radio interview on Atlanta Church Summit and peace in Israel and Palestine
The Carter Center recently hosted a summit of Christian churches and church-related organizations from the United States and the Holy Land in Atlanta called “Pursuing Peace and Strengthening Presence: The Atlanta Summit of American and Palestinian Churches.” The summit was aimed at helping to create “a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land.” Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELJCHL) Bishop Munib Younan attended the summit.
One of the summit participants, Rev. Mitri Raheb (ELCJHL pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem), is interviewed by WBEZ 91.5 Chicago about how he thinks Christian churches and American political leaders can help facilitate peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
