Letter of the Day: For Lutherans, there is sadness, Thanksgiving and dissension

Marlin Levison, Star Tribune

In August 2009, members of the ELCA prayed together in for understanding just after the yes vote was taken and approved on the same-sex amendment.

Last update: November 23, 2009 - 4:57 PM

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Let me understand: Gays can be doctors, lawyers, medical professionals, professors, teachers, athletic Olympians, engineers, but there are Lutheran churches in this country that are leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America because gays are not good enough for the pulpit and must be kept away. They can go to church, put an offering in the envelope, and participate in what the churches have to offer, but must stay away from the pulpit.

I have spent almost 70 years as a Lutheran and am saddened that this is happening. Churches today are trying to keep a robust and lively membership, and this most surely will not have the folks lining up at the door to join. It truly is a sad day for Lutherans.

RUTH ANN JACKSON, DEEPHAVEN

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Thursday morning I read the news "Lutherans ready to split off." I knew it would happen and I didn't like it. I have been part of the ELCA in a way since I was baptized in 1918. I was ready to write again about it, but I didn't because I read the article right below that one: "Brothers, forever" ( the story of Carl and Bill Larson).

As an ordained pastor of over 60 years in the church I love, I found in this little story by Curt Brown what life in the church and the Scriptures is all about. Thank you very much. We need much more of this kind of writing that never really makes the news. In it there is love overflowing, a kind of magical wonder, a look at what matters in life in this broken world of ours. Keep it up and find more of it to make us glad and make us sing for joy and know what real Thanksgiving is.

THE REV. ROBERT S. NELSON, EDINA

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I heard the new ELCA theme song on the radio last night. For almost 500 years it has been Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," but this past August they changed it to George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So."

TOBY WALDOWSKI, WOODBURY

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