Just this last weekend, I went to a synod workshop put on by Pacific Violence Prevention Institute on "Moving from Controversy to Consensus."  As the title of the workshop conveys, the purpose of the workshop was to help church leaders help congregations move to consensus in the midst of controversy.  The controversy could be anything from what color to paint the church restrooms to ELCA Assembly actions concerning sexuality.
For a community to have a chance of success in moving to consensus, four questions need to be answered in the affirmative by participants.
1.  Do I care about my community? If one comes from outside the community or does not have a real connection to the community, and with it, little concern for the community, then little progress will be made in bringing the church together.
2.  Do I want to make my community better/more effective?  St. Paul repeatedly calls on his readers to build one another up (Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 3:10, 14:12, 26; 2 Corinthians 10:8, 12:19, 13:10; Ephesians 4:12, 16, 29).  A mutual desire for the health and building up of the church is crucial.   This admonition from Paul is a deep rooted foundation around which the church seeks to find unity.
3.  Am I willing to listen and work positively with people in my community who have different opinions, backgrounds, or beliefs in order to make my community better?  This can be very difficult especially with hot topics we feel strongly about whether it be paint color or sexuality statements.  Yet for consensus to be achieved, we must at least be willing to listen to one another and work together for the sake of the whole church community.
4.  Am I willing to continue this process even if I don't get my own way?  This too is difficult.  Many of the various denominations and independent community churches got their start simply because somebody didn't get their own way.  Paul has some pretty strong words about those who seek to divide the church (Galatians 5).  For a community, be it a small group or an entire church, to come to common ground, each one must be willing to stay in there, even when the group goes in a direction we disagree with.

How would you answer these questions?  As a community of faith grounded in the love of God, one that provides a sanctuary of care for all people, let us seek to be the church even in the midst of controversy, so that the good news of the Risen Christ might be shared with all.
Shalom,  ~Pastor Charles

May 23, one service at 9:30 a.m.

 

May 23 is Pentecost!  Our traditional Neighborhood Fun Day, and Chili-Cook Off Contest

Deadlines for submission to The Light for the June 2010 issue is noon on Monday, May 17.  Items for the newsletter may be submitted to Sheryl Ann in the office (503-653-0250), or sent to editor@milwaukielutheran.org.  Please include an author name or contact with each submission.  Your editors appreciate every effort made to submit materials in a timely fashion. Ed.

We remember in our prayers this day: 
Health Concerns:  Marta, Grace, Verlyn, April, Helen, Christopher, Earl, Judy, Trudy, Barbara, Jeff, Joyce Holm, Paul, Linda, Marilyn, Mary, Myra, Betty, Teresa, Jerry, Chris, Joy, Marilyn, Dale, Jean, Alta, Damon, Darrell, Graydon, Dick, Tom, Marian, Mitchell, Bob, Jeremiah, Kelly, Shirley, Jennifer, Julia, Vi, Palmer, Marilyn, Teena, Sandra, children in crisis, Lillian, Alena, Doug, Dean.
 
The Grieving: Kris and Don Berg and family on the death of Kris' mom, Gloria Fritchie; Greg and Gretchen and family and Jeff Jenks on the death of father, grandfather George Jenks. Harvey and Cathy Mathistad on the death of Harvey's mother, Margaret.
 
Those participating in Companions on the Journey: Alan and Sara DuVal, Pat Korsness, Linda Stambulski.
 
The Nations: The President of the United States and our elected officials,  the people and the governments of  Iraq, Palestine, Israel, Afghanistan, Liberia, Sudan and all other countries torn apart by strife. All people around the world in military service for their country. The people of Haiti and Chile as they recover from earthquake devastation. Serving in the military overseas:  Sammy Thole, grandson in law of the Zabels, serving in Afghanistan. Michael Marks, grandson in law of the Schwabauers, serving in Iraq. Tyler Sanders, son of Jeff and Lisa, serving in Afghanistan,  James Hubbard, grandson of Carl and Jean Anderson, serving in Iraq.
 
We pray for those serving Christ around the world: Marian Hungerford-Cameroun; Pastor Steven Ray - China, Dr. Richard Young - Guyana
 
Poland:  Our prayers are with the citizens of Poland as they mourn the death of their country's President Lech Kaczynski as well as one of their Lutheran pastors and Lutheran Bishop Mieczyslaw Cieslar of Warsaw.

Our May 2010 newsletter is eight pages long, and has more news and information than we can comfortably fit into an e-mail.  Please click through our link to read covering articles on Natural Church Development and our Neighborhood Fun Day and Chili Cookoff that will occur on Pentecost (May 23).

 

The Women's Wisdom Group continues the second Tuesday of each month, and there is news MLC Habitat Build Day coming up May 15th.

 

The next Health Ministry lecture is Wednesday May 5 at noon, topic is dermatology.

 

Our Talent Show Auction to benefit the Summer Youth Mission Trip takes place Sunday May 2!

 

There is so much more to share.  Please click through to our newsletter:  May Newsletter  Thank you!