Director for Ecumenical Formation and Inter-Religious Relations
May 28, 2008
Dear Friends,
The June 2008 edition of The
Lutheran magazine contains an interesting article about emerging
models of ‘being church’ in North America, from liturgy to the
nature of community itself. On the banner of this issue of the
Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Life E-Newsletter, you will see a
dove released from open, extended hands. Like these emerging
models, we live in a time of tremendous change where the stirrings
of the spirit are lifting us to new trajectories. From emerging
models of being church to emerging awareness of our rich
inter-religious context, we are riding along the winds of change.
And this is good news.
I’ll explain what I mean by good news:
I was principally aware that, as the body of Christ, all expressions
of Christian community bring contributions to the world in distinct
but inseparable ways – For instance, Roman Catholics, Baptists, and
Methodists all introduce nuances in piety, reflection, prayer, and
so forth, which stitch together the body of Christ in the world. As
Lutheran-Christians we likewise bring a particular awareness of
integrating faithful theological discovery with the practical
implications of faith active in love in local communities. From our
theological forebears beginning with Augustine and through Luther,
we exhibit a propensity to exist in the ambiguous ‘both/and’ tension
that is elemental to our pluralistic age. We speak a language of
being both saints and sinners, bound and free, and daily dying and
daily rising through baptism where we are both broken and healed.
In my efforts to represent the ELCA at
inter-religious venues, I am always aware that thousands are
likewise representing this church in their local grassroots efforts
with inter-religious neighbors. I hope as Lutheran-Christians that
we are aware of our heritage of both living into ambiguity
and remaining committed in our vocational calling around the
centrality of God’s greatest gift to us. The point is not only to
live in ambiguity without threat, but to prosper there. I have
rolled up my sleeves with Jewish and Muslim colleagues to seek
awareness in our country without alienating one another, and I do it
not because of a secular humanist principle of ‘minimal acceptance,’
but because the loadstone of gospel truth calls up from our
baptismal waters – you are claimed, gathered, and sent into the
world. The good news is that where faith makes you whole, the world
is also hungry for your work.
As a community of the priesthood of all
believers, I know I never do this good work alone. You are out
there, accompanying others in pain, witnessing to the truth of your
character in Christ, pursuing good work through faith, accepting and
speaking through grace when voices are silenced.
May God continue to bless and keep you
along your way,
Michael
Michael Reid Trice, Ph.D.
Director
Ecumenical Formation and Inter-Religious Relations
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
