Closing a Church’s Doors
by Jodi L. Deike
The decision to close a congregation is never easy. But when it cannot be avoided, it is important to attend carefully and well to the process so that the end result includes healing and good stewardship of resources.

The Eclipse of the Offering?
by H. Paul Santmire
What does the Offering signify? Can we really "offer" anything to God in our worship? While some are raising serious concerns about how to speak of the giving of gifts, the author raises an equally important concern about the Offering and the role of Christian "formation."

Lilly Project Deepening Support for Vocation
by Gretchen Wolfram
In the last decade, the Lilly Endowment has launched several grants programs that raise a central question, and all the answers have to do with programs that engage young people in the theological exploration of vocation.

Exercising Our Church’s Funds
by Jerry H. Johnson
Currently, there are more than 10,650 congregations in the 65 Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The amount of cash or cash equivalents held by this church through its congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization is well into the billions of dollars. We are not speaking here of buildings or other real estate but of cash that resides mostly in bank accounts day after day, month after month, and year after year. In addition, the Board of Pensions is responsible for many more billions of dollars residing in various securities and other investments as directed by members.