Believers to Followers: Come and See!
Why is it that a group of unlikely people can spread the Gospel to others, while we, with all our Bible knowledge, struggle to do the same? The disciples had…
What Your Congregation Can Do to Find Your Next Pastor
What Your Congregation Can Do to Find Your Next Pastor
By now most of you are probably aware of the current clergy supply crisis, and the fact that this shortage is unprecedented in our lifetimes. Just one factor—among…
D.E. Incurvatus In Sei: Navel Gazing and the Narcissist
D.E. Incurvatus In Sei: Navel Gazing and the Narcissist
No man is an island,Entire of itself.Each is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.If a clod be washed away by the sea,Europe is the less.As well as…
Video Ministries: Tools for Worship Planning – Part Two
Video Ministries: Tools for Worship Planning – Part Two
Many thanks to NALC pastor Cathy Ammlung for this second in a series of videos intended to provide congregations - especially those with temporary and/or longer-term pastoral vacancies - with…
Twenty Years of Faithfulness and Blessing
Twenty Years of Faithfulness and Blessing
Note from Lutheran CORE's Executive Director: We thank God for His faithfulness and blessings as we observe the Twentieth Anniversary of Lutheran CORE. Many thanks to Mark Chavez, first Executive…
The Reformed Church is Always…
The Reformed Church is Always…
It is 2025—an auspicious year. We are a quarter way into the 21st century. The Lutheran Reformation is just beginning to essay its second half millennium, and just as the…
Lutheran Theological Refutation of the ELCA Social Statement “Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All”
Lutheran Theological Refutation of the ELCA Social Statement “Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All”
Editor's note: The Social Statement as amended was approved by the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly 762 to 16. Rather than repeat Pastor Nelson’s comprehensive review of the 2025 ELCA Churchwide…
The Five Solas and the ELCA’s Proposed Constitutional Changes: A Call for Faithful Reformation
The Five Solas and the ELCA’s Proposed Constitutional Changes: A Call for Faithful Reformation
Rose Luther. Illustration of theology and confession of faith in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) considers sweeping…
Pagan Christian Faith?
Pagan Christian Faith?
At Confirmation Camp the girl had scrawled across her forearm four pagan runes. Most folks would look past these symbols as mere doodling. But the images are pagan prayers every…
Here We Are, Send Us!
Here We Are, Send Us!
The events that put me at the front line of leading our church out of the ELCA began with an unexpected phone call from our founding pastor. Unbeknownst to him,…
Six Years to Unanimous
Six Years to Unanimous
Six years. That was the length of time St. John’s Lutheran Church of Nanticoke, PA, went without a called pastor. For six years, this incredibly close-knit group of strong lay…
Exit, Stage Right
Exit, Stage Right
Editor's Note: The author is writing about the outlandishness of the 1994 draft. It promoted same sex relationships and masturbation. And it was released to the press before it was…
Preview of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
Preview of the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
I was amazed but not surprised over how little information was coming from the ELCA regarding the momentous decisions that will be made by and the potentially momentous changes that…
Video Ministries: “A Christian Worldview Primer for Twenty-First Century Americans”
Video Ministries: “A Christian Worldview Primer for Twenty-First Century Americans”
Many thanks to Stephen Heath for providing a video summary of his new book, “A Christian Worldview Primer for Twenty-first Century Americans." A link to Stephen’s video can be found…
Lament for a Fallen Train Horse
Lament for a Fallen Train Horse
Editor’s Note: The image above shows soldiers harvesting and cooking a fallen horse. Brett writes, "While originally written in regards to Western culture generally, the thrust of this poem more particularly…
Kicking the Can
Kicking the Can
The Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC) finally released their final recommendations to the ELCA Church Council–and to the larger church, particularly in regards to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly…
The Quandary of Discipleship
The Quandary of Discipleship
Editor's Note: Pastor Megan Ann Shaffer is writing for Lutheran CORE for the first time. She is an NALC pastor in Pennsylvania. “Ugh, discipleship is so law-based.” Sadly, I frequently…
The Horse Has Already Left the Barn:
The Horse Has Already Left the Barn:
An Analysis of Recommendations 1 and 7 in the Final Report of the ELCA's Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church The past couple years we have written extensively about the…
The ELCA’s Quest for Greater Control
The ELCA’s Quest for Greater Control
The Lutheran Congregational Support Network (LCSN) has recently released three more videos which tell of big changes that are on the horizon for the ELCA. HERE is a link…
Orthodox Repentance
Orthodox Repentance
If your church is following the three year lectionary, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10. Officially, the pericope begins, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be…
The Implications of Current Religious Trends
The Implications of Current Religious Trends
To use a somewhat dated expression, it’s “hot off the press.” I am referring to the latest Pew Research Center “Religious Landscape Study.” This is Pew’s third large-scale “Religious…
Video Ministries: Captain Comet and the Intergalactic Patrol
Video Ministries: Captain Comet and the Intergalactic Patrol
Many thanks to Alan Williams for his video review of his book, “Captain Comet and the Intergalactic Patrol.” A link to Alan’s review can be found HERE. A link to…
Approaching the Throne of Grace With Boldness
Approaching the Throne of Grace With Boldness
Every year Lent is a time when we give thanks to God for His great love and amazing grace. How much we need that love and grace. Every year on…
Leadership: Wisdom and Innocence
Leadership: Wisdom and Innocence
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) Our Lord gave these instructions to…
Untrustworthy Faith: Good As Your Word?
Untrustworthy Faith: Good As Your Word?
Is your word any good? Like the Old Westerns, “My word is My bond.” We like to think we are people of our word. We make a concerted effort to…
Vision Casting for Church Leaders
Vision Casting for Church Leaders
Editor’s Note: Click here to register for Lutheran CORE’s next free webinar, Vision Casting for Church Leaders, led by the author. During the night Paul had a vision of a…
March for Life and Y4Life Conference in January!
March for Life and Y4Life Conference in January!
The NALC Life Ministries team is once again preparing for the March for Life in Washington D.C. this January, but our plan is a little different. Instead of holding a…
How Can We Be Sure of Our Salvation?
How Can We Be Sure of Our Salvation?
Many thanks to Dr. Mark Mattes of Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa, for the video recordings of the lectures he recently gave on how we can be sure of…
Accountability
Accountability
In my last article I detailed a way you could tell that “Progressive Christianity” was in fact an alternative to Christianity, namely that it held different things sacrosanct and considered…
No Way to Slow Down
No Way to Slow Down
This January marks the end of my term as President of Lutheran CORE. I have been on the board of CORE since 2019. In that time, my own congregation held…
ELCA Focus
ELCA Focus
Please check out the new page on our website, “ELCA Focus,” which brings together in one place a large number of resources and articles regarding the ELCA. It is intended…
Video Ministries – Review of “The Coddling of the American Mind”
Video Ministries – Review of “The Coddling of the American Mind”
Many thanks to LCMC pastor Daniel Ostercamp for his video review of the book, “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a…
Free Webinar on Church Conflict
Free Webinar on Church Conflict
At the church in southern California where I served as pastor for forty years we had a large Christian day school that went from preschool to eighth grade. The Christmas…
Is Even Greater Conflict on the Horizon?
Is Even Greater Conflict on the Horizon?
Structural and governance changes will most certainly come about from the work of the ELCA’s Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. An all-encompassing redefinition of mission and ministry will most…
Video Ministry – “Understanding Evil From a Christian Perspective”
Video Ministry – “Understanding Evil From a Christian Perspective”
Many thanks to Ken Coughlan for giving us a video review of his recent book, “Understanding Evil from a Christian Perspective.” Ken is a Christian apologist and religion teacher at…
Who Is Like the Lord Our God?
Who Is Like the Lord Our God?
As a friendly commenter noted, my last article needed some serious editing. It is never good for me to find myself writing too close to a deadline; the result is…
The Existential Crisis Facing So Many Congregations
The Existential Crisis Facing So Many Congregations
Pastor Don Brandt The Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), on its website, lists the average worship attendance of each of their 818 U.S. congregations. This data represents a…
Escaping Egypt: Undeserved Loyalty
Escaping Egypt: Undeserved Loyalty
Editor’s Note: Lutheran CORE is collecting and possibly publishing stories from our readers and congregations about the process they followed when they tried to exit the ELCA — successfully or…
Free Webinar – “Planning as a Paradigm Shift”
Free Webinar – “Planning as a Paradigm Shift”
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 – 11 AM EDT In addition to alerting people to ways in which the ELCA is going further and further off the rails, we of Lutheran CORE…
Video Ministries-September 2024
Video Ministries-September 2024
“RESIDENT ALIENS: LIFE IN THE CHRISTIAN COLONY” A video book review by Douglas Schoelles Many thanks to Douglas Schoelles, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana…
Woke? Awake; the Sacred’s Changing
Woke? Awake; the Sacred’s Changing
Although the appellation “woke”—used by Ricky Gervais to the Hollywood establishment at the Oscars as “insider” language just a few years ago—is eschewed by progressives now that cultural conservatives have…
A Father’s Wise Instruction
A Father’s Wise Instruction
Do you worry if your children will be wise when they go off to live in this corrupted world? Have you given them the foundation they need? Jesus said our world…
What Are They Actually Accomplishing?
What Are They Actually Accomplishing?
An Analysis of the Work Of the ELCA's Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church As promised, we continue to monitor the work of the ELCA’s Commission for a Renewed Lutheran…
Addressing The Clergy Supply Crisis
Addressing The Clergy Supply Crisis
Given the increasing shortage of ordained pastors available for call, now is the time when many churches will need to take the initiative to enlist one or two (or three)…
Christian Marxist Antisemitism
Christian Marxist Antisemitism
Most people would call me a “conservative” Lutheran, although I would prefer to be called orthodox or traditional. Nevertheless, I will accept the label. Therefore, as a conservative Lutheran, it…
Ghosting Faith?
Ghosting Faith?
Ever been ghosted? Ever have someone with whom you were connected not call you back? Ever have someone stand you up? Most of us have been ghosted some time. Cutting…
A Different Approach to Pro-life Ministry
A Different Approach to Pro-life Ministry
As a pastor, I sometimes have the opportunity to take on unexpected ministries outside of the church. Such was the case when I was invited to become the Executive Director…
City Mission: A Catalyst for Becoming a Missionary Disciple
City Mission: A Catalyst for Becoming a Missionary Disciple
“… if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the…
How DEIA, Anti-Racism and CRT Are Becoming the New Gospel in the ELCA
How DEIA, Anti-Racism and CRT Are Becoming the New Gospel in the ELCA
How DEIA, Anti-Racism and CRT Are Becoming the New Gospel in the ELCA Any meaningful discussion of these modern-day heresies absolutely must begin and end with scripture. DEIA (Diversity, Equity,…
The ELCA Shows Its Values Through Whom It Features
The ELCA Shows Its Values Through Whom It Features
There is an old adage that says, “You show your values through what and whom you feature.” That certainly is true of the ELCA. Again this past June, in observance…
Video Ministries-July 2024
Video Ministries-July 2024
Be sure to check out the two new videos on our You Tube channel. A link to our You Tube channel can be found here. Both of these videos are…
Orthodox Reading Is Pastoral Reading
Orthodox Reading Is Pastoral Reading
“What’s all this ‘Father’ stuff about in the Lord’s Prayer? Why should we call God ‘Father,’ anyway?” she intoned petulantly, fixing me with a stare that clearly thought no reasonable…
“Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to Freedom”
“Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to Freedom”
Many thanks to David Peterson, pastor of Apostles Lutheran Church in Chesapeake, Virginia (LCMC), for giving us a video review of his first book, “Journey to Forgiveness: 21 Milestones to…
The Ministry Challenges We Face in 2024
The Ministry Challenges We Face in 2024
Consider the contrasting good news and not-so-good news ministry challenges that are confronting many of our congregations in 2024: Good News: Many local churches have now been blessed by the…
Bringing Children to Jesus
Bringing Children to Jesus
In Matthew 19: 14 Jesus told His disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom…
Racism, Power, and Prejudice
Racism, Power, and Prejudice
Almost 30 years ago, I had my first introduction to the tactics of postmodern argumentation. A professor at Texas Lutheran made the statement that he could not be racist because…
Book Review: “Tenderness” by Eve Tushnet
Book Review: “Tenderness” by Eve Tushnet
Note from Executive Director Dennis D. Nelson: Many thanks to a friend of Lutheran CORE for giving us a review of Eve Tushnet’s book, “Tenderness: A Gay Christian’s Guide to…
Words Fail Me: Questioning the Newspeak of My “Progressive” Education
Words Fail Me: Questioning the Newspeak of My “Progressive” Education
In my office hangs my ordination certificate. Across it is emblazoned the name of the ordaining body, the body whose confessional commitments I pledged to uphold on the day I…
An Incoming DEIA Disaster
An Incoming DEIA Disaster
Recently, the ELCA posted the results of a DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) Audit1 which was authorized by the Churchwide Assembly. The audit laid out its findings and made…
Operation Reconquista: Responses to Critical Questions
Operation Reconquista: Responses to Critical Questions
Editor’s Note: Pr. Haug wrote a positive article on this topic in January (click here). Last newsletter I hinted that I would write a follow up article about OperationReconquista and…
When Does Life Begin?
When Does Life Begin?
Editor's Note: by M. Roy Schwarz, M.D. The American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition defines "life" as "the property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from the dead or inanimate…
Contented Faith
Contented Faith
When I was dating my wife Debra, I was so excited about being with her. I was eager to talk with her, be with her, and go off on adventures…
Hope for De-churched Lutherans
Hope for De-churched Lutherans
In my previous two articles, I talked about the dilemma facing De-churched Lutherans. Some cannot find an orthodox Lutheran parish in their area. Some have been made to feel unwelcome…
Reflections on Mission
Reflections on Mission
Editor’s Note: Jacob Moorman is a member of River’s Edge Ministries, which regularly hosts and leads mission work locally in Maryland, through City Mission, and annually in other states through…
A Warning of What is Coming
A Warning of What is Coming
Many thanks to Kevin Haug for his very insightful article about the DEIA audit which the ELCA recently commissioned a law firm to do of its governing documents. I hate…
Thankful for the Opportunity to Share
Thankful for the Opportunity to Share
I am very grateful for the recent invitation to have a zoom conversation with the director and associate director of the ELCA’s Reconsiderations process. This is the task force that…
… and Now Many of Them Are Just Lost
… and Now Many of Them Are Just Lost
Just over a year ago Christine and I found ourselves in Florence, South Carolina. Nice place just off I-95, we found a fixer-upper on the little lake in town. Pro…
Operation Reconquista: An Affirmative Response
Operation Reconquista: An Affirmative Response
Can mainline denominations be reconquered from theological liberalism? A group named Operation Reconquista has emerged to attempt such a thing, and they are offering tactics on just how to proceed.…
Is This What You Want?
Is This What You Want?
We all remember with horror the ways in which traditional views on such matters as human sexuality were rejected and belittled at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering. Here is a…
Resentful Faith
Resentful Faith
While visiting another Lutheran church in the area as the gathered worshipped the LORD through the prayers and praised God through the songs, across the pews I saw a man,…
REST, INC., Part 2
REST, INC., Part 2
Finding Rest in (and for) a Restless World Dear Friends— When did so many of the mainline denominations begin to go adrift and lose their way? Why? How? What happened?…
Aging and End-of-Life Decisions
Aging and End-of-Life Decisions
“Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and will bear, I will carry and will save.” Isaiah 46:4…
Video Ministry – January 2024
Video Ministry – January 2024
“PASTORAL HELMANSHIP: A PASTOR’S GUIDE TO CHURCH ADMINISTRATION” Many thanks to Aaron Heilman for this review. Aaron is Worship Leader for Pointe of Hope Church in Blue Springs, Missouri (LCMS). …
Considering the Challenge of Transitioning from Clergy-Led to Lay-Led Congregational Ministries
Considering the Challenge of Transitioning from Clergy-Led to Lay-Led Congregational Ministries
This article is written especially for smaller congregations that are either 1) already experiencing a pastoral vacancy, or 2) know that their solo pastor will be retiring within the next…
March for Life and Y4Life Conference in January!
March for Life and Y4Life Conference in January!
The NALC Life Ministries team is once again preparing for the March for Life in Washington D.C. this January, but our plan is a little different. Instead of holding a life conference,…
Book Review: Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?
Book Review: Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?
Editor's Note: Full title of the book is Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage: 21Conversations from a Historically Christian View. Also, Spencer Wentland is a former ELCA missionary. Introduction and…
Mission Under Accompaniment
Mission Under Accompaniment
Director's Note: Spencer Wentland is uniquely qualified to write this article analyzing the ELCA’s concept of global mission as accompaniment rather than evangelism – as responding to requests for help…
Should We Put a Loved One Out of Her Misery?
Should We Put a Loved One Out of Her Misery?
Imagine a scenario where a loved one is suffering from an incurable condition and unimaginable pain. And yet, antiquated laws have prevented her from finding peace once and for all.…
Rest, Inc.
Rest, Inc.
Part 1: A Gift of Restoration, Resilience, and Prophetic Perspective Dear Friends— We were in the middle of our first vacation ‘Out West’, somewhere between Colorado Springs, CO, and Yellowstone…
Ingrate Faith
Ingrate Faith
“You’re welcome.” Joy comes from saying those words to someone who recognizes and thanks you for an act of service or kindness. When you perform such gracious acts to express…
You Can’t Have God’s Kin-dom Without God’s Kingdom
You Can’t Have God’s Kin-dom Without God’s Kingdom
With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? –Mark 4:30 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall…
Churches Without Pastors
Churches Without Pastors
In the September CORE Voice, I reflected on my time as the pastor of a mission congregation. My question was whether the Lutheran Church is prepared for a time when…
In Faith
In Faith
“We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have…
Training Disciple-Makers
Training Disciple-Makers
“...take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan…” Joshua 4:3 We wish God’s blessings upon Dean Rostad, president, and the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute. This is the third…
Once You Know the Makeup, You Know the Outcome – Part Two
Once You Know the Makeup, You Know the Outcome – Part Two
In the September 2023 issue of CORE Voice I gave an analysis of the expected outcome from the ELCA’s Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. After reading the biographical paragraphs…
On Christian Nationalism
On Christian Nationalism
Santino Burrola recorded a video and posted it to TikTok. He was fired from his job at a grocery store for the offense. What did he do wrong? Inappropriately filming…
Churches Without Property
Churches Without Property
In 1998, I moved with my wife and my 3 year old son to Pembroke Pines, Florida. I was sent there to start a new congregation in an area of…
Prevailing Against the Gates
Prevailing Against the Gates
“Alderaan? I'm not going to Alderaan. I've got to get home. It's late. I'm in for it as it is.” Name that movie. Name that scene. Anyone with even a…
About Congregational Singing
About Congregational Singing
I recently attended a traditional worship service where the emotional and spiritual highlight for me was the opening and closing hymns. This was not because the sermon message was subpar…
Once You Know the Makeup, You Know the Outcome
Once You Know the Makeup, You Know the Outcome
If there ever will be a time when that old adage will be proven true, it will be with the ELCA’s thirty-five-member Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. This commission…
Severed Foot Faith?
Severed Foot Faith?
Choices, choices and AdChoices. Our hyper-consumer culture overwhelms us with all the choices we can make to please our whims. For all the hyper-individually focused advertising that is pushed at…
Pockets of Hope
Pockets of Hope
When I think of Baltimore, I often think of my early childhood home with a large magnolia tree in the front yard and a tall, hemlock pine in the back,…
ELCA Moves In and Takes Over
ELCA Moves In and Takes Over
In my Summer Letter from the Director I told in great detail the disturbing story of how Bishop Yehiel Curry of the ELCA’s Metropolitan Chicago Synod threatened, intimidated, bullied, and…
Video Ministry – July 2023
Video Ministry – July 2023
Here is a link to our You Tube channel. In the top row you will find both our Video Book Reviews as well as our CORE Convictions Videos on various…
“Here Am I. Send Me!”
“Here Am I. Send Me!”
Of all the voices in the world calling you to be this or do that with your life, how will you discern God’s call? While God calls persons into full…
The Creeds Don’t “Sparkle”
The Creeds Don’t “Sparkle”
Note from our Executive Director: Many thanks to Kevin Haug, ELCA pastor in Texas, for his article about the Sparkle creed. This so-called "creed" has received a lot of attention…
Caring Christian Faith Communities: Needed Now More Than Ever
Caring Christian Faith Communities: Needed Now More Than Ever
As Americans we are living in a time of increasing emotional despair. And this crisis presents the Body of Christ with tremendous challenges as local churches consider how they might…
Daily Devotion Options
Daily Devotion Options
Editor’s Note: Rev. Dr. Douglas Schoelles joined the board of Lutheran CORE earlier this year. Rev. Jeffray Greene has been writing devotions for us for a long time. We are…
Dead Faith
Dead Faith
Don’t play with dead fish! Mom said don’t bring it home thinking we’ll eat it! A dead fish is useless and worthless. What are we to do with dead faith?…
Book Promotion: The Power of Healthy Leadership
Book Promotion: The Power of Healthy Leadership
Leadership is not a title, a performance, or mere occupation. It is a sacred relationship creating ripple effects, for both good and bad. This book is about stewardship leaders, who…
City Mission 2023
City Mission 2023
Our prayers are with Pastor Craig Moorman and all those who are providing leadership for and participating in City Mission 2023, a multi-generational, multi-denominational outreach effort into the inner city…
Video Ministry – May 2023
Video Ministry – May 2023
Here is a link to our You Tube channel. In the top row you will find both our Video Book Reviews as well as our CORE Convictions Videos on various…
Congregational Lay Leadership Initiative
Congregational Lay Leadership Initiative
We are very grateful for all of the ways in which retired NALC pastor Don Brandt enhances the ministry of Lutheran CORE. He has an article in every issue of…
The Clergy Shortage: Some Historical Perspective
The Clergy Shortage: Some Historical Perspective
Perhaps my perspective is somewhat distorted by being one among so many retired or retiring Boomer pastors. After all, the Boomer generation has been accused—often justifiably—of having an inflated view…
Web Map
Web Map
Whenever I fly into an airport I have never been in before, I am always very grateful for all the signs that greet me as soon as I step off…
(Per)Mission to Lead
(Per)Mission to Lead
Editor’s Note: River’s Edge Ministry (REM), of Mt. Airy, MD, traveled to Pine Island, FL in January as part of Cross Country Mission (CCM) 2023. Pine Island was devastated by…
Feed My Sheep
Feed My Sheep
I have appreciated Don Brandt’s wisdom and leadership in Lutheran renewal through the years, and I welcomed his article in last month’s CORE Voice. He accurately diagnoses the biggest single…
The Awaken Project Offers a Gap Year Program
The Awaken Project Offers a Gap Year Program
Introduction by Dennis D. Nelson: In this issue we will be featuring The Awaken Project (TAP), a nonprofit organization housed on the campus of Mount Carmel Ministries in Alexandria, Minnesota.…
Resisting God’s Call
Resisting God’s Call
When God calls a person to a specific task or ministry, resistance is often the first response of the called. Jeremiah claimed that he was too young. Gideon feared he…
How Your Congregation Can Identify, Enlist and Train Part-time Lay Ministers
How Your Congregation Can Identify, Enlist and Train Part-time Lay Ministers
Note: "This is a ministry resource article for churches that might be interested in the new upcoming CORE ministry called the Congregational Lay-leadership Initiative (CLI). The article below offers a…
Video Ministry – March 2023
Video Ministry – March 2023
Here is a link to our You Tube channel. In the top row you will find both our Video BookReviews as well as our CORE Convictions Videos on various topics…
You Do-I Watch: A Hard Lesson in Fully Releasing the Next Generation into Mission
You Do-I Watch: A Hard Lesson in Fully Releasing the Next Generation into Mission
Editor's note: River’s Edge Ministry (REM), located in Mt. Airy, MD, traveled to Pine Island, FL in January as part of Cross Country Mission (CCM) 2023. Pine Island was devastated…
Global Lutheran House of Studies
Global Lutheran House of Studies
Rev. Dr. Richard Blue, Jr. As the Directors of the Global Lutheran House of Studies at United Theological Seminary (UTS) in Dayton, Ohio (established in 1871), we are honored to…
The Potency of Missional Engagement
The Potency of Missional Engagement
Dear Friends— A most happy and blessed New Year to you and yours. No doubt, many of us reading this article can readily receive such a greeting; but, for some,…
Better Call Saul: Discernment at Damascus
Better Call Saul: Discernment at Damascus
Pr. Jeff Morlock Ananias (not Sapphira's husband, but the other Ananias) is an obscure figure in the New Testament. He appears only twice, for a total of eight verses. Yet…
Jim Nestingen Tribute
Jim Nestingen Tribute
Pr. Jim Nestingen I first got to know the name James Nestingen through what I still believe is the best confirmation text ever produced — the first edition of Free to…
Who Counts and Who Does Not
Who Counts and Who Does Not
In my letter from the director for December 2022 I wrote about several concerns that arose in my mind as I read a November 16 news release from the ELCA…
The Need for More Lay-led Lutheran Congregations
The Need for More Lay-led Lutheran Congregations
It has, for decades, been an incredibly unfair reality faced by smaller rural and inner-city congregations. In a denomination that has traditionally insisted that viable, healthy congregations must be led…
Video Ministry – January 2023
Video Ministry – January 2023
Here is a link to our You Tube channel. In the top row you will find both our Video Book Reviews as well as our CORE Convictions Videos on various…
Reconsiderations: More Than “Simply Editorial”