Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Topics - Buckeye Deaconess

Pages: [1] 2

Your Turn / Female Supreme Court Nominee

« on: September 26, 2020, 11:07:07 AM »

A comment I just responded to that caused me to chuckle due to its hypocrisy along with the notion that this forum isn't very welcoming to women led me to start a thread on how conservative women are treated by those with differing views.

We're already seeing how this will play out with the anticipated announcement of the female Supreme Court nominee pick later this afternoon. The woman thought to be the SCOTUS pick has endured attacks on her faith, including being called a "f@#*n nut" for her religion, along with being on the receiving end of other atrocious discourse.

Rather than celebrating a highly-credentialed female professional working mother of seven children (2 adopted from Haiti and 1 with special needs), those with differing political leanings villianize her instead. That's a great display of support for women that they purport to advance, right?

Your Turn / Protecting Our Children

« on: July 04, 2020, 09:34:03 AM »

As the former Chair of the LCMS Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Task Force, I thought I would share the resources on child abuse that were assembled by that group. Please see this link.

Particularly helpful may be this piece which addresses, in part, how to address the needs of perpetrators should you ever find yourself in that situation. God continues to offer His love and forgiveness to all, no matter how grave we may judge a sin to be.

Your Turn / Domestic Violence Response

« on: October 21, 2018, 03:27:47 PM »

In the midst of Domestic Violence Awareness month, I am especially encouraged by church leaders such as Dr. Gard who respond in helpful ways to the issue of domestic violence. While some engage in arm chair (well, perhaps desk chair is more appropriate) quarterbacking on the subject from a theoretical perspective, others are well-versed on the dynamics of abuse through personal experience as a victim or as a caregiver to victims.

I especially appreciated his response to the Concordia University-Chicago community regarding an incident that occurred on campus last week. In an email I received as an adjunct faculty member, he stated:

"As I reflect on last Wednesday, I would ask that you join me in some actions.

First, encourage anyone who struggles with the events to talk to University Ministry or the Counselling Center. We are at our strongest when we link arms with our Concordia family.

Second, join your voice in Domestic Violence Awareness Month and be an advocate for survivors and an advocate for education to prevent domestic violence.

Third, pray for all survivors, including the woman from last Wednesday. Prayer is a powerful thing!

Fourth, pray for those who commit these terrible acts that they would know the forgiveness of God and receive the help that they need. The police, by the way, have located and arrested the man from last Wednesday.

Fifth, intervene if you suspect abuse is happening to someone. Intervention can take the shape of reporting to the police, encouraging the victim to get help or consulting with someone who has expertise as to what actions can be taken.

Sixth, pray for our law enforcement. Some of the most dangerous situations they encounter involve domestic abuse but they will always go forward to protect others as first responders.

Our world is a difficult place and we bore witness to a glimpse of that last weekend on our campus between two visitors to our campus. God protect the survivor and He protect all of us. For this I am grateful!"

Would that other Lutheran leaders make such a valiant effort towards legitimizing the experience of victims and survivors, while at the same time reminding them of the power that prayer and forgiveness holds.

Your Turn / Women and Military Service

« on: March 15, 2018, 02:54:30 PM »

There is some buzz about the new CTCR report just released on Women and Military Service.

I personally, as a female Desert Storm vet, thought it was well-reasoned and provided necessary protections for women who might opt for Conscientious Objector status should the unfortunate day arise that women be included in the draft.

I guess I don't understand all the hubris that seems to be surfacing over this report. Maybe someone can enlighten me. One FB thread someone pointed me to just contained the same typical "Alt Right"-like offensive language and nastiness that seems to be permeating certain Lutheran circles. To that I say, "Good luck convincing the ladies of your opinion, guys." Chivalry matters, but it requires chivalrous behavior.

Any opinions on the document or subject?

Your Turn / Journal of Lutheran Mission

« on: March 10, 2017, 06:46:55 AM »

If you're not familiar with this resource, the Journal of Lutheran Mission is a publication of the LCMS that focuses on a uniquely Lutheran approach to mission.

I found the March issue especially intriguing. Of course, I admit bias towards one of the authors.

From the TOC:

New Frontiers — by Steven Schave
Mission USA: America’s Changing Demographic Landscape — by Larry Vogel
Reaching the Latino Mission Field: USA — by Carlos Hernandez
The Presence of God — by Todd Kollbaum
Serving Jesus at Church and in Community — by Roosevelt Gray
Theological Framework of City as Mission Field — by Jeffrey Pulse
Engaging the World in the Incubator of Ideas — by Marcus T. Zill
Christian Vocation and the Mission of God: A Missing Link? — by Andrew Pfeiffer
Reaching Out to the Inner City: Opportunities and Challenges for Mission Here at Home — by Klaus Detlev Schultz
Book Review: Has American Christianity Failed? — by Warren Graff

The beginning pages are quite interesting reading if you've been following what I've heard some affectionately refer to as the "Duggar-Viagra" approach to church growth in the LCMS as of late. If you're a geeked out researcher (as I am at this point in my doctoral dissertation process), you'll appreciate the discussion on the methodology employed in the demographic study.

Your Turn / Ministry in the City

« on: February 09, 2017, 04:41:22 PM »

I have ministry in the city on my mind today. My husband spent the day in Ferguson, while I spent my lunch hour conducting a research interview with an intellectual giant who can not only talk the talk, he can walk the walk. We are blessed in the LCMS with ministries that are embedded in our cities and strategically engaged in supporting the needs of the surrounding communities. Concordia University Chicago is in its 8th year of a partnership with Fifth Third Bancorp which was formed to bring educational opportunities to underserved children who would otherwise find higher education opportunities out of reach.

You can read more about this partnership: TOMORROW'S PROMISE: VISION 2020

What cool things are happening in city ministries near you?

Your Turn / The LCMS in Ferguson

« on: February 09, 2017, 04:28:42 PM »

I thought I would provide an update on LCMS involvement in Ferguson in the aftermath of the tragic Michael Brown shooting.

The opening of the Urban League's Ferguson Community Empowerment Center is slated for July 26th of this year. Within this building will be housed The Lutheran Hope Center, an LCMS ministry with a goal to "share the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ by providing opportunities for youth and families to improve academic performance, to build strong character and leadership skills, to foster positive biblical relationships of trust and stability between citizens and local authorities, to grow in parenting skills that are necessary for children to thrive: spiritually, academically, socially, and personally. Ultimately, the goal of The Lutheran Hope Center is to share the good news of God's message of salvation for us in Jesus Christ."

You can check out some pictures here.

Contrast these to the image forged in the minds of many who watched the events unfold in those days and weeks following the shooting. The burned out QuikTrip gas station was donated for the purpose of building this center.

God is good.

Your Turn / Lutheran Witness - September

« on: September 08, 2016, 09:24:24 AM »

I currently have in hand the September issue of the Lutheran Witness, "Marys and Marthas: Relearning Biblical Womanhood." It should be a thought-provoking issue.

Among the topics: Should women be drafted? Why doesn't the LCMS ordain women? What's a deaconess? Who was Rosa Young?

Anyone else have a chance to read through it yet?

Your Turn / Domestic Abuse in the Church

« on: April 14, 2016, 10:38:12 AM »

Permit me to draw your attention to this article from 2014 that discusses the lack of attention given to the issue of domestic violence by pastors in their preaching.

"This discrepancy may not be entirely the pastors’ faults, however, as 52% of senior pastors say they don’t have sufficient training to address domestic or sexual violence in their communities. 81% said they would work to reduce domestic violence if they had more training."

LCMS folks, training on domestic abuse is available to your congregation, school, circuit, district, RSO, etc., at no cost. Please visit the Social Issues page on lcms.org for more information on domestic violence and child abuse as well as contact information for bringing this training to your venue.

Your Turn / ALPB Group Hug

« on: November 13, 2015, 12:47:36 PM »

You should have seen the love . . . a group hug between Pastors Benke and Weedon and myself a little while ago here at the International Center. Extending this same love to all of you . . .

Your Turn / LCMS Army National Guardsman is a Hero!

« on: August 25, 2015, 06:59:41 PM »

"One of three heroic Americans who risked their lives to subdue an armed attacker on a train bound from Amsterdam to Paris Aug. 21 is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Roseburg, Ore., and his congregation is beaming with pride for him."

From this article.

The news broke in November, but apparently the awards are being given this weekend. Way to go CPH!

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson today named four organizations—three health care operations and one nonprofit business—as recipients of the 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership.

http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/baldrige_recipients2011.cfm (All four recipients)

http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/award_recipients/concordia_profile.cfm (CPH specific)