Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day. Check out the long overdue WWII Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. which was dedicated Memorial Day 2004.
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/

Where are my priorities? Save "Joan of Arcadia"!

It came to my attention last week in a sermon that Joan of Arcadia, the hit CBS show which airs on Friday nights, will not be returning in the fall. The pastor and her partner in ministry (I like the partner description they use; it is so much more cooperative than "co-pastor" or the "senior" and "associate" designations) are sad to see this go because not only do they enjoy the show immensely, but they also reference the episodes in their confirmation classes. The show premiered my second year of college, so having no TV in my apartment, I didn't get to watch it regularly but I always enjoyed watching it when I was home for whatever holiday. It's one of the few shows my parents, sisters and I have ever all liked (this really is impressive).

I was just talking to my sister, Jessica, and the shows cancellation was one of many many many things we talked about. So, I told her I would look something up online and put it on my blog for her and others to say to whoever is in charge of this at CBS "Don't take Joan!" Thus, my first entry of social injustice and action links is not of global or even national importance, but for saving a beloved television show. I ask you- where are my priorities? Anyway, here's a link to a fansite's page of things to do (it's found halfway down): http://www.joanofarcadia.com/opinion.html (Dads and Daughters site is especially good- action network covering a variety of topics).

FYI- I do have planned entries with a wide range of issues for taking action. El Salvador is upcoming in my discussion of the NGLS Assembly.

Northern Great Lakes Synon Assembly 2005 (Pt. 1)

The Northern Great Lakes Synod Assembly for 2005 began Sunday evening, 22 May with worship. Some 400 people- give or take- were in attendance for the "Finnish African Gospel Mass" (a fantabulous service; if you ever get the chance to participate in it, I highly recommend that you do!). I skipped the plenary session for that night, but I did attend the full day Monday and the remaining half-day Tuesday. While it certainly wasn't the most exhilerating time of my life, it was nonethless a great experience for several reasons. The next several entries will be almost exclusively about the assembly and its issues as I see/saw and experience/d them. To begin with, one of the most controversial subjects in the religious, secular and their overlapping spheres: sexuality. More specifically, HOMOsexuality.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America churchwide assembly is being held in Orlando this August and all 65 synods of the ELCA are encouraged to be looking at the recomendations put forth by the ELCA Task Force on Sexuality concerning homosexual orientation in the church. Current policy welcomes everyone as children of God; clergy who officiate a same-sex blessing will not be disciplined, but the union is not sanctioned by the church; gay and lesbians may be rostered leaders, but they are to adhere to the guidelines in Visions and Expectations: "Ordained ministers who are homsexual in their self-understanding are expected to abstain from homosexual sexual relationships." Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline of Ordained Ministers states: "Practicing homosexual persons are precluded from th ordained ministry of this church."

The service for Holy Baptism found in the LBW (pgs. 121-125) states "... in the waters of Baptism we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life. By water and the Holy Spirit we are made members of the Church which is the body of Christ." and "Through Baptism God has made [the newly baptized members] of the priesthood we all share in Christ Jesus, that we may proclaim the praise of God and bear his creative and redeeming Word to all the world." It does not say "gay persons excluded." My understanding of this sacrament is that it is the call and claim of your life by God to serve Him/Her/It throughout your life in all that you do. Would somebody please explain (intelligently- I don't want a bunch of literalist interpretations of Scripture) to me how being gay and rejoicing in God's gift of sex suddenly makes a person unworthy of serving the church as a rostered leader?

Here ends Part 1. Part 2 will be about the discussion which took place at the Assembly. Any comments posted on Part 1 between now and the publication of Part 2 will be responded to at that time also.

Where are the Lutherans? The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry

!Hola!

So... I'm 3 months from taking off to the UK for a year of mission work. No, I don't know where in the UK I'll be. No, I do not know what I'll be doing over there. I'll give you updates as I know them. Stay tuned.

Aside from that... I'm unemployed, unstudent-ed, and I have no extra-curriculars. Oh- and most irritating- I no longer have wireless access at my house, and I can't register my computer on Northern's network! I got the computer from Northern!! I'm visiting the library and the campus ministry office to do my e-mailing and blog updating.

That's pretty much it for now. Ben- take care and avoid anymore sticks in the eye. Ouch!

So... no PayPal

Katie and I recently learned that the ELCA Global Mission people don't feel entirely comfortable with the idea of us accepting donations through a website. Oh well, linking this onto Fark.com probably wouldn't have worked anyway... ;-)

Most of Katie's fundraising will be taking place through her churches at home and at school; however, if you'd still like to help out, feel free to contact me or Katie about how to go about it. This blog should keep you up to date on her progress, and will of course be her UK mission blog later in the year.

the Pay Pal thing...

I probably should have said something about this yesterday, but with the PayPal thing Adam set up, don't use it right now. I need to get a treasurer of sorts yet and make sure that this is an acceptable way of garnering financial support for this mission. In the meantime, keep up the prayer support.
Chiao! :)

Thanks Adam!

!Hola!
Thanks to Adam for getting bored and starting this up for me. Great idea! I'll work on updating this as I get the chance, but I'm having wireless difficulties at my house right now and there's only so much I can do on the library computers. I'll talk to you all later!

Katie's goin' to the UK!

Hey there! I'm Adam, Katie's kind-of techno-savvy friend, and here to tell you about why you should help her go to the UK.

Katie Drefke is a recent grad of Northern Michigan University with a degree in Sociology and minors in Psychology and Art, in a fast-paced three years! For most that would leave little time for anything else; Katie, however, the recipient of the "Involved in Nearly Everything" Award from the Student Social Work and Sociology Organization, didn't let her studies dominate her life. She was an active member of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU, SSWSO, Psi Chi, and co-founded Students Against Sulfide Mining... well, you get the idea.

Her religious involvement is now promising to take her to new and exciting places! Through the Young Adults in Global Mission Program of the ELCA, she has been accepted to a mission trip in the United Kingdom, doing more of the exciting work which she's done for the past few years.

However, this is where Katie needs your help. You see, she's responsible for partially funding this enterprise, to a tune of $3500 by the fall--and three packed years of college don't leave a lot of time to save. We, her friends and family, will of course contribute... but she can still use all the help she can get.

Later, this weblog will be updated by her as she completes her year-long mission in the UK. In the meantime, please help her get there by donating to the fund, using PayPal: