Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2019

Muslims celebrate holiday - Carroll County Times Jan. 21, 2005

Muslims celebrate holiday - Carroll County Times Jan. 21, 2005

Muslims celebrate holiday By Jaime Bloss, Times Staff Writer
Friday, January 21, 2005 updated 15Mar2019 due to a link that no longer works…


BRENDAN BUSH/STAFF PHOTO Muslims kneel in prayer as they meet for a community gathering to commemorate the holiday of Eid al-Adha at the Best Western in Westminster.

About 50 Muslim men, women, and children assembled in Westminster Thursday morning for the first community gathering for holiday prayers to commemorate Eid al-Adha.

[…]

Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff spoke after the prayers Thursday morning.

"We all share a common belief in our families, we all share a common belief in our community, and we all share a common belief in God," Dayhoff said.

[…]

https://dayhoffwestminster.blogspot.com/2005/01/muslimscelebrate-holiday-by-jaime-bloss.html

https://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2005/01/muslims-celebrate-holiday-carroll.html

After removing their shoes, attendees sat or knelt on sheets laid out on one side of the room. The people sat in rows, with the men in front and women and children in the back.

Before the start of the holiday prayers, which were spoken in Arabic, some male attendees focused on traditional holiday chants, said only twice a year.

Mohamed Esa, who helped to organize the prayer event at the Best Western Catering and Conference Center, addressed the group before the imam, or prayer leader, began the prayers.

"We are truly making history today .... Today, we are truly a Muslim community in the making," Esa said.

Eid al-Adha, or Festival of the Sacrifice, commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Ishmael, his first son, as commanded by God, known as Allah in Arabic.

After seeing Abraham's dedication to him, God sent a sheep to be sacrificed in Ishmael's place.

The feast of sacrifice is part of the annual pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, where the prophet Mohammed first received the Quran holy book.

Muslims try to this make this pilgrimage once in their lifetimes. During the hajj, the pilgrims focus on prayer and meditation.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated worldwide with the sacrifice of a sheep or goat, a portion of which is given to the poor.

"In addition to, or instead of, sacrificing an animal, this year, many Muslims opted to donate money to the tsunami victims," Esa said.

Members of the Carroll County Islamic community have donated more than $5,000 in the past two weeks for tsunami relief in Sumatra and Sri Lanka, he said.

Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff spoke after the prayers Thursday morning.

"We all share a common belief in our families, we all share a common belief in our community, and we all share a common belief in God," Dayhoff said.

Some of those gathered for the holiday prayers were meeting other Muslims in the area for the first time, said Sohail Mahmood of Westminster, who attended with his wife and children.

In previous years, Muslims in Carroll had to travel to Washington, D.C., or the Baltimore area to worship.

"We've never had this before," said Mahmood. "We made history."

Waqar Ahmed, who helped plan the event, hoped misunderstandings about their religion could be cleared up through this event and similar events in the future.

"We are a very peaceful, loving people," said Ahmed, of Westminster.

A group of doctors in Westminster began gathering in one of their offices in August to participate in prayers, according to Dr. Syed Hosain, an event organizer.

Other Muslims found out about the gathering and began attending.

The group moved from meeting in the offices to a room in a local hotel.

After outgrowing that space, pastors at the Westminster Church of the Brethren agreed to let them use the church's basement to gather, he said.

The church's pastors have been supportive in allowing them to use the space, Hosain said.

"I think we've been very blessed," Hosain said.

Now 25 to 30 people get together for Friday prayers in the basement of the Westminster Church of the Brethren, he said.


"I never realized there were so many Muslims in Westminster," Hosain said. "It was wonderful to find out."
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Kevin Dayhoff for Westminster Common Council
Westminster Municipal election May 14, 2019
Authority Caroline Babylon, Treasurer.

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Sunday, November 11, 2018

A Prayer for Veterans: for the Men and Women in Uniform


A Prayer for Veterans: for the Men and Women in Uniform

11Nov2018 I was looking for a prayer for an upcoming Veterans program in case I was asked at the last minute to step in with a prayer. Looking for some inspiration, I found this prayer after a quick search: “A Veterans Day Prayer: For Those Who Protect Our Nation,” by Debbie McDaniel Crosswalk.com Blogspot for Debbie McDaniel of Fresh Day Ahead – from 11Nov2016 It may be found here: https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/a-veterans-day-prayer-for-those-who-protect-our-nation.html

Ms. McDaniel – if it is not okay that I have shared your prayer here – just email me at kevindayhoff at gmail.com and let me know and I will immediately take it down. THX – And thanks in advance for a great Veterans Day prayer.

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We honor you today Veterans, and all those who wear the uniform, as we pray...and give thanks...and remember.

The Lord bless you greatly for your service and sacrifice.

And may God bless America!

Dear God, We thank you for the freedom you have given to us, and for the price that was paid by Christ so that we could live free. We remember today. The cost of it all. The great sacrifice for freedom.

We thank you for the brave who have fought, and continue to fight, so courageously for our nation. We ask for your covering and blessing over them and their families. We pray that you would be gracious and encircle them with your peace. We pray for your great favor and goodness to be evident in their lives.

Please be with the men and women in uniform, who serve our communities and nation every single day. We ask that you provide your protection, that you would be their guiding force who leads the way, and their rear guard who keeps them safe from behind. We ask that you would draw them to yourself amidst the dangers they face in a dark world, for you are the Truth, you are the Way, you are the Light.

When the voice of hate rises up against them, we ask that you would silence it. When the plans of the enemy rise up to cause them to stumble, we ask that you would thwart it. When the forces of evil rise up to strike them down, we ask that you would stop it. Lord, we know how powerful you are, all have heard of your Great Name, and we ask that you would indeed be the wind beneath their wings, the power behind their efforts, the heart behind their service, as they are on the front lines against evil in our world today.

Help them to walk wisely. To stay covered in your armor. Give them godly discernment. Make them constantly aware of what lurks close by. Help them to be men and women of prayer, realizing that this is where their greatest help comes from. Help them to stay united and strong, bold and resolute, determined and unwavering.

Lord bless all those who wear the uniform, who serve our cities, our nation, our people. Bless their families. Bless those they love. Give them your great favor, this day, and every day.

Thank you that in our nation today, we are free to worship. We are free to pray. We are free to read your Word.  We are free to speak.  We are free to share. For this, we are incredibly grateful. Yet, we understand how quickly these freedoms can be taken away. Give us an increased awareness of the spiritual battle we're in. Help us to stand strong in you and for your purposes.

Thank you that as believers, we can be assured, you never leave us, and you are with us always, in this life, and the next.

Amen.

(This article also appeared here: http://debbiemcdaniel.com/2016/11/11/veterans-day-prayer-protect-nation/#) Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/DebbieWebbMcDaniel, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives. Find her also at http://twitter.com/debbmcdaniel and http://www.debbiemcdaniel.com.


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Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson: “That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!” - See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf

Saturday, July 01, 2017

This year’s celebration of Juneteenth in Carroll Co. featured a documentary on the black churches in the area


This year’s celebration of Juneteenth in Carroll Co. featured a documentary on the black churches in the area

In the last several meetings of the Carroll County NAACP, we have discussed Juneteenth.

June 30th, 2017 by Kevin E. Dayhoff

Westminster Md. - This year the Juneteenth celebration in Carroll County, June 19th, 2017 at the Carroll Arts Center, featured a special premiere screening of “The Rock of our Ancestors,” a Community Media Center (CMC) produced documentary about the origins, history, and impact of Carroll County’s small, African-American Churches. For more information go here: http://www.carrollmediacenter.org/the-rock-of-our-ancestors/

According to the April 27, 2017 minutes of the Carroll County NAACP: “It was mentioned that the Community Media Center http://www.carrollmediacenter.org/ and the CC NAACP will partner in an upcoming event involving a movie that has been made about the history of the Black churches in Carroll County.

The event will take place this year on June 19th, 2017 at the Carroll Arts Center http://www.carrollcountyartscouncil.org/index.asp.

For those not familiar with Juneteenth, it is a celebration of the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reaching Galveston Texas and being publicly announced by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19th, 1865 - two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had been signed on January 1, 1863.

To watch a short trailer of the documentary film on the black churches in Carroll County go here: https://youtu.be/ozGHZczQt1k

According to Sherry Taylor with the Carroll Community Media center, “Throughout our history, the church has been the cornerstone around which people have gathered to build their communities. It is the rock of faith that sustains us in times of uncertainty, the foundation that supports us as we grow, and a touchstone to guide us day-by-day.

“But, some of our small churches are finding themselves on shifting sand, facing an uncertain future. Shrinking congregations, competing interests, and financial pressures create significant challenges in their survival.

“Carroll County’s houses of worship not only serve as a source of strength and comfort, but also have been vessels of history; some tracing their roots back over 100 years.

“For these parishioners, the loss of the church, is the loss of their legacy. Today, it’s not just the building or the congregation that is at risk, it is the very heritage of their ancestors and the identity of an entire community that is at stake.”

I recently wrote an article on Juneteenth that appeared in the Carroll County Times - “Time Flies: June 19 is Juneteenth Independence Day,” by Kevin Dayhoff June 16, 2017:

“June 19, is "Juneteenth," a relatively little-known holiday in approximately 45 of the 50 states, and the District of Columbia. In June 2011, when I first wrote about the importance of Juneteenth and advocated that Maryland recognize 'Juneteenth Independence Day,' only 38 states observed the holiday. Today, according to some recent research, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and South Dakota still do not recognize the ‘19th of June.’ …”


This year’s celebration of Juneteenth in Carroll Co. featured a documentary on the black churches in the area https://patch.com/maryland/westminster/year-s-celebration-juneteenth-carroll-co-featured-documentary-black-churches

This year’s celebration of Juneteenth in Carroll Co. featured a documentary on the black churches in the area


This year’s celebration of Juneteenth in Carroll Co. featured a documentary on the black churches in the area https://kevindayhoff.wordpress.com/2017/07/01/this-years-celebration-of-juneteenth-in-carroll-co-featured-a-documentary-on-the-black-churches-in-the-area/

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Friday, April 07, 2017

Dayhoff: Pastor Marty Kuchma honored by the Carroll County Human Relations Commission


Dayhoff: Pastor Marty Kuchma honored by the Carroll County Human Relations Commission http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/columnists/features/ph-cc-dayhoff-040917-20170403-column.html April 7, 2017 by Kevin Dayhoff Carroll County Times reporter.

St. Paul's United Church of Christ pastor The Rev. Dr. Marty Kuchma was named as the 25th recipient of the Carroll County Human Relations Commission's human relations award at its annual awards dinner on March 27.

St. Paul's Consistory President Ben Rogers wrote in the March church newsletter "Highlights," that Kuchma was "recognized for his many efforts in addressing homelessness, diversity, inclusion, and other important issues with which we are faced in Carroll County." He further noted that Kuchma "represents us so well in St. Paul's efforts in making the world a better place."

Kuchma has been the pastor of St. Paul's in Westminster since July 2005. In his introduction of Kuchma at the awards dinner, Rodgers said Kuchma, "came to us with a background in the social services field, where he cut his teeth helping troubled children, teens, families, and adults ..."


Dayhoff: Pastor Marty Kuchma honored by the Carroll County Human Relations Commission http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2017/04/dayhoff-pastor-marty-kuchma-honored-by.html

Dayhoff: Pastor Marty Kuchma honored by the Carroll County Human Relations Commission https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff/posts/10210527111187607?pnref=story 
*****

Friday, March 24, 2017

At the St. John Catholic Church for the fish fry


At the St. John Catholic Church for the fish fry. 24March2017

Food fish, Religion St John Catholic Ch, Religion, Carroll Co Community Events, Westminster community events, People, People Carroll County, 

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Sunday church service at Grace Lutheran Church on Carroll St.


Sunday church service at Grace Lutheran Church on Carroll St. in Westminster, Md. Pastor Kevin Clementson shared with us his thoughts about the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan  woman at Jacob's well... John 4: 5-42. 19Mar2017

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

At the March 8, 2017 '2017 Lenten Midweek Worship Service, at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster


Kayla Sherfey did a great job sharing her "Reflection on growing in Faith through worship leadership," at the March 8, 2017 '2017 Lenten Midweek Worship Service, at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster. The message of this service is "Baptism and beyond, Rediscovering Luther's Small Catechism."

Sunday, March 05, 2017

Sunday church service at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster - the first Sunday in Lent. www.gracelc.org


Sunday church service at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster - the first Sunday in Lent.  www.gracelc.org A welcome and necessary brief break in the never-ending war against hunger, poverty, the intellectually stunted and the artistry disinclined. 4March2017

Pastor Kevin Clementson spoke to us about the expectations of having a life in Christ. In a message that highlights "This is not what I signed-up for," he shared that sometimes in our walk of faith, we are tempted and things do not go as planned. The hope for a perfect life often leads to disappointment.

This reinforces one of my foundation beliefs that our success in life greatly depends on how we respond positively to setbacks and  dissapointment.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

EcoPreacher: The Preacher Persisted: Finding Courage in the Pul...


EcoPreacher: The Preacher Persisted: Finding Courage in the Pul...: The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade I was recently invited to supply preach at a congregation to cover a colleague during his vacatio..

The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade

I was recently invited to supply preach at a congregation to cover a colleague during his vacation.  I had been told by several different people that the congregation had a reputation of being a politically progressive church. So I crafted a prophetic sermon that engaged contemporary issues for the assigned lectionary readings for the day. 

In the sermon, I never referenced any political party or figure, but clearly named the systemic loss of an ethical and moral center in our country of late.  I also reiterated Moses’ call to follow God’s commandments to turn away from death and embrace life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).  

True to my commitment to include God’s Creation in my preaching where appropriate, I critiqued the ways we have abused this Earth in violation of the command to choose life.  But I ended by pointing out that God is still at work calling people to rise up in defense of the vulnerable and answering the call to justice along with people of other faiths and nonreligious people of good will (you can read my blog post based on the sermon here).

The reactions of the listeners in the days following the sermon revealed a much more politically diverse congregation than I expected.  The pastor told me he had received numerous emails and phone calls from his parishioners – some who had expressed appreciation for the sermon, and some who expressed strong anger at what I had preached.  So the pastor asked if I would be willing to come back to the church to talk about the sermon with anyone who wanted to discuss it further. 

I was open to this suggestion for several reasons. Read much more here: http://ecopreacher.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-preacher-persisted-finding-courage.html
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Saturday, February 18, 2017

Shippensburg Freshmen gave up an entire weekend... why?

Highlights from ministry at Shippensburg

Shippensburg Freshmen gave up an entire weekend... why?

Why a Weekend of Service?

For those of you who have received our newsletters for more than a year, it may feel like old news that every February we take students on a weekend service trip where we help with kitchen and grounds work at a YoungLife camp.  Every February we take students.  Every February we take the same pictures that look almost identical year to year. Every February we tell you about it.  Why do we do it?  And why is it exciting?

Let me tell you! Each year our vision has been to specifically recruit freshmen for this weekend and to use it and the car ride there as an extended time of spiritual investment and community building.  There are unique open doors into a person's heart that arise when you labor, sweat, and freeze alongside someone all to serve campers that we don't even know!  Students often leave with a deeper sense of community and we staff have more knowledge and opportunity to speak into a students heart.  Exciting!  But that is not what excited us most...

What is most significant is that students choose to come at all!  For many this weekend is symbolic of deep sacrifice and a growing commitment to the gospel.  Not actually because they are serving at YoungLife... but rather because they are giving up a weekend at Shippensburg.  The life of most college students is one consumed by chasing after different things that vie for their attention.  Grades, friends, acceptance, family, prestige. These are all good things, but when elevated above God the Scriptures would call these things idols.  They are things that students find their identity and worth in.  Things that they worship instead of the Lord.  To leave Ship for a weekend means that these students are choosing God over idols that they may struggle with worshipping.  It means that they will not have any time to do homework.  it means they will not have any free time for comfort and fun.  It means no parties and no drinking.  It means no visiting family.  And it means saying no to many opportunities with friends.  It means missing out.  But when they miss out on those things, they get something better.  Jesus.

So please join us in praising God that these students gave up the things they hold dear in order to spend some time growing in the Lord.  Please pray that God continues to soften their hearts and that they continue to pursue Him over all other things.
Watch the above video to see some silly highlights of the service weekend!

Spring Teaching

This semester our regional DiscipleMakers staff team is teaching through the book of Exodus at our campus large groups.  Visit our DiscipleMakers Shippensburg website to listen and learn how God sets us free.
 

Superbowl Party

Each year the Superbowl provides an excellent opportunity to build relationships with students, especially those who are not Christians and are cautious about attending a Bible study or large group. We were so thankful this year that a couple from our church were willing to host a party for our entire fellowship in their home.  Not only did they give up their evening and other opportunities to open their home for a large number of students, but they sacrificed time and energy and finances to provide delicious food for everyone to eat.  Students were extremely thankful and we got the opportunity to reach out to fringe students and some students from another campus.  Praise God.
~Andy & Melissa

Please Pray:

-For the students who came on the service trip, that they would continue to deepen their commitment to the Lord despite the cost.
-For the students who did NOT come on the service trip. While obviously some students had very good reasons for staying behind... others most likely did not. Please pray for those students that they would choose to put their hope in Christ instead of the things of this world.  Pray also that their "idols" would disappoint them, turning them towards God.
-For our entire DiscipleMakers staff.  That we would serve, work, and rest wisely this semester and that the Lord would use us on campus for His glory.
Highlights from ministry at Shippensburg

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Sunday, August 21, 2016

Sunday, August 21, 2016. 8:45 am service at St. John Catholic Church, Westminster Md.


Sunday, August 21, 2016. 8:45 am service at St. John Catholic Church, Westminster Md. 

The new priest, Father Mark is awesome.

Father Mark's message this morning was to discuss the Olympics, the number of metals won by  the nations with the highest metal count - and the accomplishments of the athletes. Can you imagine what it would be like if we gave all the athletes a certificate of participation? 

As a member of the church, we cannot simply just show up and get a participation trophy. Keep your eyes on the prize, Jesus Christ. When did mediocre become good enough? We have to become the best version of ourselves.

We have to stop the participation trophy complex from running our lives. We run the race to win. We cannot win the race if we get a trophy for just showing up.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Recent resolutions adopted at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans stir controversy


Recent resolutions adopted at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans stir controversy http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2016/08/recent-resolutions-adopted-at-elca.html #ELCA #ELCACWA


Thursday, August 18, 2016 / KED

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recently held its Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans August 8-13, 2016 - https://www.elca.org/ChurchwideAssembly

I have come to believe that the mainline traditional denominational churches hold periodic churchwide assemblies in order to pass resolutions to alienate any demographic it has not annoyed in the last several years.

The recent Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans - https://www.elca.org/ChurchwideAssembly - does not appear to be an exception. It seems that several anti-Israel resolutions were adopted at the assembly that are getting quite a bit of attention.

I am SMH – and I repeat myself here. Perhaps the ELCA missed the memo: In the world of leadership, you accumulate enemies, don’t go out of your way to make any. In a world that yearns for leadership, never miss an opportunity to sit down and shut-up when it comes to politics.

Meanwhile, when I ask many folks that have left mainstream denominational churches, why they left; I hear several themes consistently.

One they got tired of hearing that they ought to contribute more money to the church. And two, they did not want to hear from pastors about politics when they went to church. Three: going to church and listening to a thought-provoking sermon is one thing but going to church week after week and being lectured to with a wagging finger quickly gets old.

Then again, maybe too much attention has been given to the anti-Israel resolutions. From my experience, a lot is accomplished at these assemblies and perhaps it is unfair to perseverate upon the resolutions aspect of the conference. On the other hand, the social-political resolutions really appear to be unnecessary exposures and unforced errors on the part of the church. Especially at time when membership is declining and budgets are getting tighter. Read “The Shrinking Church,” by Nicole Radziszewski, in the January 2013 edition of Lutheran Magazine - http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=11186 Why go out of our way to annoy potential church members?

Anyway, find the recent ELCA resolutions here on the Isaiah 58 – Working for Justice and Peace in all the Earth, website: http://isaiah58.info/resolutions/ [Language added by Memorials Committee to C2 on 8/9/16] The full report of the Memorials Committee can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/z6eq2f2


Look, I get it that the Middle East is a mess. I read with great interest many of the newspapers from the Middle East and for a thought-provoking Israeli point of view I read Caroline Glick - http://carolineglick.com/

I guess my perspective is that there is plenty of blame to go around. But we have the U.S. State Department for stuff like this. What I need is a church...

My family and I attended and volunteered at the Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburg three-years ago. It was a fascinating experience. Go here for quite a number of articles and pictures from that assembly: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/search/label/Religion%20ELCA%20CWA%20Aug%2011-17

At the recent Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly (CWA) in New Orleans the (ELCA) has approved two resolutions, according to multiple media reports, including this one “Lutherans Back Anti-Israel Resolutions,” by Chelsen Vicari, @ChelsenVicari, written August 15, 2016 on the website, “The Institute on Religion & Democracy’s Blog, Juicy Ecumenism.”. Find it here: https://juicyecumenism.com/2016/08/15/lutherans-israel-resolutions/. Please read more of the blog here: https://juicyecumenism.com/ There appears to be many thoughtful, well-written and thought-provoking articles.

Articles such as “John Wesley: Enduring Persecution” by Joseph Rossell: “Contemporary Christians committed to saving souls and promoting justice can take much courage from John Wesley’s story, as chronicled by Jake Hanson in Crossing the Divide…” and “America’s Lost Girls?” by Chelsen Vicari: “America’s girls are growing up fast. It’s the cost that’s the problem.”

Again, I am not familiar with the site. I will also look forward to see what Lutheran Magazine says about the resolutions. I will also look on the ELCA website: https://www.elca.org/ChurchwideAssembly

I am not familiar with this writer, Ms. Vicari. This website was one of several that I found when I was trying to find more information on the resolutions adopted at the recent CWA. Much of the reaction I have read - and much of the reaction I have heard locally has not been favorable – bordering upon hysterical.

I was really looking for some information on the some of the traditional mainstream legacy media or newspaper sites and I was unsuccessful. I first heard about it on a segment on NPR. Yea – well. Big surprise there. I guess if the Lutherans had adopted pro-Israel resolutions, NPR would have missed it.

Ms. Vicari explains: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has approved two resolutions advanced by anti-Israel activists including a push to end all U.S. aid to the Jewish state until the “military occupation of Palestinian land” ceases, according to CBN News. The resolution was adopted in an overwhelming 751 to 162 vote during the Mainline Protestant denomination’s triennial Churchwide Assembly held in New Orleans August 8-13.

“The two resolutions were recommended by Isaiah 58, a group of Lutheran anti-Israel boycott activists. ‘In our Affirmation of Baptism, one of the five promises we make as Lutherans is to ‘work for justice and peace throughout the earth,’’ commented Jan Miller, a Rocky Mountain Synod member and Isaiah 58 leader in a press release. “By adopting this investment screen, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is taking an important step to ensure that we are not profiting from, or complicit in, injustice in the Holy Land and elsewhere.”


One site, among many, that took exception to the resolutions, is a site called “Exposing the ELCA,” by Dan Skogen, a “former ELCA seminary student and former ELCA member who is fed up with the ELCA's consistent mockery of God's Word.”

This appears to be a rather angry site. Much of the anger that caught my eye were anti-LGBT matters, of which I simply do not care with the exception that I sure wish the church would simply stay out of these matters….

Skogen wrote “ANTI-SEMITISM REIGNS IN THE ELCA: TWO ELCA VOTES URGE AN END TO U.S. AID TO ISRAEL AND FOR A DIVESTMENT PLAN AIMED AT ISRAEL” on August 14, 2016, “The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has long been an enemy of the Jewish State. (see here) Earlier this week, at the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA voted in favor of a resolution that calls on the United States government to end all aid to Israel until a list of ELCA demands are met. (Note that they did NOT call for the stoppage of U.S. aid to “Palestine” which takes foreign aid money {see here}, intended for humanitarian causes, and uses them for weapons, military terror tunnels, etc., in their quest to kill Jewish men, women and children.)” Read more here: http://www.exposingtheelca.com/exposed-blog/anti-semitism-reigns-in-the-elca-two-elca-votes-urge-an-end-to-us-aid-to-israel-and-for-a-divestment-plan-aimed-at-israel#comments It is not light reading.

Oh, one comment caught my eye: by Didaskalos on August 17, 2016: “Dan has 12 categories (links) of ELCA heresies/apostasies on his home page, the last of which is "Other Critical Issues." If he were to link and list each of the ever-expanding list of ELCA heresies/apostasies separately, he'd have one of the longest home pages on the Internet.

“Cost-cutting suggestion for the ELCA corporate heads at its Higgins Road HQ: Copy all the Democrat Party platform planks and Planned Parenthood talking points, and paste them onto your home page as your adopted tenets of belief. As you keep having to lay off personnel because of continuing member and dollar losses, simply copying and pasting the world's latest godless fads onto your website will require fewer staff members.”

Another thought-provoking comment came from “Dave from Minnesota,” “I clicked on your link to their Twitter feed, then scrolled down and read a large number of them. Not a lot of traditional Biblical based pronouncements. But a lot of liberal political ones:

“Anti coal and oil statements (I'm sure those ELCA churches with declining enrollment in the upper Midwest would love to see their heating bills doubled or tripled) For open borders Anti-Israel Pro-Black Lives Matter Mandated anti-racism training for church leaders and staff…”

A more balanced approach appears in the publication, “The New York Jewish Week.” In an article “Lutherans’ Moves Against Israel Seen As ‘Balanced’” on August 16, 2016, by Steve Lipman - http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/national/lutherans-moves-against-israel-seen-balanced

“The largest Lutheran denomination in the United States last week approved a pair of resolutions that, like those adopted in recent years by other prominent Protestant groups, is critical of Israel.

But, said observers of interfaith relations, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, at its triennial assembly in New Orleans, did not adopt more strident resolutions proposed by several local church councils around the country. One of the adopted resolutions favored an “investment screen” that would guide church members’ investments in U.S. corporations that do business in Israel, rather than a direct call for divestment from these firms.

And the language of the adopted resolutions, which urge the U.S. president to “recognize the State of Palestine” and encourage church members to “increase positive investment in Palestine,” offers a more balanced approach to Middle East issues than some other churches’ resolutions, the observers said.

The Lutheran resolutions, coming two months after the Presbyterian Church (USA) adopted a report that representatives of the Jewish community characterized as more balanced than that denomination’s past resolutions, and three months after a committee of the United Methodists rejected four divestment resolutions, may represent a small move in some Protestant circles away from automatic support for the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement and towards positions that hold both Israelis and Palestinians responsible for progress in the Middle East peace process.



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