Christian Irony

‎"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we’ve got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition — and then admit that we just don’t want to do it." ~Steven Colbert

A Circle of Protection

[For readers of Lutheran Confessions, this declaration deserves close and careful attention. It is signed by our bishop, the head of all of our major social service agencies, and has incredibly wide ecumenical support, even from leaders of denominations who we might otherwise differ from widely. Let's let this document and the ethic it reflects resound widely.]

A Circle of Protection:

A Statement on Why We Need to Protect Programs for the Poor

In the face of historic deficits, the nation faces unavoidable choices about how to balance needs and resources and allocate burdens and sacrifices. These choices are economic, political—and moral.

As Christians, we believe the moral measure of the debate is how the most poor and vulnerable people fare. We look at every budget proposal from the bottom up—how it treats those Jesus called “the least of these” (Matthew 25:45). They do not have powerful lobbies, but they have the most compelling claim on our consciences and common resources. The Christian community has an obligation to help them be heard, to join with others to insist that programs that serve the most vulnerable in our nation and around the world are protected. We know from our experience serving hungry and homeless people that these programs meet basic human needs and protect the lives and dignity of the most vulnerable. We believe that God is calling us to pray, fast, give alms and to speak out for justice.

As Christian leaders, we are committed to fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice. We are also committed to resist budget cuts that undermine the lives, dignity, and rights of poor and vulnerable people. Therefore, we join with others to form a Circle of Protection around programs that meet the essential needs of hungry and poor people at home and abroad.

1. The nation needs to substantially reduce future deficits, but not at the expense of hungry and poor people.

2. Funding focused on reducing poverty should not be cut. It should be made as effective as possible, but not cut.

3. We urge our leaders to protect and improve poverty-focused development and humanitarian assistance to promote a better, safer world.

4. National leaders must review and consider tax revenues, military spending, and entitlements in the search for ways to share sacrifice and cut deficits.

5. A fundamental task is to create jobs and spur economic growth. Decent jobs at decent wages are the best path out of poverty, and restoring growth is a powerful way to reduce deficits.

6. The budget debate has a central moral dimension. Christians are asking how we protect “the least of these.” “What would Jesus cut?” “How do we share sacrifice?”

7. As believers, we turn to God with prayer and fasting, to ask for guidance as our nation makes decisions about our priorities as a people.

8. God continues to shower our nation and the world with blessings. As Christians, we are rooted in the love of God in Jesus Christ. Our task is to share these blessings with love and justice and with a special priority for those who are poor.

Budgets are moral documents, and how we reduce future deficits are historic and defining moral choices. As Christian leaders, we urge Congress and the administration to give moral priority to programs that protect the life and dignity of poor and vulnerable people in these difficult times, our broken economy, and our wounded world. It is the vocation and obligation of the church to speak and act on behalf of those Jesus called “the least of these.” This is our calling, and we will strive to be faithful in carrying out this mission.

www.circleofprotection.us

Circle of Protection Signatories

Daniel Garcia

International Coordinator, Kairos Prison Ministry International

Wes Granberg-Michaelson

General Secretary, Reformed Church in America

Ken Hackett

President, Catholic Relief Services

Ambassador Tony Hall

Executive Director, Alliance to End Hunger

Dick Hamm

Executive Director, Christian Churches Together in the USA

Bishop Mark S. Hanson

Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Herman Harmelink III

Ecumenical Officer, International Council of Community Churches

Mitch Hescox

President, Evangelical Environmental Network

Bishop Thomas L Hoyt, Jr.

Senior Bishop, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard

Bishop of Albany and Chairman, Committee on International Justice and Peace, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Sister Mary Hughes, OP

President, Leadership Council of Women Religious

Joel Hunter

Senior Pastor, Northland: A Church Distributed

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church

Michael Kinnamon

General Secretary, National Council of Churches of Christ

The Very Reverend Leonid Kishkovsky

Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations, Orthodox Church in America

Heather Larson

Director of Compassion & Justice Ministries, Willow Creek Community Church

Leith Anderson

President, National Association of Evangelicals

Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore Sr.

President, Progressive National Baptist Church

David Beckmann

President, Bread for the World

Geoffrey Black

General Minister and President, United Church of Christ

Bishop Stephen E. Blaire

Bishop of Stockton and Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Bishop Charles E. Blake

Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ

Bishop John R. Bryant

Senior Bishop, African Methodist Episcopal Church

J. Ron Byler

Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee United States

Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS

Executive Director, NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Patrick Carolyn

Executive Director, Franciscan Action Network

Very Rev. Thomas P. Cassidy, SCJ

President, Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Rev. Peg Chemberlin

President, National Council of Churches of Christ

Luis Cortes, Jr.,

President, Esperanza USA

Sr. Gayle Lwanga Crumbley, RGS

National Advocacy Center, Sisters of the Good Shepherd

Dave Evans

U.S. President, Food for the Hungry

Joseph Flanagan

National President, National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc.

Dr. Rudi Maier

President & Executive Director, Adventist Development and Relief Agency

John McCullough

Executive Director and CEO, Church World Service

A. Roy Medley

General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA

Rich Nathan

Senior Pastor, Vineyard Columbus

Stanley J. Noffsinger

General Secretary, Church of the Brethren

John A.Nunes President and CEO, Lutheran World Relief

Gradye Parsons

Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader

Ecumenical Officer, Council of Bishops, United Methodist Church

Robert Radtke

President, Episcopal Relief & Development

Bishop James C Richardson, Jr.

Presiding Bishop, Apostle Church of Christ in God

Commissioner William A. Roberts

National Commander, The Salvation Army

Samuel Rodriguez

President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Bishop Monroe Saunders

Presiding Bishop, United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic)

Ron Sider

President, Evangelicals for Social Action

Very Rev. Thomas H. Smolich, S.J.

President, The Jesuit Conference

Rev. Larry Snyder

President, Catholic Charities USA

Richard Stearns

President, World Vision United States

Ervin R. Stutzman

Executive Director, Mennonite Church USA

Stephen J. Thurston

President, National Baptist Convention of America

R. Lamar Vest

President and CEO, American Bible Society

Daniel Vestal

Executive Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Berten A. Waggoner

National Director, Vineyard USA

Bishop George W.C. Walker

Senior Bishop of the AME Zion Church

Jim Wallis

President and CEO, Sojourners

Gary Walter

President, Evangelical Covenant Church

Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins

General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rt. Rev. Elijah Williams

General President, The United Holy Church of America

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner

Co-facilitator, National African American Clergy Network

Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III

Executive Director, American Baptist Home Mission Societies

Additional Signatories

Bishop Claire S. Burkat

Bishop of Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Bishop Minerva Carcaño

Bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference, United Methodist Church

Kate Kooyman

Christian Reformed Church

Rev. Dr. Ken Booker Langston

Director, Disciples Justice Action Network

Michael Livingston

Director, Poverty Initiative, National Council of Churches of Christ

Carlos Malave

Associate for Ecumenical Relationships, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Wendy McFadden

Executive Director and Publisher, Brethren Press, Church of the Brethren

Rev. Dr. Stephen Sidorak

General Secretary, General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, United Methodist Church

Jim Winkler

General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church

www.circleofprotection.us

Web sites are so 1990

Our new church web site has been "live" for a few weeks now. Lots of content has been updated, and our staff has the goal of having all "static" content updated by August 15th. We'd especially appreciate a review from those who lead ministry areas to see if we've included everything you hope to see featured on the site, and to correct any mistakes or omissions. We'd especially appreciate it if leaders of ministry areas would write new content as needed to flesh out the site. Here's the link:http://goodshepherdnwa.org/

Thanks so much for your close and careful review. Readers of this blog, or visitors, we especially appreciate comments from those who have never been to our church, how does the page present our ministry?

Finally, I'm looking for a videographer to help us film a welcome video for the front page. Our other video person has moved to the Czech Republic. Anyone game to help us with this?

Prayers for Norway

A prayer for the people of Norway and for all victims of violence and terror

The following prayers for victims of violence and terror were written  for the World Council of Churches following the bomb attack and killings in Norway on Friday 22 July 2011. They have been shared through social media and can be freely adapted for use in local contexts.

As we pray in Christ’s name for people in one country at a time of national distress, we also hold the whole of God’s Oikoumene in prayer, praying that violence may be overcome and the path to just peace be found.

God of life, God of love:

In the face of unbearable tragedy we turn to you;
hear our cry, listen to our prayers, to our words, to our silence ...

God of healing, God of mercy:

Hear our prayers for the people of Norway;
for all in deep distress, for all who grieve, for the injured and the shocked, for those in despair.
May they be cared for and comforted.
For all in the emergency services working long hours to search, to listen, to care, to protect, to heal.
May they be given strength and also find support.

God of mercy, God of peace:

Hear our prayers for all around the world facing terror and unspeakable violence;
May violence be overcome and the path to peace be found.
All human life is fragile, each of us is precious in your eyes,
Teach us to value one another as you value us.

God of justice, God of courage:

We pray for all leaders in times of crisis,
That they may act for the common good, offering hope and not fear.

God of courage, God of transformation:

We pray for our churches,
That they may be places of openness and forgiveness, planting the values of peace and justice in society.
Transform all fundamentalism and vengeance into attitudes that make for reconciliation.
May we learn to be children of your kingdom of love.

God of all grace and all thankfulness:

In gratitude we pray, giving thanks for the prayers and encouragement which come from so many people and places at this time of suffering, pain and mourning. We learn global solidarity in a time of crisis; may we not forget one another in less stressful times ahead.

These prayers and the heavy silence of our hearts we offer in the name of your son Jesus Christ who trod the path of peace in the face of violence.

Amen