From
Living Theology in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church In America
Volume 1, Number 1
Epiphany 1996
Invitatory
Welcome to Let’s Talk:
A Message
from the Editorial Council
The idea for this new venture of a
theological journal got its start at the last Metropolitan Chicago Synod
Assembly where some delegates shared their observation that the most
significant discussions of important matters before the Synod seldom reach the
floor of the assembly. Instead, they happen informally in the corridors, during
coffee breaks, and around the Augsburg Fortress bookstore display.
Yet many of us go to synod assembly just for this:
to see friends and talk about important things. Many more of us are eager for
any forum we can find in which to reflect together on changes in society that
impact on the church’s life and mission in the light of the Bible, theology, or
personal experience. We realize there is now too little real opportunity for
the kind of prolonged discussion or debate on issues that impact our church
life. There is too little opportunity for discourse that can produce the kind
of consensus that prompted the first synod leader in the church, St. James of
Jerusalem, to conclude that the decision reached “seemed good to the Holy
Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28).
This is
why we have launched Let’s Talk.
· In this journal we will will seek to carry
on discussion of significant issues in our synod, congregations, and the ELCA
from a theological perspective--we being the pastors and lay persons who
are members of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod.
· This will not be a vehicle for promoting
the latest program or recipe for ministry, but we will critique and debate the
fundamental theological assumptions that inform ministry.
· This publication will serve the Synod
(Bishop Kenneth Olsen has given his endorsement and will from time to time
contribute articles, and the Synod is providing seed money and running
contributions to Let’s Talk through its books.) but will remain editorially independent.
· We will encourage expressions of the vital
diversity of perspective that makes our Synod great. We intend that your voice will be among the voices heard
in this publication.
So the group that has started this journal is
looking to draw you into the conversation.
We hope
to publish four to six times a year. Each issue will focus on a central topic,
but articles may also be published that do not follow the theme. We will be
asking our colleagues in the MCS (and an occasional outsider) to write
articles. We also hope to host a lively forum for letters to keep the conversation
going.
We
cannot pay for submissions or solicited articles.
See the
publication information box for information on contributing letters or
articles. Note too that we rely on
voluntary contributions (sent through the Synod office) to keep us going.
Let’s Talk will go out
initially to all rostered members of the Synod. We hope to add other
non-rostered people who are interested in the publication to this list, so
please send us your request along with your mailing address. Meanwhile, feel free
to reproduce and distribute this journal, in part or in its entirety, as long
as you cite us as the source on all copies.
Please
join us in the discussion. Let’s talk!