Yep, here is is, talk about Luther, talk about ecclisiology, talk about politics, talk about the kid with the loud car, or your fav recipe. No topic is too far to the right or to far to the left for discussion. Please do remember, its not the topic thats the issue, its how the topic is discussed. Thus, this is a no flame zone. If you don't like topic A, and it gives you heart burn, don't post there. If you disagree with poster B, tell them so, but don't call them an idiot or moron. "God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world." http://www.christianfora.org/forum/list.php?67 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:30:15 -0500 Phorum 5.2.7 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,14637,14637#msg-14637 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,14637,14637#msg-14637 heal103 Message Board Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:44:24 -0500 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,10791,10791#msg-10791 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,10791,10791#msg-10791
A second career pastor, just recently on a new call, picked up the flu, and then passed away in a matter of weeks. Please pray for his family, his current church, and the church he left not so long ago. All are in need of healing as this is such a huge loss. Ultimately God is in control, but at times like this, things are so very hard for everyone. (Mark was original from an area not to far away from where I'm at)

Mark's church
[www.gracefargo.org]

Caring Bridge
[www.caringbridge.org]]]> mnphysicist Message Board Fri, 23 May 2008 11:39:50 -0500 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9385,9385#msg-9385 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9385,9385#msg-9385
*********An Easter Message from the Jerusalem Heads of Churches:************

Dear Bishops and Church Leaders,

Salaam and Grace to you from the city of our faith in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are writing to you as Palestinian Christian leaders concerned for the dramatic situation of the Christians in the land of the Holy One. In contrast to 10 years ago our community now represents less than 2% of the population and continues to decrease at an alarming rate. This is largely due to emigration. Many Palestinian Christians are leaving as a result of the ongoing conflict.

We are a Christian community made up of Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Episcopalians and Lutherans bound together by a common identity and have been witnessing together for the Risen Lord since the first Pentecost. Despite tensions and historical differences our community is unified in its identity and we enjoy close fraternal ecumenical relations.

The Israeli illegal occupation has made it impossible for Christians, indeed for the whole Palestinian people of whom we are an integral part, to live with dignity, freedom and security. Palestinian Christians like all Palestinians want to live in peace and justice. We yearn for freedom and life abundant.

In addition to the other injustices of the occupation, we must now contend with the Separation Wall. The Wall splinters our community into many pieces and makes it impossible to maintain normal family, economic and human relations. Families are separated and divided and for many there is no legal hope of family reunification. Human rights violations and lack of freedom of movement, association and expression is the daily lot of the Palestinian Christian, indeed, of all Palestinians.

read more]]> mnphysicist Message Board Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:12:42 -0500 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9384,9384#msg-9384 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9384,9384#msg-9384 issue paper on global warming and climate change.

On Earth Day 2005, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson confirmed our church's commitment to addressing global warming. You can read his Earth Day letter on the ELCA Web site.

In January 2007, Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Craig Johnson testified before the Minnesota State Legislature about the moral and human impacts of global warming. Watch the testimony here. (This is a 2 1/2 hour unedited video.)

In February 2007, three ELCA college presidents signed the "American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment," a pledge to take a leadership role in addressing global warming. Two presidents who signed as members of the commitment's "Leadership Circle" are Dr. Richard L. Torgerson of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and Dr. Loren J. Anderson, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash.

In April of 2007, Southwestern Minnesota Synod Bishop Jon Anderson wrote an editorial for the Minneapolis Star Tribune urging people to take action on climate change.

In a written message for Earth Day, April 22, 2007, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), discussed the effects of global warming on people living in poverty and urged Lutherans to respond with advocacy and action.
Read the letter
Read the ELCA News story
Download a bulletin insert

The "Called To Be a Public Church: 2008 ELCA Voting and Civic Participation Guide," released November 6, 2007, features an issue brief and questions for political candidates about global warming.]]> mnphysicist Message Board Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:03:20 -0500 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9383,9383#msg-9383 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9383,9383#msg-9383 A Joint Pastoral Letter and Reflection on Global Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals
SEPTEMBER 2006

“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17: 20-21)

Brothers and Sisters:

Five years ago The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) entered into a relationship of full communion. As the name of the agreement, Called to Common Mission, makes clear, the unity lived out between our two churches is for the sake of God’s mission in the world. The full flourishing of our world and the human family requires our urgent attention to the fight to end global poverty and build a more peaceful, secure world for all God’s people. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide the Church and the world with a clear path to do this.

Extreme poverty binds more than one billion of God’s children, depriving them of the abundant life God intends for all. The MDGs are a set of eight targets for eradicating global poverty adopted by the 191 member states of the United Nations, including the United States, out of the conviction that humanity can build a better and safer world if it is willing to unite. The Goals reflect the reality that the resources, strategies, and knowledge to end global poverty exist if only the moral and political will can be built. Christians must play a key role building this will and holding governments accountable for promises made.

A world that meets the Goals would have 500 million fewer people living on less than a dollar a day, 70 percent of whom will be women. More than 400 million fewer people will go to bed hungry each night. The lives of 30 million children currently destined to die before their fifth birthday would be saved. The rise of HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis would be halted, and infection and death rates would begin to decline. The population of orphans in the world – currently numbered at more than 110 million – would begin to decline as well. In short, a world that has achieved the MDGs will be a world that more greatly reflects Christ’s prayer that all be one as he and the Father are one.

This joint pastoral letter comes as the ELCA and The Episcopal Church embark upon new shared commitment to the MDGs, particularly through our collaboration in ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History, a large and growing movement of more than 2.3 million Americans working for the end of global poverty. We hope that by reflecting together on the challenge of global poverty, our communities may be called into deeper conversation, collaboration, and advocacy on this urgent topic.

We invite you to consider the four reflections on global poverty that follow, each examining the church’s engagement with the Goals from a different perspective. They need not be read together and, in fact, time between each might invite deeper discernment of God’s calling to the Church at this moment in the life of the world.

As churches that stand in the shadow of the cross – knowing that in God’s kingdom death and sorrow always give way to resurrection and life – we pray that the Spirit may equip us through the deathless love of the Risen Christ for God’s mission of making all things new.

In Christ’s peace,
The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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The Eight Millennium Development Goals include: 1) Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger 2) Achieve Universal Primary Education 3) Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women 4) Reduce Child Mortality 5) Improve Maternal Health 6) Combat HIV and AIDS, Malaria and other diseases 7) Ensure Environmental Sustainability 8) Create a Global Partnership for Development with targets for debt relief, aid and trade.]]> mnphysicist Message Board Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:58:55 -0500 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9382,9382#msg-9382 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9382,9382#msg-9382
But it will be a very different format than before. In fact, we are using threaded discussions as contrasted with tables. We won't be using subforums for a long time, if ever. The discussion board will be what our members make it out to be. Ie, we won't set up categories on subject A or subject B. It will be virtually 100% organic.]]> mnphysicist Message Board Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:57:16 -0500 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9381,9381#msg-9381 http://www.christianfora.org/forum/read.php?67,9381,9381#msg-9381 mnphysicist Message Board Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:47:37 -0500