Reprinted from the May  2015 Post Script of Church & Life.

The mass murders at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston SC on June 17, 2015 redefined how incredibly bad or misguided people can be. (A young man comes into a church, sits with people in the congregation and then murders nine wonderful people.) How can anyone be that poisoned by racism? Why do we allow such people to have guns? I was shocked, saddened, nearly sickened by the tragedy. Listening to the families’ forgiving words to the accused murderer at his bond hearing, I was amazed at their incredible faith and sincerity at a time of unspeakable heartbreak. Since then, I have learned something about the church and Denmark Vesey, co-founder of the church in 1818, and why he was named “Denmark.”

Reprinted from the May-June 2015 Post Script of Church & Life.

Professor Joe Sittler‘s statement quoted in Ralph Andersen’s conclusion about the legacy of the AELC (American (Grundtvigian) Evangelical Lutheran Church) is astonishing. “You are the only group in western Christianity which has taken nature with theological and moral seriousness.” Sittler distinguished the AELC church as the church that takes the first article of the Apostolic Creed more seriously than any other: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” Most other Christian churches focus on the second article: “And in Jesus Christ, his only son…etc. ” Perhaps it should not have been such a surprising statement that ours was the only(?) Church which emphasizes life on earth as  ”An appropriate place to praise God, thank God and find fellowship with God”… the place for “divine redemption and the realm of reconciliation.” Sittler made this statement in 1976. We did not understand in the 60s or the 70s (let alone in the 1800s during Grundtvig’s time) how important this aspect of our heritage is. We were not aware of climate change, global warming, carbon emissions, fracking, mercury poisoning, water and mining pollution, rising levels of oceans. Further, the political power of the oil lobby did not seem to be threatening our democracy and our future. No wonder caring for the earth didn’t seem that critical. Thankfully, today, other Christian churches have become much more earth conscious.

Driving home from Marquette MI, a 130 miler, in barely any traffic, my mind was wandering when I noticed too late a state patrol car on the other side of the highway.  Oh, dear I thought, and immediately slowed down.  In the rearview mirror I watched as the twirling red bubble-light atop the blue patrol car turned around to follow me.  My heart sank. I stopped the car and rolled down the window.