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For those of you who are unfamiliar with this lay leadership program, Diakonia is a two-year educational program that teaches, equips and motivates individuals to respond to their baptismal calling to serve Jesus Christ in all aspects of their daily lives through freely-responsible servanthood. 

The Diakonia program was started in the Synod three years ago as a means to train and develop lay persons to assist rostered leaders in doing the work of the local church. Since the program began, 35 students have graduated and are serving their local churches in various ways. Some of you have received a copy of the Diakonia brochure in the mail in the past few days. It was sent as an introduction to the Diakonia program for the Grand Canyon Synod.

Over the next 10 to 14 days, graduates from the Diakonia program will be calling you to ask questions about Lay Leadership. We are interested in how the Diakonia program might help you in your ministry. We pray that you will take a few minutes to listen and answer their questions as we work on ways to increase lay leadership in the Synod.

If you would like more information about the Diakonia program, visit our website at www.diakoniaaz.org or send an email to mike@diskoniaaz.org.

We hope this email finds you safe and well!

Thank you.

Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn and his family attend ULC/LCM. Professor Schermerhorn teaches American History at ASU with an emphasis on Antebellum history and slavery in particular. He has also researched, written and spoken about Jim Crow and racism in the US from the Civil War until today. What follows are his thoughts and observations concerning the current movement to take down Confederate statues. Calvin ends with questions for us to consider. To this I have to add my own personal wonderment: As a Lutheran, what do I think about Martin Luther statues? I have spoken to Jewish Studies, the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, ASU classes, and a couple congregations concerning Luther’s Anti-Semitism. What, indeed????

Thank you, Calvin for writing this for us!

Download the Article (PDF) 
Let Us Now Remove Famous Men
Calvin Schermerhorn

Thanks to all who Offered a Letter as a part of Bread for the World’s continuing to help us shape our government’s response to the needs of those struggling with hunger and poverty.  With maybe a bit more time at  home, how about another letter?

We are grateful for the efforts of voters across the country who helped ensure that Congress took positive action in response to the tremendous crisis by responding with strong stimulus spending.  At this time, we need to persuade Congress to pass a 15% increase in SNAP benefits–an amount which might enable a family to eat for an entire month.  At the same time as suspending restriction and paperwork requirements, eligible people may be able to get food more quickly.  And expanding and extending the EBT program is essential so that children might be fed over the summer months, when most school lunches and breakfasts have been halted because of the pandemic. Additionally, we would encourage Congress to provide an additional $12 billion for international response to the crisis:  these funds would provide emergency humanitarian aid, strengthen global health, and target nutrition to mothers and children in the world’s poorest countries.  

For updated information before you write, you can visit bread.org/COVID-19 and use their sample letter for hints.  Or, If you’d rather call your senators and representatives, Bread’s toll free number (1-800-826-3688) will get you to the Capitol and our elected officials.  “Have faith. End hunger”.