The Listening Ear

Council Continues To Explore Possibilities

When they met last Thursday, the council continued to focus on two areas they have identified as ministries that they would like our congregation to pursue. These are the areas of expanded children’s ministries and of gift development.

The council would like to see a weekly midweek children’s ministry started. They would also like to have someone coordinate a program to access gifts and talents among congregation members and help connect people to the various opportunities for ministry that exist in the congregation.

The council is currently exploring ways such ministries could be staffed. It is unlikely that a volunteer would be willing to take on leadership for these ministries because of the time needed.

Should We Be Held Responsible?

Should people be held responsible for decisions they made when they didn’t know what they are doing. Usually we would say no. Yet theologian Stanley Hauerwas, often one to challenge conventional thinking, says that response makes marriage unintelligible.

“Of course you did not know what you were doing when your promised life-long monogamous marriage, but Christians are going to hole you to promises you made when you did not know what you were doing,” says Hauerwas.

Center For Agricultural Development Conversation

I sat in today on a planning session for an exciting new venture. The Western Iowa Synod is working with the Southern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania to develop a Center for Agricultural Development in Tanzania. The purpose of CAD would be to provide educational opportunities for adults and youth, men and women to improve agricultural practices of Tanzanian farmers.

Besides representatives from Western Iowa Synod and the Southern Diocese, participants also included people from Iowa State Extension and from the German Lutheran church.

Establishment of CAD could have a tremendous impact on the lives of Tanzanians by helping them increase production of crops and livestock, market their products and promote environmentally sound conservation efforts. It is estimated that 90% of Tanzanians in the Southern Diocese are involved in agriculture.

A dinner to help raise fund for CAD is being held this Sunday in Spencer. Potential donors have been invited to hear more about CAD’s potential. The goal is to raise $300,000 to help start the Center.