Episode Notes Ben & Keith discuss Episode 36 in which Keith talked with Pastor Imad Haddad from Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amman, Jordan. They also discuss the ELCA's 1989 Social Message on Israel and Palestine. Catechism Question: What is the meaning of the word Sumud? Steadfastness Faithfulness Smelling Good Special Undertaking …

Episode Notes Keith has a conversation with Pastor Imad Haddad, pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd in Amman, Jordan. They discuss living in the region as a Palestinian Lutheran and how The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and the ELCA relate. Catechism Question: What are ways to get involved in advocating for justice throu…

Episode Notes Ben & Keith discuss the new shirt. We hope it sparks conversations about our faith. The episode covers how one might explain Lutheranism to someone who wants to know because they read your t-shirt. Catechism Question: Martin Luther disliked the idea of this new church body being named after himself. What name did he prefer instead? Ev…

Episode Notes Ollie Bergh joins Ben and Keith from Fairbanks, Alaska to talk about Matins (Morning Prayer) and all of the Daily Prayer (or Daily Offices) services in the ELW, our hymnal. Pastor Ollie hosts the Psalmcast Podcast. Give it a listen. Sorry for some of the cuts. The audio files were corrupted and Ben stitched it together as best he coul…

Episode Notes David Lose, Senior Pastor at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN, joins us for this episode. We start out with a broad topic, how do our churches move forward in our time and place. We talk about He Gets Us and what it means to be Lutheran. In the A Segment, Ben and Keith discuss what it means to be "Unapologetically Luthe…

Episode Notes Dr Granquist joins us to continue our exploration of the history that leads up to the ELCA being what it is. The Catechism Question: Where did the majority of Lutherans immigrate to North America come from?A. Germany, Norway, and SwedenB. Germany, Norway, and FranceC. Austria, Australia, and AntarcticaD. Wittenberg, Wartburg, and St. …

Episode Notes Pastor Dave Daubert joins the show to talk about the critical parts to understand about Lutheran faith and how theology we use in the ELCA is our best hand for living the Christian Life. Links Day 8 Strategies Dave Daubert's books on Amazon www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Vik…

Episode Notes This is the first of three episodes that cover the history leading up to formation of the ELCA by merging three Lutheran Synods together. We start at the Reformation in this episode. The next one will start in America in the 1800s when a lot of Lutheran immigration occurs. The last will cover the last 75 or 100 years. Rev Dr Mark Gran…

Episode Notes Ben talks about what it means to be authentic as a Christian, as a Lutheran, and as a person of the 21st century as well as the challenge the ELCA has to be authentic in all three ways. This episode's Catechism Question: What is considered by Lutherans to be the primary document of the Book of Concord? The Catechisms The (Unaltered) A…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss the history and theological issues behind the ordination of women in the American Lutheran Churches in 1970. They also tackle the mail bag. Links Our Savior's Lutheran, Calamus, IA ELCA area of Reddit Call the Laborers - ELCA document from 1992 about the Ordination and Call of Women Pastors 50 Years On: a Ha…

Episode Notes Keith and Ben are joined by the ELCA Youth Gathering staff, Justin Wilson, Jessica Liles, & Beth Hartfiel, to talk about one of the ELCA's largest and most important events. This is a long episode at about an hour and sixteen minutes, but it's worth every bit of time you can give it. Links Gathering Remix Resources for Congregations 2…

Episode Notes Pastor Mark Singh-Heuter, pastor of Advent Lutheran Church in Harleysville, PA, reunites with Keith and Ben to talk about the season of Advent. Links ELCA LiturgyGram about Advent The Advent Project Seminar www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epide…

Episode Notes Notes go here Keith and Ben talk about the Mainline Protestant Denominations and we have a winner for the Episode 24 Catechism Question! Links ELCA Full Communion Partners www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Throu…

Episode Notes Deacon Margret Folkemer-Leonard joins the team to talk about everyone's favorite cranberry colored Evangelical Luther Worship and Song book, the ELW. Links Sundays & Seasons Mary Munson ELW and ACS Hymns on Youtube All Creation Sings 2020 Hymnal Supplement All Creation Sings Samples www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook T…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith review the 95 Theses, the starting point for Martin Luther's Reformation. Links Does the Roman Catholic Church still have Indulgences? (RCC) Indulgences Myths (RCC) Flannelgraph (Ben said it wrong oh so many times.) Martin Luther Flannelgraph www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 M…

Episode Notes ELCA Vice President Imran Siddiqui joins us for a second conversation about the Churchwide organization. We get into some details about the different home areas of the national church body and how the employees help our synods and congregations do God's ministry. Links ELCA Constitutions ELCA Churchwide Assembly Conference of Bishops …

Episode Notes This is a long one. Ben and Keith ask the VP what his job in the church is and how the ELCA is governed. In the next episode, we'll get into more details. Links ELCA Churchwide Assembly ELCA Church Council Synods www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www…

Episode Notes Ben talks with Rev Keats Miles-Wallace about Technicolor Ministries, and online expression of Lutheran community based in the SW Texas Synod. We discuss how it works, how that model might work for other groups, and how this ministry is expanding. Links Technicolor Ministries Ground Rules for participation Reconciling Works www.mainstr…

Episode Notes Keith talks with Deacon Chelle Huth and Sister Marianne Brock about all thing Deacon in the ELCA. Episode 18's Catechism Question:What technology made Martin Luther's writings spread farther and faster than prior critics of the Roman Catholic Church?a The Gutenberg Pressb The Washington Postc The Xavier Onassis Quantum ChairD Wikipedi…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith talk about what might make a podcast "ELCA Lutheran", why there aren't a whole lot of them, and why they're hard to find. They also do some self-reflection about this podcast and give some advice to anyone who is considering starting their own. Links The Bible for Normal People The Bible Project United Lutheran Seminary …

Episode Notes Ben and Keith dig into a Social Message that was adopted by the ELCA Church Council in 2020. It has some parts that are useful in helping us look at our human-built structures (government, economy, and social systems) in a way that sees God at work in the world. Links ELCA Social Message on Civic Engagement in the United States. Marti…

Episode Notes Keith is back! We discuss the ELCA's extravagant welcome of all people and what that means. Links ELCA Who is Welcome? ELCA What We Believe Reconciling Works www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic So…

Episode Notes Ben talks with Rev Drew Tucker about the history of Lutheran Camps and how they are adapting to our changing world and ways of being church. Pastor Drew even gives us a Catechism Question! Links Hopewood Outdoors Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Sacred Playgrounds Camp Research and Support by Jacob Sorenson www.mainstreetlutherans.com Inst…

Episode Notes Win Kurlfink joins us to talk about the Perennial Waters Project, an environmental stewardship group operating from St Philip Lutheran Church in Trenton, MI. Ben and Keith talk about how the ELCA Social Statement, Caring for Creation from 1993, helps congregations focus efforts to help renew the environment. Links Perennial Waters Pro…

Episode Notes Ben & Keith talk about their time at the Festival of Homiletics in Pittsburgh. Links The Festival of Homiletics Ben's Photos and videos from the Festival Greenfield Village, where Ben works www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com…

Episode Notes Keith and Ben talk about translations, editions, formats, and disposal of the Bible.And Judi Tyler is our first Catechism Question winner! Links Oremus Bible Gateway www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube (734) 250-9554 Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epi…

Episode Notes Keith talks with Deacon Margaret Folkemer-Leonard, Director of Music (and other things artsy) at St Matthew Lutheran Church in York, PA. They discuss the Church Year and the Lutheran Worship Liturgy. Links Festival of Homiletics May 13-16, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube Music by V…

Episode Notes Keith and Ben discuss how the ELCA creates and approves of Social Statements and Messages that are published. And we bring you another Catechism question. Links ELCA Social Statements www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through …

Episode Notes Keith and Ben discuss Luther's Small Catechism, whether it's still relevant, and why we use it for our ending segment each episode. Links Festival of Homiletics Faith Inkubators The Bible Project Luther's Small Catechism with African Descent Reflections www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor Hallma…

Episode Notes Pastor Elizabeth Friedman returns to talk with us about the future of the ELCA and the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC). Ben gets confused about years. The Columbus Churchwide Assembly was in 2022, not 2023. TLDR: The ELCA is trying to reorganize the denomination structure through our constitutions (Churchwide, Synods, …

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Links Use of the Means of Grace (PDF) An Arizona priest used one word wrong in baptisms for decades. They're all invalid. (NPR) www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads YouTube Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Throug…

Episode Notes Pastor Elizabeth Friedman joins us to talk about how Campus Ministry works to help young adults in ways that represent the essence of being an ELCA Lutheran. And we get a new Catechism Question. Links Lord of Light Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, MI Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin) www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook …

Episode Notes We start out talking about the ELCA Subreddit.The main topic is Membership. Why? Why not? What's in it for members and the congregations.And we end with our Catechism questions. Links ELCA Subreddit on Reddit Model Congregation Constitution as well as those of the ELCA and Synods www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads …

Episode Notes Keith and Ben discuss New Year Resolutions and Lenten Disciplines. Ben's failed at his first Resolution. Let's wee how we do with Lent. Links Hour Detroit article on Muskrat dinners. ELCA World Hunger Lenten Study Guide A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent Barn Geese Worship www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Musi…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss the Sacraments, starting with Communion. Links Use of the Means of Grace (pdf) www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic Sound Support Main Street Lutherans by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss why they became and remained Lutherans in the ELCA. Also a bit about Rosalynn Carter's memorial service and a new Catechism question. Links www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic Sound Support Main St…

Episode Notes Ben and Keith discuss what the podcast is and why they teamed up to do it. Links www.mainstreetlutherans.com Instagram Facebook Threads Music by Viktor HallmanFind it at https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/jcOQ6kY2Cy/Through Epidemic Sound Support Main Street Lutherans by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/ma…