A New Page!

We have a new page on our website and you are looking at it! "Library News". It replaces "Featured Article". The new title seems more appropriate because we will bring you up-to-date on many different topics such as new acquisitions, library closures for painting, etc. However, it will still include everything we planned to have on the "Featured Article" page - so, nothing lost. If you would like to receive an email notice whenever there is a new "edition", let us know and we will put you on our email list with a direct link to this page.

Our Broad Mission

The Library's mission statement is broad in its scope, stating that God speaks to us through the voices of others in many ways. Some times we "hear" these voices in books, other times we literally hear them on CD's and videos, still other times the voices come to us through material on the web. That is why, when you visit the "Catalog" link on the library's home page, you will find two options: the "On-Line-Catalog" of the "real" material in our library, and the "On-Line-Material" which is our "virtual" library. The web is a jungle! Google helps, but even it makes you wade through pages of hits. The purpose of the "virtual library" is to bring to your attention material that is particularly important to the faith and life of our congregation. As with the real books in the library, the virtual material will be removed when it gets out-of-date and new material will continually be added. We invite you to visit it often. In this news letter we will, time to time, call your attention to material we believe is very timely. The following article is such an example. Let us hear your opinions on this and, if you have found some appropriate material to place in the virtual library, send it to us.

New ELCA Social Statement

Two important documents are being considered by the ELCA. The first is a proposed social statement on human sexuality, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust". The second is the "Report and Recommendation on Ministry Policies". You can view them and read about their formulation on the ELCA web page here. However, you can download both directly from our site by clicking the links below.

In addition, "An Open Letter to the Voting Members of the 2009 ELCA Church-Wide Assembly" is included. It is sponsored by The Word Alone Network in opposition to the "Recommendations on Ministries Policies". It has been included because it represents the voices of some very prominent leaders and theologians in the ELCA that perhaps should be heard if one is to give careful and prayerful consideration to this important issue.

Finally, an appeal for Church unity from Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson is included. In his message, Bishop Hanson urges all of us to:

please join me in reflecting on the unity of Christ's church that is the foundation both for our life together in the ELCA and our relationships with other Christians throughout the world.

It is a powerful message and well worth our prayerful study.

Please note that none of the statements presented necessarily represents an official position of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church nor the opinion of any particular member.

Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust [pdf file]
Report and Recommendations on Ministries Policies [pdf file]
Open Letter to Voting Members [pdf file]
Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson's Appeal for Church Unity

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