As Christians--Lutheran Christians--we must meet this moment of division and unrest with a servant heart. To paraphrase Martin Luther, God doesn’t need our peacemaking, but our neighbor does.

As the bishop and pastor of the synod, I publicly proclaim that you who are part of the Queer community are brave and beautiful.

The most common image for what God is offering us is a banquet, a joyous party, a wedding feast.

Regardless of who is president and what policies they seek to enact; we will care for our neighbor.

I doubt many congregations still sing that song. - They'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.