Lutherans Reflect on Concerns over the Y2K Computer Problem

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Internet connects most of the 11,000 congregations and 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), so concerns about computer disruptions when entering the year 2000 (Y2K) were mixed with theological reflections on God's power in times of uncertainty. It is 2000, and Lutheran congregations reported no Y2K problems, but theological reflection continues.
"We can be thankful to God for all the good news that Y2K hasn't caused much in the way of disruptions," said Ray Mueller, project director for "AD2K: Helping the ELCA Respond in Faith to Y2K."
The abbreviation "AD" stands for the Latin phrase "anno Domini" or "in the year of the Lord." Christians use the abbreviation to number years since the birth of Jesus Christ.
"We can also thank all the computer professionals for the hard work and long hours they put in to get their systems ready for the year 2000," Mueller said in his final update to the project's Web site.
Mueller offered "some thoughts on having put in time and energy preparing for disruptions that never came." He shared some suggestions of what to do with extra supplies that were stockpiled in preparation for Y2K problems, and he asked readers to take another look at devotional materials prepared for use in 1999.
"No matter how much you prepared or didn't prepare for Y2K, I'd encourage you to take another look at the reflection 'Faithfulness, Humility and Unity.' It was interesting for me to reread it again from the point of view of the year 2000," said Mueller. "Much of this Web site is now outdated, but I don't believe this is."
Mueller wrote in 1999 about the debate over how much preparation was necessary. "Y2K is an issue of uncertainty. There is so much we do not know about it. God alone knows. Y2K can help us recognize the need for humility."
"We are called, I believe, to be faithful ... faithful to God ... faithful to ourselves ... faithful and responsible to others ... our neighbors in the broadest sense of the word -- the poor and elderly, those in other countries and literally our neighbors next door," he wrote.
"Our task force at St. John feels good about the time and effort we spent," said Margaret Hollowell, St. John Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Ill. "We would have been prepared to assist our homebound members and to staff an emergency site based in the fellowship hall.
"We provided good information to the congregation on emergency preparedness, encouraged members to take Red Cross First Aid and CPR classes, and collected food which has been taken to food distribution agencies; and we got to know each other much better as we prayed and worked together," she said.
"For me it brought reflection about simple and fundamental things in my life that I had long since taken for granted," said Paul Snider, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Salem, Ore. "It brought about a personal exercise in learning to trust God."
In his final report, Mueller said, "Y2K continues to be an opportunity to grow in our service to those in need. Excess stockpiles can be given away. More than that, we can remember as Christians that there are always needs that call for our care and generosity."
Mueller points the reader to an ELCA Web page which suggests that congregations continue to store bottled water, generators, bleach, batteries, flashlights and tools for disaster preparedness. It recommends that canned, boxed and packaged foods be donated to local food pantries, that clothing and blankets be given to Lutheran World Relief and that cash reserves be shared with the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
"I am grateful Y2K has gone exceedingly well," said Johanna Olson, assistant for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. "The spirit of AD2K -- that of fellowship and community -- has contributed to some churches the spirit of being prepared to care, of reaching out to their community, of assessing their resources to share."
"As the AD2K project concludes, we hope that its emphasis on growing in our trust in God, our emergency preparedness and our service to those in need has been of help to you in your responding in faith to Y2K," said Mueller.
The AD2K project began when several members of the ELCA's New Jersey Synod saw a need to help Lutherans deal faithfully with the uncertainties of Y2K. The ELCA Division for Church in Society and its Domestic Disaster Response program joined the effort, making AD2K a churchwide communication initiative. -- -- --
The "AD2K: Helping the ELCA Respond in Faith to Y2K" Web site it located at http://www.elca.org/dcs/ad2k or http://www.concentric.net/~logmnj/ad2k/

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