CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Journal of Lutheran Ethics" debuted Sept. 20 at http://www.elca.org/jle/ on the Web site of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). After its first two months, the "online publication dedicated to promoting awareness of, study of, and conversation about Christian ethics in the Lutheran tradition" averaged more that 300 "hits" a day.
Journal of Lutheran Ethics (JLE) is an online publication of the ELCA Division for Church in Society, developed and edited by the division's Department for Studies.
"History, resources and discussion" are at the heart of the journal, said Kaari Reierson, JLE editor and ELCA associate director for studies. "We are trying to trace the history of some of the developments of arguments in Lutheran ethics; we are trying to provide resources for people to research subjects in Lutheran ethics; and we are trying to foster an electronic meeting place for people to discuss Lutheran ethics, which includes contemporary issues and the themes that run through them that come from Lutheran ethics," she said.
Reierson said she contacted some writers for articles but also welcomed volunteer contributions and ideas through the Web site. An editorial council assists the studies department in deciding what goes in JLE, she said.
"When we do commentaries, we try to get people who are not necessarily ethicists but whose fields are related," said Reierson. "Our most recent commentary on the stem cell issue is from Kevin Powell, who is a pediatrician and writes of his experience."
A goal of the journal is to represent participation and excellence in the study of ethics, she said, so that all readers can "find something that really makes them think about their everyday world and their actions through their faith."
On Nov. 20 the Web site had 279 pages, including Lutheran church statements dating from 1922, said David Scott, JLE managing editor and ELCA coordinator for publications and assistant for studies. A "JLE Announcements" mailing list had 26 subscribers and the JLE online discussion forum included 53 contributors, he said.
JLE had a series of reflections on the events of Sept. 11, commentaries on President Bush's decision on stem-cell research and an essay on "Whether Lawyers, Too, Can Be Saved." The online forum had discussions on flags in sanctuaries, marriage and family issues, and "tampering" with God's creation.
JLE published articles and resources in five areas of Lutheran ethics: biblical and theological basis and orientation, history, contemporary issues, the church's social witness, and vocation.
In the last 11 days of September the Web site had 1,874 hits or visits, said Scott. During the month of October that number grew to 8,574 hits, he said. In the first 20 days of November there were 6,651 hits.
Although the Web site is called a journal, "we don't want a print journal to define what a journal means online," said the Rev. John R. Stumme, ELCA director for studies. "We're letting the online media help us figure out what we can do on this Web site," he said.
"We have greater flexibility" than a print journal, said Stumme. "We can have shorter articles. We can have longer articles. We don't have to be bound by an issue and having to fill 120 pages for every issue," he said.
"We can get things on quicker. When there is an incident like Sept. 11, we can get people to comment on that," said Stumme.
"You'll find a variety of things -- not all as neatly packaged as they are in a print journal, but that diversity makes it even more attractive," he said.
"Our hope is that this will become the first place on the Web where people will go when they want to find something in the field of Christian ethics and how people who are Lutheran Christians reflect upon their Christian life -- the first place they will go to see what resources are available on the Web," said Stumme.
"We have a narrow focus, and we hope to have a great depth as we accumulate things on different subjects," he added.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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News & Media Production news@elca.org
Department for Communication
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
http://www.elca.org
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
