wfn.org | 'Journal of Lutheran Ethics' Goes Online

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 26, 2001

'JOURNAL OF LUTHERAN ETHICS' GOES ONLINE
01-304-FI

     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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