By Deacon Peggy Hahn (she/her), Director of Innovation at LEAD

Deep down we know the world has shifted. It feels so (insert your expletives here) leaving us ready to respond to a call to action but not sure what to do. Here we are in the season of Lent, and the darkness is glaring at us. Where is the church? How is there hope without truth?

I am having a panic attack that we have lost our prophetic voice as the Church. Recently, I read an article about practicing Lent without church. On one hand that idea horrifies me, but on the other hand, I realize I may have been doing that myself. I am lamenting that the leaders of many places I worship feel ill-equipped or unwilling or afraid to speak into this season in a way that points out the evil around us. 

The season of the church year and the season of our universe mean we must look at the darkness – how else will we ever know the true light when we see it? We cannot be afraid to point to mass shootings, to bombing civilians, to the suffering of our trans community, to the brutality of racism, to the brutality of ICE, to domestic violence, to abuse… It’s a long list. Anyone over fifteen years old knows something about this darkness – why is the church dancing around these truths? 

I think we have forgotten how to hold stubborn hope and dark truth together.

I want to caution church leaders, no – I want to yell: DO NOT GET SUCKED IN TO ORGANIZATIONAL SURVIVAL OR KEEPING PEOPLE HAPPY TO THE EXTENT YOU FORGET WHAT HOPE IN CHRIST LOOKS LIKE. [Maybe we need to revisit Liberation Theology?]

With Holy Week preparations on the horizon the tension between the theology of the cross and the theology of glory seems muddled up. Let’s wonder together and prepare ourselves to preach so the power of stubborn hope can be revealed. How? Glad you asked!

The LEAD staff want to invite you to join us as a panel of ELCA Bishops for a discussion on this very topic.
     Choosing Courage – Being a Prophetic Voice in Today’s World
     Wednesday, March 25th | 11:30am-12:30pm CT

Register here to receive the Zoom link to participate.