'What's my political party?'

One thing I like about your editorials," a pastor in Indiana told me, "I can't tell what political party you belong to." I smiled, pleased. But I puzzled over his comment because my personal political views are not--and should not be--a part of what I write here. I wondered if the pastor filtered what he said in the pulpit on Sunday through his political lenses.

I hope not, for that would be an improper use of the pulpit or of this page. In developing an editorial, I think about what's timely and significant in church and society, read current material about the subject, consider the historical context, study what Scripture and Lutheran teachings say about the topic, consider any appropriate church statements and add my own experiences.