“Today … Something Has Changed”

Abstract

ABSTRACT This dialogue sermon, based on Luke 4: 14–21, was preached on October 15, 2002, at daily chapel at Luther College, a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Decorah, IA, as part of a week-long series highlighting the theme of Domestic Violence Awareness. In writing and preaching this sermon in dialogue form, Connie had the opportunity to tell her own story, and Deanna had the opportunity to use her authority and voice as pastor to make public space for Connie to be heard. In this dialogue sermon, they preach the gospel together–inviting others to claim their voices and to tell their own stories of abuse and violence within the church; challenging the church to take seriously the voices and experiences of those harmed; and calling the church to hold accountable those whose unhealthy and violent behavior causes the harm. The process of creating this dialogue sermon models and teaches through words and action that the gospel is not about fear and keeping secrets but about freedom and speaking the truth. Connie and Deanna have journeyed together as pastor/parishioner; as women whose experiences of assault/harassment within the same congregation have not been publicly acknowledged; as women who have been told by clergy that they could not talk to one another about their experiences. Their mutual decision to talk has been one step in the healing process for both of them. The day they preached this sermon was the first time they were able to speak together publicly to tell a portion of their individual and collective stories.