April 11, 2003

MINNEAPOLIS - Augsburg Fortress is proud to announce the release of Reclaiming the "L" Word: Renewing the Church from Its Lutheran Core, the first in a new series entitled Lutheran Voices.

Lutheran Voices will provide quality accessible books by Lutheran authors that will inform, teach, inspire, and renew. Grounded in Lutheran theology and practice, the books will cover a wide range of subjects and themes of interest to ELCA members and the wider Christian community.

With Lutheran Voices Augsburg Fortress wants to dramatically emphasize its commitment to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its rich theological heritage, as well helping its many gifted voices speak. This new venture is allowing us to partner with prophets and preachers, politicians and pastors; educators and scientists, caregivers and counselors; professors and students; scholars and homemakers - people who have new things to say to the larger Lutheran church. Lutheran Voices is a forum for their reflections on being Lutheran today.

The initial title in the series, Reclaiming the "L" Word: Renewing the Church from Its Lutheran Core by Kelly Fryer (foreword by Timothy F. Lull) released April 1, 2003.

Reclaiming the "L" Word is a book about renewing congregations by recognizing and living out the core teachings of the Lutheran faith. Primarily written for those who call themselves Lutheran and, specifically, those who are members of ELCA congregations, this little book helps us answer these central questions: Who are we? What DOES it mean to be a Lutheran today, anyway? And, why does it matter.

Inspirational, engaging, and challenging, this book is a must-read for pastors and congregational leaders!

"Thank God for Pastor Fryer's reminder of where Lutheran Christians stand: at the foot of the cross, where we are met by Jesus, who has come down for us, and whose love welcomes and changes us. May the five Guiding Principles of this book ignite a new Reformation - setting us free to follow Jesus into a world desperate for his love, trusting that God has intentionally gifted each one of us with something precious to offer, and the passion to share it."
- The Reverend Mary Ann Moller-Gunderson, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

"There should be a warning label on this book: 'Caution: Reading this book could result in the transformation of the Church." Way to go Kelly! Just what we need. I'll take 165 copies, one for each congregation in the Northern Illinois Synod."
- Bishop Gary M. Wollersheim, Northern Illinois Synod, ELCA

"Kelly Fryer has such a winsome way of articulating the connection between mission and the Lutheran theological tradition! This book reflects her passions for theological integrity, for mission-driven congregations, and for painting outside the box. When you read this book, expect some surprises!"
- Dr. Rick Bliese, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Kelly A. Fryer is pastor of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Lockport, Illinois. She is the author of two previous books, No Experience Necessary: On the Job Training for a Life of Faith (Augsburg, 1999) and Dancing Down the Hallway: Spiritual Reflections for the Every Day (coauthored with her husband, Timothy J. Ressmeyer, Augsburg, 2001). ISBN: 0-8066-4596-2Paperback 5.5" x 8.5"$9.99 (Canada $15.95)

Coming August 2003! (Preliminary titles)

• Listen! God Is Calling! Martin Luther's Teaching on Vocation by Michael Bennethum IBSN:0-8066-4991-7

• On a Wing and a Prayer: Faith-based Leadership in the 21st Century by Michael Cooper-White IBSN:0-8066-4992-5

• Let the Servant Church Arise! by Barbara DeGrote-Sorenson & David Sorenson IBSN:0-8066-4995-X

• Our Lives Are not Our Own: Saying "Yes" to God by Harold Eppley & Rochelle Melander IBSN:0-8066-4992-2

• Water from the Rock: Voices of Lutherans in Palestine by Ann Hafften IBSN:0-8066-4989-5

• Who Do You Say I Am? 21st Century Preaching by Susan Hedahl IBSN:0-8066-4990-9

• Signs of Belonging: Luther's Marks on the Church and the Christian Life by Mary Hinkle IBSN:0-8066-4997-6

• Conversations with Luther on the Sermon on the Mount by Martin Marty IBSN:0-8066-4994-1

• When the Poetry Dies: Listening for the Melody of Grace in the Silence of Loss by John McCullough Bade IBSN:0-8066-4998-4

• Connecting with God in a Disconnected World: A Guide for Spiritual Growth and Renewal by Carolyn Coon Mowchan & Damian Vraniak IBSN:0-8066-4996-8

• Give Us This Day: A Lutheran Response to World Hunger by Craig Nessan IBSN:0-8066-4993-3

To order Reclaiming the "L" Word and other volumes of the Lutheran Voices series please call Augsburg Fortress at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the web site at http://www.augsburgfortress.org/>www.augsburgfortress.org.