This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island.
We Rock Island Lutherans don’t take much stock in the doctrine of predestination—except when it comes to church potlucks. Somewhere in the fine print of the Augsburg Confession, the early church fathers determined that Lutherans whose last names begin with A through K must always bring salads to church suppers.
Lutherans have eased up a bit from the founding fathers. We do not lose our good standing if we speak to Catholics, and women can now be ordained. But on the question of church suppers, Lutherans have not budged. If your name is Louetta Knudson, your only choice is clear: Jell-O or Jell-O with additives such as shredded carrots and marshmallows, or possibly the more daring coleslaw with peanuts. No green beans in mushroom sauce (that’s L’s through O’s), no chicken surprise (P’s through S’s), and no toffee bars or cherry pies (the T’s through Z’s).
You can understand the dilemma which Louetta Peterson faced when she married Ed Knudson, moved to Moline and joined First Lutheran. Back in Ohio, her twice-baked potato and sausage casserole had been in such demand that she was often invited to join organizations on that basis alone. Her recipe had appeared on local television and had been published in the Taste of Ohio cookbook.
Now, in Moline as a Knudson, her chance for a place in the sun dimmed. Her salads were nothing to brag about, and she saw no way of sneaking her casserole in as a salad.
Louetta's conflict between her faith and her works came to a head after the church council turned down her request for a special dispensation. What if everyone wanted to do that, they asked.
There were only two other options. Several friends suggested a transfer to South Park Presbyterian, where salvation was predestined, but casseroles were free. Members of First Lutheran advised a less radical plan: a friendly divorce from Ed and a return to her maiden name.
At the moment, Louetta is weighing her options.
Rock Island Lines with Roald Tweet is underwritten by Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.
