ELCA Bishops Hear Concluding Report from ELCA Secretary Almen
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his final report to the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, shared some reflections about the strengths of the ELCA and specific concerns for its future. Almen also commented on how he has changed...
Lutherans Support Recovery Efforts in Bangladesh
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), through its International Disaster Response, provided $75,000 to support recovery efforts in Bangladesh, where heavy rains produced floods in 39 districts. The onset of flooding by Himalayan-fed rivers affected an estimated 9 million people according to the government...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Writes in Support of Children's Health Care Program
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a written message to members of the U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 16, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), expressed his support for the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). "Our Christian faith...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Letter from Muslim Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and president of the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, responded today to an Oct. 11 letter sent to him and several global Christian leaders by 138 Muslim leaders from throughout the world. The 29-page...
Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality Works on Draft of Social Statement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Task Force for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Studies on Sexuality surveyed biblical, ethical and theological material that may be included in a draft of a social statement on human sexuality, and offered further instructions for its writing team when it met here Oct....
Donald McCoid to Head ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), announced Oct. 6 that the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, former bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Pittsburgh, will lead the church's Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations section for four years, effective Nov....
ELCA Presiding Bishop Supports Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace Conference
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said he supports an international conference aimed at taking steps toward resolving conflict peacefully between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East, and this week joined in a call for specific steps...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Opposes Limiting Shareholders' Rights
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), sent a letter Oct. 1 to Christopher Cox, chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in opposition to proposals before the SEC that would reduce or eliminate the ability...
Group from ELCA's Waldorf College helps with flood relief
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service A group of 16 students and 10 staff, family members and friends of Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa, traveled to Rushford, Minn., Sept. 22, responding to a call from Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) to help with flood relief, according to a college news release....
Lutherans in Pennsylvania Participate in Homeland Security Course
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans in Pennsylvania recently participated in a course on recognizing and preventing terrorist activity in places of worship. Considered "soft targets" by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, "churches can be considered easy targets because people meet at very predictable times and under very low security conditions,"...
Children's Lemonade Stand Earns $700 for Lutheran Disaster Response
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- When 8-year-old Lauren Wanders and her 6- year-old sister Katie Wanders, La Crosse, Wis., set-up their lemonade stand Aug. 30 at a local grocery store, they expected to raise about $200 in free-will donations to support neighbors affected by storms and floods that struck southern Wisconsin earlier...
ELCA Video News: ELCA Ad Campaign Pilots in Denver
In September 2007 many of Denver's billboards tell a more Lutheran story. The ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod is taking the lead in a pilot advertising campaign about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and what Lutherans are about in the world. Frank Imhoff reports. See the video report at http://www.ELCA.org/news/video.html...
ELCA, EKD Leaders Sign Bilateral Agreement, Hold Discussions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Top leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) signed an agreement here Sept. 24 that commits the churches to mutual exchange of information and provides assistance and care for English-speaking Lutheran congregations in Germany and German-speaking congregations in...
ELCA Provides $575,000 to Support Recovery Efforts Following Disaster
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), through its International Disaster Response, provided $575,000 in September in response to natural and human- caused disasters overseas. "ELCA Global Mission receives numerous requests from companions to assist with international disasters, whether they are human-caused disasters or natural...
ELCA Hosts Consultation on HIV, AIDS
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is in the process of developing a national church strategy on HIV and AIDS. The church hosted a consultation on HIV and AIDS here Sept. 7-9 that called together about 65 Lutherans from the United States and overseas to help...
Survivor of Rwandan Genocide Inspires ELCA Global Audience
COLUMBUS, OHIO (ELCA) -- Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, told an audience of nearly 1,800 people at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Global Mission Event (GME) that "kindness should come first in our lives." Ilibagiza was a keynote speaker for the event held this...
ELCA World Hunger Leaders Meet, Discuss 'Challenge'
COLUMBUS, Ohio (ELCA) -- Lutherans striving to end hunger in the world were encouraged to take the "Food Stamp Challenge" at the 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger Synod Leadership Gathering held this summer at The Ohio State University here. The gathering brought together about 140 leaders...
Tuskegee Airman and ELCA Member Flies on Faith, Dedication
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- William "Bill" McDonald is a rare individual. He's a quiet gentleman who commands respect not because of his title or his accomplishments, but because of what he has experienced and how he treats others. "When Bill speaks, people listen," said the Rev. Leonard H. Bolick, bishop, Evangelical...
ELCA Video News: 2007 ELCA World Hunger Synod Leadership Gathering
About 140 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who are spreading the message that ending hunger in the world is possible gathered July 17-22 at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Melissa Ramirez Cooper reports. See the video report at http://www.ELCA.org/news/video.html For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773)...
ELCA Video News: 2007 ELCA Global Mission Event
"A New Heaven and a New Earth" was envisioned by 1,800 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America during the 2007 ELCA Global Mission Event held July 19-22 at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Melissa Ramirez Cooper reports. See the video report at http://www.ELCA.org/news/video.html For information contact: John...
