ELCA Disaster Response to distribute funds for Middle East, Indonesia
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service International Disaster Response (IDR) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Global Mission is distributing funds to provide aid for the Middle East and the Indonesian island of Java. According to a July 17 IDR announcement, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Middle East Crisis
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a July 17 pastoral letter to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) regarding the Middle East conflict and escalating military action that has now expanded into Lebanon, the ELCA presiding bishop said he will continue to call on the international community and the U.S. administration...
ELCA Pastor's Death at Roanoke College is Under Investigation
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Walter J. Vierling, 91, a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Pearisburg, Va., died July 14 while attending "Power in the Spirit," an annual conference sponsored by the ELCA Virginia Synod, at Roanoke College, Salem, Va. His death is being investigated...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Urges Lutheran Youth to 'Speak the Truth'
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), encouraged participants in the 2006 ELCA Youth Gathering to "speak the truth" as God's witnesses in the world. Hanson carried the theme throughout his sermon at the concluding worship service...
International speakers, performers highlight ELCA Youth Gathering
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service Participants in the Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were treated to an international evening featuring speakers from Guatemala and Sudan, a dance troupe from Ramallah, and a popular Christian rock band from Australia. The gathering is taking place...
ELCA College Experiences Carbon Monoxide Leak, One Death
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A carbon monoxide leak early July 14 in a dormitory at Roanoke College, Salem, Va., caused almost 100 visitors to be treated at Roanoke-Salem area hospitals. One death was reported, but carbon monoxide poisoning may or may not have been the cause. Roanoke is one of 28...
Lutheran Youth Organization Delegates Act on Resolutions
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- More than 300 delegates attending the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) convention here acted on a series of proposals, addressing such issues as Lutheran unity, prayer, peacemaking, advocacy, the ONE campaign, the conflict in Darfur, immigration and world hunger. The delegates met July 9-12 at the...
LYO Convention Delegates Elect Officers, Board for 2006-2009
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (ELCA) -- Delegates attending the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) convention here July 9-12 elected a team that will lead the youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until the organization's next convention in 2009. LYO represents the high-school-age members of the ELCA. More than 300...
Lutheran Youth Organization Greeted by Variety of Supporters
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- More than 300 delegates attending the Seventh Triennial Convention of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) here July 9-12 heard a variety of greetings from partners and friends from throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). LYO...
Suzanne Gibson Wise elected chair of Lutheran Services in America
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Suzanne Gibson Wise, president and chief executive officer, Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, Raleigh, N.C., was elected chair of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Services in America (LSA) during the 2006 LSA Annual Conference April 26-28. LSA, one of the largest...
Tranquebar Mission Restored After 300 Years of Lutheran Ministry in India
TARANGAMBADI, India (ELCA) -- Thousands of Tamil people joined international guests and Lutheran church leaders July 8-9 here at the Tranquebar Mission on the southeast coast of India, where German missionaries Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Pluetschau arrived July 9, 1706. The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) marked the 300th anniversary...
Lutheran Disaster Response reports continued recovery efforts
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service In the Northeast United States, communities continue flood recovery efforts. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, also reported that several Lutheran congregations in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area were affected...
ELCA Youth Gathering Offers Life-Changing Experiences
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (ELCA) -- Throughout the 2006 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), high-school-age participants have had a variety of life-changing experiences, said Heidi Hagstrom, director of the ELCA Youth Gathering. More than 15,000 youth and adults gathered July 5-9 to participate in events at...
Bishop of ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod calls for "common good" on immigration
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service As Colorado legislators meet in a special session that started July 6 to debate immigration policy, the Rev. Allan C. Bjornberg, bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, issued a statement calling on state legislators to "resist...
Young Lutherans return home from ELCA Youth Gathering
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service With worship, music and dance, the first of two events of the 2006 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) concluded July 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. More than 15,000 high-school-age Lutherans and adults from across the country...
Newberry College announces record giving
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Newberry College, Newberry, S.C., announced a record year in regular giving during the 2005-2006 fiscal year that ended June 30. Nearly $4 million in total giving was recorded. Newberry is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America....
ELCA Star Ministry Alliance to meet July 20-22 at Susquehanna
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service The Small Town and Rural Ministry Alliance (STaR) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will hold its annual meeting July 20-22 at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa. Susquehanna University is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. Participants will have an opportunity...
ELCA Youth Gathering features Kristine Gebbie on HIV/AIDS
by Annie Lynsen*, ELCA Washington Office Each morning during the 2006 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), more than 15,000 high-school- age youth gather at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, for speakers, music, and a Bible study. Dr. Kristine Gebbie, a former member of the...
'A church is waiting for you,' Jim Wallis tells Youth Gathering
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service According to the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners and organizer of the Call to Renewal, there is "a lot of confusion about what we mean by faith, by religion." Wallis spoke July 7 to more than 15,000 high-school-age Lutherans attending the 2006...
Miller tells young Lutherans, 'God knows your needs'
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service Donald Miller, author of the book "Blue Like Jazz," told more than 15,000 high-school-age Lutherans that the "average American sees about 3,000 commercials every day." And, "it seems to me impossible for that not to affect our understanding of God." Miller, Portland, Ore.,...
