David deFreese re-elected bishop of ELCA Nebraska Synod
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service The Rev. David L. deFreese, 51, was elected to a second six-year term as bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly June 1-3 in Kearney, Neb. With 603 of 757 votes, deFreese was...
H. Gerard Knoche re-elected bishop of ELCA Delaware-Maryland Synod
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service The Rev. H. Gerard Knoche, 63, was elected to a second six-year term as bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly June 1-3 in Gettysburg, Pa. Knoche was re-elected on the second ballot...
Lutherans Preparing to Host Palestinian Youth Dancers
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- This summer 19 youth dancers from the Al Raja Palestinian Folkloric Dance Troupe, based in Ramallah, West Bank, will travel to the United States and perform throughout the country, making appearances in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at key ELCA events, and at...
Lutherans featured in 'Hunger For The Word' resource
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service Biblical reflections from three pastors and two mission personnel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are featured in "Hunger for the Word: Lectionary Reflections on Food and Justice, Year C." Available from Bread for the World, Hunger for the Word is...
Olaf Storaasli, longtime Luther Seminary professor, dies
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service The Rev. Olaf K. Storaasli, professor emeritus of New Testament, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died May 16. Though the cause of death was undetermined, his daughter, Carolyn Nestingen, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune...
ELCA Provides Funds to Support the Humanitarian Response in Darfur
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $200,000 May 31 to support the humanitarian response in the Darfur region of western Sudan. A three-year conflict in Darfur has resulted in the deaths of some 200,000 to 400,000 people, and more than 2.5 million people have been...
ELCA's 'Understanding the Roman Catholic Church' Available June 1
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Following centuries of mistrust and indifference, Lutherans and Roman Catholics today are engaged in formal dialogue and cooperating in a variety of ways and at many levels. The June 1 issue of Mosaic Television, the video magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), focuses on...
Stephen Talmage Elected Bishop of ELCA Grand Canyon Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Stephen S. Talmage, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Peoria, Ariz., was elected May 26 to a six- year term as bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly in Tucson, Ariz. Talmage will assume his...
Lutheran Disaster Response Oversees Funding for Hurricane Relief
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to Hurricane Katrina Lutherans from across the United States and around the world have contributed $24.4 million to date. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is overseeing the expenditure of the contributions...
Lutherans Support Earthquake Recovery Efforts in Indonesia
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is providing an initial $50,000 to support relief efforts in central Indonesia, after an earthquake struck May 27 on the island of Java. The earthquake killed about 5,700 people, injured 20,000 others and left 200,000 homeless....
Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue focuses on death, judgment, resurrection
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service Participants in the second meeting of the 11th round of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue in the United States focused their academic and theological discussions on death, judgment and resurrection. The meeting was held April 20-23 in Phoenix. The theme of the 11th round...
ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod announces transition plans for new bishop
ELCA Northeastern Ohio Synod announces transition plans for new bishop by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service The Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced May 23 that the synod council will appoint an interim bishop for the synod to begin Aug. 1. This follows...
Jon Moline to retire as Texas Lutheran University president in 2007
by Kathy Hughes, director of communications, Texas Lutheran University Dr. Jon N. Moline, president of Texas Lutheran University (TLU), Seguin, announced May 22 that he will retire effective May 31, 2007, when he turns 70 years of age. TLU is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran...
'Stand With Africa' supports life-saving ministries in sub-Saharan Africa
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service Gifts to the World Hunger Appeal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) designated for "Stand With Africa" help communities and churches in Africa banish hunger, overcome HIV/AIDS and build peace. To help members of the ELCA understand how their contributions support...
Ray Tiemann re-elected bishop of ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod
by John Dellis, editor, The Vista, Southwestern Texas Synod The Rev. Ray Tiemann was re-elected May 20 to a second six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly in Corpus Christi, Texas. Tiemann, 53, first elected as...
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Elects Marcus Miller as President
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Marcus J. Miller, bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected May 18 by the board of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C., to succeed the Rev. Frederick Reisz Jr. as the seminary's president on Aug. 15....
ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls Church to Action, Prayer for Darfur, Sudan
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Noting there is "cautious, hopeful news" about the Darfur region in western Sudan, where a peace process has been initiated with the signing of an agreement, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), called on the church to learn...
ELCA youth strive to raise $1 million to help end world hunger
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service High-school-age and adult Lutherans attending the 2006 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are saying "no more hungry people" and will strive to raise $1 million for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Under the "Hamiltons for Hunger" effort, every...
ELCA Seminary Professors, Film Reviewer Comment on 'The Da Vinci Code'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- May 19 is the long-anticipated motion picture premiere of "The Da Vinci Code," based on the popular best-selling novel by Dan Brown. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) seminary professors and a retired Lutheran communicator who have read the book and written about it say it's an...
Journalist Jim Lehrer commencement speaker at ELCA's Bethany College
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service Noted television journalist Jim Lehrer will address graduating seniors May 21 at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan., one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Lehrer is a native of Wichita, Kan. Lehrer is executive editor of "The...
