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.,...
ELCA Youth Gathering features athlete Emmanuel Yeboah
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 Bible study. Emmanuel Yeboah, a man from Ghana who rode his...
Lutheran Leaders Receive Honorary Degrees in India
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service As part of a week of celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg's arrival in India July 9, 1706, the Academy of Ecumenical Indian Christian Theology and Church Administration hosted a convocation July 7 at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai,...
Lutherans in India Study Ziegenbalg's Influence on Mission, Society
CHENNAI, India (ELCA) -- An international consultation on "Post Modern Challenges to Christian Mission" July 5-6 followed a seminar on "The Contribution of Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg to Civil Society" July 4 as part of a full week of activities here at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute marking the 300th...
ELCA Youth Gathering features Bible study
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service 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 a Bible study led by the Rev. Stephen Bond, a recent graduate of...
Definitely-Abled Youth Gather for ELCA Leadership Event
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- More than 60 parents, caregivers, volunteers and youth with disabilities gathered July 2-5 in San Antonio for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE). DAYLE is a leadership event for youth with disabilities planned by the Definitely-Abled Advisory Committee (DAC)....
Lutheran Youth Of Color Prepare For Leadership Work
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- About 800 high-school-age Lutherans of color and/or whose primary language is other than English gathered July 2-5 for the 2006 Multicultural Youth Leadership Event hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Under the theme "La Luz: The Power of the Light Shines for...
Tony Campolo addresses ELCA Youth Gathering at opening session
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service The 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering kicked off a week of events July 5 with more than 15,000 high-school-aged Lutherans gathered in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The event featured a mariachi band, a video introduction with the...
Celebration of 300 Years of Lutheran Mission Begins in India
CHENNAI, India (ELCA) -- India is paying tribute July 3-9 to its first Lutheran missionary on the 300th anniversary of Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg's arrival July 9, 1706, in Tranquebar on the southeast coast. His Excellency Thiru Surjit Singh Barnala, governor of India's Tamil Nadu, gave the inaugural address July 3 here...
ELCA to Offer Global Mission Event in Amherst
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will present a Global Mission Event (GME) July 27-30 at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Co-sponsored by the Episcopal Church and endorsed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the event will draw more than 1,000 participants from the United...
Lutherans and Muslims Assess Tsunami Relief, Plan Cooperation
MEDAN, Indonesia (ELCA) -- The earthquake and tsunami of December 2004 was centered off the coast of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The predominantly Muslim area began working closely with Christian relief agencies, and inter-religious friendships developed across the region. Approximately 85 Muslim and Lutheran leaders came here to the capital of...
ELCA and Episcopal Bishops Call for U.S. Diplomatic Intervention in Gaza
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), joined the Rev. Frank Griswold, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, in a letter appealing to President Bush to do everything possible to calm the crisis in Gaza. In retaliation for...
Lutherans Respond to Flooding in Northeast United States
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in the northeastern part of the United States are experiencing the impact of the storms and flooding in June. Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is organizing initial relief and recovery...
ELCA Participates in Emergency Assistance to Families in the Middle East
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has provided $100,000 to assist families in the Middle East who are unemployed and cannot afford medical attention. The funds were sent June 28 to Action by Churches Together (ACT), which has issued an emergency appeal...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Synod Hunger Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), addressed the ELCA World Hunger Synod Leadership Gathering June 26 in Techny, Ill. More than 100 synod hunger leaders representing 47 of the ELCA's 65 synods gathered June 24-27 to discuss the...
Lutheran Men in Mission offer young men's Road Trip
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Lutheran Men in Mission will hold its second annual gathering for young men ages 18-24, Oct. 27-29 at the YMCA of the Ozarks, Potosi, Mo. "Road Trip: Coming of Age" will offer participants hiking, bike riding, fishing, golf and other outdoor activities, as...
Lutheran Disaster Response seeks volunteers
by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is seeking volunteers to aid in long-term hurricane recovery in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas this summer. "Almost 10 months have passed since Hurricane Katrina,...
