ELCA Hosts 'Renewing Worship Days' this Fall
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Pastors, musicians and others invested in renewing the worship life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are gathering for "Renewing Worship Days," one-day workshops, at more than 30 locations across the country this fall. "We have three main goals for Renewing Worship Days," said Cheryl...
ELCA Issues Study Guide on 'The Church and Homosexuality'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) mailed about 18,000 copies of "Journey Together Faithfully, Part Two: The Church and Homosexuality" on Sept. 5 to the pastors and lay leaders of the church. A task force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality compiled the 49-page study guide and...
Lutherans Help Children Cope with Sept. 11
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Many children from New York and New Jersey are still affected by the terrorist attacks on the United States Sept. 11, 2001, according to the Rev. Ann M. Tiemeyer. "New Ground Day Camp," a children's day camp hosted by Lutherans, provided a way for those children to...
Scholarships Awarded To International Students Attending Lutheran Colleges
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) awarded scholarships of $1,500 each to 16 international students attending ELCA colleges and universities. The scholarships, from the Phoebe Herman Scholarship Endowment Fund, were awarded through the ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools (DHES). Phoebe Herman was an active...
ELCA Board of Pensions Launches "Healthy Leaders" Campaign
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Moving against the tide of the U.S. healthcare industry's illness model, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Board of Pensions staff and trustees discussed plans for the board's health and wellness initiative. At their July 30-Aug. 1 meeting, board trustees heard Bradley Joern, the Board's health...
Lutheran College Fairs Set for Fall 2003
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Most of the colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will participate in "Lutheran College Fair" programs at 15 locations in 11 states this fall. The purpose of the fairs is to connect Lutheran college representatives with prospective students and their families. The...
ELCA will Host 'Friends Of Davey And Goliath" this Fall
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will host "Friends of Davey and Goliath" in special receptions throughout the country this fall. At the receptions, guests will view a special presentation of "Oh Davey ... History of the 'Davey and Goliath' Television Series," a documentary produced by...
Lutherans Pursue Good Coffee, Fairly
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- After Sunday morning worship or during an evening church council meeting the deep, rich aroma and smooth, caramel-like taste of coffee can be invigorating for Lutherans. But for some members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) coffee -- one of the most heavily traded commodities...
Women of the ELCA Hosts New Web Magazine for Young Women
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Cafe: Stirring the Spirit Within" -- a new online magazine (or e-zine) intended for women ages 20-35 -- was launched Aug. 18 by Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the women's organization of the church. The faith-based e-zine will be issued five times a...
Holy Spirit at Work, Next Two Years Difficult, Says ELCA Presiding Bishop
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) - Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will enter the "next stage" of conversation about the place of people who are gay and lesbian in the life of the ELCA with "a new sense of confidence that the Holy Spirit is at work." Those were...
ELCA Assembly Elects Council, Board, Committee Members
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected leaders to serve on the Church Council, churchwide boards and committees Aug. 15 and 16 at the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines...
ELCA Assembly Completes Work On Resolutions
(ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 16 adopted seven recommendations and defeated one resolution brought before the assembly's reference and counsel committee. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Plan for Mission
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized, 838 to 25, that the Office of the ELCA Presiding Bishop oversee and implement "Faithful Yet Changing: The Plan for Mission in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" Aug. 17. The churchwide assembly, the...
ELCA Assembly Hears from Young Adult Convocation
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The Young Adult Convocation reported to the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). During its report, young adult participants told voting members of the distinction between youth and young adults and spoke about the role of young adults in the ELCA. The...
ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings from Ecumenical Guests
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- During the 10th and 11th plenary sessions of the 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), several denominations and other religious organizations extended their greetings to assembly voting members. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug....
ELCA Assembly Declines Exception on Installation of Bishops
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 16 declined to propose constitutional changes requested by two ELCA synods that would permit those seeking installation as bishops in the ELCA to do so without the participation of bishops in the "historic episcopate."...
ELCA Assembly Considers "Listening Posts" for Gay, Lesbian People
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) considered a motion designed to encourage the 5 million-member church to organize "listening posts" for the purpose of hearing the experiences of Lutherans who are gay and lesbian. The assembly voted to refer the motion...
ELCA Assembly Adopts 2004-2005 Budget
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted budgets for 2004 and 2005 Aug. 16. For 2004, the budget was approved at current fund fiscal year income of $84,310,000, and World Hunger income was approved at $16,250,000. For 2005, the budget was...
ELCA Assembly Defeats Ratification Proposal for Constitutional Amendments
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- The 2003 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Aug. 16 defeated 205-701 a proposal to require a majority of its synod assemblies to ratify any amendments to the ELCA constitution. Assembly voting members followed that action with a 649-229 vote in favor of...
Former Presiding Bishop Says Time Has Arrived For Policy Change
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- About 150 people attended a "Festival Worship" service Aug. 15 here, led and attended by people who want the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to be more welcoming to people who are gay and lesbian, and want the church to change its expectations for ordained pastors....
