ELCA Membership Slips Below 5 Million In 2003
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The baptized membership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) slipped below 5 million in 2003, said the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary. Almen announced a reduction of 53,081 baptized members -- a decrease of about 1 percent -- for a total of 4,984,925 baptized...
Lutheran Retreat Center In Washington Closed Due To Wildfire
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Holden Village, Chelan, Wash., and the Chelan County Sheriff's Office announced that as a precautionary measure the Village will be evacuated because of a nearby wildfire, known as the "Deep Harbor Fire." The Lutheran retreat center will remain closed at least until Aug. 22, according to a...
Lutherans Continue To Support Relief Efforts In Sudan
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have sent a total of $145,000 to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan, where fighting and militia attacks have led to a massive displacement of people in various regions of the African country. "The crisis in Sudan continues to...
Later ELCA Assemblies Address Hunger, Stewardship, Sexuality
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Voting members attending synod assemblies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in late spring and early summer addressed a variety of churchwide and local concerns, speaking most frequently in resolutions related to domestic and world hunger, stewardship and funding, and the ELCA Studies on Sexuality....
ELCA Mission Investment Fund Reaches $300 Million Mark
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) reached a milestone in July when it surpassed the $300 million mark in fund investments, said the Rev. Arnold O. Pierson, MIF vice president for church relations and communication. The MIF's primary mission is...
Lutheran Women Provide Grants To Support Families, Communities
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the women's organization of the church, awarded $161,350 in grants to projects that strengthen families and communities domestically and internationally this year. Women of the ELCA's grant program has awarded about $2.75 million since 1988, when the women's...
Lutherans Support Relief Efforts In Bangladesh, Nepal
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has provided funds for food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials for survivors of floods in Bangladesh and monsoon rains in Nepal. More heavy rain and the onrush of water from upstream sources in...
Lutherans From Around the World Discuss Globalization, Peace
MILWAUKEE (ELCA) -- About 2,000 Lutherans from across the country and around the world gathered together this summer to study economic globalization, peace work, public policy and more at the 2004 Global Mission Events (GMEs) hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Under the theme, "Claimed by God's...
Atlanta ELCA Pastor Preaches On 'Day 1' Radio Program
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregation in Atlanta, will be the featured speaker Aug. 22 on "Day 1." Day 1 is an award-winning radio program broadcast on more than 150 stations nationwide, on the...
New York ELCA Congregation Copes With Terror Alert
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- St. Peter Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that shares a city block with the Citigroup Center in Manhattan, is coping with a significant police presence around its sanctuary and restricted traffic flow. On Aug. 1 the Citigroup Center was named...
ICJ Opinion On Mideast Barrier Supports ELCA, LWF Actions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- U.S. church leaders have appealed to the United States, Israel and all other governments to support the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) advisory opinion on Israel's separation barrier. This month the court said it is against international law for Israel to build its barrier in the occupied...
ELCA Mission Investment Fund Announces New Interest Rates
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced new interest rates for fixed- and adjustable-rate investments it offers to ELCA congregations, members, synods and ministries related to the church. The MIF's primary mission is to provide loans to mission congregations to...
ELCA Mission Investment Fund Announces New Rates, Loan Option
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced new interest rates for loans to ELCA congregations and related ministries, and a new 10-year loan option with a fixed interest rate. The MIF's primary mission is to provide loans to mission congregations...
ELCA and Scholastic Initiate Agreement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Scholastic have entered into a new agreement this summer in an effort to bring "Davey and Goliath" to a new generation of children. Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Davey and Goliath is a...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Expresses Appreciation For LCMS Action
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) – The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said he is "profoundly grateful" for the decision of the 62nd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod to continue discussions with the ELCA. In a brief address here...
Lutherans Gather To Celebrate, Discuss Multicultural Ministries
ORLANDO, Fla. (ELCA) – More than 600 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) celebrated their diversity "in praise, song and dance," and held a series of conversations on the future of multicultural ministries in the church at the 2004 ELCA Multicultural Gathering July 9-11 at the Sheraton...
ELCA STaR Ministry Alliance Forms At First Annual Meeting
NEWBERRY, S.C. (ELCA) -- The first annual meeting of the Small Town and Rural (STaR) Ministry Alliance of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) brought together some 100 people from throughout the ELCA. A key component was the formation of several "affinity groups," which will carry on the church's...
Lutherans Continue Disaster Relief Across Country
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, continues to organize recovery work this summer in California, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia, after storms struck parts of these areas. "As we move through the early...
Lutherans Invite People To Prayer On The Internet
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A new interactive online resource -- "A Call to Prayer" at http://www.elca.org/prayer -- invites the 5 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and others to pray using Scripture, music and art. Launched this month, the site also features a "praying church network." "There...
Early ELCA Synod Assemblies Address Sexuality, Other Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Several synod assemblies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) meeting this spring addressed a series of concerns related to the current ELCA Studies on Sexuality. Most assemblies that adopted memorials addressed to the churchwide assembly or resolutions on the issues stated their opposition to or...
