ELCA Council Affirms Organ, Tissue, Blood Donations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a social policy resolution on "The Donation of Organs, Tissue and Whole Blood." The 11-point resolution said the ELCA "regards the donation of organs, tissue and whole blood as an act of stewardship and as...
William Weiblen, Former President of Lutheran Seminary, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. William H. Weiblen, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and former president of Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, died April 19 in Dubuque. He was 85. Wartburg is one of eight seminaries of the ELCA. "In perhaps a most appropriate sense...
ELCA Council Calls on Bush to Reconsider Middle East Matters
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed "grave concern regarding recent unilateral initiatives" being considered by the State of Israel, and called on U.S. President George W. Bush to reconsider his recent support of Israel's planned actions. The council "strongly affirmed" the...
ELCA Pastor 'Day 1' Speaker in May, June, July
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ann Svennungsen, president of the Fund for Theological Education, Atlanta, and a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is the featured speaker May 2, June 6 and July 18 on "Day 1," a radio program broadcast on more than 150 stations nationwide....
ELCA Council Hears Presiding Bishop's 'Ambivalence' Concerns
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), asked a series of questions of the ELCA Church Council focusing on what he termed "ambivalence" within the church. He suggested one key answer to ambivalence is to "unabashedly declare the Easter...
Resources, Events, Funding in Plans for Lutheran Men in Mission
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Board members for Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), the men's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), came away from their meeting March 19-21 in Charleston, S.C., "with the beginnings of a three-year plan that is realistic and attainable," said LMM President Heber Rast, Cameron,...
Lutheran Services in America is 'Building Communities'
ROSEMONT, Ill. (ELCA) -- "Building Communities" was the theme of the 2004 annual conference for Lutheran Services in America (LSA). Almost 400 executives, staff members and friends of Lutheran social service agencies studied facets of the theme through speakers, workshops and worship here March 31-April 2. "We have at least...
Lutheran-Jewish Relations Panel Discusses 'Passion,' Book, Talks
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed the film "The Passion of the Christ," the possibility of compiling a book of essays based on its "Talking Points" and the dialogue involving the ELCA and the Union of Reform Judaism....
ELCA Settles Texas Civil Case With 14 Plaintiffs
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) settled a civil suit brought against the church in Marshall, Texas, by 14 plaintiffs in a case that involved the behavior of a former ELCA pastor. The former pastor, Gerald P. Thomas Jr., was found guilty...
ELCA Statement on Texas Civil Case
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is thankful to have reached a settlement in a civil case that arose due to the criminal conduct of former pastor Gerald Thomas. We continue to pray for all who have been adversely affected by this disturbing case, and we ask your prayers...
Conflict in Congregations Topic of ELCA's Spring 2004 Mosaic
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Conflict within congregations -- and how to deal with it -- is the topic of the Spring 2004 issue of Mosaic Television, said Timothy Frakes, associate director for interpretation and Mosaic producer, ELCA Department for Communication. The program is now available, he said. The video features an...
2004 Pivotal Year for ELCA Ecumenism, Interfaith Relations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- 2004 is a pivotal year for many ecumenical and interfaith endeavors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA's 2003 Churchwide Assembly received a planning report and committed the church to work in five strategic directions, including to "deepen and extend our global, ecumenical and...
ELCA's Roanoke College Names Sabine O'Hara New President
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Sabine U. O'Hara was elected March 30 as president of Roanoke College, Salem, Va., one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). O'Hara was elected by a unanimous vote of the Roanoke College board of trustees, said Robert E. Wortmann,...
Churches Uniting in Christ Puts Forth Call to End Racism
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Church leaders, academics, seminary students and grassroots workers from across the country came together here March 29 to answer Churches Uniting in Christ's (CUIC) call to end racism. Under the theme "Eradicating Racism: Liberating Tomorrow's Children," about 85 participants gathered to discuss how churches can work for...
Lutherans Continue Disaster Relief in California
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, continues recovery efforts in southern California, after fire destroyed land and property last fall. About 750,000 acres and more than 3,600 houses were destroyed in San Bernardino, San Diego...
Leonard Schulze Re-Elected ELCA Education Division Director
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Leonard G. Schulze, executive director of the Division for Higher Education and Schools (DHES) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was re-elected March 27 by the division's board to a new four-year term effective June 16. Citing its constitutional responsibility, the board acted despite...
Lutheran Projects Win in 2004 Wilbur Awards Competition
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Lutheran or Lutheran-related projects won top awards for films and books in the 2004 Wilbur Awards competition. The awards, presented here March 27 at the Birmingham Museum of Art, recognized outstanding secular media entries that feature religious issues, themes and values. The awards are presented annually by...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Advocates for Global Poverty, AIDS Funds
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was among nine distinguished religious leaders who went to Washington, D.C., March 25 to remind the Bush Administration and other political leaders to keep financial promises to fund programs aimed at combating...
ELCA Global Mission Board Recommends International Action
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Global Mission (DGM) recommended the ELCA Church Council consider resolutions on international mission and ministry, and attended to other business when it met here March 19-21. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors...
Gil Furst, Lutheran Disaster Response Director, to Retire
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Domestic Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and director for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), will retire at the end of June. "This church is deeply grateful...
