ELCA Presiding Bishop's 2004 Easter Message
"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not...
Women of the ELCA Readies Itself for New Theme
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The executive board of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) prepared for its next triennial theme, "Act Boldly," when it met here Mar. 18-21. The board also learned about the "Women-to-Women Coffee Tour" to be led by the organization's president, participated in a process...
ELCA Women Respond to God's Call by "Saying Yes!"
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are responding to God's call by "Saying Yes!" in six retreat-style events across the country in 2004 and 2005. "Saying Yes! The Next Step" is designed to "live out" Women of the ELCA's 2002-2005 theme, "Listen, God is...
ELCA Studies on Sexuality Considers Options, Reparative Therapy
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The task force coordinating studies in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) regarding issues of human sexuality met here March 19-21 to consider the range of possible recommendations it could provide the church in 2005. It also heard a presentation on reparative therapy -- a counseling...
ELCA Board of Pensions Considers Health Plan Member Cost-Sharing
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- A health plan that strengthens preventive benefits and emphasizes health and wellness was approved "in concept" by the trustees of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Feb. 27-29 when they met here. The trustees discussed the 2005 health plan design at...
ELCA Bishops Ask for Study on Authorized Lay Ministry
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) asked the ELCA Division for Ministry (DM) to conduct a study of the present policies and guidelines related to authorized lay ministry in the 65 synods of the church. The Conference's liaison committee...
ELCA Bishops Learn of Communication Plans for Sexuality Studies
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Studies on Sexuality want church members and clergy "to be secure in their information level" as the study process moves toward development of recommendations for consideration by the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, said the Rev. Rebecca...
ELCA Bishops Hear 'Wellness' Update from Board of Pensions
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (ELCA) -- Saying this was an "exciting time" in the life of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the organization's president challenged the ELCA Conference of Bishops to "champion the cause" of health and wellness among professional leaders in the church....
Harold Lentz, Former President of ELCA's Carthage College, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Harold H. Lentz, former president of Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., and a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died March 11 at his home in Lima, Ohio. He was 93. Carthage is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. Lentz, 15th...
ELCA Ministry Board Discusses Vision, Future Work
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Ministry did not have many items on which to vote when it met here March 12-14, so its members took the opportunity to engage in detailed discussions of issues surrounding the division's current and future...
ELCA Bishops Plan to Maintain Mission Support Funds for Two Years
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) agreed to "encourage" each of the church's synods to maintain or increase their current giving percentage of mission support funds to the churchwide organization for fiscal 2004 and 2005. The ELCA Conference of...
ELCA Bishops Hear Presiding Bishop's 'Hope' for the Church
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said the ELCA is not "a church is that is troubled or in trouble" but a church in which he sees much hope. Hanson made the comment in his report...
Minneapolis Lutheran Bishop Released From Hospital
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Craig E. Johnson, 56, bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was released from the hospital March 10 and is now recuperating at home. Johnson underwent surgery to repair a brain aneurysm on March 2. Another surgical procedure...
Lutherans Celebrate 'Schools Week' March 7-13
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Under the theme "Let the Children Come," some 200 elementary and secondary schools and 1,800 early childhood education centers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are celebrating Lutheran Schools Week March 7-13. About 20,000 teachers work with 250,000 children who attend ELCA schools and early...
ELCA Publisher Offers 'The Passion,' 'DaVinci Code' Resources
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Augsburg Fortress, the Minneapolis-based publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has developed discussion guides for "The Passion of the Christ," a popular film produced by Mel Gibson, and for "The DaVinci Code," a popular book written by Dan Brown. The discussion guide for...
Multicultural Ministries Committee Discusses ELCA's Redesign
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The steering committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Commission for Multicultural Ministries (CMM) participated in a process to redesign the church's organization and received reports on work of the commission when it met here Feb. 27-28. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of...
Lutheran College Fairs Set for Spring 2004
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Most of the 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will participate in "Lutheran College Fair" programs at 11 locations in 8 states this spring. The purpose of the fairs is to connect Lutheran college representatives with prospective students and their families....
ELCA Board for Church in Society Recommends and Reviews
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society (DCS) is recommending the ELCA Church Council address a number of items at its next meeting. The board also reviewed several of the church's current and future projects, when it met here...
Minneapolis Lutheran Bishop Remains Hospitalized Following Surgery
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Craig E. Johnson, bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), remains hospitalized following successful surgery March 2 to repair a brain aneurysm, said Kristi R. Mitchell, communications coordinator for the synod. Another surgical procedure to repair a second...
ELCA Gathers 'Power-Filled Women for a Power-Filled Church'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Glass ceiling" is a metaphor for the invisible barrier that keeps women from holding top corporate positions in the United States. "Stained glass ceiling" refers to a similar barrier in churches. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Commission for Women hosted an academy in January that...
