Income For ELCA Congregations Grows To $2.6 Billion In 2003
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Income for the 10,657 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 2003 was nearly $2.6 billion, according to statistics compiled by the ELCA Office of the Secretary. Total receipts amounted to $2,554,509,414, up 2.45 percent or $61.2 million from the previous year, said the...
Peter W. Marty Commissioned As Lutheran Vespers Host
DAVENPORT, Iowa (ELCA) -- The Rev. Peter W. Marty, senior pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, was formally commissioned in his congregation here Aug. 8 as the new host of Lutheran Vespers, the radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA...
Lutherans Plan Recovery Work Following Hurricane Charley
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Domestic Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), are planning recovery efforts in western Florida, after Hurricane Charley caused death and destruction there Aug. 13. At least eighteen people...
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...
