ELCA's St. Olaf College awarded for energy efficiency
by Carrie Draeger, ELCA News Service St. Olaf College was named Minnesota's second most energy efficient business by Xcel Energy. The public utility company recognized 10 companies and organizations for their efforts to conserve energy. St. Olaf, located in Northfield, Minn., is one of 28 colleges and universities of the...
Lutherans Study Genetics in Preparation for Social Statement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is studying genetics in preparation for a social statement. The church has developed nine social statements in its 21-year history. Genetics is a broad and new topic that can be very intimidating, according to Dr. Per Anderson, professor of religion,...
37,000 Lutherans Heading to ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Tens of thousands of teenagers will converge on New Orleans for the Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a triennial event for the high school-age members of the 4.7 million-member church, and to work alongside those who build, teach and live in the...
Kansas Lutherans Say Home is Where God's Heart is Visible
HOME, Kan. (ELCA) -- Jesus is present wherever two or three are gathered in his name, according to the Gospel of Matthew. Friedens Lutheran Church draws four. Members meet weekly for Saturday night worship. At a recent service they belted out "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and other...
ELCA Seminaries Cope With, Challenge Economic Climate
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As church support lagged in recent decades, seminaries relied increasingly on endowments and using investment income to support their operating funds. Many of those investments retreated in the past year. The eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), their governing boards, faculties and staffs...
ELCA Students Awarded National Leadership Development Fellowships
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Sixteen undergraduate, graduate and seminary students of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were recognized by the Fund for Theological Education (FTE) as "2009 Fellows." The Fund, based in Atlanta, awarded more than $1.5 million in fellowships and program support to 163 students in the United States...
With world hunger on the rise, Lutherans set to respond, hunger leader says
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service According to a June report of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hunger is increasing. World hunger is predicted to reach "a historic high" in 2009 with more than 1.02 billion people experiencing hunger every day. That's 100 million people more...
ELCA plans Lent, Holy Week services retreats across country
by Carrie L. Draeger, ELCA News Service* Retreat-style events will take place this summer to give Lutheran pastors and lay leaders a fresh view of Holy Week services. They are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) "Worship at the Center 2009" events said Scott Weidler, associate director...
Lutherans Open their Church Doors to Immigrant Families
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For Howard Lamont being welcoming to the immigrant population is "simply part of the Christian message." "Congregations must develop a passion to reach out to strangers," said Lamont, a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Houston, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "Jesus...
ELCA to Engage in 50 Days of Prayer Leading to Churchwide Assembly
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has asked the church's 4.7 million members to pray and study Scripture for 50 days starting June 29, in preparation for the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The assembly is the ELCA's highest...
A Lutheran's Faith Remains Steadfast After Tragic Accident
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Diana Luscombe spent the past two years being angry with God. "God and I have a rapport where I can yell. And I feel like God says, 'Bring it on.'" About two years ago Luscombe and her husband Mark, along with their 3-week old son and 22-month...
Jon Anderson re-elected bishop of ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod
By Carrie L. Draeger, ELCA News Service* The Rev. Jon V. Anderson was elected June 12 to a second term as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Anderson was re-elected on the first ballot for bishop, receiving 488 of the 623 votes...
Lutherans raise awareness about health care issues
by Jodi Deike, ELCA News Service This summer the federal government is considering comprehensive reform of the U.S. health care system. "It is no exaggeration to say that this summer might be the best opportunity in a generation to achieve any sort of comprehensive health care reform," said Robert Francis,...
Extraordinary Faith, Ordinary Life -- A Lutheran Horseshoe Pitcher's Tale
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Terry Cuthbertson hoped to bring the 2009 world horseshoe pitching tournament to Kansas, home of the first such championship 100 years ago. By a five-vote margin, members of the National Horseshoe Pitching Association (NHPA) opted to hold the July 27-Aug. 8 competition in Springfield, Ill. Kansas was...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Holocaust Museum Shooting
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson wrote letters to 14 Jewish leaders in the United States, expressing his "sadness and concern" at the shooting incident June 10 at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Hanson is presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the...
ELCA Survey Reveals Influences on Congregation Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A survey conducted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) revealed how the personal theological views of its lay leaders are influenced by contemporary religious thought in the United States. It evaluated the church's work in the Middle East and an initiative on reading the Bible....
Leonard Bolick re-elected bishop of ELCA North Carolina Synod
By Carrie L. Draeger, ELCA News Service* The Rev. Leonard H. Bolick was elected to his third term as bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) June 5 during the synod assembly June 4-6 in Hickory, N.C. Bolick was re-elected on the second...
Ralph Dunkin re-elected bishop of ELCA West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod
By Carrie L. Draeger, ELCA News Service* The Rev. Ralph W. Dunkin was elected June 5 to his third term as bishop of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Dunkin was re-elected on the first ballot, garnering 113 of the 137 votes cast...
Gregory Pile re-elected bishop of ELCA Allegheny Synod
By John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service The Rev. Gregory R. Pile was elected June 5 to a fourth term as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Allegheny Synod during the synod assembly June 4-6 in Altoona, Pa. Pile was re-elected on the first ballot, receiving 217...
ELCA 'God's Work. Our Hands' Video Contest Starts June 15
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is inviting congregations and individuals to submit 30- to 90-second videos in a contest related to the ELCA tagline, "God's work. Our hands." The contest begins June 15 and runs through July 15, the deadline date for submitting video entries....
