Lutherans Are Part of "Ecumenical Convoy" in the Middle East
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans took part in an "ecumenical convoy" April 25 that brought food, medical supplies and support to residents of Jenin, a town in the West Bank. Six thousand people are left homeless as a result of a "fierce 10-day battle earlier this month" between Israelis and Palestinians...
Enrollment at ELCA Seminaries Levels Off
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) report 1,211 students seeking a master of divinity (M.Div.) degree during the 2001-2002 academic year. After several years of declining enrollment, the number of students preparing to become ELCA pastors has leveled off in the past...
David Mullen Elected Bishop of ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. David G. Mullen was elected to a six- year term as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly in Fresno, Calif., April 25-27. Mullen will succeed the Rev. Robert W. Mattheis, who announced in...
ELCA Gustavus Adolphus College Names Interim President
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Dennis J. Johnson was named interim president of Gustavus Adolphus College effective June 11. Gustavus Adolphus, St. Peter, Minn., is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Johnson serves as the bishop's associate for the ELCA Minneapolis Area...
ELCA Wagner College Names Guarasci As President
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Richard Guarasci was named president of Wagner College effective June 1. Wagner, Staten Island, N.Y., is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). For the past five years Guarasci has been serving as Wagner's provost and senior vice president...
ELCA Vision for Mission Supports Domestic, Global Mission
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 5.13 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have supported family farmers and urban ministries in the United States, and focused on health, education and community development overseas. One way members have done that is by supporting Vision for Mission, an annual offering...
Key Administration, Policy Figures Address LSA Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- James Towey, Bush administration official whose proximity to policy decisions regarding faith-based organizations is of significant interest to many of the nearly 300 member organizations of Lutheran Services in America (LSA), was a key speaker at LSA's annual conference here April 10-12. LSA is an alliance...
Lutheran Social Ministry Groups Discuss Post-Sept. 11 Responses
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- Representatives from social ministry organizations in New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., met in an open forum to discuss how Lutheran social ministry organizations have been involved in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The session was part of the Lutheran Services in...
Lutheran Pastor to Begin Coast-to-Coast Unicycle Ride
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Lars C. Clausen, Greenback, Wash., a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), plans to ride his unicycle 5,000 miles, from the Pacific to Atlantic coasts of the United States, to raise $5 million for the church's ministries on Alaska's Seward Peninsula. He...
ELCA Communicators Honored by Religion Communicators Council
NEW YORK (ELCA) -- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) communicators and publications were honored April 18 by the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) during its annual meeting here. The RCC, a national professional communication organization, presented 11 of its DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards to ELCA communicators for materials produced in 2001....
Task Force Calls Lutherans to Prayer Every Day at Noon
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (ELCA) -- A "blue ribbon" task force of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met here April 18-20 to begin developing a comprehensive evangelism strategy for the church. It began its meeting with prayer and decided to include prayer at every stage of its work, including...
Rogness Elected Bishop of ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Peter Rogness was elected to a six-year term as bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) April 21 at the synod assembly April 19-21 at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn. Rogness, 56, currently serves as bishop of...
Israeli Soldiers Overrun Lutheran School of Hope, Ramallah
CHICAGO (ELCA) Israeli Defense Force soldiers "invaded" the Lutheran School of Hope, Ramallah, West Bank, April 16 at 11:35 a.m. local time. The school is operated by Lutheran Church of Hope, one of six congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan (and Palestine) (ELCJ). "Despite signs indicating the building...
ELCA Pastors Visit New York for 'Solidarity Weekend'
NEW YORK (ELCA) -- Approximately 200 pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), including about half of the church's 65 synod bishops, were here April 6-7 for "Solidarity Weekend." The visitors came from around the country to show support for pastors, congregations and ministries dealing with the nearly-...
Lutherans Collect Funds to Fight Hunger, Respond to Disasters
CHICAGO (ELCA) Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) contributed more than $15.57 million for the church's World Hunger Appeal and more than $12 million for international and domestic disaster relief in 2001. "Although the World Hunger Program had budgeted conservatively for 2001 with a $16 million income...
ELCA Pastor to Be Featured on 'The Protestant Hour'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ronald T. Glusenkamp, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is a featured speaker this spring for three installments of "The Protestant Hour," a nationally broadcast radio program. Glusenkamp is vice president for customer outreach, ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis. Glusenkamp's message...
ELCA Council Agrees to Observers Proposal, Sets 2005 Assembly Site
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) accepted a proposal for two additional registration categories for the 2003 Churchwide Assembly. The new categories, proposed by the ELCA Office of the Secretary, are congregation observers and seminary faculty representatives. The Church Council is the...
ELCA Council Adopts Policy Revision for Independent Organizations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a revised policy for relationships of churchwide units with independent Lutheran organizations. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its churchwide assemblies. The...
Associated Church Press Honors Lutheran Journalists
TALLADEGA, Ala. (ELCA) -- Several members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took awards home from the Associated Church Press (ACP) Convention held April 7-10 here at the Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center. The ACP presented awards in 43 categories of religious journalism. The Lutheran, the magazine of...
Foss Re-Elected Bishop of ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Richard J. Foss was re-elected to a six-year term as bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) April 12 at the synod assembly April 12-13 in Jamestown, S.D. Foss, 57, has served as bishop of the synod...
