ELCA Washington Office Staff Responds to 2011 Federal Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- As deliberations begin on the fiscal year 2011 Federal Budget, the advocacy staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent a letter to members of Congress on Feb. 24, urging a number of priorities "that transform lives of poverty and hunger, and protect creation," according...
German Lutheran Bishop to Resign After Alleged Drunk-Driving Offense
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A German Lutheran bishop, elected in October to lead the 24-million Protestant members of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), said she is resigning days after she was apprehended for an alleged drunk-driving offense. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4456 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Hosts 'Town Hall Forum' March 7
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will field questions on a variety of topics from members of the denomination at an online "Town Hall Forum" Sunday, March 7. The hour-long forum will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Time...
ELCA Increases Financial Commitments to Haiti Earthquake Relief
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Focusing on immediate provision of shelter and non- food items as the rainy season approaches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced it has increased its financial commitment by $2.5 million toward earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4457 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773)...
Richard Hillert, Distinguished Lutheran Composer, Teacher, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Richard W. Hillert, composer of well-known Lutheran liturgical music, and distinguished professor of music emeritus at Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., died Feb. 18, after an extended illness, according to the university's Web site. He was 86. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4455 For information contact: John Brooks, Director...
Censure Against Missouri ELCA Congregation Lifted by Synod Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For nearly 10 years members of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church in North Kansas City, Mo., have been worshiping under public censure and admonition, placed on the congregation for hiring a pastor in a committed same-sex relationship. Today the public censure has been lifted, and members of Abiding...
ELCA Churchwide Organization Responds to Lutheran CORE Announcement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) said it "will continue to respond to those congregations with questions or concerns" related to the actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, adding it is "committed to ongoing conversation" with those congregations. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4453 For...
Lutherans Work to Build Shelters in Anticipation of Haiti's Rainy Season
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- With the rainy season expected to begin at the end of March, it is critical that the people of Haiti have some shelter to help preserve health, sanitation and dignity, according to a Feb. 17 report from a Lutheran World Relief (LWR) assessment team in Haiti. To...
ELCA Delegation Meets Three World Church Leaders in Geneva
GENEVA (ELCA) -- Declaring that "we need some dreams," the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, who recently began his new role as general secretary of the World Council of Churches, met with a delegation of clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here Feb. 15. Tveit...
Two ELCA Congregations Become Partners in Mission
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Two urban congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are getting to know each other. One congregation gave the other money to help with finances, but the relationship is moving deeper than that. The money was a first step in...
ELCA Delegation, Roman Catholic Ecumenists, Discuss Future Vision
VATICAN CITY (ELCA) -- Since the early years of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the church has maintained a commitment to ecumenical dialogue and achieving full communion with other Christians. With full communion agreements with six other U.S.-based Protestant churches, the ELCA has developed three-year plans for implementing...
Lutherans Work to Tackle Hunger on Super Bowl Sunday
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran youth across the country huddled up more than 77,800 pounds of food and $378,900 in donations as of Feb. 12 in an effort to tackle hunger. Known as the "Souper Bowl of Caring," nearly 8,300 young members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined...
ELCA Gifts to Support Recovery Efforts in Haiti Exceed $4.6 Million
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Since the earthquake in Haiti one month ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received over 27,000 gifts totaling more than $4.2 million to support humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. According to ELCA Treasurer Christina Jackson-Skelton, the ELCA received an additional $320,000 in a matching...
ELCA Delegation, Pope Benedict XVI Meet, Exchange Greetings
VATICAN CITY (ELCA) -- Continuing dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics was a common theme expressed in an exchange of messages here between a delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Pope Benedict XVI. Speaking for the Lutherans, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president...
Members of Hessel Valley Lutheran OK after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For the first time in 10 years members of Hessel Valley Lutheran Church in Chandlers Valley, Pa., held worship this year in the church's sanctuary instead of the basement. That was unfortunate, said Vern Ekdahl, the congregation's president. He said the 35 worshipers in attendance on Feb....
World Orthodox Ecumenists Meet ELCA Delegation in Istanbul
ISTANBUL, Turkey (ELCA) -- A delegation of clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) stressed "the long view" in ecumenical dialogue, a topic of discussion with leaders of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate here Feb. 9. The Lutherans and Orthodox discussed the status of some of...
Lutherans Respond to Anti-Hunger Report, Rise in Emergency Need
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- The Feeding America network reported an increase in the number of clients who came to their emergency food program sites, according to a recent "Hunger in America 2010" study. The network is a nationwide group of food pantries, community kitchens and shelters. Sponsors of these groups are...
World Orthodox Leader Tells ELCA Delegation Dialogue Will Continue
*** Please note corrected text in this story, replacing references to Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue in the United States with the international Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue through the Lutheran World Federation. John R. Brooks Director, ELCA News Service Chicago ISTANBUL, Turkey (ELCA) -- His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, world Orthodox leader, said...
ELCA Delegation Visits Closed Orthodox Seminary in Turkey
HEYBELIADA ISLAND, Turkey (ELCA) -- They wait faithfully and hope. Two Orthodox leaders, Metropolitan Apostolos, abbot, and Father Dorotheos, maintain the Holy Monastery and Theological School at Halki, waiting for the day when students will be allowed to resume seminary studies here. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4441 For information contact: John Brooks, Director...
ELCA Ecumenical Delegation Visits Church of England, Anglican Communion
LONDON (ELCA) -- An official delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met with officials of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, discussing matters such as a proposed "Anglican Covenant," global Lutheran-Anglican relationships and a breakaway Anglican church in the United States. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4440 For information...
