Lutheran Men in Mission Studies 'Blueprints for Living'
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- "Blueprints for Living" was the theme of the 2002 national gathering for Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), the men's ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Speakers, music, worship and workshops supported the "building men for Christ" program for about 600 men here...
Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence Continues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is now more than two years into the "Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence" work. The decade theme originated from an appeal for peace to the United Nations by 20 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including Nelson Mandela, former president of...
ELCA Synod Hunger Leaders Focus on World Issues
HICKORY, N.C. (ELCA) -- About 190 Lutherans committed to ending hunger globally and domestically convened July 17-19 for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) World Hunger Synod Leadership Gathering at Lenoir-Rhyne College, one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA. The meeting brought together representatives of 50 of...
ELCA Council Engages in Planning Process
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met here July 27-29 to offer input and suggestions into the ELCA strategic planning process. The focus of their small-group discussions included key values of the church, and possible new mission and vision statements. The Church...
Middle East 'Conversation' Highlights ELCA Global Events
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- A presentation on the Middle East situation at the 2002 Global Mission Events (GME) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) brought together a Palestinian Lutheran church leader and a dissident American Jewish scholar. Both challenged Western Christians, and in particular ELCA members and leaders, to...
Frank Klos, Lutheran Pastor/Editor/Educator, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Frank W. Klos Jr., a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died July 15 in Marlton, N.J. He was 77. For more than 30 years, Klos edited shelves of popular Christian education resources and advanced the Lutheran church's television ministry. Born July...
Interim President Named at Midland Lutheran College
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As the search for a new president continues, the Midland Lutheran College board of trustees named John Klockentager interim president. Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Neb., is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Klockentager, vice president for enrollment management, will serve...
John Kendall, Former ELCA College President, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. John S. Kendall, 73, former president of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., died July 26. He was diagnosed with leukemia four years ago, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Kendall was the 12th president of Gustavus Adolphus College, leading his alma mater from...
ELCA Synods Conclude 2002 Assemblies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Topics including health concerns, ethnic discrimination, sexuality and debt retirement for seminary graduates were among many topics addressed by voting members at synod assemblies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) this summer. The actions were reported to the ELCA Department for Synodical Relations, which maintains...
ELCA Congregation to Host Worship Service for Miners
ELCA CONGREGATION TO HOST WORSHIP SERVICE FOR MINERS 02-179-AW* CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Dennis L. Doebler, Christ Casebeer Lutheran Church, Somerset, Pa., will join as many as 12 other pastors and the congregations they serve for a joint worship service Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. to give thanks for...
Lutheran Vespers Prepares for Wangerin Bike Journey
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In an effort to increase support and build an endowment for Lutheran Vespers, the radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the program's speaker, the Rev. Walt Wangerin Jr., is in the final few weeks of preparation for a bicycle ride through seven states...
Tanzanian Lutheran Returns to U.S., Appears at ELCA Event
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- A Lutheran church official in Tanzania, denied entry into the United States earlier this month because of problems with her passport and visa, returned to the United States July 19 and was a presenter here at the Global Mission Event (GME) sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church...
Lutherans Assess Fire Storms in Arizona, Colorado
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, continues to assess short- and long-term needs in Arizona, where 1,551 fires have been reported, and in Colorado, where 1,068 fires have been reported as of July 10. More than...
Rebecca Larson Named Director for ELCA Church in Society
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, was elected July 23 to a four- year appointment as executive director of the Division for Church in Society (DCS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), effective Oct. 14. Since 1994...
Stanley Olson Named Director, ELCA Division for Ministry
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Stanley N. Olson, bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected July 25 to a four-year appointment as executive director of the Division for Ministry, effective Nov. 1. Olson has served as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota...
Illinois Lutheran Church Wins ELCA Accessibility Award
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- First Lutheran Church, Princeton, Ill., has won the Annual Accessibility Award of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for its current building accessibility projects and its inclusion of persons with disabilities in worship, leadership and other activities. The award includes a $1,000 prize, a certificate and...
Spending to Be Reduced in ELCA Churchwide Organization
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Because of changes in estimated income, the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will reduce its spending for the current fiscal year, according to a July 17 message from ELCA leaders to employees. The total reduction required for the current fiscal year is...
ELCA Reports 5.1 Million Members
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) reported a total of 5,099,877 baptized members in 10,766 congregations at the end of 2001. That figure represents a decrease of one half of one percent or a reduction of 26,042 baptized members from the 5,125,919 members listed in 2000,...
Income of ELCA Congregations Almost $2.5 Billion in 2001
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Income for the 10,766 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 2001 reached nearly $2.5 billion. Total receipts amounted to $2,452,431,397, up nearly $65 million or 2.7 percent from 2000, the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, ELCA secretary, reported in the annual tabulation of 2001...
Lutherans Provide Relief after Storms Hit Illinois
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod (LCMS), continues to organize recovery efforts after tornadoes and floods struck 68 counties in southern Illinois this past spring. Two people died and dozens of others were injured...
