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...
ELCA Council Learns about the Return of 'Davey and Goliath'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) received an update on plans to produce 26 new episodes of "Davey and Goliath," a popular children series created by the Lutheran church and aired on commercial television in the 1950s through the early 1980s. Davey...
ELCA Board of Pensions Backs 'Housing Allowance' Legislation
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Board of Pensions is advising the church's pastors who claim part of their income as housing allowance "to contact members of Congress to prevent the elimination of this long-standing tax benefit" by supporting legislation U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad (R-Minn., 3rd)...
ELCA Council Approves Time Line, Funds for Sexuality Studies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a series of related actions, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a six-year time line for studies on sexuality and approved $1.15 million to fund the six-year project. The studies, which will examine several topics related to homosexuality and human...
ELCA Studies the Health and Wellness of its Ministers
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Stress, weight, nutrition, high blood pressure and heart disease are "areas of concern to address" among the pastors and lay leaders -- associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers -- of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), according to an initial report on their health and...
ELCA Council Designates Funds for 'Stand with Africa'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) designated $350,000 to support "Stand With Africa," a three-year Lutheran campaign that focuses on issues significant to Africa, including HIV/AIDS, economic justice, food security, and peace and reconciliation. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of...
ELCA Council Commits to Education, Prayer for the Middle East
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) resolved to encourage the 10,851 congregations and 65 synods of the church to learn about the treatment of refugees in the United States, "lift in prayer" people of the Middle East, and refer to the ELCA...
ELCA Council Calls on U.S. Leaders to Help End Mideast Violence
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) called on leaders of the U.S. government "to be resolute and determined" in seeking an end to the escalated violence in the Middle East, in a resolution adopted April 6. The council also heard comments about...
