ELCA Health Care Rates to Increase in 2002
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Trustees for the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved the 2002 contribution rates for the health care plan at their Aug. 1-3 meeting here. Rate increases will range from 6.7 percent to 16.4 percent with an average of 10.6 percent. Rates...
Israeli Soldiers Withdraw from Lutheran Church in Beit Jala
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Soldiers with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdrew from the premises of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Beit Jala, West Bank, Aug. 29, one day after entering the church property and taking up positions on the roof of the church building, according to the...
Lutheran Diaconal Ministers Strengthen Community, Elect Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- About 45 diaconal ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gathered Aug. 6-8 in Indianapolis to strengthen their community and to discuss ways these lay ministers relate to the whole church. The group elected six of its members to leadership. "Together for Ministry" was the...
Lutherans Denounce Israeli Occupation of Church Property
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Israeli military forces shelled and entered the West Bank town of Beit Jala Aug. 28 and occupied several homes and buildings, including the premises of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reformation, said the Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and...
Fall 2001 MOSAIC Focuses on Africa, 'Stand with Africa' Campaign
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- MOSAIC, the video magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), focuses on the church in Africa in the fall 2001 issue. MOSAIC topics include the spread of Christianity in Africa, the AIDS crisis and a campaign to focus support for African churches and communities. The...
Lutheran College Fairs Scheduled for Fall 2001
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will participate in "Lutheran College Fair" programs in 11 states this fall. The purpose of the fairs is to connect Lutheran college representatives with prospective students and their families. The Lutheran College Fair program is coordinated...
Lutheran Latino Young People Gather to Build Leadership Skills
LOIZA, Puerto Rico (ELCA) -- About 150 Latino children and youth from across the United States and Puerto Rico met in this small seaside community Aug. 3-5 in a first-ever gathering for young Lutherans of various Hispanic backgrounds hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). They met under...
ELCA Assembly Elects Bishop, Adopts Bylaw, Authorizes Study
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected the Rev. Mark S. Hanson to a six-year term as presiding bishop, adopted a controversial bylaw to address concerns about ordination policies and authorized a study on homosexuality. The actions were among many taken...
Lutheran in Congress Floyd Spence Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- U.S. Representative Floyd D. Spence (R-S.C. 2nd) died Aug. 16 in Jackson, Miss. He was 73. Spence was one of 20 Lutherans in the 107th Congress -- a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Lexington, S.C., a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Funeral...
ELCA Churchwide Assembly 'Brief Summary of Actions' Available
ELCA CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY 'BRIEF SUMMARY OF ACTIONS' AVAILABLE A "Brief Summary of Actions" from the just-completed 2001 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has been posted to the ELCA's Web site. It is posted in various formats at http://www.elca.org/assembly/01/news.html on the Web. LutherLink subscribers will also...
ELCA Assembly Receives Greetings from Federal Chaplains
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Brigadier General, David H. Webb, an ELCA chaplain, greeted the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America churchwide assembly on behalf of the federal chaplaincies program on Aug 14. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center....
ELCA Assembly Elects Council, Board and Committee Members
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2001 Churchwide Assembly elected 89 people to serve on national church boards, committees and the Church Council. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. There...
ELCA Assembly Hears Greetings from LCMS Secretary
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Dr. Raymond L. Hartwig, secretary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), referred to his church body's convention actions last month concerning the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) when he brought greetings to the ELCA churchwide assembly Aug. 13. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
ELCA Assembly Takes Final Actions on Memorials, Resolutions
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Final actions of the voting members at the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America came Aug. 14 when they considered seven memorials and passed six resolutions of thanks. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the...
ELCA Assembly Acts on Seven Memorials
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) churchwide assembly approved a number of memorials -- resolutions from synods -- in the afternoon session Aug. 13. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention...
ELCA Assembly Concludes Worship with Presiding Bishop Anderson
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Jesus is present in the poor and Christians must seek Him there, said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The bishop, who will leave office Oct. 31, preached his final sermon to a churchwide assembly at a Holy...
ELCA Assembly Acts on More 'Reference and Counsel' Motions
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America acted Aug. 13 on a number of proposals from voting members that the assembly's reference and counsel committee submitted for consideration. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at...
ELCA Assembly Adopts Resolution Regarding Bylaw
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- By a vote of 870-105, the churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a resolution requesting the presiding bishop to consult with leaders of the Episcopal Church regarding the full communion agreement of the ELCA and Episcopal Church. The churchwide assembly, the chief...
ELCA Leaders Address Homosexuality Actions from Assembly
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Three actions by voting members at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly on Aug. 13 will focus on examining policies and beliefs about human sexuality. Voting members requested a four-year, comprehensive study on homosexuality and asked for a plan to decide by 2005 on ordaining homosexual persons in committed...
ELCA Assembly Hears Greetings from Full Communion Partners
INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Leaders from the Reformed Churches, the Moravian Church and the Episcopal Church, greeted the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2001 Churchwide Assembly on Saturday, Aug. 12, strengthening and supporting the voting members in their mission here in Indianapolis. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of...
