A Journey To Vieques: An Island Besieged
For 60 years bombs have cascaded from war planes sending clouds of dust and smoke toward nearby gardens, playgrounds, homes, schools and stores on Vieques, a small island east of Puerto Rico. Classroom activity has often been interrupted when children, crouched under their desks in fear, hear the thunder of...
Lutheran Men's Board Invests in Bibles
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM) met here March 16-18 and committed the men's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to print $135,000 worth of Bibles containing personal and small group study materials. The "Serendipity Bible" is a key component of LMM's...
ELCA Council Supports Ethnic-Specific Strategies, Ministries
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recommended two ethnic-specific ministry strategies for adoption by the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly this summer. The council also requested that the church support the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan/Palestine. The Church Council is...
ELCA's Dana College Sustains Storm Damage
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Several buildings on the campus of Dana College, Blair, Neb., were damaged April 7 by a storm with severe winds, said Robert Schmoll, executive vice president and chief financial officer. No injuries were reported. Dana College is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran...
ELCA Council to Review Publishing 'Partnership,' Evaluates Commission
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will review the relationship between Augsburg Fortress Publishers and units of the church responsible for developing congregational resources. The council also affirmed the renewal of the mandate for the ELCA Commission for Women. The Church Council...
Capital University President Resigns to Pursue New Opportunities
COLUMBUS, Ohio (ELCA) -- Dr. Daniel A. Felicetti, the 13th president of Capital University, will leave the university effective May 20. Felicetti, who began his presidency in August 1999, plans to pursue other career interests. Capital University is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in...
ELCA Ministry Board Certifies Two New Lifelong Learning Partners
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Ministry certified the Lutheran House of Studies in Kansas and Missouri, and Christ Lutheran Church, Baltimore, as ELCA lifelong learning partners. The board met here March 9-11. The Lutheran House of Studies is a program...
Women of ELCA Executive Board Adopts Churchwide Mission, Goals
CHICAGO ELCA) -- The executive board of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a mission statement and five goals that will guide the organization's work through at least 2002, when a new three-year ministry emphasis begins. The board asked for review and comment on the recommendations...
ELCA Synod Bishop Censures Kansas City Congregation
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Charles H. Maahs, bishop of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), censured and admonished Abiding Peace Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Mo., for "willfully violating" the ELCA's constitution by calling and ordaining Donna Simon to serve as its pastor, according...
ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop to Return to Parish Ministry
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Francisco L. Sosa, bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will not seek a second term as bishop. Sosa said he wants to serve as pastor of a congregation after his term as bishop concludes. The ELCA is organized...
Goldberger Named Editor for 'Lutheran Woman Today'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Nancy J. Goldberger, Chicago, became the second editor of Lutheran Woman Today on March 5. Lutheran Woman Today is the magazine of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the women's organization of the church. Goldberger succeeds Nancy J. Stelling, Raleigh, N.C., who retired Dec....
ELCA Board Focuses on Human Rights, International Conflict
Mundelein, Ill. (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Global Mission (DGM) is addressing human rights and asking the church to advocate for peace and justice in Africa and the Middle East. The DGM board approved that request and several others when it met here March...
ELCA Communicators Assist Again in Rebuilding Following 'Mitch'
PACORA, NICARAGUA (ELCA) -- Shovels and pickaxes became ministry tools for 16 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) who traveled to Nicaragua on a work trip. The Lutherans were in Nicaragua Feb. 17-24 to demonstrate solidarity with those who lost homes and livelihoods in the devastation left...
ELCA Hosts U.S. Farm Summit
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Sixty-five leaders from church and farm organizations shared their thoughts and concerns about the current conditions of U.S. agriculture and their hopes for the future. They gave a representative committee the charge to draft a vision statement and to circulate it for their approval. The Evangelical Lutheran...
ELCA 2001 Calendar of Synod Assemblies
3-5 Alaska, Joy Lutheran Church (Eagle River), Anchorage, Alaska 3-5 >< Florida-Bahamas, Lake Yale, Leesburg, Fla. 4-6 < Oregon, Lloyd Center Doubletree, Portland, Ore. 5 Southeastern Pennsylvania, Franconia Mennonite Meeting House, Souderton, Pa. 10-12 < New Jersey, Hilton Hotel, New Brunswick, N.J. 10-12 Pacifica, Riverside Convention Center, Riverside, Calif. 10-12...
Most ELCA Bishops Sign Letter Calling for Campaign Finance
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and 51 ELCA synod bishops signed a March 16 letter urging Congress to pass campaign finance reform legislation. The letter was sent to members of the U.S. Senate, as Congress considers the...
ELCA Ministry Board Accepts Ordination Guidelines for Exceptions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Ministry met here March 9-11 and approved guidelines that would help the church implement a bylaw being considered to permit ordinations "in unusual circumstances." The guidelines were approved by a 10-7 vote and recommended to...
ELCA Ministry Board Submits Report on Homosexuality
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Ministry met here March 9-11 and submitted the "Report on Conversations about Homosexuality and the Church" to the ELCA Church Council and to the 2001 Churchwide Assembly. Staff from several units of the church compiled...
ELCA Commission for Women Names Four Focus Areas
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The steering committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Commission for Women decided to focus its attention over the next five to 10 years on four areas -- anti-sexism, nonviolence, advocacy and leadership. The steering committee met here March 9-11 and made its decision based...
ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod Bishop Declines Another Term
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Kenneth R. Olsen, bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will not seek a second term, he announced in a letter this month to leaders in the synod. Olsen, 65, will leave office when his six-year term expires...
