ELCA Higher Education, Schools Board Continues Strategic Planning
KENOSHA, Wis. (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has a "precious" understanding of the connection between faith and education, said Dr. Leonard G. Schulze, executive director of the ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools (DHES). It is the division's responsibility to lift up that understanding, he...
'FACT' Survey Results Reveal Much about U.S. Faith Communities
NEW YORK (ELCA) -- In a report from the largest survey of congregations ever conducted in the United States, researchers said the great majority of faith communities are "vital and alive." Half of the faith communities see themselves as growing in numbers, especially those "using or blending" contemporary forms of...
ELCA Outreach Board Seeks Hospitality for Gay and Lesbian People
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Outreach (DO) is asking the church for a message about homosexuality. The DO board approved that request when it met here Feb. 23-25, and it began a process to seek recognition for Lutherans Concerned/North America as an independent...
Web Resources Promote Safe Environments for Children
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A variety of resources, many offered by Lutherans, are available on the World Wide Web to promote peaceful, safe schools, said the director for schools in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "We will continue to be in solidarity with all of you in our quest...
Humanitarian Aid Is Focus of Lutheran Peace Prize Forum
DECORAH, Iowa (ELCA) -- Humanitarianism is not a tool to end war or create peace; it is a citizen's response to a political failure, according to Dr. Morten Rostrup, a medical doctor at Ulleval University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Rostrup spoke to more than 1,200 students attending the 2001 Peace Prize...
Lutherans Host Summit on Rural America March 26 in Chicago
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will host a summit on the state of rural United States from the perspective of leaders from three major U.S. farm organizations and others working to improve rural and farm life. The summit will be held March 26 at the...
ELCA Division Produces Resource on Human Cloning
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Division for Church in Society (DCS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has produced a new resource on one of today's most debated topics. "Human Cloning: Papers from a Church Consultation" consists of 14 papers, responses and a summary of conversations from an Oct....
'Fact' Report Reveals Much about 41 Faith Groups, Including ELCA
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Most congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) report that scripture is "absolutely foundational" as a source of authority for congregational worship and teaching, while God's love and care is likely to be part of a sermon. Both are among findings reported from a survey...
ELCA Bishops Hear Positive Financial Report for 2000
SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- In the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, income exceeded expenses by $2.9 million for the current operating funds of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said Richard L. McAuliffe, ELCA treasurer. McAuliffe presented the report March 3 to the ELCA...
ELCA Division for Outreach Addresses U.S. Rural Crisis
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to two resolutions, the board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Outreach (DO) listed ways in which the church is addressing the U.S. rural crisis. The board met here Feb. 23-25. The 10,851 congregations of the ELCA are organized into 65...
ELCA April 2001 Calendar
ELCA APRIL 2001 CALENDAR 3-4 Lutheran AIDS Network (LANET), Conference, "Linking Caring Communities," Adam's Mark Hotel, St. Louis 4 Lutheran Services in America, Board, Adam's Mark Hotel, St. Louis 4-7 Lutheran Services in America, Annual Conference, Adam's Mark Hotel, St. Louis 5-8 ELCA Church Council, Lutheran Center, Chicago 5-10 Division...
ELCA Bishops Resolve to Support 'Stand with Africa' Campaign
SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pledged to be "strong and active partners" with a Lutheran campaign to support African churches and communities as they withstand HIV/AIDS, work to banish hunger and build peace. The Conference of Bishops is an...
ELCA Division Continues Discussion of Gay, Lesbian Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society (DCS) received a report from the church's "work group on homosexuality" and asked for materials to help it continue its discussion of "justice issues for gay and lesbian persons in church and...
ELCA Bishops Respond to Human Sexuality Decisions, Hold Retreat
SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- In a response to actions of the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the ELCA Conference of the Bishops agreed with council decisions related to human sexuality. Specifically, the bishops affirmed a decision not to initiate a study on the ordination of...
ELCA Division Focuses on Poverty and Hunger in Strategic Plan
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society (DCS) has a vision and goals to "deepen and expand the ELCA's efforts" to eliminate poverty and hunger in its pursuit of justice. The DCS board met here Feb. 22-24, approved the vision and goals...
ELCA Bishops Endorse Suggested Bylaw, Guidelines Related to CCM
SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) endorsed language for a suggested bylaw that, if adopted, will allow for possible exceptions to current ordination procedures in the ELCA. The bishops also debated and suggested revisions to accompanying guidelines developed by the...
Mosaic Spring 2001 Issue to Feature Genetics, Ethics and Faith Theme
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- MOSAIC, the video magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), examines a variety of scientific and ethical issues related to genetic study and engineering in its spring 2001 issue. Featured in the program are experts in genetics, theologians and other ELCA members. The spring issue...
Lutheran Youth Workers Learn it Is "Okay to Be Hungry"
SAN DIEGO (ELCA) -- Efrem Smith, Minneapolis, told youth workers it's "okay" for them to be "hungry" at the fifth annual Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) held here Feb. 9-12. "It's okay to be hungry. The issue is where are you going to...
Lutherans Respond to Disasters in Kansas and Mississippi
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod, is participating in recovery efforts in northern Mississippi, after a tornado killed five people there last month, and in Hutchinson, Kan., after a natural gas explosion killed two...
ELCA Board Offers Help for Low-Income Pensioners
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Low-income pensioners of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will receive some help, thanks to recommendations trustees of the ELCA Board of Pensions approved at their Feb. 2-4 meeting here. The Minneapolis-based Board of Pensions administers pension, health, disability and survivor benefits for ELCA pastors, lay...
