ELCA Synod Assemblies Complete 2000 Schedule
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have completed their assemblies for 2000. The last 35 assemblies, held since June 1, addressed such subjects as an ecumenical proposal for full communion with The Episcopal Church, USA, the blessing of same-gender relationships, the safety...
Appointments, Resolution Actions next for CCM, Says ELCA Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) As part of its historic full communion agreement with The Episcopal Church, the next step for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is to name appointees to a joint commission that will administer the pact, said the Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding bishop. "Although we have...
Grants Awarded to ELCA Ministries
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Thirty ministry projects of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will share $700,000 in grants awarded by Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) and Lutheran Brotherhood (LB), as part of the agencies' churchwide grant awards program for 2000. AAL is a fraternal benefit organization based in Appleton,...
Lutheran Disaster Response Leaders 'Come to the Waters'
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- Chief executive officers and disaster coordinators of Lutheran social ministry organizations gathered here for the Lutheran Disaster Response Consultation June 23-25. A highlight of the conference was the debut of the Lutheran Disaster Response Coalition, an affiliation of different Lutheran organizations that work in disaster...
The Rev. Ehme R. Osterbur, Former Lutheran Bishop, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ehme R. Osterbur, 72, bishop of the Illinois District of the former American Lutheran Church (ALC) from 1975 to 1988, died July 9 in Urbana, Ill. He was a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Funeral services for Osterbur were July...
Lutherans Focus on ELCA Hunger Ministries
BALTIMORE (ELCA) -- About 150 people involved in hunger ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met at Christ Lutheran Church here June 25-27 to be inspired, to share information, to learn new ways of fund raising and education in congregations, and to reflect on the ELCA World...
Episcopal Church Adopts Full Communion with ELCA
DENVER (ELCA) -- "The Episcopal Church is now, as of today, in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on the basis of a shared ministry in the historic episcopate and for the sake of common mission in proclaiming and serving the gospel," the Most Rev. Frank...
ELCA Youth 'Chill' at Bishops' Beach House and Other ''Hoods'
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- With some dressed in straw hats, shorts and Hawaiian shirts, eight of the 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) spoke with thousands of high- school-age Lutherans about abortion, capital punishment, homosexuality and other topics at the "Bishops' Beach House" held here...
ELCA Youth Help Build Home for Habitat for Humanity
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) Hundreds of youth from congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) helped build a home in East St. Louis, Ill., July 6, for Habitat For Humanity. The project was one of dozens of community service projects performed by participants at the ELCA Youth Gathering. The...
Episcopal Church Adopts Full Communion Agreement with ELCA
DENVER (ELCA) -- Through a series of votes, The Episcopal Church -- at its general convention here -- overwhelmingly adopted "Called to Common Mission," an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) proposal for full communion. Voting was completed July 8, when the House of Deputies voted overwhelmingly in favor of...
ELCA Youth Organization Elects Officers, Representatives
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- Members of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) -- the youth organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- elected a new president for the LYO board, along with a new vice president, secretary and regional representatives, here July 4. Leota Thomas-Breitfeld, 18, Brookfield, Wis.,...
ELCA Youth Take on Difficult Issues
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- Capital punishment, ethnic diversity, homosexuality, music, premarital sex and suicide were among dozens of topics discussed by 350 high-school-age Lutherans here at the Fifth Triennial Convention of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) July 2-5 at Southern Illinois University. LYO is the youth organization of the Evangelical...
ELCA Youth Conclude Gathering with Upbeat Worship
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Some 22,000 Lutherans of high school age and their adult leaders concluded the first of two events at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Youth Gathering with an upbeat worship service July 2 that included preaching, Holy Communion, drama and music. The service's theme was...
ELCA College, Seminary Students Discuss 'Crossroads'
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Three Lutherans currently studying at colleges and seminaries talked about their "crossroads" moments July 1 to about 22,000 high school-age Lutherans gathered here for "Dancing at the Cross Roads," the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Youth Gathering at the Trans World Dome. The ELCA Youth...
ELCA Youth Visit, Work at Retirement Facility
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Some 40 high school-age young people and adult volunteers spent an afternoon working at a local retirement facility and impressed the residents with their enthusiasm and work ethic. The 40 were from four congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and were participants in...
ELCA Youth 'Go the Extra MYLE'
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- "Let the Spirit Move You ... Go the Extra MYLE" was the theme that gathered more than 600 young people here at Southern Illinois University for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), June 25-28. MYLE participants came from many ethnic/cultural...
ELCA Youth Deal with Death, Get a 'Glad Surprise'
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Perhaps the heaviest topic life has to offer death greeted 22,000 teen-age Lutherans gathered July 1 for a morning Bible study in the Trans World Dome here. Stories of death were shared through skits, videos and song, based on the theme "Dancing on the Edge." The...
ELCA Youth Are "Very Special People"
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- "Everyone here is a 'VSP' -- a very special person," Archbishop Desmond Tutu told 22,000 high-school-age Lutherans gathered here for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Youth Gathering, "Dancing at the Cross Roads." The retired Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, spoke during the...
ELCA Youth Spruce up City Parks During Gathering
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Twenty-two city parks are getting an early summer sprucing, thanks to thousands of young members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America who have come to town from across the United States and Caribbean and brought guests from around the world. The ELCA Youth Gathering is...
Lutherans Help with Cleanup Efforts in Minnesota, North Dakota
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), is providing emergency assistance to residents in northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, after ten days of heavy rain produced floods in both states. An initial $65,000 in...
