Lutherans Receive Grants for Leadership Development
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Team leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) initiative to "develop leaders for the next century" have awarded $74,172 in grants to 17 congregations, synods, organizations and projects of the ELCA. A goal of the initiative is to develop leaders that will "minister to an...
Seven Lutheran Bishops to Retire in 2000
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Seven of the 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have announced plans to retire in 2000. Synod assemblies elect or re-elect bishops to six-year terms. Bishops serve as synods' chief pastors, exercising administrative oversight of the synods' work; they are also members...
TV Documentary Featuring Lutherans Wins Bronze Award
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Playing in the Light: Our Changing Faith," a television documentary featuring members of "the post-modern generations" discussing their faith, won a Bronze Award in the category for Television and Cable Production Awards, Religious Programs, at the "Worldfest-Flagstaff" film festival Nov. 5-14, 1999. In the documentary, nine young...
Carlson, Nottbohm, Former Lutheran Officials, Die
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Martin E. Carlson, Roseville, Minn., a former executive director of the Office for Administration and Finance in the Lutheran Church in America (LCA), died Dec. 31, 1999. Carlson, 89, died of pneumonia following surgery. On Dec. 23, 1999, the Rev. Hebert E. Nottbohm, Minneapolis, died...
Joint Declaration Signing Most Significant ELCA News Event of '99
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The historic signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in Augsburg, Germany, by representatives of the Vatican and Lutheran World Federation was the most significant news event involving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1999, said the staff of ELCA News and...
Lutheran Students Celebrate, Reflect, Dream and Act in Chicago
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Under the theme, "WHY2K? It's About Time to Celebrate, Reflect, Dream and Act," Lutheran students from across the country met here Dec. 29-Jan. 2 for the 30th national gathering of the Lutheran Student Movement-USA (LSM-USA). More than 350 students and Lutheran campus ministry staff met to "reflect...
Dairy Farmers May Lose Farm but Not Faith
DAIRY FARMERS MAY LOSE FARM BUT NOT FAITH: ELCA ADDRESSES RURAL CRISIS by: Melissa O. Ramirez They are a husband-and-wife team with a handful of dairy cows in western Wisconsin. While their marriage is a 45-year romance, Larry and Rachel Ecklor's dairy farm has been everything but an affair to...
Grants Available to Lutherans for Refugee and Immigrant Services
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), in partnership with Wheat Ridge Ministries, is offering financial assistance to Lutheran congregations to encourage development of support services for immigrants and refugees. Competitive grants are available through the LIRS Bernthal Fund for Congregational Involvement, said William C. Tremitiere, director, LIRS...
Augsburg Fortress Names Director for Canadian Operation
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Augsburg Fortress Publishers, the Minneapolis-based publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), announced Larry Willard will become executive director for Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Canada, effective Jan. 3, 2000. Willard joins Augsburg Fortress following a career as vice president for institutional advancement, operations and marketing...
ELCA Disaster Response Sends $50,000 for Venezuela Relief
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will make $50,000 available for flood relief efforts in Venezuela, the ELCA Division for Global Mission announced Dec. 22. The ELCA will send $25,000 to Lutheran World Relief (LWR), an overseas Lutheran development and relief ministry of the ELCA and=20...
Wangerin's Latest Book Wins National Award (corrected title)
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Walter M. Wangerin, Jr., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastor, university professor, author and speaker has been named winner of the Theologos Award for the Best Children's Book of 1999. Wangerin was recognized for his book, "Water, Come Down," published this year by Augsburg...
New Y2K Resources Available; ELCA Churchwide Offices Closed Jan. 3
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- New resources are available on the World Wide Web site of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to help members respond in faith to Y2K concerns and the start of the new century in 2001. The updates are on the "AD2K" Project Web site at www.elca.org/dcs/ad2k....
Wisconsin ELCA, Catholic Bishops Respond to LCMS President's Ad
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a Dec. 19 advertisement printed in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the six Wisconsin bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) said they were "saddened" to read the statement of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) president concerning the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. The...
February "Virtual Conference" to Explore Faith and Financial Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- An Internet "virtual conference" is expected to bring together people from many faith backgrounds during February 2000 to discuss the question, "How do I live faithfully in the midst of plenty?" The pilot virtual conference, "For the Love of Money: Living Faithfully in the Midst of Plenty"...
Special Worship Marks Turn of the Century Dec. 31
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will preach at "Light of the Ages," a vigil to mark the historic transition from the 20th to the 21st century. The service will take place at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, at...
Women of the ELCA Develops New Series Called "Eye Openers"
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Revelation, Rapture and the New Jerusalem" is the first of a new series called "Eye Openers," one-hour programs designed to initiate discussion on topics of interest to women. The program was developed by Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the women's organization of the...
Christmas Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop
"Helping the Herald Angels" When the Christmas angels sing "Glory to God in the highest," they're announcing that the birth of Jesus has cosmic significance. God's gracious entrance into human life not only means hope for us; it also demonstrates God's power -- a miracle no less glorious than the...
ELCA College Student Receives Rhodes Scholarship
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Katherine Larson, a senior at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., is one of 32 national winners of Rhodes Scholarships -- the nation's oldest and most prestigious post-graduate award. Larsoni is the sixth student to have earned the scholarship at St. Olaf, one of 28 colleges and universities...
ELCA Bishop, WordAlone Network Leader Meet, Discuss CCM Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the leader of what is now called, "WordAlone Network" met for 90 minutes here Dec. 8 to discuss their mutual interests in the ELCA's full communion proposal with thei Episcopal Church. The Rev. H. George...
ELCA Connects with Youth and Young Adults on www.SOULFUEL.ORG
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Youth and young adults of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are launching www.soulfuel.org -- a Web site dedicated to provide faith resources for 18- to 32- year-olds. "Soulfuel is a place where youth and young adults can explore their faith questions, pain, gifts, pursuits and...
