ELCA 'Horizon' Internship Program Benefits the Whole Church
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Churches and other ministry settings from Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands and around the world are providing educational settings for Lutheran seminarians through the Horizon Internship Program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). A master of divinity is the minimum degree required of ELCA...
American Indian, Alaska Native Lutherans Build Community
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- More than 90 American Indian and Alaska Native members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gathered July 16-21 to build community, learn from one another and "have fun" at the American Indian and Alaska Native Family Summer Camp at the NE-SO-DAK Bible Camp, Waubay, S.D....
ELCA Council Hears Trends, Suggestions on Church Growth
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (ELCA) Lutherans have an "incredible, persuasive understanding of the gospel" but must communicate it creatively and effectively in today's changing culture, said Dr. Kenneth W. Inskeep in a presentation on church growth to the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Inskeep is director of...
Lutherans Find That Life after Disaster Is Difficult, Not Hopeless
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "It is difficult but not hopeless," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response, about the recovery efforts in North Carolina ten months after Hurricane Floyd destroyed 5,000 homes and damaged about 18,000 others there. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical...
The Rev. Edward K. Perry, Former ELCA Synod Bishop, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Edward K. Perry, 73, president/bishop of the Upper New York Synod of the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA) from 1967 to 1987 and bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Upstate New York Synod from 1988 until his retirement in 1992, died...
Lutheran Video Explores Life on the Edge of Faith
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Young adults in North America are often living "on the edge of faith," according to a videotape and study guide produced by the Division for Ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "Why Christian? for those on the edge of faith" presents the work of...
ELCA Council Discusses Issues Related to Homosexuality
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed a wide variety of issues related to homosexuality and the church in non-legislative sessions July 29. The sessions included small group discussions and presentations from ELCA pastors and members with different points of view...
ELCA Council Elects Schwich Director for Synodical Relations
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected the Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich to a four-year term as director of the ELCA Department for Synodical Relations. In that position she will be an executive assistant to the presiding bishop. She has served...
ELCA Council Takes Mid-Term Action on Four Items
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) initiated a process to consider ways of dealing with "unusual circumstances" surrounding ordination ceremonies, elected a new director for synodical relations, selected the site of the ELCA's 2003 Churchwide Assembly, and approved the reorganization of...
ELCA Council to Consider 'Unusual Circumstances' for Ordinations
MUNDELEIN, Ill. (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) initiated a process to consider ways of dealing with "unusual circumstances" surrounding ordination ceremonies that would be in keeping with a new "full communion" agreement with The Episcopal Church, USA. The council met July 28-30...
Lutherans Plan Recovery Efforts after Granite Falls Tornadoes
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response has provided a $10,000 initial grant to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota to help manage recovery efforts in Granite Falls, Minn., after 13 tornadoes struck the town on July 25. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)...
ELCA Mission Investment Fund Launches Investment for Children
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) launched a new investment product July 1 that was designed for parents, family members and friends who want to invest funds for a child's future and help to build the future of the Lutheran...
ELCA Global Mission Events Speakers Discuss 'Pray in the Spirit'
DECORAH, Iowa (ELCA) International speakers, missionaries and staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) talked about the importance of prayer in daily life, highlighting the theme of the ELCA's 2000 Global Mission Events (GMEs). GMEs emphasize the ELCA's international mission though worship, Bible study, plenary sessions, workshops and...
International Ministries Highlight GME 'Global University'
DECORAH, Iowa (ELCA) -- More than 2,000 participants at this year's Global Mission Events (GMEs) -- annual conferences which highlight the international mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- learned about a variety of church ministries at the "Global University" sessions. GMEs were held July 13-16 at...
Lutherans Reflect on Worship Life
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) explored the church's worship life during "Worship 2000 Jubilee," the church's first national conference on worship held here July 10-13. About 1,000 clergy and lay leaders who plan worship gathered to ponder and celebrate various liturgical traditions, ethnic...
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...
