Lutherans Continue Relief Work Following Summer Disasters
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans continue to serve disaster survivors following this summer's flooding in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota, and devastating tornadoes that struck Granite Falls, Minn., according to the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst in a September progress report on relief efforts. Furst is director for Lutheran Disaster Response...
The Simba Circle -- Changing the Lives of African American Boys
Strawberry Point, Iowa (ELCA) -- "Too Black, too strong!" was the daily chant of about 150 African American boys and men from 22 cities across the United States who came here to participate in a two-week program, The Simba Circle. Sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division...
ELCA Congregations and Ministries Are 'Engaging Tough Issues'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Engaging Tough Issues" is a training event the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will host Oct. 6-8 at the Atchison Heritage Conference Center, Atchison, Kan. Three different workshop tracks -- two in English and one in Spanish -- will address "talking about tough issues, organizing and...
Lutheran Congregations Honor People Living with Mental Illness
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In October, congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) are asked to light a candle and say a prayer honoring or remembering people who live with mental illness, said the Rev. Lisa T. Cleaver, director for disability ministries and...
ELCA Awards 'In the City for Good' Grants for 2000
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) awarded $493,957 in grants to 38 urban ministry initiatives that demonstrate a potential for transforming lives, congregations and communities in U.S. cities. The "In the City for Good" fund team selected the projects from 93 proposals it received in the...
ELCA Bishop, Church Leaders Affirm, Criticize Jerusalem Peace Effort
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of North American Roman Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Churches -- including the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) -- urged President Clinton to promote sharing of Jerusalem between Israelis and Palestinians and among Jews, Christians and Muslims in...
Lutherans Respond to Vatican Document and Letter
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) said Sept. 8 that he is "disappointed" that 35 years of ecumenical dialogue between Lutherans and Roman Catholics apparently were not considered when the Vatican issued a document earlier this week and sent a letter in June to...
Lutherans Help Develop Web Site to Connect Faith Communities
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A new Web site that will connect faith communities with a variety of spiritual and intellectual resources, is expected to be fully operational in 2001, said the lead consultant for the project, John L. Peterson. Peterson is director for public media with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in...
'Connections' Theme of 2000 ELCA Communicators' Consultation
LISLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- Trends in the Lutheran church, working with secular news organizations, international communication and a Lutheran media program were among a variety of topics discussed here at the 2000 ELCA Communicators' Consultation. The Aug. 24-27 consultation, featuring a "Connections" theme, brought together about 160 Evangelical Lutheran Church...
Lutherans Support Relief Efforts in Congo, India and Tanzania
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $50,000 this month to support recovery efforts from war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, $50,000 to assist flood recovery efforts in India and $50,000 for drought and famine relief in Tanzania. Members of the...
Lutheran Theologians Focus on the Cross and Mission
TECHNY, Ill. (ELCA) -- Lutherans believe that God reconciled all conflicts with human beings by becoming human in Jesus Christ, by being executed on a cross and by rising from the dead. The cross was the focal point for theologians of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gathered here...
Lutherans Host Fall 2000 College Fairs
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will participate in "Lutheran College Fair" programs in 14 states this fall. Prospective students, their families and other interested individuals are invited. Lutheran college admission representatives will be present to discuss academic programs, student life, housing...
Lutherans, Savings and Silk Mean Development in Bangladesh
DUMKI, BANGLEDESH (ELCA) -- On a typical day at a medical clinic in southern Bangladesh, the waiting area is already filled by early morning. Mothers with babies or young children fill the room. The children noisily play with each other. The women, all of whom are draped in colorful saris,...
Stelling and Edison-Swift Announce They Will Leave 'Lutheran
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- After more than 40 years of service in the Lutheran church Nancy J. Stelling, Raleigh, N.C., announced she will retire Dec. 1. Stelling is editor for Lutheran Woman Today, a magazine of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the women's organization of the church....
Augsburg Fortress Announces Agreement with Kerygma
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, entered into a new distribution agreement with The Kerygma Program. Effective immediately, selected resources published under the Kerygma imprint will be available through Augsburg Fortress. The Kerygma Program offers about 20 Bible study courses. First...
ELCA Health Care Costs to Jump, Reflecting National Trend
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- At an Aug. 2-4 meeting here, trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Board of Pensions approved an overall increase of 18.6 percent for 2001 in the revenue collected from congregations and sponsoring employers for the health care benefits plan. "This is the amount of...
ELCA Funds 14 International "MAPP" Projects
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Office of the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved grants for 14 international ministry projects totaling $374,000. The projects, intended to provide direct assistance to people living in poverty, are part of the ELCA's emphasis on Ministries Among People in Poverty (MAPP)....
Two ELCA Pastors Named to LWF Positions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Two pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) the Rev. Karen L. Bloomquist and the Rev. John A. Evenson have been appointed to positions with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The LWF is a global communion of 131 member churches in 72 countries, representing 59.5...
Lutherans Help Montana Communities Caught in Smokey Wildfires
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response has provided an initial $10,000 grant to Lutheran Social Services of Montana, Missoula, for emergency assistance to communities impacted by smoke and wildfires in the state. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran=20 Church-Missouri...
ELCA Hosts 'FACT' Coalition Meeting; Survey Results Due in 2001
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Nearly 100 people representing 45 religious denominations and faith groups gathered here Aug. 7-9 at the churchwide offices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The group discussed preliminary responses from an extensive study of North American religious life aimed at strengthening Christian, Jewish, Muslim and...
