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...
ELCA Outreach Board Discusses Evangelism in 'A New Century'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Outreach (DO) received a report on evangelism and decided to voice its concerns about the report before taking action. The board met here Feb. 23-25. "The most significant highlight of the meeting was the wrestling...
ELCA Leaders Discuss Support for New Ethnic-Specific Missions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The steering committee of the Commission for Multicultural Ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed the church's support for new domestic missions and the time taken to transform them into self-supporting congregations when it met here Feb. 23-24. The committee also asked church leaders...
ELCA Outreach Board Re-Elects Magnus Executive Director
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Outreach (DO) elected the Rev. Richard A. Magnus to a second four-year term as the division's executive director, effective July 1. The board met here Feb. 23-25. "Dick Magnus has provided insightful and wise leadership...
Lutherans Assess Damage after Earthquake in Pacific Northwest
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Staff of Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is assessing damage left behind by an earthquake which struck 10 miles northeast of Olympia, Wash., and 35 miles southwest of Seattle, Feb. 28. "The earthquake was...
Rev. Walter J. Kirkegaard Named ELCA Montana Synod Interim Bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Walter J. Kirkegaard, Great Falls, Mont., was named interim bishop of the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), effective March 15. He was selected by the Montana Synod Council at its meeting Feb. 16 in Great Falls. Kirkegaard succeeds the Rev....
ELCA Board Examines Worship Attendance, Ministry Strategies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has taken a significant step in learning more about faith practices and increasing worship attendance. The board for the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries met here Feb. 16-18, considered churchwide strategies and examined survey results on worship attendance and faith...
ELCA Publishing House Leader Expresses Concern for Board's Action
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The president and chief executive officer of Augsburg Fortress, publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said he is "deeply concerned" by actions the board for the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) took when it met here last month. The Rev. Marvin L....
Bitner Elected Chair of ELCA Division for Church in Society
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Denver W. Bitner, Zion Lutheran Church, Rockford, Ill., will chair the board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Church in Society (DCS) for two years, beginning in August. The board elected Bitner when it met here Feb. 22-24. Bitner will succeed...
ELCA Board Asks for Possible Publishing Alternatives
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- To ensure support for the 10,851 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the board for the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) authorized the division's executive directors to "investigate alternative" means of "publishing, producing and distributing resources" designed to assist congregations in carrying out...
