Lutheran Vespers Adds More Stations in 1999
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Seventeen radio stations added Lutheran Vespers to their programming since January 1999, said Brenda J. Engelby. Lutheran Vespers, the radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is now heard on 220 stations in the United States, Denmark, Australia, Guam and Swaziland. Engelby, associate director...
Wells Elected Bishop of ELCA Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Martin D. Wells, 50, was elected bishop of the Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on June 5. He received 234 votes to 102 for the Rev. Mark J. Nelson, 45, on the fourth ballot during the synod's assembly in...
Mauney Elected Lutheran Bishop of Virginia Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James F. Mauney, 46, was elected bishop of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on June 6. He received 282 votes to 167 for the Rev. Dwayne J. Westermann, 52, on the fifth ballot during the synod's assembly at Roanoke...
ELCA Awards First 'In the City for Good' Grants
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has awarded $347,179 in grants to new urban ministry initiatives illustrating a potential for transforming lives, congregations and communities in U.S. cities. The "In the City for Good" fund team selected 23 projects from more than 140 proposals it received...
ELCA Releases More Funds for Kosovo Relief
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) released an additional $530,000 to provide emergency assistance for Kosovar refugees. The ELCA has distributed a total of $805,000 for Kosovo relief. Through Action by Churches Together (ACT), $330,000 was distributed to Lutheran World Federation (LWF)...
Lutherans Assist Northeast Iowa Residents Affected by Flood
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response is providing emergency assistance to northeast Iowa residents affected by flood waters May 21. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Misso= uri Synod (LCMS). "As much as eight inches of water from heavy...
Chaplain for the U.S. House, ELCA Pastor to Retire
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James D. Ford, 67, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will retire after more than 20 years as chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. "We wish him God's speed as he ends his distinguished career in the House and looks...
Lutheran Men Build Legacy of Faith
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 1999 Lutheran Men's Gathering will bring together grandfathers, fathers, sons and friends to explore what it means to "build a legacy of faith and life" that will make a difference in families today and for generations to come. The gathering will take place Aug. 13-15 at...
ELCA Schools Observe 'Day of Concern about Gun Violence'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Division for Higher Education and Schools will participate in the fourth annual "Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence." On October 21, young people in the United States will sign a voluntary contract or promise never to...
Can Restorative Justice Really Bring Healing?
**Summary: Restorative justice is a new concept for helping crime victims cope with fear, anger and loss by meeting with the offender that disrupted their lives.** Five years ago, on February 27, Ted and Pat Nelson were plunged into horror and despair. "It was a tough thing on Sunday morning...
Lutherans Respond in Faith to Fears of Y2k Computer Problems
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Many Lutherans are wondering if the year 2000 computer problem (Y2K) is just hype or if we are in for a crisis so severe we should "head for the hills." Several members of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) wanted to...
Correction: Florida-Bahamas Synod Settles Court Case
[Editors: Please substitute the following for the first three paragraphs of the story previously issued under the same headline on May 18, 1999.] CHICAGO (ELCA) The Florida-Bahamas Synod, one of 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will pay $250,000 in settlement to a Fort Lauderdale woman...
Torgerson to Become President of Luther College
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Richard L. Torgerson, 55, St. Peter, Minn., has been selected to become president of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, on July 12. Luther is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Torgerson succeeds Jeffrey D. Baker, who died from lung cancer...
'Bo' Sorenson, Lutheran Missionary and Executive, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Morris A. "Bo" Sorenson Jr., 71, White Bear Lake, Minn., died May 24 of liver failure. He served in many key positions in the Lutheran church, including missionary to Japan and executive assistant to the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)....
Skrenes Elected Lutheran Bishop of Northern Great Lakes Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Thomas A. Skrenes, 44, was elected bishop of the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on May 25. He received 161 votes to 128 for the Rev. David L. Echelbarger, 46, on the fifth ballot during the synod's assembly...
Fifteen More Lutheran Bishops Support 'Called to Common Mission'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Fifteen synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have added their support for "Called to Common Mission" (CCM), a Lutheran proposal for a relationship of "full communion" with The Episcopal Church. The bishops serve synods from Michigan and Nebraska to Texas and the Caribbean....
ELCA Intensifies Effort to Fight Racism
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In an effort to educate its 5.2 million members to be more aware of racism and equip them to fight it, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has developed a one-and-a-half-day program to bring anti-racism training to the entire church. With only a little more than...
Viterbo College Honors ELCA Bishop with Pope John XXIII Award
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was one of two recipients of the 1999 Pope John XXIII Award for Distinguished Service, presented May 12 by Viterbo College, LaCrosse, Wis. The other recipient was Sister Helen Prejean, of the...
Some ELCA Health Plan Members Offered More Choice
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Trustees of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a plan to offer a new choice of health benefits for plan members in Pennsylvania and in the Chicago metropolitan area. Considered a pilot project, the plan will introduce Blue Cross and...
Lutherans Tackle Human Rights and Welfare Reform at D.C. Briefing
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- "Just Politics: Briefing '99" offered about 400 participants from various denominations, including about 50 members from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), an opportunity to discuss connections between human rights, economic justice and the faith community's advocacy in public policy. The 29th Annual Interfaith Public...
