Eight ELCA Bishops Announce Support for CMM - MARGIN CORRECTED
CHICAGO (ELCA) Acknowledging that not everyone in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) favors a proposal for full communion with the Episcopal Church, eight ELCA synod bishops formally announced they will support the proposal at the 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The proposed agreement, "Called to Common Mission," (CCM) has...
Jeffrey Baker, ELCA College President, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Jeffrey D. Baker, former president of Luther College, died of cancer March 22 at his home in Cambria, Calif., at the age of 57. Baker was president of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, from 1996 to 1999. Luther is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical...
ELCA Communicators Honored by Religion Communicators Council
WASHINGTON (ELCA) The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) gave one of its top awards to the producer of "MOSAIC," the video magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at the DeRose-Hinkhouse = Memorial Communication Awards dinner here March 18. The RCC gave its "Best of Class" award for non-broadcast...
Hughes Resigns as President of Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert G. Hughes, 62, will return to the classroom after a decade as president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP). LTSP is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Hughes announced his decision March 23 to the executive committee of...
ELCA Bishop's 1999 Easter Message
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Without the resurrection, the story of Jesus of Nazareth would never have changed the world. Although we reckon the turning of time from B.C. to A.D. at the birth of Jesus, the real revolution occurred when Jesus rose from the dead. The ancient church realized this profound...
Lutherans Author Book on Genetic Testing and Screening
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has a "reliable and accessible guide into Christian reflection on genetic testing and screening," wrote the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive director of the ELCA Division for Church in Society, in the preface to a new book, "Genetic Testing and...
Solomonson Named Managing Editor of "The Lutheran" Magazine
CHICAGO (ELCA) Sonia C. Solomonson was named managing editor of "The Lutheran," the magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), effective April 1. Solomonson is presently senior editor of the magazine. She succeeds Roger Kahle, who died Dec. 1. "The Lutheran" is fortunate to have someone with Sonia's...
ELCA Bishops Comment on Gay and Lesbian Hospitality Report
TUCSON, Ariz. (ELCA) Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed strong concerns and strong support for an ELCA Division for Outreach report on congregational ministry with gay and lesbian people. The report, "Congregational Ministry with Gay and Lesbian People," from the division's gay and lesbian outreach study...
ELCA Ends '98 Fiscal Year on plus Side
TUCSON, Ariz. (ELCA) Financial results for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 1999, were "most satisfactory," said Richard L. McAuliffe, ELCA treasurer, in a presentation of preliminary figures to ELCA synodical bishops. The churchwide organization of the ELCA had an excess of...
Lutherans Come 'This Far by Faith'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has a new worship resource, "This Far by Faith," developed by theologians, musicians, liturgists and congregation leaders from the African American community of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). The hardbound, 520-page worship resource is now available to...
Salary Guidelines to Be Developed for ELCA School Teachers
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that operate early childhood education centers will be encouraged to bring staff salaries and health care benefits to a "just and fair level." More than 2,300 of the ELCA's 11,000 congregations operate early childhood education ministries. The board...
ELCA Bishops Pledge Hunger Funds, Honor Retiring Bishops, Editor
TUCSON, Ariz. (ELCA) The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a resolution urging the church to renew its commitment to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and pledged collectively to increase giving by a total of at least $25,000 to the appeal. The appeal is...
ELCA Supports U.S. Education Savings and School Excellence Act
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board for the Division for Higher Education and Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) called for Congress to pass the U.S. Education Savings and School Excellence Act of 1999 at its meeting here March 12-14. The board will encourage the Lutheran Office for...
ELCA Bishops Adopt Resolutions on "Called to Common Mission"
ELCA BISHOPS ADOPT RESOLUTIONS ON "CALLED TO COMMON MISSION" 99-10-061-JB =20 TUCSON, Ariz. (ELCA) In response to concerns about a full communion proposal between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church, ELCA bishops meeting here March 5-9 adopted two resolutions, including one that defines the office...
New Vice President Joins ELCA Board of Pensions
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ronald T. Glusenkamp joined the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as vice president of Customer Outreach, effective March 1. As vice president, Glusenkamp will oversee efforts that build and strengthen customer relationships, including the Board's communication, education, marketing and...
ELCA Youth Organization Connects With Young People In The Pew
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board for the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) discussed leadership development as it "affects work with and by youth and the adults who journey with them" when it met here Feb. 26-28. Joining them in this discussion were members...
ELCA Members Talk Together About Difficult Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) plan to talk together about difficult issues. Elements of good faith-based conversations on controversial matters in today's society will be featured in a new resource to be published by the ELCA Division for Church in Society (DCS) in...
ELCA Stewardship Is At 'The Heart Of The Church'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The purpose of stewardship in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is "to serve the will of God." That vision is expressed in "Stewardship at the Heart of the Church," a new plan developed by the stewardship and mission giving team of the ELCA. The board...
ELCA World Hunger Appeal Celebrates 25th Anniversary
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For 25 years members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its predecessor church bodies have saved lives and helped communities in need achieve sustainable development with funds from its World Hunger Appeal. This year congregations of the ELCA will be invited to celebrate the...
First Asian Lutheran Conference Held in Hong Kong
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The first Asian Lutheran International Conference brought 80 participants and 10 stewards (local arrangements people) from 22 countries Jan. 22-26 to the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong. Participants explored and reflected on the theme "Asian Lutheranism: Which Way?" through a series of presentations, responses and discussions....
