Lutherans In Puerto Rico 'Communicate Hope' To The World
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (ELCA) -- "The Lutheran church in Puerto Rico has become rich in tradition, rich in leadership, rich in service and rich in faith," said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "It has done this despite many challenges...
Harvard Divinity Dean Stepping Down
HARVARD DIVINITY DEAN STEPPING DOWN 98-41-235-Harvard University Gazette CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ronald F. Thiemann, dean of the Divinity School at Harvard University here since 1986, announced Nov. 13 that he will step down from the deanship and return to teaching and research. Thiemann is a pastor of...
Four Lutherans Receive 1998 Wittenberg Awards
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Luther Institute awarded four Wittenberg Awards "to honor outstanding Lutheran laity and clergy for their service to = church and society" Nov. 20 in Washington, D.C. The four honorees were Bishop April Ulring Larson, Willmar Thorkelson, Shirley D. Peterson Esq. and the Honorable Eckhard Naumarm. Bishop...
Managed Care Expanding for ELCA Board of Pensions
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- To contain costs, trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Board of Pensions voted to "continue to maintain a single national health plan" while expanding its managed care programs nationwide. Such programs would include point-of-service = networks and preferred provider organization networks. The Board said...
ELCA Identity Project Gets $1.5 Million Boost
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will receive a $1.5 million grant from Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal benefits society based in Appleton, Wis. Over the next two years, the grant will provide matching funds to support local and regional use of advertising materials of...
ELCA Adopts Guidelines on Lutheran-Jewish Relations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) now has "suggestions" for fostering Lutheran-Jewish dialogue and cooperation. The ELCA Church Council adopted "Guidelines for Lutheran- Jewish Relations" when it met here Nov. 13-16. The 37-member council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority...
ELCA Challenged to Start 2,000 New Congregations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 11,000 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have been challenged to start 2,000 new congregations between 2000 and 2020. The Rev. Richard A. Magnus, executive director of the ELCA's Division for Outreach, told the ELCA Church Council that existing congregations can "take advantage...
ELCA Reviews its Ministries among Persons with Disabilities
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has taken a close look at the various facets of its ministries among persons with disabilities. The ELCA Church Council approved "The Final Report of the Comprehensive Study of Ministry With and Among Persons Who Are Deaf and Persons with...
Council Fills Vacancies on ELCA Boards, Committees
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) filled a number of vacancies on boards and committees when it met here Nov. 13-16. It also named the members of two committees to serve the ELCA Churchwide Assembly August 16-22, 1999, in Denver. The council...
Talks Authorized Between ELCA and Missouri Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) will begin formal conversations in June 1999. The ELCA Church Council authorized Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson to convene a representative 10-member panel "to discuss interchurch matters" with counterparts in the LCMS. The council...
Lutherans Will Reconsider Episcopal Full Communion
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will see "Called to Common Mission: A Lutheran Proposal for a Revision of the 'Concordat of Agreement'" (CCM) at its 1999 Churchwide Assembly in Denver next August. The document is a proposal that the ELCA establish a partnership of "full...
ELCA Begins Study of Health and Health Care
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has begun an in-depth study of health and the ethical challenges of health care. Next year the church will decide if those issues warrants a social statement. The ELCA Church Council passed the question on to the 1999 Churchwide Assembly....
ELCA Will Establish a Small Town and Rural Ministry 'Desk'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a plan Nov. 16 to establish a small town and rural ministries "desk" in the ELCA's Division for Outreach. The desk will be managed by a full-time director beginning about March 1, 1999. The Church...
ELCA Congregations Will 'Teach the Faith'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is extending an invitation to the church's 11,000 congregations to "renew their commitment to be faith-forming communities."= =20 The invitation is part of a major emphasis "to embark on a period of focus on discipleship and faith...
Norway to Help Ease Financial Problems at Jerusalem Hospital
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The government of Norway is providing funds to help clear an accumulated deficit at Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem, which will lead to a new model of management for the hospital in which Norway is a significant partner, the Rev. Robert N. Bacher told the Church Council...
ELCA Increases Awareness for Domestic and World Hunger
=20 CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will ask the 5.2 million members of the ELCA to give generous "second- and third-mile" gifts this fall to respond to = recent weather disasters and the ongoing "silent disaster" of poverty. The Church Council...
Council Calls on Government, ELCA to Respond to Farm Crisis
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) called upon leaders in federal and state government to take steps to help farmers in crisis, and called on ELCA churchwide units to educate the church's 5.2 million members about the = farm crisis and about...
ELCA to Act on New York Medical Center Consolidation
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized its executive committee to act on a proposed consolidation of Lutheran Medical Center (LMC) and Maimonides Medical Center (MMC), both of New York. "This action will expedite consideration of a proposal from Lutheran Medical Center...
ELCA Adopts Message on Immigration
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted an educational "ELCA Message on Immigration" that addresses several concerns about U.S. immigration laws. The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between meetings of...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Sums up a Very Busy Week
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Referring to a current movie title, "Six Days and Seven Nights," the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told the ELCA Church Council about his experiences the week of Nov. 9-15. His report included information from meetings with the Lutheran...
