ELCA Church Council Approves 1998-99 Budget
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting here Nov. 14-16, approved the church's 1998 fiscal-year spending authorization of $77.5 million. The council also approved an initial Mission Operating Fund allocation of $1 million; an Expanded Ministry Fund of $200,000; and a 1998 World...
ELCA Undertakes Identity Campaign
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting here Nov. 14-16, endorsed a new emblem and a theme line, "Living Faith," that will be featured in a coordinated identity program. Over the next 12 months the church will design a marketing and identity campaign,...
ELCA Council: Rework the Concordat
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, meeting here Nov. 14-16, asked the presiding bishops of the ELCA and The Episcopal Church to rework the "Concordat of Agreement." The council's goal is to have a draft document ready to show the ELCA's spring synod...
Aids Challenges the Spirit, Lutherans Told
SEACAUCUS, N.J. (ELCA) -- Lutherans have the theological and pastoral resources to attack the problems presented by the HIV virus, said two noted theologians addressing the fifth North American Conference on Aids Nov.6-8. But an African Lutheran theologian told conference participants that the disease is spreading wildly on that continent...
Lutherans Affirms Multicultural Mission
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America must "hear one more time what God has in store for us as we become a more multicultural church," according to the Rev. Frederick E.N. Rajan, executive director of the ELCA's Commission for Multicultural Ministries. Speaking to more than 300...
Inter-Lutheran Aids Network Organizes
SEACAUCUS, N.J. (ELCA) -- An inter-Lutheran network of individuals and agencies involved in ministries supporting people affected by the HIV virus and AIDS was officially organized here Nov. 6, eight years after an informal group of Lutherans began meeting around the subject of spiritual and medical care for AIDS patients....
ELCA Board Studies 'Accompaniment'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Board of the Division for Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America discussed future planning at its meeting here Oct. 23-25. The jumping-off point for conversation was a paper entitled, "Accompaniment of God's Mission: A New Paradigm for Global Mission in the 21st Century."...
ELCA Global Staff at Work in Russia
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Two missionaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America work providing food to the hungry in Russia through the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy. The Revs. Twila K. Schock and William P. Swanson arrived in Moscow in October to work in the ecumenical and intercultural congregation of Protestant Christians....
Year of Prayer for ELCA Lutheran Youth
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran Youth Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will pray with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community "in our home, church and world." The LYO board, meeting here Oct. 31-Nov. 2, acted to establish "A Year of Prayer," a year-long prayer emphasis for...
Women of the ELCA Move Foward with Anti-Racism Commitment
ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Has Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church made an effective start at becoming an anti-racist organization? "It's too early to tell," said Inez Torres Davis, program director for anti-racism and cross-cultural programming. "Anti-racism is not like littering; it is not a behavior to be changed. We...
ELCA'S Commission for Women Tackle Church and Societal Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- =22The past six months have probably been the most = hectic, creative, overwhelming, meaningful, and inspirational time in the = history of the commission,=22 said Joanne Chadwick, executive director for = the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America=27s Commission for Women. = =22The commission has responded to issues...
New Plans for ELCA Youth and Social Ministries
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The youth ministries team of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will work to "offer hope and promise" for youth and young adults in the church based on a new plan. The board of the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries "affirmed" the team's plan when it met...
ELCA Members Celebrate Land Mine Treaty
POSTERS AGAINST LAND MINES Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have been invited to celebrate the signing of the antipersonnel land mine treaty and 1997 Nobel Peace Prize by taking part in a poster contest sponsored by the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines. The ELCA's Lutheran Office...
ELCA College Receives Largest Gift in its History
MUHLENBERG COLLEGE RECEIVES LARGEST GIFT IN ITS HISTORY Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., received a $6.5 million gift from a friend of the college. Muhlenberg is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The gift is the largest in Muhlenberg's history and one of the...
ELCA Program Director Moves to Carthage College
UNGLAUBE MOVES TO CARTHAGE Dr. James M. Unglaube, director for colleges and universities for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, has accepted the position of director for planned giving at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., effective Dec. 15. "I have been blessed with 20 wonderful years of service for the Lutheran...
Liberian Refugees Future Uncertain
LIBERIAN REFUGEES FUTURE UNCERTAIN The Liberian civil war has ended, elections have taken place and the country is gradually stabilizing. Still the status of some refugees in neighboring countries remains uncertain, according to the Division for Global Mission, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Belletech Deressa the division's director for...
El Nino Mysterious Force of Nature
EL NINO: MYSTERIOUS FORCE OF NATURE From Papua New Guinea to the Andes in Latin America, encompassing southern Africa and other regions of the globe, disruptions in weather patterns and important climatic changes are being witnessed and reported. Action by Churches Together (ACT) calls the powerful El Nino weather phenomenon...
ELCA Publishing House Opened New Seminary Bookstore
NEW SEMINARY BOOKSTORE Augsburg Fortress Publishers, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America based in Minneapolis, opened a new bookstore on the campus of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia Sept. 8. "We have a stellar store for the sale of a cross-section of theological books," said...
ELCA Calendar of Events October through December 1997
ELCA CALENDAR ELCA OCTOBER 1997 29-Nov 2 Division for Congregational Ministries, ELCA Outdoor Ministries/Association of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Professionals Annual Conference, Wagon Trail Resort, Door County, Wis. 31 The Lutheran, Advisory Committee, Lutheran Center, Chicago 31-Nov 2 Lutherans For Life, National Convention, Adams Mark Hotel, Indianapolis 31-Nov 2 Division for...
ELCA Publishing House Finances Improved
AUGSBURG FORTRESS FINANCES IMPROVED Augsburg Fortress Publishers continues to experience a decline in sales, but also reports a decline in operating expenses. Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, is the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Board of Trustees heard a finance report at its meeting Oct. 9-11 in...
