Burkat re-elected bishop of ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Claire Burkat was re-elected May 4 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). She was re- elected on the first ballot at the synod assembly in Telford, Pa. Born in Brooklyn,...
D. Jensen Seyenkulo elected bishop of Lutheran Church in Liberia
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. D. Jensen Seyenkulo was elected bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia. Elected April 28 on the first ballot at the denomination's 14th biannual convention, Seyenkulo is a program director at the churchwide ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "This is a...
Shelley Wickstrom elected bishop of ELCA Alaska Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Shelley R. Wickstrom, Seattle, was elected April 27 to a six-year term as bishop of the Alaska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Wickstrom was elected on the third ballot during the synod's assembly April 26-28 at Joy Lutheran Church in Eagle...
James Gonia elected bishop of ELCA Rocky Mountain Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. James W. Gonia, West Dundee, Ill., was elected April 28 to a six-year term as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Gonia was elected on the fifth ballot during the synod assembly April 26-28 in Colorado Springs,...
Kanouse re-elected bishop of ELCA Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Kevin S. Kanouse was re-elected April 27 to serve a third six-year term as bishop of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He was re-elected on the first ballot at the synod assembly in Irving, Texas. Kanouse was...
ELCA bishop urges Congress to quickly enact U.S. immigration reform
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), joined with other national church leaders in urging members of Congress and President Obama to enact U.S. immigration reform "as soon as possible" in April 24 letters. The leaders wrote that state...
ELCA council approves 2012 budget revisions, attends to mission funding
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a revised 2012 current fund spending authorization of $65,498,135, an increase of more than $1.3 million, and it approved a revised total ELCA World Hunger spending authorization for 2012 of $19,900,000, an increase of $1.4...
ELCA is striving to begin anti-malaria work in Liberia
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are extending their observance of "World Malaria Day" from April 25 to May 1 with a goal of raising $200,000 to help end death from malaria. Gifts to the ELCA Malaria Campaign will allow the church to expand...
2012 Easter message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), shares an Easter message with the 4.2 million members of this church. The full text of the presiding bishop's message follows: Christ is risen! Imagine the power in those words of promise....
ELCA Disaster Response addresses food crisis in West, Central Africa
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Sahel region of West and Central Africa is in a growing food crisis. Inadequate rainfall, poor harvests and rising food costs have left nearly 15.5 million people, particularly children, in need of emergency food assistance. Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are working...
ELCA leaders say immigration reform is a federal matter
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Some congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have growing concerns about the presence of U.S.immigration officials outside churches before and after services, making many parishioners afraid to attend worship for fear that they will be detained or separated from their families. This concern is...
ELCA leaders respond to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., has called members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America(ELCA) to engage in the work of "restoring and reconciling communities, pursuing justice and peace no matter how long the journey or wide the chasm," said ELCA Presiding Bishop...
Lenoir-Rhyne University, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary to merge
CHICAGO (ELCA) - At a March 26 signing ceremony, representatives of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C., celebrated the decision to merge the two institutions, effective July 1. The merger is the first such combination of an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)...
New leadership for three ELCA higher education institutions
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Two universities and one college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have elected new presidents. There are 26 colleges and universities in the United States affiliated with the ELCA. Carthage College The board of trustees of Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., elected Gregory Woodward to...
ELCA members strive to reduce hunger in the United States
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Every week it's a shot in the dark for how much food Harry and Eunice Burch will need to prepare. But one thing both Harry and Eunice agree on is that it will be a while before they prepare beef stew again. Harry stood and cut beef...
ELCA presiding bishop to speak at Coexist prize ceremony
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will join Jewish and Islamic leaders on a panel discussion at the Coexist Prize Ceremony March 20 in New York City. Joining Hanson is Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action...
ELCA remains engaged in Japan one year later
CHICAGO (ELCA) - When one of the strongest earthquakes on record struck off the coast of Japan a year ago, the 4.2 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took immediate action, contributing $2.9 million to ELCA Disaster Response. These funds have provided food and clean water,...
ELCA releases draft social statement on criminal justice
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is addressing issues in the U.S. criminal justice system. The perspective of an ELCA task force on the topic is featured in the "Draft Social Statement on Criminal Justice" released to ELCA members and to the public March 15. While...
ELCA bishops gather for mutual sharing of ministries, worship and study
ITASCA, IL. (ELCA) - According to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a "church that is deeply rooted and always being made new." In his March 3 report to the ELCA Conference of Bishops, the presiding bishop noted ways in which the 4.2...
ELCA, Israeli government representatives meet
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, both based here, met Feb. 29 to discuss one another's understanding of the "Arab Spring" developments, especially concerns for minority religious groups in the Middle East, and the official...
