ELCA Chaplain to Lead Invocation at National Christmas Tree Lighting Event
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Darrell D. Morton, assistant for federal chaplaincy ministries to the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will present the invocation at the 87th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 9, in Washington. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4687 For information contact: John Brooks, Director...
ELCA Leaders Applaud Congress' Passage of Child Nutrition Bill
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) applauded the passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of federal legislation that invests $4.5 billion in child nutrition programs. The legislation was approved Dec. 2 during the lame-duck session this week, as Congress prepares to adjourn for...
2010 Christmas Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation!" Isaiah 52:7 When Jesus was born, angelic messengers broke the still calm of a Judean night to sing joyously and proclaim, "This very day in David's city a Savior...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls on Members to Give to ELCA World Hunger
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has called on members to give to ELCA World Hunger, pointing out that all funds given now will be matched dollar for dollar. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4684 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773)...
ELCA Joins Effort to Keep Clean Air Act Regulatory Authority Intact
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined 56 denominations and faith-based organizations in calling on the U.S. Senate to leave intact the power of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, including ozone emissions. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4683 For information contact: John...
ELCA Council Acts on Structure, Governance Proposals, Other Topics
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recommended constitutional amendments to the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly regarding a 3-year cycle for churchwide assemblies, council membership, eliminating program committees and strengthening interrelationships. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4682 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Members in Third 'Town Hall' of 2010
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his third online "Town Hall Forum" with members this year, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed a variety of ELCA topics and concerns, such as outdoor and campus ministry, immigration reform, contemporary worship, the place of people who are gay...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Invites Members to Commit to Action on World AIDS Day
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a message for World AIDS Day 2010, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), invited ELCA members "to prayer, remembrance and to leading by example." He also urged members to join him in signing a religious leaders' commitment...
ELCA Council Adopts Message on 'People Living with Disabilities'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted an 18-page message, "People Living with Disabilities," and asked the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to "lift up and acknowledge" the message. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4679 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Facebook:...
ELCA Council Acts on Annuity Payment Reduction Recommendations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized one-time payments from the ELCA Special Needs Retirement Fund "as soon as realistically possible in 2011" to help people most adversely affected by reductions in ELCA Board of Pensions annuity payments caused by the crisis...
ELCA Congregations that Close Find Creative Ways to Benefit Others
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Closing a congregation can be a difficult process. There is property to dispose of, legal matters to attend to and members to help through the transition. But some congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), using ingenuity and creativity, have come up with exceptional ways...
ELCA Commits $500,000 for Cholera Prevention, Treatment in Haiti
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced Nov. 15 that it has committed $500,000 for the prevention and treatment of cholera in Haiti, as well as continued response to communities displaced by the January 2010 earthquake. The gift is in addition to the $25,000 the church...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Highlights 'Expectations' in Report to Council
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), described his hopes for the church for the next three years -- focusing on expectations -- in a report to the ELCA Church Council Nov. 13. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4674 For information contact: John...
Lutheran Disaster Response, American Red Cross Reaffirm Partnership
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response and the American Red Cross reaffirmed a longstanding partnership Nov. 9 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in a ceremony at the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4673 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news...
ELCA Board of Pensions Trustees Announce Annuity Adjustment for 2011
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Trustees of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced smaller-than-anticipated reductions in annuity payments for plan members in its Participating Annuity and Bridge Fund and in the interest crediting rate for bridge accounts. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4672 For information contact: John Brooks, Director...
ELCA Contributes $75,000 to Haiti for Hurricane Relief, Cholera Prevention
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has committed $50,000 in international disaster funds to The Lutheran World Federation to be used for immediate needs in Haiti in the wake of Hurricane Tomas. It also contributed $25,000 from the ELCA's Haiti Earthquake Fund for prevention of cholera,...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Asks Indonesian Leader to Protect Religious Freedom
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to attacks against Christians in Indonesia and efforts to prevent them from worshiping, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has asked the country's president to uphold constitutional principles and refrain from inhibiting freedom of religion for any religious community, especially...
What Question Do You Have for the ELCA Presiding Bishop?
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- If you could ask the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) a question, what would it be? The Rev. Mark S. Hanson is ready to receive questions live during the online ELCA Town Hall Forum Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. EST. The forum...
Stanley Olson Elected President of ELCA's Wartburg Theological Seminary
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of directors of Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, elected the Rev. Dr. Stanley N. Olson to be president of the seminary, effective Jan. 1, 2011, according to a Nov. 4 seminary news release. Wartburg Theological Seminary is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran...
Lutherans Complete Journey Retracing Luther's Steps to Rome
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Two Lutherans completed a unique 70-day journey on Oct. 29 retracing on foot Martin Luther's historic trip from Erfurt, Germany to Rome. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4667 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elcanews Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews
