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
ELCA Presiding Bishop: Christians Bring 'Hopeful Spirit' to Political Life
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Citing "bitter and divisive commentary" in the just-concluded political campaign, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has called for more respectful political engagement and "a renewal of common decency in public speech." Christians view political engagement differently, he said, bringing a "hopeful...
ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Christian Leaders Meet with President Obama
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined about 20 other U.S. Christian leaders in a meeting with President Obama Nov. 1 at the White House. The leaders met with the president "speaking first out of our faith and...
U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Approves Current Round Final Report
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue in the United States approved by unanimous consent the current round's final report on "The Hope of Eternal Life," a 65-page report summarizing the dialogue's four-and-a-half-year study. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4664 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Facebook:...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Tells Young People 'It Gets Better'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a video essay posted on You Tube, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) offered reassurance to young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, saying, "You are a beloved child of God." More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4662 For information contact: John Brooks, Director...
ELCA Sends Relief Funds in Response to Indonesia Tsunami
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will send up to $46,280 to provide immediate relief to communities affected by a tsunami that struck the Mentawai Islands off of Sumatra's western coast Oct. 25. The ELCA responded to a specific request for funds from a relief agency...
ELCA Funds Water Purification Equipment for Guatemala Families
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- At least 245 families in Guatemala will have clean water supplies thanks to a gift from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4661 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
Herluf Jensen, Former ELCA Synod Bishop, Social Activist, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Herluf M. Jensen, former bishop of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and president of the New Jersey Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, died Oct. 14 of heart failure at his home in Moorestown, N.J. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4660...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Congratulates World Food Prize Laureate
DES MOINES, Iowa (ELCA) -- The 2010 World Food Prize is a testament to the "remarkable leadership" of the Rev. David Beckmann to mobilize citizens to advocate for public policies that help hungry people, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)....
Changing Politics of Hunger 'Holy Obligation' Says ELCA Pastor, Advocate
DES MOINES, Iowa (ELCA) -- God is calling on people of faith to change the "politics of hunger" by convincing members of the U.S. Congress to adopt legislation that will reduce domestic and global hunger and poverty, said the Rev. David Beckmann in a news conference here. Tonight Beckmann, a...
Search for ELCA's James Nelson Suspended at Midnight Oct. 12
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The search for 31-year old James Nelson will be suspended at midnight Oct. 12. Nelson, an employee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide organization, was reported missing Oct. 8 when he did not return from a five-day, 25-mile solo hike at Colorado's Mount Holy...
ELCA Deeply Committed to Revitalizing Congregations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Cindy Redman was baptized, confirmed and married at Christ Lutheran Church in Catonsville, Md., and so were her children. So the reality of the 102-year-old church closing its doors is "just too sad to think about," said Redman. She and the other 137 members of Christ Lutheran...
ELCA Churchwide Organization Employee Missing in Colorado
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Authorities in Colorado are searching for James Nelson, an employee of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who was reported missing while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4656 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elcanews...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Announces New Churchwide Organization Design for 2011
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took action Oct. 8 to affirm the concept for a new design of the ELCA churchwide organization in 2011, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, in an Oct. 11 announcement to churchwide staff....
ELCA Church Council Commits to 'ELCA Malaria Campaign'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took action Oct. 8 to "focus the commitment of the ELCA to address malaria through a rebranded and prioritized" ELCA Malaria Campaign. It also called on church members to learn about malaria and other diseases intensified...
