Hollywood Movie 'Get Low' Features ELCA Pastor's Extended Family
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Elizabeth C. Birkholz's grandfather loved to tell the story about Felix "Bush" Breazeale, a reclusive man from Cave Creek, Tenn., who threw himself a funeral party -- while still alive -- in 1938, so he could hear what people would say about him. Birkholz's grandfather,...
Lutheran World Federation President Pleads for Unity Despite Differences
STUTTGART, Germany (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), appealed to delegates at the LWF assembly here to hold together and avoid splits in the face of differences over issues of sexuality,...
Lutherans Take Historic Step in Asking for Forgiveness from Mennonites
STUTTGART, Germany (ELCA) -- In what the Rev. Mark S. Hanson described as possibly "the most significant legacy this assembly will leave," the Eleventh Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) here took the historic step of asking the Mennonites for forgiveness for past persecutions, according to a news release...
Lutheran World Federation Meets In 'Confident Hope,' Says President
STUTTGART, Germany (ELCA) -- Lutherans are meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, for their international assembly at a time when "the world is in pain," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to a July...
ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod to Receive Seven Pastors by 'Rite of Reception'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is celebrating a "Rite of Reception" service for seven pastors on July 25 at St. Marks Lutheran Church, San Francisco. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4588 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews
Lutheran World Federation Assembly Focused on Alleviating Hunger
STUTTGART, Germany (ELCA) - Saying that "hunger is not God's fault, it's our fault," the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, introduced the theme of the LWF's Eleventh Assembly, "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread,"...
Robert Vogel Appointed Interim President at Texas Lutheran University
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert L. Vogel, Denver, will serve as interim president of Texas Lutheran University (TLU), Seguin, starting July 26. The chair of TLU's Board of Regents appointed Vogel, according to a news release from the university. TLU is one of 27 colleges and universities of the...
LCMS Convention Requests 'Thorough Response' to ELCA Social Statement
HOUSTON (ELCA) - In the final hours of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) convention here, delegates requested "a thorough response" to the 2009 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4585 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter:...
Lutherans Remind New Orleanians that 'They are not Forgotten'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The two largest Lutheran denominations in the United States are committed to helping rebuild the U.S. Gulf Coast following the 2005 hurricane season, which included Hurricane Katrina. Although two separate church bodies, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) are fixed...
ELCA, United Methodist Church Embark on New Relationship
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A joint commission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The United Methodist Church (UMC) held its inaugural meeting here July 15. The commission is charged with assisting the two mainline denominations in fostering their new full communion relationship. This is the first such relationship...
LCMS Convention Votes to Continue Cooperative Work with ELCA
HOUSTON (ELCA) - Delegates to the national convention here of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) voted overwhelmingly July 15 to continue cooperative work with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) "with theological integrity," and asked that its leaders assess and report on the current state of cooperation in one...
Lutherans to Meet in Germany July 20-27 for LWF Eleventh Assembly
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In about a week's time, Lutherans from around the world will meet in Stuttgart, Germany, for the Eleventh Assembly of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF). "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread" is the theme of the July 20-27 event hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wuerttemberg,...
Marj Leegard, Lutheran Woman Today Columnist, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Beloved author, columnist and speaker Marjorie "Marj" L. Leegard, Detroit Lakes, Minn., died July 12 after a long history of heart disease. She was 89. Most notably Leegard was a columnist for Lutheran Woman Today, the magazine of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)....
ELCA's Dana College Suspends Operations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Dana College Board of Regents voted July 12 to suspend operations effective immediately. While the suspension secures Dana's accreditation, allowing students enrolled in summer courses and internships to receive academic credit for their work, the college, located in Blair, Neb., will not open for the 2010-2011...
LCMS Convention Responds to 2009 ELCA Human Sexuality Decisions
HOUSTON (ELCA) -- The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Convention adopted two resolutions July 13 related to the sexuality actions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). One resolution commended earlier responses to the ELCAâ€TMs actions and the other offered support to "confessional Lutheranism at...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Says Time for Immigration Reform is Now
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The time has come for immigration reform in the United States, according to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Although issues surrounding immigration are "complex and not easily resolved," the biblical witness for reform is clear, Hanson wrote...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Offers Best Wishes to New LCMS President-Elect
HOUSTON (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), offered best wishes to the Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, in a statement Hanson issued after Harrison was elected president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), at the Synod's 64th Regular Convention here....
Three ELCA Members Perish in Oklahoma Plane Crash
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Three members of Fellowship Lutheran Church, Tulsa, Okla., died in a plane crash July 11 near Gundy's Airport in Owasso, Okla. Fellowship is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4574 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter:...
Juan Cobrda, Former Bishop of ELCA Slovak Zion Synod, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Juan Cobrda, former bishop of the Slovak Zion Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died July 1 after an illness. Cobrda, 79, was also a former bishop of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (UELC) in Argentina. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4573 For information contact: John...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Greets New Roman Catholic Christian Unity Leader
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), extended congratulations and best wishes to the newly appointed president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Bishop Kurt Koch of Switzerland. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4572 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773)...
