ELCA Delegation Meets Three World Church Leaders in Geneva
GENEVA (ELCA) -- Declaring that "we need some dreams," the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, who recently began his new role as general secretary of the World Council of Churches, met with a delegation of clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) here Feb. 15. Tveit...
Two ELCA Congregations Become Partners in Mission
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Two urban congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are getting to know each other. One congregation gave the other money to help with finances, but the relationship is moving deeper than that. The money was a first step in...
ELCA Delegation, Roman Catholic Ecumenists, Discuss Future Vision
VATICAN CITY (ELCA) -- Since the early years of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the church has maintained a commitment to ecumenical dialogue and achieving full communion with other Christians. With full communion agreements with six other U.S.-based Protestant churches, the ELCA has developed three-year plans for implementing...
Lutherans Work to Tackle Hunger on Super Bowl Sunday
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran youth across the country huddled up more than 77,800 pounds of food and $378,900 in donations as of Feb. 12 in an effort to tackle hunger. Known as the "Souper Bowl of Caring," nearly 8,300 young members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined...
ELCA Gifts to Support Recovery Efforts in Haiti Exceed $4.6 Million
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Since the earthquake in Haiti one month ago, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received over 27,000 gifts totaling more than $4.2 million to support humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. According to ELCA Treasurer Christina Jackson-Skelton, the ELCA received an additional $320,000 in a matching...
ELCA Delegation, Pope Benedict XVI Meet, Exchange Greetings
VATICAN CITY (ELCA) -- Continuing dialogue between Lutherans and Catholics was a common theme expressed in an exchange of messages here between a delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Pope Benedict XVI. Speaking for the Lutherans, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president...
Members of Hessel Valley Lutheran OK after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For the first time in 10 years members of Hessel Valley Lutheran Church in Chandlers Valley, Pa., held worship this year in the church's sanctuary instead of the basement. That was unfortunate, said Vern Ekdahl, the congregation's president. He said the 35 worshipers in attendance on Feb....
World Orthodox Ecumenists Meet ELCA Delegation in Istanbul
ISTANBUL, Turkey (ELCA) -- A delegation of clergy and lay leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) stressed "the long view" in ecumenical dialogue, a topic of discussion with leaders of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate here Feb. 9. The Lutherans and Orthodox discussed the status of some of...
Lutherans Respond to Anti-Hunger Report, Rise in Emergency Need
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- The Feeding America network reported an increase in the number of clients who came to their emergency food program sites, according to a recent "Hunger in America 2010" study. The network is a nationwide group of food pantries, community kitchens and shelters. Sponsors of these groups are...
World Orthodox Leader Tells ELCA Delegation Dialogue Will Continue
*** Please note corrected text in this story, replacing references to Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue in the United States with the international Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue through the Lutheran World Federation. John R. Brooks Director, ELCA News Service Chicago ISTANBUL, Turkey (ELCA) -- His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, world Orthodox leader, said...
ELCA Delegation Visits Closed Orthodox Seminary in Turkey
HEYBELIADA ISLAND, Turkey (ELCA) -- They wait faithfully and hope. Two Orthodox leaders, Metropolitan Apostolos, abbot, and Father Dorotheos, maintain the Holy Monastery and Theological School at Halki, waiting for the day when students will be allowed to resume seminary studies here. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4441 For information contact: John Brooks, Director...
ELCA Ecumenical Delegation Visits Church of England, Anglican Communion
LONDON (ELCA) -- An official delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met with officials of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, discussing matters such as a proposed "Anglican Covenant," global Lutheran-Anglican relationships and a breakaway Anglican church in the United States. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4440 For information...
ELCA Youth Return to New Orleans in 2012
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will return to New Orleans in 2012. Returning to a host city consecutively is unprecedented in the history of ELCA Youth Gatherings, according to Heidi Hagstrom, director for youth gatherings, ELCA Vocation and Education. The gathering...
Lutherans, Others Advocate on Migration Issues at Ecumenical Advocacy Days
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- More than 700 people of faith from across the country are expected to discuss migration issues and visit Capitol Hill for the eighth annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice Conference, March 19-22. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4435 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org...
ELCA Presiding Bishop, Delegation Meet Archbishop of Canterbury
LONDON (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson met with Dr. Rowan D. Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in a private hour-long meeting Feb. 4 at Lambeth Palace here. After the meeting Hanson said the two discussed strengthening Anglican-Lutheran relationships, challenges each leader faces within his own communions, the proposed "Anglican...
Lutherans in Great Britain Represent Variety of European, African Cultures
LONDON (ELCA) -- The Rev. Timothy Dearhamer describes the congregation he serves here "as an example of what the Lutheran Church aspires to be -- multicultural and multiracial." Dearhamer, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastor from Oklahoma, said regular worshipers at St. Anne's Lutheran Church include more than...
ELCA Synod Bishop H. Julian Gordy to Preach on 'Day 1,' Feb. 14
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. Julian Gordy, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Southeastern Synod, Atlanta, will preach Feb. 14 on "Day 1," a nationally broadcast radio program. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4436 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews
Funeral for Ben Larson, ELCA Seminarian, to be Held Feb. 6
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A service of "song and prayer" for Benjamin Judd Larson will be held Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa. Immediately following the service Larson, 25, will be buried in Phelps Cemetery, Decorah. Larson, a seminary student of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in...
ELCA Joins in Lutheran Malaria Initiative Startup in Southern Africa
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans in southern Africa and staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 11-15, to plan efforts to help prevent and control malaria, and to discuss building organizational capacity to meet the challenge. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4432 Information about the Lutheran Malaria...
Robert S. Wilch, Former Lutheran President, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert S. Wilch, president of the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Synod of the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA), died Jan. 29 of complications from heart surgery. He was 86. The LCA is a predecessor church body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4433...
