ELCA Advocacy Director Speaks to Reporters at Health Care Rally
WASHINGTON (ELCA) - The August recess of Congress had a volatile atmosphere surrounding the health care debate, according to the Rev. Andrew Genszler, director of advocacy, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Washington Office, in response to a question from a Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) News reporter. "All people should...
Service of Reconciliation Marks ELCA Decisions on Same-Gender Relationships
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A Saturday afternoon "Service of Reconciliation" drew about 150 people to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Charlotte, N.C. The special Sept. 12 worship brought together those who welcomed and those who were troubled by recent decisions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Voting members at the...
Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society tops '2009 AAHSA Ziegler' list
By Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society ranks first as the largest not-for-profit senior living organization in the United States, according to the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) and Ziegler Senior Living Finance. Based in Sioux Falls, S.D., the...
Lutherans join others around the world to pray for peace Sept. 21
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will pray for peace Sept. 21, 2009, as part of the "International Day of Prayer for Peace." The day is an opportunity for the 4.6-million-member denomination "to pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in...
Lutherans' Creativity Builds Up 'Stand With Africa,' Campaign to Close
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Kent Terry lives a life of high adventure. Having climbed 36 mountains, the 62-year-old ponders faith in his voyages and enjoys writing about it. In his collection of stories, "Adventures in Faith, Faith in Adventures," Terry describes his experiences with skydiving, cross-country skiing, ice climbing and more,...
Lutheran CORE Plans Next Steps, Intends to be 'Free-Standing' Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Saying the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has "fallen into heresy," because of actions taken at last month's churchwide assembly, the chair of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform) said the organization intends to be a "free-standing synod" which will carry out ministries apart from the ELCA....
Lutheran Pastor Sees People Returning to Church Following Assembly Actions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling has been receiving letters and stories of Lutherans returning to church after many years away, given actions taken at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in August. "Even my own partner's sister's family intends to return...
ELCA Presiding Bishop: 'What Good News We Have to Share'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) should continue to discuss questions about human sexuality, and also talk about how their congregations can grow and how each person can carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their daily lives. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson,...
Lutheran Pastor, Editor Says 'Take A Breath' After Assembly
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A member of Peace Lutheran Church, Grass Valley, Calif., told his pastor a Finnish saying that roughly translates: "Walk slowly, and drink ice water." The adage is recalled at times when it is more important to stop and think than it is to react. Decisions the Evangelical...
Lutherans Keep Watch on Fires in California
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans in southern California continue to monitor the Station Fire in Los Angeles County, which began Aug. 26. According to Tempie D. Beaman, the fire may not be contained until Sept. 15. Beaman is Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) coordinator, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Los Angeles....
Lutherans Support Relief Efforts in Typhoon-Ravaged Taiwan
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Typhoon Morakot, which struck Taiwan Aug. 7-9, was the worst typhoon to strike the island in 50 years. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent a total of $25,000 Sept. 1 to support the recovery plans of Lutheran companions there. To date more than 540 people...
ELCA Member, Pastors: Church's Mission Is Bigger Than One Issue
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lyn Jerde said she thought about Mr. Kirk's 7th grade class as she read about discussions on sexuality and ministry polices during last month's churchwide assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Minneapolis. Jerde, a writer and member of Lakeview Lutheran Church, an 800-...
2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Addresses Variety of Topics
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 11th Biennial Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted on a variety of topics including adoption of a full communion relationship with the United Methodist Church, funding for a churchwide HIV and AIDS strategy, development of a Lutheran Malaria Initiative, a social...
Lutheran College Fairs set for August, September
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service The Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) has scheduled several College Fairs for Fall 2009 with the promise of more locations coming soon. August 30 -- St. Luke Lutheran Church, Middleton (Madison), Wis. 30 -- Lake Country Lutheran High School, Hartland, Wis. 31...
ELCA Synod Bishops, Voting Members Respond to Assembly Actions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Most of the 65 synodical bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) want leaders, congregations and pastors to stay in conversation following the adoption of a social statement on human sexuality and the opening of the ELCA's ministry to people in committed same-gender relationships. Many...
ELCA Churchwide Organization Begins Revising Its Ministry Policies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) directed that ministry policies be revised to eliminate prohibitions against partnered gay and lesbian members serving as lay and ordained leaders of the church. When the policy documents have been revised, congregations will have the...
ELCA Shares Significant Actions with Ecumenical, Global Partners
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is sharing some significant actions taken at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly with its ecumenical and global partners. Two significant actions include the adoption of the ELCA's 10th social statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust," and the modification of ministry...
ELCA Assembly Elects Council, Committee, Board Members
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected lay leaders and clergy to serve on the ELCA Church Council, churchwide committees and boards. The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 17-23 at the...
Lutheran World Leader Says Body of Christ 'Not Ours to Dismember'
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Geneva, recalled on Aug. 22 that The Third LWF Assembly met in Minneapolis 52 years earlier to the day under the theme "Christ Frees and Unites." Noko applied that theme to the 2009 Church Assembly...
ELCA Assembly Leader Asks Members to Respect Each Other, Allow Time
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- In final comments to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, pledged to the voting members "to speak well of you and of this church, and I ask you to do the same." The...
