Worship, Bible Study Leaders for ELCA Churchwide Assembly Named
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Preachers, presiding ministers and Bible study leaders chosen for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ECLA) Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis this August come from diverse backgrounds. The preachers, presiders and Bible study leaders were chosen by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. The Rev. Jennifer...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Emphasizes Unity in Message to Church Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed "heartfelt commitment" to the unity of the ELCA and "deep confidence" that unity will not be lost because of decisions that will be made at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson...
ELCA Seminary Measuring Effect of McCormick Decision to 'Disengage'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) asked a special finance task force to assess the impact of a decision by the board of neighboring McCormick Theological Seminary. McCormick will initiate a process to "disengage" from a real estate arrangement with LSTC as early as June...
ELCA Pastor, Others Speak Out on Health Care Reform
WASHINGTON (ELCA) - During the Fourth of July congressional recess, a faith-based ad campaign will launch nationally to address the need for health care reform. The campaign includes airing radio ads featuring local pastors June 30 to July 4 in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska and North Carolina, as well as...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Leads Bible Study at ELCIC National Convention
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), led a Bible study at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's (ELCIC) Biennial National Convention June 27. The ELCIC is Canada's largest Lutheran denomination with 162,100 baptized members in 611 congregations. The...
ELCA Provides Funds to Support Humanitarian Efforts in Pakistan
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $75,000 in humanitarian relief June 26 to help meet the needs of people in northern Pakistan. In the past few weeks military and insurgent actions have driven an estimated 3.5 million people away from their homes in the Swat...
ELCA's St. Olaf College awarded for energy efficiency
by Carrie Draeger, ELCA News Service St. Olaf College was named Minnesota's second most energy efficient business by Xcel Energy. The public utility company recognized 10 companies and organizations for their efforts to conserve energy. St. Olaf, located in Northfield, Minn., is one of 28 colleges and universities of the...
Lutherans Study Genetics in Preparation for Social Statement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is studying genetics in preparation for a social statement. The church has developed nine social statements in its 21-year history. Genetics is a broad and new topic that can be very intimidating, according to Dr. Per Anderson, professor of religion,...
37,000 Lutherans Heading to ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Tens of thousands of teenagers will converge on New Orleans for the Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a triennial event for the high school-age members of the 4.7 million-member church, and to work alongside those who build, teach and live in the...
Kansas Lutherans Say Home is Where God's Heart is Visible
HOME, Kan. (ELCA) -- Jesus is present wherever two or three are gathered in his name, according to the Gospel of Matthew. Friedens Lutheran Church draws four. Members meet weekly for Saturday night worship. At a recent service they belted out "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and other...
ELCA Seminaries Cope With, Challenge Economic Climate
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As church support lagged in recent decades, seminaries relied increasingly on endowments and using investment income to support their operating funds. Many of those investments retreated in the past year. The eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), their governing boards, faculties and staffs...
ELCA Students Awarded National Leadership Development Fellowships
CHICAGO (ELCA)-- Sixteen undergraduate, graduate and seminary students of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were recognized by the Fund for Theological Education (FTE) as "2009 Fellows." The Fund, based in Atlanta, awarded more than $1.5 million in fellowships and program support to 163 students in the United States...
With world hunger on the rise, Lutherans set to respond, hunger leader says
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service According to a June report of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hunger is increasing. World hunger is predicted to reach "a historic high" in 2009 with more than 1.02 billion people experiencing hunger every day. That's 100 million people more...
ELCA plans Lent, Holy Week services retreats across country
by Carrie L. Draeger, ELCA News Service* Retreat-style events will take place this summer to give Lutheran pastors and lay leaders a fresh view of Holy Week services. They are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) "Worship at the Center 2009" events said Scott Weidler, associate director...
Lutherans Open their Church Doors to Immigrant Families
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For Howard Lamont being welcoming to the immigrant population is "simply part of the Christian message." "Congregations must develop a passion to reach out to strangers," said Lamont, a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Houston, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "Jesus...
ELCA to Engage in 50 Days of Prayer Leading to Churchwide Assembly
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has asked the church's 4.7 million members to pray and study Scripture for 50 days starting June 29, in preparation for the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The assembly is the ELCA's highest...
A Lutheran's Faith Remains Steadfast After Tragic Accident
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Diana Luscombe spent the past two years being angry with God. "God and I have a rapport where I can yell. And I feel like God says, 'Bring it on.'" About two years ago Luscombe and her husband Mark, along with their 3-week old son and 22-month...
Jon Anderson re-elected bishop of ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod
By Carrie L. Draeger, ELCA News Service* The Rev. Jon V. Anderson was elected June 12 to a second term as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Anderson was re-elected on the first ballot for bishop, receiving 488 of the 623 votes...
Lutherans raise awareness about health care issues
by Jodi Deike, ELCA News Service This summer the federal government is considering comprehensive reform of the U.S. health care system. "It is no exaggeration to say that this summer might be the best opportunity in a generation to achieve any sort of comprehensive health care reform," said Robert Francis,...
Extraordinary Faith, Ordinary Life -- A Lutheran Horseshoe Pitcher's Tale
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Terry Cuthbertson hoped to bring the 2009 world horseshoe pitching tournament to Kansas, home of the first such championship 100 years ago. By a five-vote margin, members of the National Horseshoe Pitching Association (NHPA) opted to hold the July 27-Aug. 8 competition in Springfield, Ill. Kansas was...
