Neumark Tells Women of the ELCA that Bold Sisters Change the World
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah may not be household names, but the Rev. Heidi B. Neumark, Trinity of Manhattan Lutheran Church, New York, related their story from the biblical book of Numbers and how they changed ancient tradition in a way that is still...
Women of the ELCA Hosts 23 Workshops for Gathering Participants
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- Advocacy, antiracism, the Bible, discipleship, health and wholeness, international guests, liturgy, money, neighbors' beliefs, participation, politics, prayer, sabbath, sacred space, self-expression, singing, social statements, witnessing and young adults were workshop topics that drew the attention of more than 2,000 participants of Women of the Evangelical...
Women of the ELCA Tackles Community, Church, Global Issues
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- A hearing and three briefings offered participants of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) opportunities for education and conversation July 10 between their 2008 convention and gathering. The hearing was related to the ELCA's draft social statement on human sexuality. The briefings...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Thanks Women of the ELCA for Church Leadership
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- In a wide-ranging presentation July 10 the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) thanked Women of the ELCA participants for the "countless ways" in which they are leading the church, and he commented on topics such as biblical literacy, evangelism and...
Chittister Tells Women of the ELCA to Boldly Challenge War, Peace Processes
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- Women of faith have a special calling to restore religion's principles of nonviolence, Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B., told more than 2,000 women July 11 in the keynote of the Seventh Triennial Gathering of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Her address on...
Women of the ELCA Elects Vice President, Other Officers, Board Members
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- Charlene Spillman, Kyle, Texas, was elected July 9 to a three-year term as vice president of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The organization in convention elected Betty Brandt, Grand Rapids, Minn., secretary; Anjanette B. Hodges, Christiansburg, Va., treasurer; and 17 other...
Women of the ELCA Delegates Adopt Proposals on Environmental Matters
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) - At a July 9 session of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), delegates adopted by a vote of 356-16 resolutions that focused on topics such as minimizing or eliminating the use of plastics, reducing the consumption of bottled water and raising awareness...
Women of the ELCA Elects Beth Wrenn President for 2008-2011
SALT LAKE CITY (ELCA) -- Voting delegates attending the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Triennial Convention here elected Beth G. Wrenn, Kill Devil Hills, N.C., as the organization's president for the next three years. Wrenn, a member of Kure Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kure Beach, N.C.,...
Lutheran youth from Iowa, Tanzania to partner at parish rally
by Luke Tatge*, ELCA News Service The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Western Iowa Synod will send 21 of its youth to Tanzania July 21-Aug. 13 to visit with youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Southern Diocese, work on service projects and visit area institutions. The...
ELCA Presiding Bishop, Lutheran Leaders Write to Presidential Candidates
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Stating that Lutherans have a long history and significant experience related to health and human services, relief and development, and refugee protection and immigration, four Lutheran leaders wrote to the major political party candidates for U.S. President. In their letter the leaders, including the Rev. Mark S....
'All Hands On Deck' Needed for Flood Recovery in Midwest
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Recovery efforts in the flood-ravaged Midwest will require an "all hands on deck" approach, according to the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). Every program and project Lutherans have will be needed given the extent of flood damage there, he said. LDR is a...
LWF Calls for Peace, Justice, Prayer Amid Zimbabwe Runoff Election
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In anticipation of the June 27 runoff election in which Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe was re-elected, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council called for "urgent establishment of a peace building process in the country, incorporating all national actors, regional organizations and the international community." The council met...
Ullestad re-elected bishop of ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod
by Luke Tatge*, ELCA News Service The Rev. Steven L. Ullestad was re-elected June 28 to a six-year term as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northeastern Iowa Synod during the synod assembly in Cedar Falls, Iowa, June 27-29. The assembly was rescheduled from June 13-15 at...
Kucharek re-elected bishop of the ELCA Slovak Zion Synod
by Luke Tatge*, ELCA News Service The Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek was re-elected June 28 to a six-year term as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Slovak Zion Synod during the synod assembly in Union, N.J. Kucharek was re-elected on the second ballot for bishop with 48...
ELCA Northern Illinois Synod Workshops Encourage 'Green Living'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northern Illinois Synod (NIS) is offering workshops as part of its efforts with Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC), Oregon, Ill., to support the synod's Green Team and raise environmental awareness in its congregations. The mission of the Green Team is...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Climate Change, Other Global Concerns
ARUSHA, Tanzania (ELCA) -- The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) can help create a global movement to limit or halt environmental degradation, but it must have many partners and large numbers of people to be effective, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Environmental Concerns to LWF Council
ARUSHA, Tanzania (ELCA) -- It is "spiritual blasphemy" to abuse the environment, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In a June 25 address here to the LWF Council, Hanson called on LWF...
ELCA congregation receives $12,000 vocational discernment grant
by Luke Tatge*, ELCA News Service Mountain View Lutheran Church, Edgewood, Wash., a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was one of six Christian churches awarded "Cultures of Call" grants from the Fund for Theological Education (FTE), Atlanta. According to FTE, the grant "provides financial support for...
Book of Faith Resolutions Adopted at ELCA Synod Assemblies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Participants in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Book of Faith initiative met here June 24-25 to consult over directions for the initiative through 2012. According to its mission, the Book of Faith initiative "invites the whole church to become more fluent in the first language...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Visits Tanzania Hospital, University, Orphans' Center
IRINGA, Tanzania (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), returned here June 21-22 for the first time in 10 years and said much progress has been made in higher education and schools,...
