Lutheran Rural Ministry Conference Focuses on 'Renewable Energy' March 1-3
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Finding renewable energy through shared ministries is the topic of the 2009 Rural Ministry Conference March 1-3 in Dubuque, Iowa. Held annually, the conference examines issues and themes relevant to the well-being of rural communities and the ministries of rural churches. "By shared ministries I mean any...
Lutheran Memorials Celebrate the Life of Former President Robert Marshall
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Memorials have been planned to celebrate the life of the Rev. Robert J. Marshall, biblical scholar and president of the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA), who died Dec. 22 in Allentown, Pa. He was 90. A funeral was held Jan. 3 in Burlington, Iowa. In 1962...
Lutherans Team-Up for 'Souper Bowl of Caring'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As football fans watched the Pittsburgh Steelers seal a victory Feb. 1 in the NFL's "Super Bowl" game, faith groups also triumphed that day in a championship of their own -- the "Souper Bowl of Caring," a national effort that raises millions of dollars for hunger-fighting organizations....
ELCA, Episcopal Church Top Leaders Ask Israel about Bishops' Denied Visit
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The top leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church sent a letter to Israel's ambassador to the United States expressing "grave concern" and requesting help to determine why a Lutheran bishop and an Episcopal bishop were denied entry to Gaza Feb....
Lutheran, Anglican Bishops Denied Entry to Gaza
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Munib A. Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), and the Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani, Anglican bishop of Jerusalem, were denied entry to Gaza Feb. 4, according to a news release from the ELCJHL. The bishops were traveling...
Ice Storm a Test of Faith, Kentucky Lutherans Say
CHICAGO (ELCA) - John Rogers of Paducah is without electricity, heat and hot water more than a week after the deadly Jan. 27 ice storm that struck Kentucky. "There was so much ice that you could hear the trees crack," he said of the storm. "It sounded like shotgun blasts."...
Lutheran Feminist Theologies a Topic Between Church, Academy
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran feminist theologians have been writing and working in Lutheran and non-Lutheran institutions for a long time, according to Dr. Mary Streufert. But feminist theology is not a conversation topic that happens often between church and academy despite decades of formal and informal work in the field,...
Ethiopian Church Honors ELCA Pastor, Teacher and Bible Translator
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (ELCA) -- For more than 40 years the Rev. Loren F. Bliese, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), worked in Ethiopia -- planting churches, helping to educate future pastors and overseeing the translation of the Bible into more than 20 Ethiopian languages. His...
Economic Downturn Impacts Lutheran Social Ministry Organizations
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A Lutheran social service agency in Florida is operating on a deficit for the first time in 10 years. A social ministry organization in California reported that many families in the Santa Clarita Valley are sleeping in their cars. In Iowa philanthropy is being hurt, not only...
'Hearing the Word' Topic for Expanded ELCA Lecture Series
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "Hearing the Word: Lutheran Perspectives on Biblical Interpretation" is the theme for the 2009 Hein-Fry Lecture Series of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Usually the ELCA's eight seminaries host two or three speakers in the series each year, but this series will expand to five...
Robert Schaefer Named ELCA Executive for Worship and Liturgical Resources
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert G. Schaefer will become executive for worship and liturgical resources of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) effective March 1. Since 2004 Schaefer has been assistant to the bishop of the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod, based in Tampa, Fla. He succeeds the Rev. Michael...
ELCA Task Force Concludes Work on Social Statement, Ministry Standards
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Task Force for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Studies on Sexuality finalized its work on a proposed social statement on human sexuality, and it finalized a report with recommendations on ministry standards regarding possible changes to policies that preclude pastors in committed same-sex relationships...
ELCA Presiding Bishop, Others Urge Diplomacy to Maintain Gaza Cease-fire
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a Jan. 27 letter to U.S. President Barack H. Obama, U.S. Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders called for "urgent U.S. diplomacy" in cooperation with Egypt and others to ensure that an effective and sustainable cease-fire is maintained in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. The Rev. Mark...
Journal of Lutheran Ethics focuses on human rights, genetics
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service The February 2009 issue of the Journal of Lutheran Ethics (JLE) features discussion papers on the topic of human rights. "Violations of human rights are often violent, so advocating for and supporting human rights vigorously is one important way to help bring about...
Punxsutawney Lutherans Welcome Groundhog Day Visitors
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For years on Feb. 2, Bud Dunkel put on a tuxedo and top hat, headed to the outskirts of his Pennsylvania hamlet, then hoisted its most famous resident into the air for spectators waiting to hear a weather prediction. Dunkel lives in Punxsutawney, home of Phil, the...
Women of the ELCA recommends 'Radical Welcome'
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service Hospitality is key to growing any organization, but Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is looking beyond hospitality to providing a "Radical Welcome." Women of the ELCA participants are discussing through May online and in person "Radical Welcome: Embracing God, The...
Lutheran school receives $1.25 million gift toward health center
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service Shelly Ellig, a member of Olivet Lutheran Church, Fargo, N.D., donated $1.25 million dollars to the Centennial Campaign of Oak Grove Lutheran School, Fargo. Ellig owns Stop-N-Go convenience stores in 27 locations from Carrington, N.D., to Alexandria, Minn. He also owns Frank McKone Cigars....
ELCA, ELCIC Bishops Report on 2009 Bishops' Academy
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) released "Report and Reflections from the Bishops' Academy Visit to the Holy Land," an account of their recent visit to the Middle East. The Jan. 22 report was signed by the...
ELCA Joins Celebration of Ethiopian Church's 50th Anniversary
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (ELCA) -- Representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined leaders of several churches and church organizations from Africa, Europe and North America here Jan. 17-18 for the "Golden Jubilee" celebration of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). In 2008 the growing 5-million member...
Ruth Clokey, Producer of ELCA's Davey and Goliath, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Ruth Parkander Clokey Goodell, producer of the animated television series, "Davey and Goliath," died Dec. 28, 2008, from Alzheimer's disease. She was 85. A memorial service was held Jan. 7. Clokey was also known as Ruth Clokey Goodell and Ruth Clokey. She was given story editor credit...
