ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Leaders Call for Priority on Middle East Peace
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Declaring that they won't give in to cynicism or despair and that they are "people of hope," 31 U.S. Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, including the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), called for members of their communities to pray for...
Lutheran pastor, Joseph Ellwanger, receives Birmingham human rights award
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) bestowed on the Rev. Joseph W. Ellwanger, Milwaukee, the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award during the institute's 16th anniversary dinner on Nov. 14. Ellwanger, a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was cited...
ELCA Seminary Presidents, Deans Address Current Economic Challenges
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Presidents and deans of the eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) issued two separate statements regarding their seminaries' reactions to the current economic climate in the United States. The presidents asked ELCA members for "understanding, support and continuing strong commitment." Trying to keep...
Lutheran Church Leaders Discuss Cooperative Work in Disaster Response
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Committee on Lutheran Cooperation (CLC), consisting of leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), engaged in a discussion Nov. 4 about their collaborative work in responding to domestic disasters through Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). The discussion was part...
ELCA Conference of Bishops Agrees to HIV and AIDS Testing
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to the development of an HIV and AIDS strategy by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the ELCA Conference of Bishops agreed to the presence of health screeners at its March 5-10, 2009, meeting for the purpose of providing HIV and AIDS testing to all...
ELCA Synod's Former Treasurer Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Barry R. Herr, former treasurer of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was sentenced Nov. 21 in a federal court to 30 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $799,998 in restitution,...
'In God's Name,' Featuring ELCA Presiding Bishop, Now Available on DVD
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "In God's Name," a prime time television special featuring the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and president of the Lutheran World Federation, is now available on DVD. The 90-minute DVD includes bonus material. "As I have traveled throughout the ELCA...
ELCA's Wartburg Theological Seminary Restructures Positions, Programs
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- At its regular fall meeting Nov. 6-7, the board of Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, approved "a new strategic plan that involves the restructure of programs as well as faculty and staff positions," according to a seminary news release. The action comes during record growth in the...
ELCA Council Recommends 2009 Assembly Rules, Acts on other Topics
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) recommended rules of procedure to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, focusing discussion on votes related to social statements and recommendations from a task force report, both of which will be considered at the next assembly. The...
ELCA Takes Action to Address Food, Health Crisis in Zimbabwe
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The economic, political and social decline in Zimbabwe has taken a disastrous toll on the country's food supply and medical institutions, including four hospitals of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ). To help sustain the services of the hospitals, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)...
Lutherans Approach the Holiday Season with 'Good Gifts'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is offering consumers the opportunity for one-stop shopping this holiday season with exclusive gifts that not only support the mission and ministry of the church but that are designed to help change lives around the world and close to home....
Alton Zenker, Former Lutheran Bishop, Dies
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Alton Zenker, former bishop of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Nov. 12 at his home in Hot Springs Village, Ark. He was 75. A funeral service is planned for Nov. 19 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, (Flatville) Thomasboro,...
Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Continues 'Hope of Eternal Life' Theme
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue added to its current round of meetings on the topic of "Hope of Eternal Life" a new study on the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Oct. 10-14 session at St. Paul's College, Washington, D.C., was the sixth of Round XI in the...
ELCA's Grand View College Becomes Grand View University
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Trustees of Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa, voted Oct. 10 to change the institution's name to Grand View University when its first graduate program received final accreditation. The Master of Science in Innovative Leadership program was accredited Oct. 29 and Grand View became a university. Grand...
Winter 2008-2009 ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet now available
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service To equip the 4.7 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to help end hunger in the world, an ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet is now available. The packet contains a variety of resources to help Lutherans learn more about...
ELCA European American Lutheran Association Constituted
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Forty Lutherans of European descent met here Oct. 30-Nov. 1, approved a constitution and bylaws for a new European American Lutheran Association (EALA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and elected officers and a board for the new organization. "The European American Lutheran Association is...
ELCA, ELCIC Bishops Prepare for Middle East Visit January 6-13
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Fifty-nine of the 66 bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the ELCA secretary, and five of the six bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), Winnipeg, plus spouses and staff will visit the Middle East, Jan. 6-13, 2009. Participants will meet with...
ELCA Board of Pensions Told to 'Stay the Course'
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Board of Pensions trustees at their meeting here Oct. 30-Nov. 2 discussed both the current economic situation and health care issues. Regarding pension investments, John G. Kapanke, president, ELCA Board of Pensions, told the trustees, "It's very important to keep...
Lutherans examine human rights to seek a world free from violence
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service To envision a world free from violence, about 25 Lutherans and other Christians examined the origins and principles of the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" at an Oct. 30-31 consultation on human rights. The declaration was adopted Dec. 10, 1948, by the General...
Augsburg Fortress Publishers Announces Changes in Business Model
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Minneapolis, announced Nov. 7 significant changes in its business operations. The publisher will focus its ministry on its "two most important callings"-- group-use materials for congregations, such as faith formation and worship materials, and...
