Lutheran Bishop Raises Food Security Concerns with USDA Secretary
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- On the heels of a federal report showing a significant increase in hunger in the United States, a synod bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met Nov. 23 with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack. The Rev. Michael L. Burk, bishop, ELCA Southeastern Iowa...
Nine ELCA Synod Bishops Preparing for Middle East Visit
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Nine synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are preparing to visit Israel and the West Bank Nov. 28-Dec. 8, as part of the ELCA Conference of Bishops' initiative to support a churchwide strategy for engagement in the region. The trip, Bishops' Academy II,...
Lutherans to Observe World AIDS Day Dec. 1
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- Every nine and a half minutes a person in the United States becomes infected with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Globally, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates the number of people infected with the virus is 33 million. On...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Sends Open Letter to Members, Announces Online Forum
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Declaring that "God's mission is serious work that calls for serious commitment," the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) spelled out priorities for the ELCA churchwide organization in an open letter to members released Nov. 19. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson also invited...
ELCA Council Approves Charter, Hears Secretary's Report, Elects Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a charter for a comprehensive study of the ELCA and its future mission. A task force will conduct the study with the goal of bringing a report with recommendations to the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly...
U.S. Hunger Report Contains Troubling Information, Say ELCA Hunger Leaders
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As people throughout the United States prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report this week that shows a significant increase in hunger in U.S. households. That's not surprising, said Nancy D. Arnison, director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA)...
Reinstatement Process Revision Adopted by ELCA Church Council
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a revision to the reinstatement process for former clergy and other professional leaders who were removed from the church's official rosters for disciplinary reasons or resigned in lieu of discipline -- solely because they were...
ELCA Churchwide Budget Reduced, Staff Positions Eliminated
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted Nov. 15 to reduce the 2010 churchwide current fund spending authorization by nearly $7.7 million, 10 percent less than the budget authorized by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The council's action eliminated 40.75 full-time equivalent positions,...
ELCA Council Approves Social Policy Resolution on Immigration
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to a need for specific policy language to address current immigration matters, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a social policy resolution on immigration Nov. 14. The resolution, "Toward Compassionate, Just and Wise Immigration Reform," addresses family and workplace...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Leadership, Financial Issues
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a wide-ranging report Nov. 13 to the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop called for "strong leadership" from council members. At the same time, he addressed a proposed 10 percent cut in the churchwide...
Concordia College Grad Roxana Saberi to Receive 2010 NCAA 'Award of Valor'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will honor journalist Roxana Saberi, graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., with its 2010 Award of Valor. Concordia is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The award is presented to current or former...
Benjamin Sasse Named President of Midland Lutheran College
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of trustees at Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Neb., elected Dr. Benjamin Sasse the 14th president of the 126- year-old liberal arts college. Midland is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Dr. Stephen Fritz has served as Midland's...
Lutheran, Kathryn Lohre Elected Next President of NCC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The governing board of the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) elected Kathryn M. Lohre on Nov. 10 to become the 26th president of the NCC in 2013. Lohre is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and assistant director of the Pluralism Project...
Lutherans, Others Urge Congress and White House to Address Climate Change
WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- In a public demonstration of support for climate change legislation, faith leaders gathered Nov. 5 here on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined several other religious organizations in co-sponsoring the event which included a ceremony of prayer, music and...
Lutherans Listen, Console and Pray in Response to Fort Hood Tragedy
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Nurturing the living, caring for the wounded and honoring the dead is the work of the many military chaplains responding to this week's deadly shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, said Col. Michael T. Lembke of III Corps. Lembke is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) chaplain...
ELCA Leaders Among Those Helping at Fort Hood
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are among those helping in the aftermath of a tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas. An Army psychiatrist allegedly shot and killed 13 people and injured another 30 people Nov. 5 on the grounds of the country's largest military...
ELCA saves $295,000 on health contributions in 2009
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service* Across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), 15 synods, seminaries and churchwide ministries saved collectively more than $295,000 this year on ELCA health benefit contribution payments, according to a news release from the ELCA Board of Pensions. The savings came from a 2...
ELCA Presiding Bishop Welcomes Travel Policy Change for People with HIV
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined others in welcoming a decision by U.S. President Barack Obama to remove entry restrictions into the United States for people who are HIV-positive. "Ending discriminatory policies and confronting stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV...
ELCA's 'Grace Matters' Programs Now Available Through Odyssey Networks
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Selected programs of "Grace Matters," the radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), are being made available in downloadable and podcast forms at the Web site for Odyssey Networks. Earlier this year ELCA Communication Services stopped production of Grace Matters because of budget reductions....
Lutherans Mourn Deaths of Dickinson State University Students
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Many North Dakota Lutherans have joined people throughout the country in mourning the drowning deaths of three students at Dickinson (N.D.) State University, the result of a tragic accident, law enforcement officials said. The bodies of the students -- Ashley Neufeld, Kyrstin Gemar and Afton Williamson --...
