Delegates to the General Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church–Synod of France and Belgium, meeting May 21-23 in Paris, adopted a resolution commending The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod for its “love and enthusiasm” for missions, particularly the ambitious Ablaze! initiative, and…

Delegates to the national convention of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC), meeting June 7 in Nagercoil, India, elected Rev. S. Rajagambeeram as president. The election marks a new beginning for the IELC, according to Dr. Herbert Hoefer, area director…

Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of The Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, has written a book about his experiences as a Palestinian pastor living and working in a war zone. In Bethlehem Besieged, Raheb begins his story with the Israeli siege…

Pentecost 2000/Pentecost 2000+, LCMS World Mission’s initiative to encourage the start of 1,000 cross-cultural ministries in the United States, has met its goal. As of this writing, the P2K Web site at www.pentecost2000.com lists 1,008 new ministries, according to Director Marie Biesenthal. “What’s…

“Lectionary at Lunch,” a Web resource from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, that provides audio files to help pastors prepare sermons, offers a new discussion-group feature.  At www.csl.edu/lection.htm, pastors can hear seminary faculty members translating the Old Testament and Gospel lessons…

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is giving a $1,424,600 grant this year that will fund 18 projects of Synod boards, commissions and other national ministries. Amounts allocated from the grant range from $6,000 for meetings of Synod leaders who prioritized the…

The president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) praised President Bush last month for his “commitment to refugee resettlement” but voiced concern about the level of funding for refugees in the administration’s 2005 budget. LIRS President Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr.’s…

The Synod’s Board of Directors has released a new “Board Briefs” to address Synod President Gerald Kieschnick’s report to the Synod on certain board actions, to cite concerns about some convention resolutions, and to list what it calls the board’s…

A new “special report” on the national and international work of the Missouri Synod, its districts and congregations is being provided to more than 500,000 LCMS households through the June/July issue of The Lutheran Witness. “One Mission Ablaze!  To the Ends…

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is starting two new competitive-grant programs — the Charitable Giving Initiative and the Youth Leadership Initiative — and is calling for Lutheran institutions to apply for a total of $6.8 million in grants ranging from $5,000…

A new Synod youth-workers conference is more than a year off, but the registration fee is lowest for those who register for it at the LCMS Youth Gathering July 24-28. The first national Lutheran Youth Workers Conference, sponsored by LCMS District…

The convention and the board President Kieschnick’s official report to the Synod (June Reporter, p. 11), in my view, clearly establishes that actions of the Synod’s Board of Directors have plunged the Synod into a serious constitutional crisis.  Not only must…

The Board for Mission Services seeks applicants for the position of regional director, to lead the development of LCMS World Mission programs along the border with Mexico. The person in this position, who also serves as the executive director of Frontera…

Note: Reporter cannot accept notices about items offered for sale or that people wish to purchase.  Items described as “Wanted” or “Available” are sought or may be obtained for shipping costs only. Available Brass candle followers, 3/4 inches (14 total) and…

FRANCES CHILDERS, Southgate, Mich.; JO ANN DETERDING, Alton, Ill.; NANCY J. DURKOVIC, Santa Ana, Calif.; KEN HEITSHUSEN, Phoenix, Ariz.; JAMIE KNOWLES HALLET, San Pedro, Calif.; GAYLE JANZEN, Sabetha, Kan.; RONDA KRAUSKOPF, Orlando, Fla.; DEAN W. RAABE, Beatrice, Neb.; CARLYN ROTH,…