RUSSELL L. HORN, Bremerton, Wash., and DOUGLAS R. WILLIAMS, Santa Rosa, Calif., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  PAUL E. LARSEN, Tomball, Texas, and LORI A. MARSH, Georgetown, Texas, have applied…

By David L. Mahsman The names of the nominees who will be on the ballot for Synod president and first vice president at this summer’s Synod convention were announced March 22 by Synod Secretary Raymond Hartwig. The nominees for Synod president…

Pastors are being asked to share with Lutheran Services in America (LSA) their experiences with problems they have had over the last year getting information that allows them to visit members and others in hospitals or nursing homes.  Lisa Schiller…

Wheat Ridge Ministries of Itasca, Ill., is calling for nominations of high-school-age youth who are members of Synod congregations for its youth Health and Hope Award. Adult leaders (pastors, youth counselors and others) may nominate teenagers “who are living a lifestyle…

Barbara A. Below began work March 1 as LCMS World Relief and Human Care’s (WR/HC) director of social ministry organizations (SMOs).  That position has been vacant since Rev. Carl Toelke retired from it in October 2002. A licensed clinical social…

Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, is sponsoring in June two educational conferences for parish nurses, congregational health workers and those interested in starting health ministries: The 12th annual Concordia Conference for Parish Nurse and Congregational Health Ministries is scheduled for June…

The Children’s Christian Concern Society (CCCS), an LCMS recognized service organization based at the Kansas District office, is seeking volunteers to join “Biking Across Kansas,” a fund-raising event June 5-12 in northern Kansas. Volunteers can sign up for one day…

The Synod’s Commission on Worship has developed a 32-page booklet to help pastors, musicians and others involved in worship planning assess the “acceptability” of worship material from non-LCMS sources. Titled “Text, Music, Context,” the new resource is the commission’s response to…

The Center for U.S. Missions is distributing a new resource for anyone interested in mission work in the United States.  “Mission Moments” is a free newsletter that is e-mailed every two weeks to subscribers. The Center, based in Irvine, Calif.,…

Three Web sites developed by Lutheran Hour Ministries offer Lenten resources for adults and children: Information about the meaning of Lent and Easter, fasting, and Easter symbols such as eggs and rabbits, is available at www.hehasrisen.net. Daily devotions are posted…

Concordia Publishing House is offering its leatherbound Concordia Self-Study Bibles at a 25 percent discount through July 31. The NIV Bibles include Lutheran interpretive notes, a concordance and cross references, and are available in leather or bonded leather, black or…

Sourcebook 2004, a publication of the Stained Glass Association of America, is available free to architects, congregations, liturgical consultants and other professionals active in fields that commission, maintain or work with stained glass. The Sourcebook features articles about stained glass,…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. The Synod’s Board of Directors says in its new online “Board Briefs VI” that recent letters from attorneys who disagree with the outside legal opinions that the Board commissioned last year “have raised many questions publicly…

Dr. Robert W. (Bob) Hirsch, a former president of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Int’l LLL) and former member of the Synod’s Board of Directors, died of complications from an infection Feb. 24 at a Yankton, S.D., nursing home.  A…

Rev. Thomas K. (Tom) Ries of Burnsville, Minn., has accepted the presidency of the LCMS Foundation, with plans to join the staff at the Synod’s International Center in St. Louis on Apri1 1. Ries, 49, has been vice president for…

Registration begins in mid-March for the 87th annual International Lutheran Laymen’s League convention, July 22-25 in Rapid City, S.D.  Theme of the gathering is “Seek His Face,” based on Psalm 105:4. Designed for Christian families of all ages, this year’s…