Mounties killed March 3 include LCC leader's son

Peter Schiemann, 25, son of a Lutheran church leader in Canada, was one of four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers killed March 3 in a shootout with a suspect at his farm near Rochfort Bridge in northwest Alberta. Rev. Don…

President to appoint task force on structure, governance

In a March 1 letter to pastors of the Synod, LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick announced plans to appoint a “Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synodical Structure and Governance.”  The task force is to report its findings and recommendations to…

LCMS responds to ELCA sexuality report

Scriptural authority is the foundational issue in dealing with the blessing of same-sex unions and qualifications for the professional ministries, according to a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod response to the report of the Studies on Sexuality Task Force of the Evangelical…

LCMS relief workers safe after latest earthquake

LCMS relief workers helping Indonesians recover from the Dec. 26 tsunami say they are safe after another massive earthquake rocked the island nation March 28, but added that they may consider stepping up their timetable as a result of the…

Cochran: LCMS schools effective in outreach

Statistics for the 2004-05 academic year show that schools operated by LCMS congregations “continue to be effective in Christian outreach,” says William Cochran, director of School Ministry with the Synod’s Board for District and Congregational Services. Cochran made that observation in…

Seminaries offer tours to Germany, Greece

The Synod’s two seminaries are sponsoring group tours this year. Alumni are encouraged to accompany the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Chorus as it visits Luther and Bach sites in Germany May 21-31. The Chorus, led by Rev. Henry Gerike, will…

Homosexuality symposium sessions now on DVD

DVDs of presentations from the 15th Annual Theological Symposium are now available from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.  The symposium, “The Challenge of Homosexuality — The Church Responds,” was held last fall on the seminary campus. The six DVDs may be purchased…

Campus Mission `Confabulation` set for June

“Fan the Flame,” based on 2 Tim. 1:6-7, is the theme for the first LCMS Campus Mission “Confabulation,” to be held June 23-26 in Chicago. The event is designed to encourage and equip campus workers, lay volunteers, and college students…

Fort Wayne sem offers workshops for organists

This summer, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, will offer three five-day workshops for organists: A “Primer” course June 13-17 is a beginning workshop for organists who do not use pedals, use only one foot, or want to learn more about…

President of Haiti church dies

Rev. Israel Izidor, president of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti, died of meningitis March 20 in Les Cayes, Haiti. A funeral service for Izidor will be held Saturday, March 26, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Les Cayes. Izidor, 54,…

News in brief: `Reporter Digest`

For shorter versions of key Reporter stories, downloadable in PDF format and suitable for use in congregational newsletters, go to the online Reporter Digest at www.lcms.org/reporterdigest. This month’s Digest is scheduled to be posted by March 4. Posted March 4,…

Positions

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, invites applications for a permanent position as vice president for administrative services.  Applications will be accepted until April 8.  This person will serve as chief financial officer as a member of the executive staff, president’s cabinet,…

Leaders move toward disaster-response plan

Exactly one month after the South Asia tsunami hit, LCMS leaders took what LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick called a “first step” to move the church to a new level of collaboration and cooperation to meet physical and spiritual needs in…

Calls for nominations: congregational services

The Board for District and Congregational Services (DCS) is seeking nominations for executive director.  The executive director establishes a vision, formulates strategies, and implements plans so that DCS ministry areas (children, family, outreach, leadership, school, stewardship, youth), together with districts,…

CPH Spring catalog features new Easter, youth products

Products for Easter, children and teens, parents, educators, and pastors are among more than 100 new and previously released items featured in Concordia Publishing House’s New Releases Spring 2005 catalog. New books include: Things I See at Easter, by Julie Stiegemeyer…

Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung

As I write this, I am teaching at China Lutheran Seminary in Hsinchu, Taiwan.  After I addressed members of a mission society here the other day, I was asked a thoughtful question.  I thought I’d report the question and also,…