Representatives of The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) have unanimously recommended that the two church bodies proceed toward altar and pulpit fellowship. Their recommendation came July 13-14 in St. Louis during the fourth…

While “Concordia University” will remain the legal name of Concordia University in River Forest, Ill., beginning Aug. 21 the university will be known publicly as “Concordia University Chicago.” The new moniker was adopted by the university’s board of regents after a…

Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Baltimore, is offering three “study visits” early next year that are designed to give participants a firsthand look at the relief and development organization’s overseas work: On LWR’s “Coffee Project Trip to Nicaragua,” Jan. 5-14, participants…

Nine Concordia University students from three U.S. campuses who were taking part in an archeological excavation in Israel have left the country because of rocket blasts in Tiberias — seven miles across the Sea of Galilee from where the students…

Delegates to the LCMS Central Illinois District’s 55th convention, July 9-11 in Springfield, Ill., re-elected Rev. David J. Bueltmann of Springfield to his fourth term as district president.  Bueltmann, 64, was re-elected on the first ballot. Also elected were: Rev. Donald F.…

Rev. Kurtis D. Schultz of Slidell, La., was re-elected to his second three-year term as president of the Synod’s Southern District during the district’s 71st convention, July 6-8 in Baton Rouge, La. Schultz, 53, was elected on the first ballot.…

Dr. David F. Rittmann, head of school at Concordia International School Shanghai and a pioneer in Lutheran international education, died of a heart attack July 4 in Camano Island, Wash.  Rittmann, 63, had recently been treated for heart problems in China,…

July 1 marks the start of the first fiscal year of operation for the LCMS National Housing Support Corporation (NHSC), the charitable and education organization established by the LCMS Board for Human Care Ministries to assist LCMS congregations, districts, social…

On the first ballot, delegates to the LCMS Pacific Southwest District convention, June 25-27 in Irvine, Calif., re-elected Dr. Larry Stoterau of Orange, Calif., to his third term as district president. Stoterau and other officers were installed during the convention. Elected…

Jeff Van Beaver has a suggestion for outreach-focused congregations: Try a “random act of kindness” this summer.  It will probably make people smile and will provide a witnessing opportunity to boot, he says. And, it doesn’t have to be a grand…