Commentary: Helping church workers caught in `economic pandemic`

By Kim Marxhausen A teacher gets up at 4 o’clock every morning to deliver newspapers.  Another fixes her family supper and then heads for the local grocery store to put in five hours of work after her school day.  A…

Sign up for hymnal workshops

Registration is open for workshops to introduce the Synod’s new hymnal, Lutheran Service Book (LSB), and Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is taking preorders for the new resource. To register for a workshop at one of 280 sites in the United…

LFL stresses cherishing children, biblical truth

Speakers and participants at this year’s Lutherans For Life (LFL) national conference, with the theme of “Cherish the Children,” stressed the importance of biblical truths, not only in pro-life issues, but in all aspects of life. More than 200 Lutherans from…

Zeuch accepts call as Canada sem president

Dr. Manfred Zeuch of Brazil has accepted a call to serve as president of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  He will begin work in the post as soon as immigration documents are processed, which could take several months.…

Lutherans in Black ministry celebrate`Crossing Over`

By Paula Schlueter Ross SELMA, Ala. — “Crossing Over” — from bondage to freedom, from sin to salvation, from death to everlasting life — was the theme as some 1,000 people gathered for the 19th Black Ministry Family Convocation, held…

Hoesman re-elected to fourth term in Michigan

Delegates to the 98th convention of the Synod’s Michigan District re-elected Dr. C. William Hoesman to his fourth term as president.  Hoesman was elected on the first ballot at the convention, held June 25-28 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Also elected were…

Reps at AALC-LCMS talks recommend fellowship

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…

Concordia, River Forest, adds `Chicago` to name

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…

LWR offers `study visits` to Nicaragua, Holy Land

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 evacuated from Israel

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…

Central Illinois re-elects Bueltmann

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.…

Schultz re-elected in Southern District

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.…

David Rittmann, Shanghai school headmaster, dies

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,…

LCMS housing corporation begins first fiscal year

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…

`Acts` ministry stresses outreach through kindness

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…

Pacific Southwest re-elects Stoterau president

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…