LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick is among 43 U.S. religious leaders who have signed an open letter calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Declaring support for the…

Military chaplaincies received attention from leaders of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), meeting as the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation (CLC) on April 6 at the ELCA offices in Chicago. Reporting on behalf of both…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. Rev. Carlos Hernandez, director of Districts and Congregations with LCMS World Relief/Human Care, says he often first learns about “the steady stream of disasters that have been occurring in recent months” from TV news coverage while at…

By Kim Krull In a country with nearly one million AIDS orphans, the opening of a new Lutheran orphanage for 24 Kenyan boys may sound small. But it was a big day for these youngsters who once lived in a…

The Synod’s Commission on Worship and Concordia Publishing House (CPH) in late April mailed a comprehensive 40-page booklet about Lutheran Service Book and its companion editions to all LCMS and Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) congregations and others. This is the first…

As Lutherans and Roman Catholics continued to dialogue around the theme of “The Hope of Eternal Life,” LCMS participants described the meetings as thorough and careful ways to listen to one another. “It’s invaluable because we talk to one another,…

Lutheran congregations, schools, and organizations have until Sept. 15 to apply for a total of $5.5 million that the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation will give in its Charitable Gifting Initiative grant program for 2006. The initiative is a “a…

Lutherans For Life’s (LFL) annual national conference moves from fall to summer this year — July 14-16 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa — to make it easier for whole families to attend. Registration is open now, by mail or online (click here), where…

David L. Strand in April accepted the LCMS Board for Communication Services’ (BCS) appointment as its full-time executive director. Vicki Biggs and Joe Isenhower Jr. also accepted the board’s appointments as manager of Public Affairs/Media Relations and managing editor-Reporter, respectively…

By Paula Schlueter Ross Dr. Robert Roegner, executive director of LCMS World Mission, still remembers how bad he felt in December 2002, when 28 overseas missionary “unit,” or family, positions were eliminated because of dwindling funds. Roegner called the missionaries individually to…

Dr. Alfred L. Fremder, professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, died April 19.  He was 86. A funeral service was held April 25 at Tree of Life Lutheran Church in Garland, Texas. Fremder served as professor emeritus at the seminary from…

Here’s a transcript of Astronaut Jeff Williams’ voice-mail message to his pastor, Rev. John Kieschnick: “Pastor K, this is Jeff Williams calling from the ISS [international space station].  I thought I might catch you Sunday morning on the way to church. “I…

A family who wishes to remain anonymous has offered a “challenge grant” of up to $200,000 to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to encourage gifts designated for student financial aid. The donor has pledged to give one dollar for every dollar…

The Synod’s two seminaries have produced promotional materials designed to help congregations hold a “Seminary Sunday” to call attention to pastoral education and seminary support. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, last month mailed a packet of materials to all LCMS congregations…

What’s a “synod”?  Are Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod congregations only in the state of Missouri?  What do Missouri Synod Lutherans believe? Those questions — and lots of others — are answered in “Some Things Never Change,” a new 12-minute DVD from…

By Paula Schlueter Ross Astronaut Jeff Williams had barely settled into his “home away from home” on the international space station when he gave his pastor a quick phone call. Launched via a Russian Soyuz rocket March 29, Williams and cosmonaut Pavel…