LCMS World Relief and Human Care awarded initial emergency grants to two Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod congregations with members and facilities affected by tornadoes that tore through Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas the night of May 10. Mother’s Day weekend twisters there…

LCMS World Relief and Human Care and its Baltimore-based relief and development partner, Lutheran World Relief (LWR), are appealing to U.S. Lutherans to send contributions for desperately needed emergency aid to Myanmar (Burma) in the wake of the May 3…

Sourcebook 2008: Your Guide to Architectural Stained and Art Glass is now available free on compact disk. The publication is produced annually by the Stained Glass Association of America for use by architects, congregations, liturgical consultants, and other professionals active…

Concordia Publishing House is offering its customers a way to stretch their ministry dollars: Each purchase of $50 or more of any in-stock product ordered by May 16 earns a gift certificate that can be used on a future purchase.…

While the phrase “random acts of kindness” is a familiar one, Jeff Van Beaver would like the phrase “Planned Acts of Christian Kindness” (PACK) to be the rallying cry for congregations to reach the unchurched. Van Beaver is president of…

“Attitudes of mutual respect, good will, and shared hope that both bodies will have strong churches” were emphasized in a joint communiqué issued by representatives of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) after a meeting…

Rev. Edward Balfour of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, tendered his resignation from the LCMS Board of Directors in a March 13 letter to Board Chairman Donald Muchow. The process is under way to fill the resulting vacancy on the Board.  Balfour,…

By Linda C. Hoops For members of Christ Lutheran Church, Chalmette, La., the rededication April 6 of their newly refurbished church building meant “they have stability in their lives once again, they have a sense of home again, and they…

Discounted “early-bird” registration is open through May 15 for the 2008 Black Ministry Family Convocation, July 31-Aug. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va. Under the theme “Radiating the Flame,” from Jer. 20:9, the four-day convocation will…

Synod President Gerald Kieschnick is urging LCMS leaders to continue dialogue about matters on which there is theological unity and division in the Synod. He makes that appeal in a presentation titled “Theological Unity and Division in The Lutheran Church–Missouri…

The Synod’s Council of Presidents (COP), meeting April 18-24 in St. Louis, Mo., and Fort Wayne, Ind., was the first of several groups to hear and respond to options for consideration from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and…

Planners of the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering last month announced its theme, “We Believe,” and that for the first time youth registration will be open to those who are 14 years old or entering their freshman year of high…

By Frances H. Bailey True leaders have the ability to influence others, according to Dr. Mary Hilgendorf, director of the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) in Mequon, Wis.  So all women — whether they know it or not — are leaders…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. MINNEAPOLIS — In a positive sense, it could be said that the ninth triennial Lutheran Education Association Convocation here April 24-26 was “all wet.” For instance, its theme was “Fountains of Faith and Knowledge”; its 3,600 educators and…

Note: There are no Letters to the Editor for June. Outreach through schools I have a concern regarding the following quotation from the April article headlined “Mission, ministry fit with education as schools intentionally reach out to unchurched families”: “‘As…