Oregon church to move worship from 'little brown Quonset hut'

At first glance, Faith Lutheran Church in La Pine, Ore., reminded Laborers For Christ (LFC) Vice President/Director Dan Baker of a temporary military facility – not the center of a longtime, now growing ministry. “It looks like a barracks,” Baker…

School more important than world record, says coach

By Paula Schlueter Ross It’s official: “The longest basketball marathon is 77 hours, 7 minutes, 7 seconds, set by students of Heartland Lutheran High School in their gymnasium, Nebraska, United States, from 4 to 7 July 2008.” So reads the…

Record number of Servant Events set (Part 2)

July  2-12 — Camp Dixie Lutheran Outdoor Ministry, Esparza, Costa Rica; Pura Vida!; director@campdixieministries.org. 5-10 — Camp Luther, Three Lakes, Wis.; “Serving Sawyer”; quik@campluther.com. 5-10 — Camp Lutherhaven, Albion, Ind.; “Noble Servants ’09”; don@lutherhaven.org. 5-10 — Lutherwood Camp, Bellingham, Wash.; “Cha-Choosen (I): Serving…

LCMS Salary Information

The Synod’s policy of full financial disclosure provides for making available to members of the Synod (congregations, pastors, teachers, and others on the roster), on written request, the salary grid scales of all synodical and district officials, staff and faculty…

Commentary: What's troubling about organ transplants?

By Gilbert Meilaender Longer waiting lists for organ transplants have revived proposals that our society establish a market in organs — at least for sellers, if not also for buyers.  It might work; that is, it might succeed in diminishing the…

Requests for Reinstatement (November)

GLENN S. BRAUER, Grayslake, Ill., has applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  SUSAN BAILEY, Oak Creek, Wis.; RONALD S. DREWS, New York, N.Y.; SANDRA SCHMIDT, Springdale, Ark.; RHONDA J. SWANSON, Lakefield, Minn.;…

Synod execs: Entities stay course during turbulent times

By Roland Lovstad Executives of LCMS corporate entities express confidence that well-defined investment policies, expert advice, and advance planning will stay their course on the stormy financial seas of 2008. Interviewed during mid-October as the U.S. stock market tottered from…

More volunteer opportunities

In addition to opportunities to lend a hand with Hurricane Ike cleanup efforts, coordinators also are looking for volunteers to help with disaster recovery in these areas: Iowa tornado and flood cleanup and rebuilding: Iowa District East, 319-373-0584, flood@lcmside.org. Greensburg,…

Kieschnick acts in support of biblical, natural marriage

LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick has been emphasizing the Synod’s strong support for natural marriage in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 4 national election. Particular emphasis is being given to states with marriage amendments on the ballot — Arizona,…

Letters to the Editor (November)

Synod statistics Last month’s story about the 2007 Synod statistics report was more accurate and clearly stated than last year’s. The limitations were well explained by Synod Secretary Hartwig and Dr. O’Hara. My only suggestion is that the numbers in…

Items wanted, available (November)

Note: Reporter cannot accept notices about items offered for sale or that people wish to purchase.  Items described as “Wanted” or “Available” are sought or may be obtained for shipping costs only. Wanted Stoles; paraments for altar, pulpit and lectern;…

Positions (November)

The following institutions of the Concordia University System (CUS) are seeking candidates for positions described below: Concordia College-New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill the following faculty positions: business, English, psychology. Concordia University, Portland, Ore., seeks to fill the following…

Too early to determine effects on contributions

Synod leaders say that it may be too early to measure how the stock market downturn will affect contributions to LCMS congregations or district and national work. “This has happened so quickly,” said Dr. Thomas Kuchta, LCMS vice president-finance/treasurer. “My…

Pressure Points (November)

With Dr. Bruce Hartung Several readers have recently pointed out to me the need for our professional church workers to examine their work ethic.  I have chosen a particularly poignant communication on this theme to share in this month’s column.…

After Ike: Needs, fear of being forgotten continue

By Kim Plummer Krull While the economic crisis and presidential candidates’ campaigns dominate headlines, little news is heard about Texans who still struggle to clean up their homes and try to get their lives back on track more than one…

Seminary campaign receives $4 million challenge grant

The Charles E. Benidt Foundation of Elm Grove, Wis., has committed a challenge grant of $4 million toward the “How Will They Hear?” campaign of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The “advanced gifts” phase of the campaign began July 1, 2005. …