Wheat Ridge Ministries of Itasca, Ill., is awarding grants totaling $46,000 to support sabbatical experiences for professional church workers from nine congregations, including four from The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. According to Wheat Ridge, “sabbatical leave for rest and renewal is…

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League has exceeded its 2007-09 mission goal of $1.7 million by $75,730.17, according to President Janice Wendorf. “In the midst of these uncertain times, God’s people have responded and supported the mission goal of the LWML…

After a four-month hiatus, the Braille, large-type, and audiocassette versions of The Lutheran Witness are back in production, thanks to a grant from LCMS World Relief and Human Care. “I was surprised and overwhelmed with joy when I got the…

The Concordia Theological Seminary Kantorei, Fort Wayne, Ind., will begin its 2009 Easter tour on April 15, with performances scheduled for eight congregations in Illinois and Indiana through April 26. The Kantorei, a 16-voice choir of students studying to become…

Faced with a $4 million operating deficit and a decrease in income next fiscal year, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is offering early retirement incentives, delaying some maintenance, freezing salaries, and tightening program budgets. “I am not happy with this unexpected…

February’s Reporter included an article about the Jan. 1 death of Rev. Andrew Mbugo Elisa, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan.  Rev. Elisa died as the result of an aggressive brain-stem tumor. Survivors include his wife, Linda, and…

Concordia Plan Services (CPS) has announced it will offer healthcare coverage to students (and their families) at the Synod’s two seminaries — Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. According to a CPS press release, the plan,…

By Sarah Schafer LCMS World Relief and Human Care gathered together church workers and lay professionals March 13-14 in St. Louis for the first meeting of the LCMS Task Force on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse. The 14-member task force —…

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., is hosting a retreat on “Contending for the Faith in the Twenty-First Century” May 1-2. The retreat will offer presentations on topics such as atheism, Islam, and the historical and practical implications of a…

ST. LOUIS — Leaders of the two largest U.S. Lutheran church bodies met March 24 in St. Louis for the 32nd regular meeting of the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation. During the half-day meeting, representatives from The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and…

When people ask Evan Goeglein what he did on spring break, the Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS) student can offer a most unusual response. He trekked to an African country on the brink of civil war and visited, among other Lutheran…

Three LCMS schools were selected in February to receive the National Lutheran School Accreditation’s (NLSA) “exemplary status” award out of the 100 schools that it accredited or re-accredited in August 2008.  The schools are: Good Shepherd Lutheran School, Collinsville, Ill.,…

As the only seminary-sponsored team to compete in the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference, “Concordia Seminary Cycling” isn’t doing too badly. The six-member team, in its second year, currently ranks 8th out of 15 Division 2 schools, according to Dr. Jeffrey…

By Paula Schlueter Ross Everybody’s hurting in today’s poor economy, and LCMS World Mission is no exception. Donations to the Synod’s mission arm are down in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, and, unless funds are found, cuts…

With discussion of “Church in a Post-church Culture,” to a historical perspective on structure, to proposals for restructure, the Feb. 21-24 meeting of the LCMS Council of Presidents looked at several facets of how the Synod assists congregations in effective…