LHM launches online 'Men's NetWork'

Though Christianity remains the dominant religious faith in America, only 35 percent of men indicated they would be found in a church on any Sunday morning, according to data reported by The Barna Group, a Ventura, Calif.-based research firm. In…

CPH offers evangelism resources

Concordia Publishing House has released two evangelism resources designed to help Christians share their faith: How to Share Christ Confidently and What Jesus Means to Me. “Often, people feel uncomfortable witnessing,” said Ken Liszewski, manager of books for CPH.  “These…

Int'l LLL convention set for Greensboro

“Share His Story,” from Psalm 66:16, is the theme of the 92nd annual International Convention of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, to be held July 16-19 in Greensboro, N.C. This year’s convention will offer motivational speakers, including Rev. Ken Klaus,…

Art to mark Center's 10-year anniversary

A request is being issued for proposals for artwork to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Lutheran Center in Baltimore, which houses headquarters for three inter-Lutheran service agencies and a Lutheran judicatory office. Those agencies are Lutheran Services in America, Lutheran…

COP elects Stoterau as chairman

Dr. Larry Stoterau, president of the Pacific Southwest District, was elected to chair the Council of Presidents (COP) during the council’s April 17-23 meeting in Fort Wayne and St. Louis. Stoterau succeeds Dr. William Hoesman, Michigan District president, who has served…

Stewardship process helps leaders manage what God gives

By Roland Lovstad Seeing stewardship everywhere, Rev. John Duerr is making it a regular theme for a second year in his preaching and teaching at Hope Lutheran Church in Warren, Mich. And, the pastor intends to continue that approach for…

Minnesota North re-elects Fondow

Delegates to the LCMS Minnesota North District convention, April 27-29 in Brainerd, Minn., re-elected on the first ballot Dr. Donald J. Fondow of Park Rapids, Minn., to his third three-year term as district president. They also re-elected Rev. Paul Cloeter of…

'Ablaze!' faith-sharing counter exceeds 10 million

By Paula Schlueter Ross The Web-based “counter” that tracks the number of times LCMS Lutherans have shared their faith with others as part of the Ablaze! movement hit 10,006,997 as this Reporter was going to press April 29. That figure…

CTCR explores ways to share environment-stewardship study

As it develops “Together With All Creatures,” a document on Christian stewardship of the environment, the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) will hold a second consultation to garner ideas so it can be used by a college…

Scheer youngest in declining LCMS CPE supervisor ranks

When Rev. Jeffery Scheer takes the reins of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) in St. Louis on July 1, he will be the Synod’s youngest full-time LCMS CPE supervisor at an LCMS Recognized Service…

Teacher puts Christmas gifts toward food pantry

By Paula Schlueter Ross After nearly 20 years of teaching, Shirley Leidecker says she “had enough coffee cups and ornaments to last a lifetime.” The holiday gifts from her young students were nice, but Leidecker, now a first-grade teacher at…

South Dakota re-elects Sattgast

Rev. Dale L. Sattgast was re-elected to his second three-year term as president of the Synod’s South Dakota District during the district’s 58th convention April 29-May 2 in Sioux Falls, S.D.  Sattgast, 59, was elected on the first ballot. Also…

Placement Committee issues calls

On April 21-22, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Placement Committee issued calls to 183 pastoral candidates from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines, Ontario. The committee also issued calls to…

Staying informed on 'drastic changes' in life issues

The first months of 2009 have seen a flurry of federal policy changes in life issues, prompting LCMS Life Ministries to post news bulletins about President Obama’s overturn of the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and…

Synod addresses three 'critical targets'

LCMS boards, commissions, and corporate entities will focus on three “critical targets” during the 15 months leading up to the 2010 Synod convention. The units are being asked to prioritize their human and fiscal resources to address the critical targets…

Requests for Reinstatement (May)

DANIEL JURKOVIC, Toronto, Ontario, and CHARLES MCCLEAN, Alexandria, Va., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  CAROLYN RUSNAK, St. Louis, Mo., has applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion-Commissioned roster of…