By Joe Isenhower Jr.  TAMPA, Fla. — While the economic downturn continues to challenge ministries synodwide, district presidents report that congregation-revitalization efforts and programs such as “Consecrated Stewards” are helping offset the economy’s negative effects as they bolster congregations’ vitality…

By Paula Schlueter Ross With about a fourth of this fall’s incoming ordination-track students at the Synod’s two seminaries enrolled in distance-education programs — and the opening last year of the Specific Ministry Pastor program — what will the future…

LCMS President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick issued the following statement Nov. 20 in response to an announcement by Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal) leaders to begin work on a proposal for a new Lutheran church body separate from the Evangelical…

Gail Holzer, principal of Redeemer Lutheran School, Oakmont, Pa., is one of 57 national and international educators recognized as a 2009 “National Distinguished Principal” (NDP) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the U.S. Department of Education.  She…

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will offer its 18th Annual Schola Cantorum: An Adult Choir Member Workshop Jan. 23. The Schola Cantorum is open to all choir members, choir directors, and ministers of music.  The schedule includes registration at 8:15 a.m.,…

Concordia Theological Seminary will present its annual symposia on exegetical and confessional theology Jan. 19-22 on its campus in Fort Wayne, Ind. The four-day symposia includes: the 25th Annual Symposium on Exegetical Theology, Jan. 19-20, which will discuss “The Sacraments…

Rev. Ken Klaus, speaker of “The Lutheran Hour,” has announced his intention to retire from the position in January 2011. Klaus has been speaker of the flagship program for Lutheran Hour Ministries since 2002, and serves as the media spokesperson,…

Maureen Consiglio of Coram, N.Y., has been appointed chairman of the 2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Convention Host Committee. Consiglio is president of the LWML’s Atlantic District.  As chairman, she will work with the six LWML districts that are hosting…

Anytime of the year is a good time to do a “Planned Act of Christian Kindness” (PACK), according to Jeff Van Beaver, president of Acts 1:8 Ministry of Green Bay, Wis. In the fall, a PACK activity might be raking…

By Linda C. Hoops “It’s been an awful week.” These are the words of Chaplain Dann Ettner, one of four Missouri Synod chaplains assigned to Fort Hood, in the wake of the Nov. 5 shootings there.  Ettner, an active duty…

After a national search, Richard C. Robertson of Peachtree City, Ga., has accepted the offer to be president of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), starting Jan. 14, the day of his installation at the Synod’s International Center. Robertson, 54, succeeds…

Dr. Herbert F. (Herb) Brokering — a Lutheran pastor and well-known author, poet, playwright, hymn writer, and popular speaker — died from congestive heart failure Nov. 7 at his home in Bloomington, Minn. Dr. Brokering, 83, spoke by phone with…

Organizers of the Synod’s Model Theological Conference on Worship, set for Jan. 11-13 in St. Louis, are taking deliberate steps to include pastors, musicians, and laity who represent a range of worship styles from “traditional/liturgical” to “contemporary/contextual.” In guidelines for…

To encourage more Lutheran participation in the Jan. 22 “March for Life” in Washington, D.C., a group bus ride is being offered by LCMS Life Ministries, a program area of LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC), and the Lutherans…

Concordia Publishing House, the Synod’s St. Louis-based publisher, has received the 2009 “Missouri Quality Award” from the Excellence in Missouri Foundation, which works to promote quality principles in business, education, government, and health care. The award recognizes excellence in areas…

The increase in the number of “specialized ministries” reported by congregations was one positive note in the Missouri Synod’s 2008 statistical report, as 4,236 congregations (up 579 from 2007) responded to a “specialized ministries” questionnaire.  Tallies indicate that they conducted…