Board approves $81 million budget

By Joe Isenhower Jr. The Synod’s Board of Directors unanimously adopted a balanced national Synod operating budget of $81,185,878 for the coming year at its May 14-15 meeting and approved a number of measures to help ease what Dr. Thomas…

Reflections on 50 years of DCE ministry

By Bill Karpenko This summer, we’re celebrating 50 years of director of Christian education (DCE) ministry throughout The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  Although there were DCEs at work in our congregations well before 1959, the Synod convention that year — meeting…

'PRAY 2009' set Sept. 10-11 in St. Louis

Synod “intercessors” are being invited to gather in St. Louis Sept. 10-11 for “PRAY 2009,” an inaugural event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (St. Louis Airport) that two pastors initially planning it pray will spark a prayer movement for the…

'StudentConnect' links students, campus ministries

“StudentConnect” is a new service developed by LCMS Campus Ministry to help college students connect with a campus ministry. With StudentConnect, students use an online form to provide information that a campus pastor or ministry worker uses to personally contact…

LFL offers Spanish brochures

Lutherans For Life (LFL) is now offering Spanish versions of some of its brochures.  All are listed in the LFL Life Resource Catalog, available in print or as a free download from the LFL Web site. Spanish materials include: La…

Congregation 'blitzes' community with outreach

By Linda C. Hoops From ages 1 through 91, they came to serve their community for one weekend in early August.  Through projects ranging from raising a barn to packaging almost 50,000 meals, 435 members of Carmel Lutheran Church, Carmel,…

Needed: 14 short-term mission teams for Poland

By Paula Schlueter Ross As a placement counselor for LCMS World Mission, Jennifer Mustard knows the value of sending teams of U.S. Lutherans to teach weeklong English “camps” in other countries. So she wasn’t too surprised that sending five short-term…

LCMS pastor elected to office in African church

Dr. Berhanu Ofgaa, an LCMS pastor elected to be general secretary of the largest Lutheran church in Africa, says his experience with the LCMS will strengthen the relationship between the two church bodies. Ofgaa, who is currently serving among African…

Directors proceed on KFUO, endorse malaria project

By Roland Lovstad A special committee and the chief financial officer have been authorized by the LCMS Board of Directors to continue with multiple negotiations toward the possible sale of KFUO-FM. Meeting Aug. 20-21 in St. Louis the Board also…

Official Notice — Notice of Election

President, Concordia College, Selma Concordia College, Selma, Ala., has scheduled the election of a new president for Nov. 13, 2009. The following persons were nominated in conformity with the LCMS Handbook, and having accepted nomination, become candidates. Rev. Roosevelt Gray…

Items wanted, available (September)

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 Wall-mount unit track display with at least…

Requests for Reinstatement (September)

ROBERT H. BELL, Gambrills, Md., and DANIEL C. MACK, Aliso Viejo, Calif., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  JULIA A. BURGESS, Gilbert, Ariz.; BONNIE FINKE, Winona, Minn.; FAITH MCKINNEY, Irvine, Calif.;…

Positions/Call for Nominations (September)

LCMS Florida-Georgia District Lutheran Church Extension Fund seeks applications and nominations for the position of vice president.  The individual selected for this position will serve on the Florida-Georgia District Executive Team and be responsible for the operation and promotion of…

Positions (September)

The following institutions of the Concordia University System (CUS) are seeking candidates for positions described below: Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., seeks a dean for the College of Education. Concordia University Texas, Austin, Texas, seeks an Education Faculty/Regional Graduate Program…

Pressure Points (September)

With Dr. Bruce Hartung Q: I currently serve on our district’s ministerial health committee.  We are in the planning stages of trying to remind congregations to appreciate their church workers on a consistent basis.  [Because] many church workers become burned…

CPH offers items at 50 to 80 percent off

Concordia Publishing House is offering Bibles, adult and youth Bible studies, books, church supplies, gifts, and Spanish-language materials at 50 to 80 percent off their regular prices during its “Online Warehouse Sale.” Featured items include: NIV Concordia Text Bible (item…