Plans to offer healthcare coverage to sem students

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,…

Task force to address domestic violence, abuse

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 —…

Sem to host apologetics retreat

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…

Sem students see Lutheran mercy in Madagascar

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 receive NLSA's 'exemplary status'

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.,…

Cycling team provides more than exercise

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…

Mission board, staff establish fund for missionaries, mission work

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…

COP looks at how Synod assists congregations for mission, ministry

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…

LCMS, ELCA leaders discuss sexuality report

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…

Requests for reinstatement (April)

GAIL BLACK, Highlands Ranch, Colo.; ANGELA S. CLAYTON, Ellisville, Mo.; DAVID L. ERICKSON, Fountain, Minn.; and JILL RODENBECK, Leo, Ind., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Commissioned roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  Correspondence regarding these applications should…

Positions (April)

Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, seeks the services of a freelance indexer for academic books.  This person must be on the Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, possess a theological degree (master’s or above), and have a good grasp…

Call for nominations: assistant executive director, CTCR

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod seeks nominations for the position of assistant executive director.  This person provides assistance to the executive director and associate executive director in carrying out the responsibilities assigned…

Items wanted, available (April)

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 Joyfully Sing, CPH, olive-colored song book for…

Pressure Points (April)

With Dr. Bruce Hartung Q: Given the economy — [with] the mortgage crisis, [and the fact] that most pastors own their own homes — has the number of pastors accepting calls (having to move and having to sell their homes) declined?  Has…

Missions offers resources for 'Armed Forces Sunday'

LCMS World Mission is offering a number of resources to help congregations celebrate “Armed Forces Sunday” on May 17, or an alternate date such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Veterans Day. The special observance, held annually the Sunday before…

Campus conference highlights worship diversity

By Joe Isenhower Jr. A first-time three-day conference in mid-February for worship leaders from the Synod’s colleges, universities, and seminaries to “openly discuss divergent worship practices” on their campuses was “a practical unveiling about the extreme diversity in music repertoire,…