By Roland Lovstad Building on a successful start, the LCMS seminaries have enrolled their second classes of students in the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) program. “I think it is going amazingly well,” observed Dr. David Wollenburg, SMP director at Concordia…

“Look Toward the Heavens: The Art of He Qi,” an exhibit of sacred art by renowned Chinese artist He Qi, is on display at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis — in the gallery of the Concordia Historical Institute — now through January.…

Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) has announced that it is giving Awards of Commendation for 17 works published in 2008. The awards for unique contributions to Lutheran literature or for personal service in the field of Lutheran archival and historical work will…

Concordia Publishing House is offering Halloween treat bags and tracts that share the message of Jesus’ love with trick-or-treaters and those who hand out treats. Available are: “It’s in the Bag,” a pack of 50 treat bags with the message…

By Linda C. Hoops Podcasts, videos, PowerPoint presentations, plus blogs and Web sites were some of the formats suggested for disseminating a future report on the stewardship of the environment from the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)…

“Operation Barnabas,” the two-year-old LCMS program that’s designed to support Lutheran chaplains and reserve soldiers who are called to wartime duty, is sponsoring one-day workshops for pastors and laypeople who want to start such ministries in their congregations. The first…

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is now offering its 2010 “Serve the Lord with Gladness” pocket diary/calendar. The pocket diary is small enough to fit in a pocket or purse and offers: a place to record daily prayer requests and…

ST. LOUIS — The Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod has approved the acquisition of KFUO-FM “CLASSIC99” by Joy FM for $18 million, plus interest scheduled over 10 years, for a total of $26 million.  Under the acquisition…

By Paula Schlueter Ross LCMS World Mission and its partners in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay have decided to co-train their missionaries to better prepare them for cross-cultural service and to help foster a “global Lutheran mission movement.” At…

By John R. Brooks BALTIMORE — Leaders of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) agreed to do all they could do to continue their longtime cooperative work together in areas of “cooperation in externals,” despite…

By Kim Plummer Krull Months ago, parish nurses began raising questions with LCMS Life and Health Ministries Director Maggie Karner about how a new national health insurance program might impact sanctity of life issues. Now that the health care reform…

Welcoming seven new presidents elected by delegates to LCMS district conventions this year, the Synod’s Council of Presidents (COP) at its Sept. 19-22 meeting in St. Louis unanimously adopted for use throughout the church a document titled “Theses on Worship”…

This fall, the deaconess ministry-focused Mercy Works magazine will only be available online. Produced and distributed by LCMS World Relief and Human Care (LCMS WR-HC) since 2006, the purpose of the magazine, as stated in its inside cover, is “to…

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…

The 2007 convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod passed Resolution 5-01B, “To Establish Specific Ministry Pastor Program.”  Res. 5-01B contained a reporting mandate: “That the Specific Ministry Pastor Committee submit a progress report to the Synod at least nine months…