WASHINGTON (RNS) — The House on May 27 rejected a proposed amendment that would have allowed military chaplains to close public events with faith-specific prayers. The amendment, offered by Tea Party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., to the Military Construction…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — A federal judge ruled May 31 that a Connecticut school board’s decision to hold graduation ceremonies inside a megachurch was unconstitutional. Commencements for two schools in Enfield, Conn. — Enfield High School and Enrico Enfermi High School,…

  Related Story: Advisory concerns wireless microphones  WASHINGTON (RNS) — American churches have a little more than a week left before they have to change their wireless microphone equipment or face more than $100,000 in fines. In January, the Federal…

Dr. Eugene and Bernice Bunkowske, pioneering missionaries in West African Bible translation and in mission service around the world, have been honored with the “Lutheran Bible Translators [LBT] Lifetime Achievement Award.” The award was presented to them in recognition of…

Registration is open for a number of off-campus continuing-education workshops both Synod seminaries are offering around the country this summer. The cost for each of the 15 Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, workshops is $125 (with the exception of the three…

By Kim Plummer Krull Helping Saint Paul Lutheran High School remodel the gym marks Norm Hoppmann’s 12th project for churches and schools – but his first prom. “I ended up with the dubious name of ‘Grandpa Prom,” said Hoppmann, who…

Two Synod ministries –- LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) and LCMS World Mission — are receiving a total $304,437 in funds resulting from the vote of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members on where to distribute $1 million for charity. The…

As in previous LCMS convention years, Reporter and The Lutheran Witness asked the five nominees for Synod president this year to answer in writing four questions related to issues in the Synod — some of which will be addressed during…

(RNS) A federal judge has rejected a motion filed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to dismiss a California lawsuit that challenges tax breaks ministers can receive on housing. Section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code allows housing-related tax…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court will review the constitutionality of an Arizona program that provides state tax breaks for donations to private school scholarship programs. As part of the 13-year-old tax-tuition program, taxpayers receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in…

Women’s leadership Paula Schlueter Ross’ article on the Women’s Leadership Institute conference in the May Reporter included a quotation from keynote speaker Jean Garton, who “encouraged women to live lives ‘that matter.’” I find this rather astonishing. Anyone unsure if…

KEVIN DEAN, Chicago, Ill.; KURT E. DEGNER, Grass Valley, Calif.; and MARK E. LANGHOFF, Berthoud, Colo., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. BECKY M. NEUMANN, Houston, Texas, and GAY SVEC, Westchester,…

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod extends a call for nominations for the position of assistant executive director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR). The Commission, with the assistance of three full-time executives, provides leadership and guidance to the…

GENERAL INFORMATION:  Voting and advisory delegates and representatives are reminded that the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod will be held in the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, July 10-17, 2010.  The Opening Convention Worship…

The following errors in the Convention Workbook mailed to all delegates and church workers at the end of April are brought to the attention of the Synod.  Please note the corrections: On page 31 of the Biographical Synopses & Statements…