Ruth Henrichs, president and CEO of Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, will take part in a live, nationwide conference call hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Faith-Based Director Joshua DuBois for faith and community leaders to discuss…

The call is out for children’s art and one-minute video clip testimonials for the LCMS Children’s Ministry Conference July 7-10 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Orange, Calif. The planning committee for that conference is calling for donations of artwork…

The Synod’s official periodicals, Reporter and The Lutheran Witness, were honored in April by the Associated Church Press (ACP) — winning a combined total of five awards for work published in 2010. Founded in 1916, the ACP is the oldest…

By Kim Plummer Krull Floodwaters rose so quickly that one member family of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Golconda, Ill., barely had time to grab some clothing before joining rescuers in a motorboat. “This is the worst flooding since 1937,” said…

CANTERBURY, ENGLAND (RNS/ENInews) — In a challenge to conventional wisdom that church attendance is plummeting across Britain and Western Europe, the Church of England says attendance at its 43 cathedrals grew 7 percent last year. A report by the Rev.…

Synod congregations’ youth groups are being invited to plan a “Servant Saturday” in June to mark “Youth Ministry Month” in the LCMS. A news release from LCMS Youth Ministry notes that it joins Lutheran Youth Fellowship in recognizing “that young…

Rev. Leopoldo Vigil, an early leader in Hispanic ministry for the LCMS Texas District, died April 3 from complications of coronary disease at his home in Harlingen, Texas.  He was 78. He graduated from the Hispanic Institute in Mexico City…

By Roland Lovstad While print editions of Reporter and The Lutheran Witness continue to be their main sources, a recent survey of active LCMS pastors indicates nearly as many prefer using Internet connections for gathering news and information about the…

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is committing up to $275,000 for tornado disaster response for those affected by the epic tornado outbreak that ripped through four southern states April 27. The Thrivent commitment includes funds that will be sent to LCMS…

Seven LCMS schools were selected in March to receive the National Lutheran School Accreditation’s (NLSA) “exemplary status” recognition out of the 90 schools that it accredited or re-accredited in 2010. The schools are: Concordia University Early Childhood Education Center, River…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Navy reversed course May 10 on plans to allow chaplains to officiate at same-sex marriage ceremonies once the military’s ban on openly gay members is repealed. Rear Adm. Mark Tidd, the Navy chief of chaplains,…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — A recent Navy memo that would permit military chaplains to officiate at same-sex marriage ceremonies upon repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy is creating tension amid an already fractious debate. “It is absolutely deplorable,” said…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Supporters marked the 60th annual National Day of Prayer on May 5, just weeks after a federal appeals court dismissed a suit that challenged the law creating the day as unconstitutional. Focus on the Family founder James…

JERUSALEM (RNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to tackle the question of whether American passports issued to children born in Jerusalem should include the word “Israel.” Until now, passports issued in this disputed city have designated the children’s…

By James Heine Acting as the Board of Assignments, the LCMS Council of Presidents (COP) April 30 assigned first calls to 149 candidates certified for ministry by Concordia Seminary St. Louis; Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary,…

Chaplain (Col.) Rev. Gregory K. Williamson, a native of Walters, Minn., who is now serving in Seoul, South Korea, has accepted a call to serve a three-year term as the Synod’s chief mission officer (CMO).  Williamson plans to begin serving…