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…

Retired individuals or couples and others with a passion for Christian outreach to the unchurched and lapsed church members have until June 17 to request an application for training this year for “The 72–Partners on the Road.” That program of…

The LCMS has redesigned its website at www.lcms.org to make it easier for visitors to find the information they’re seeking. “There was a definite need to rethink the way the website was organized and streamline its content,” explained Becky Cummings,…

The LCMS has issued a statement saying it “welcomes the United States Supreme Court’s [March 28] decision to hear an important case concerning the First Amendment rights of its member congregations.” The case, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v.…

By Kim Plummer Krull Nearly a week after historic storms ripped through the South, Eleanor Allen looks at the rubble where she once lived and wonders aloud how she can put her life back together, asking “where to start?” The…

Dr. Paul Maier of Kalamazoo, Mich., has given his last lecture as professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, where he has taught for 50 years. Maier, the Synod’s third vice-president, addressed classes for the last time April…

Rev. John Barton “Bart” Day will join the Synod staff July 1 as executive director of the church body’s new Life Together department that will include national mission functions of the ministries based at the Synod’s International Center in St.…

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Peace Officer Ministries Inc. (POM) are offering a workshop May 23-27 on “Christian Law Enforcement Chaplaincy — Theology and Practice.” The five-day workshop, which will be held on the seminary campus, is designed to offer…

Dr. Jane L. Fryar will lead intensive workshops in writing May 16-20 at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis., and May 23-27 at Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Neb.  Fryar is a writer, editor, speaker and consultant. Sponsored by the Women’s Leadership…

RUDOLF J.S. KEYL, Lancaster, Pa.; ADOLPH W. MOLDENHAUER, North Tonawanda, N.Y.; DAVID RALPH ESTES, Casselberry, Fla.; MARK G. STILLMAN, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and THOMAS E. DONNELLY JR., Oxford, Mich., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of…

The following institutions of the Concordia University System are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., seeks to fill positions in psychology and health professions. Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis., seeks to fill the following positions: physical therapy; special education;…

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 Used communion ware sets with trays and individual…

By Kim Plummer Krull Four days after the deadly tornado devastated Cullman, Ala., congregation leaders thought maybe 35 people would take time away from sifting through debris and struggling to clean up damaged homes and neighborhoods to take part in…

Dr. David P. Mulder — a parish pastor who formerly served as an LCMS district president and with the staff of the Synod and Concordia Publishing House (CPH) — died May 1 at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay,…