Deaconess Pamela J. Nielsen of Ballwin, Mo., began serving Sept. 1 as managing editor for Witness, Mercy and Life Together with LCMS Communications. In the new position, Nielsen will be responsible for gathering, editing and supervising the production of materials…
Palestinian pastor to speak at seminary
Mention Palestine, Israel, the Middle East, and the words that often come to mind are uncertainty, conflict and political unrest. But the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, is working to spread a message of…
Churches, schools join malaria initiative launch
The Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI) publicly launches Sept. 18-20 with several Lutheran congregations and schools hosting special offerings, awareness events and other activities. LMI is an unprecedented campaign of the Synod and Lutheran World Relief to mobilize U.S. Lutherans in…
Rast installed as Fort Wayne seminary's 16th president
By Adriane Dorr “It is a great joy to look forward to the future,” said the Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr., following his installation as the 16th president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., on Sept. 11. The…
Record 115 Lutheran schools accredited
A record number of 115 Lutheran schools were accredited by the National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) commission at its Aug. 5-6 annual meeting in St. Louis. Commission members representing 26 LCMS districts participated in the meeting. A complete list of…
Concordia Deaconess Conference elects officers
The LCMS Concordia Deaconess Conference (CDC) announces four new officers and a spiritual counselor: Deaconess Sara Lemon, who serves at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot, Pa., is new vice-president. Deaconess Kimberly Schave, director of Human Care with the LCMS Ohio District…
In Joplin: Lutheran leaders shift focus to long-term needs
By Elizabeth M. Truong With 90 percent of the debris from the May 22 tornado now cleared from residential areas in Joplin, Mo., representatives of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School in Joplin, the LCMS Missouri District, and LCMS…
Circuit-sponsored seminar draws 200 from community
By Linda C. Hoops An initiative by pastors and congregations in Circuit 13 West of the Southeastern District brought together 200 people for a two-night seminar Aug. 8-9 in Raleigh, N.C., on the reliability of the Bible. “Our goal as…
Texas blazes destroy at least 24 LCMS member homes
By Kim Plummer Krull At least 24 LCMS member families are among the Texans who have lost homes in massive wildfires that continue to blaze in the Lone Star state, according to the Rev. Steven Misch, mission and ministry facilitator…
Homeless Minot families face winter in FEMA trailers
By Linda C. Hoops More than 220 LCMS families lost their homes in June due to historic flooding in Minot, N.D. –- a disaster that has so far affected more LCMS members than Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Lee and the tornadoes…
A Hopeful Lamentation: A Statement on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11
On Sunday, September 11th, 2011, the world will stand still as the first post-9/11 decade comes to a close. As I pause to pen this note to the church, I’m flooded with a swirl of disparate and even conflicting thoughts and feelings.
Harrison notes ‘hopeful lamentation’ in 9/11 statement
Observing in a written statement that “the world will stand still as the first post-9/11 decade comes to a close” on Sept. 11, 2011, Missouri Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison recalls the events of that day of the…
Harrison: Encourage future church workers
Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison says a vicar at his home congregation who “loved the work of the ministry for which he was training” strongly influenced his decision to study for the pastoral ministry. He recalls that vicar’s…
Disability conference set Oct. 4-6 in Philly
Registration is open for the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network’s (LSA-DN) biennial conference, set for Oct. 4-6 in Philadelphia at the Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel. See below about a special conference group rate for lodging reserved at that…
Seminary cancels fall LutherHostel
LutherHostel 2011 planned for Oct. 1-4 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has been cancelled. The event was to focus on “Public Service and My Lutheran Faith” and feature Congressman John M. Shimkus (R-Ill.). The seminary is planning another LutherHostel Oct.…
Merritt: Despite Haiti challenges, seeing 'lot of good'
By Kim Plummer Krull “You saved my life and the lives of my children.” That’s what a Haitian mother living in a home at the new Lutheran Village in Jacmel said to the Rev. Glenn F. Merritt during his latest…
