By Linda C. Hoops The Missouri Synod’s Praesidium (president and five vice-presidents) at its June 1-2 meeting unanimously endorsed a new document from the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) that offers more detailed theological criteria for assessing the…

Concordia College in Selma, Ala., received on June 23 a reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Concordia, Selma — one of 10 LCMS colleges and universities nationwide and…

The 350-some participants in the July 7-10 National Children’s Ministry Conference at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, Calif., definitely took back home with them more than their shiny orange and lime-colored conference tote bags could hold. “Sandals to Sneakers” was…

By Melanie Ave The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod commissioned 34 new career and long-term missionaries and educators into global service with a special “sending service” July 15 at the LCMS International Center chapel in St. Louis. The 2011 career and GEO…

Blessings and Prayers for Those with Cancer — a pocket-sized devotional that’s designed to comfort and encourage those dealing with the devastating disease — is now available from Concordia Publishing House. Written by Karen Boerger and Annetta Dellinger, the 192-page…

How the Synod can marshal its theological education and mission efforts for the greatest impact worldwide was the topic for a first-time meeting June 30 of 16 representatives from the two LCMS seminaries, Lutheran Hour Ministries, LCMS World Mission (now…

By Melanie Ave ST. LOUIS — Thirty-two new career and short-term missionaries and educators began an 11-day orientation in St. Louis July 5 to help prepare them for service abroad later this year. The annual event, held this year for the…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — As the U.S. Supreme Court ended its 2010-11 term at the end of June, legal scholars say a decision issued two months ago is likely to resonate within church-state debates for years to come. On April 4,…

NEW YORK (RNS) — With cries of “Rebuild now! Rebuild Now!,” parishioners and supporters of a Greek Orthodox church that was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks rallied at Ground Zero on June 26 in hopes of resuming negotiations to rebuild…

(RNS/ENInews) — Churches in Liechtenstein, one of the world’s smallest countries, could face financial disaster under government plans to withdraw state subsidies under new legislation, according to a Protestant leader. “This will be a drastic change — we depend on…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court announced June 27 that it will examine whether the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the right to ban “fleeting expletives” on broadcast TV. The case will review last year’s decision by the 2nd…

(RNS) — Officials of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) say they were the victims of a hoax in which a group claiming to be the denomination’s Executive Committee announced it had started to support gay marriage. A website of the…

(RNS) — With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 looming, attendees at North America’s largest Muslim gathering this past weekend are told that the best way to deal with Islamophobia is not to lay low, but to get involved in politics,…

SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) — Mormon (LDS) officials are telling their top full-time leaders that they and their spouses should not participate in political campaigns, including making donations or endorsing candidates. However, part-time leaders — including local and regional congregational…

(RNS) — For Living Faith Lutheran Church, the name change was as much about the future as the past. On Sunday, June 26, the Rockville, Md., congregation formally bid goodbye to its old name, Crusader Lutheran Church. “We’re not saying…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Christian missionaries should renounce all “deception and coercive means” of winning converts, according to an agreement released June 28 by a broad coalition of evangelicals, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Vatican. The document, “Christian…