Artist and retired university Professor Reinhold Marxhausen, known for his unusual “sound sculptures” and his two mosaic murals that are on display in the Nebraska Capitol, died April 23 in Seward, Neb. Prof. Marxhausen, 89, had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.…
Kmiec's gospel falls flat in Foggy Bottom
(RNS) — The State Department has a “rigidly narrow” view of diplomacy that neglects religion’s role in foreign affairs, a prominent Catholic ambassador charged on April 17 as he announced his resignation. Other foreign policy experts have another name for…
Senate confirms religious freedom ambassador
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A New York minister will soon fill the Obama administration’s long-vacant position to oversee international religious freedom after the Senate voted to confirm Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook for the post. The voice vote on April 14 positions…
Burned church nears completion as suspect found guilty
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) — As a white man surrendered to federal marshals April 15, workers were rebuilding the pulpit of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ he was convicted of burning down the night of President Obama’s election. Michael…
Court dismisses challenge to National Day of Prayer
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The law calling for an annual National Day of Prayer imposes solely on the duties of the U.S. president, leaving private citizens no legal standing to challenge it, a federal appeals court ruled April 14. The unanimous…
Study: Longer life spans mean less need for church
LONDON (RNS) — Researchers at two of Britain’s top universities claim that church attendance in many Western nations is falling because people are living longer and therefore have less fear of death. The result, the studies say, is a “graying…
Poll: Americans see clash between Christianity, capitalism
(RNS) — Are Christianity and capitalism a marriage made in heaven, as some conservatives believe, or more of a strained relationship in need of some serious couples counseling? A new poll released April 21 found that more Americans (44 percent)…
Mississippi Lutherans among recent storm victims
By Kim Plummer Krull Instead of a scheduled work day at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Clinton, Miss., members abruptly shifted gears on Saturday, April 16, and helped families with homes damaged by a powerful tornado, one of string of…
LCMS pastor, 96, recognized for service
Rev. Louis Grother of Kalamazoo, Mich., says he’s humbled to win the Irving S. Gilmore Lifetime Achievement Award in this year’s STAR (Sharing Time and Resources) Awards presented by the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Volunteer Center of Greater Kalamazoo. As…
Sem's Kantorei to visit Midwest on Easter Tour
The Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., will visit cities in Indiana, Tennessee and Ohio on its Easter Choral Vespers Tour April 27-May 1. The 16-member choir, composed of men studying to become pastors, was founded in 1978…
Seminaries to provide live stream of 'call day' services
Both seminaries of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod will provide live coverage of their call day and assignment services on their websites. Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., will provide video and audio streaming of its vicarage placement and deaconess internship…
Registration opens for Deaconess Conference
Registration is now open for the 31st annual Concordia Deaconess Conference to be held June 15-18 at Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Neb. Under the theme of “Lutheran Spirituality: The Life of Receptivity,” the conference is open to all LCMS-rostered deaconesses…
LHM to hold third Outreach Conference
Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) will host its third Regional Outreach Conference May 13-14 at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel in Branson, Mo. Designed to “train and encourage God’s people to be mission-minded witnesses for Jesus Christ,” the two-day events…
Official Notice — Nominees for Seminary President, Notice of Election (April 2011)
Please be advised that the election for the new President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, will be held pursuant to Bylaw 3.10.4.5.2(b) on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at the campus of the seminary at 6600 North Clinton Street,…
Harrison shares Holy Week message in new video
A new Holy Week video message from LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison is available for viewing on the Synod’s website. In the video, Harrison reflects on the crucifixion as a reminder that, as Jesus trekked to the cross, His…
Vatican paper praises fertility ethics of films
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The official Vatican newspaper has praised two recent Hollywood movies for showing the ethical downsides of sperm donation. In the lead article in the April 9 edition of L’Osservatore Romano, Carlo Bellieni writes in “When Cinema…
