With Dr. Bruce Hartung Q: I’m a not-quite 30, pretty tech-savvy pastor who makes abundant use of social media sites like Facebook. I’ve been troubled by recent lack of common-sense etiquette I’m seeing from fellow professional church workers. After offering…
Official Notice — Requests for Reinstatement (January 2011)
GREGG HEIN, Billings, Mont., has applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. PAMELA ARGUTO, Pueblo West, Colo.; JOYCE D. BLOMKER, Willmar, Minn.; DAVID HENTZEN, Idaho Falls, Idaho; BONNIE ELAINE KARNER, St. Louis, Mo.,…
Items wanted, available (January 2011)
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 Theological Monthly: all issues for 1926 through…
Positions (January 2011)
The following institutions of the Concordia University System are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., seeks to fill the following positions: assistant director of Student Success and Retention; director of Academic Support Services; Career Services director; institutional…
Harrison sends appeal about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison sent the following e-mail message to LCMS pastors and commissioned ministers Dec. 17 in response to the U.S. Senate’s pending vote on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy: “In a surprising turn of…
Survey: Internet becoming pastors' main info source
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…
LCEF conference targets 'oneness,' partnerships
By Joe Isenhower Jr. NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Participants say they have a new sense of “oneness” and are better equipped for faith-sharing after the Lutheran Church Extension Fund’s 2010 Fall Leadership Conference here Nov. 19-21. “That all of them may…
Board OKs upgrades to Classic99.com streaming
By Joe Isenhower Jr. NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At its Nov. 17-19 meeting here, the Synod’s Board of Directors gave conditional approval for providing $193,000 through mid-2012 for the LCMS not only to continue but to improve the way it provides…
Sem's Kantorei announces winter tour
The Kantorei of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., will present its winter tour of “Epiphany Lessons and Carols” Jan. 1-16 in 10 Midwestern cities. The 16-member choir, composed of men studying to become pastors, was founded in 1978 by…
Jan. 24 is 38th 'March for Life'
There’s still time to join the 38th “March for Life,” Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C. The annual event protests the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion and attests to the value of human life. Events for Lutherans include a…
New book explores topic of natural law
A new book from Concordia Publishing House explores the topic of natural law through 15 essays written by American and German theologians representing five different Lutheran church bodies: The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Evangelical…
Harrison, faith leaders rally behind traditional marriage
LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison is among a rare coalition of more than two dozen religious leaders who signed a public letter promoting marriage as “the faithful union of one man and one woman.” Leaders of Catholic, evangelical, Orthodox…
Foundation offers tips for end-of-year giving
The LCMS Foundation thanks those who have supported LCMS ministries this year and offers these tips for making end-of-year, tax-deductible gifts to the Synod: Stock certificate or cash gifts that are mailed should have a U.S. Postal Service postmark of…
German Christians fight for right to home-school
FRANKFURT, Germany (RNS) — After police barged into the Busekros family home in Bavaria, the family’s 15-year-old daughter, Melissa, was placed in a psychiatric facility, and later long-term foster care. The police, the girl said, told her she had been…
Study: Religious people happier when share pews with friends
(RNS) — Close friendships among congregants — rather than theology — seem to be the key to happiness among religious people, according to a new study. One-third of Americans who attend religious services weekly and have three to five close…
Celebrating Christmas before Dec. 25? Bah humbug!
(RNS) — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — earlier and earlier every year. The evergreens at Rockefeller Center and the White House were decorated in November, radio stations started playing carols after Halloween, and stores have been…
