(RNS) — The United States tied with Switzerland for fifth place in a “world giving index” by the British-based Charities Aid Foundation that measured charitable behavior across the globe. The ranking in the “World Giving Index 2010” was based on…
Missouri lawmakers answer question of when life begins
(RNS) — It’s a question that has perplexed philosophers, theologians and scientists for thousands of years. Pythagorean Greeks, early Christian church fathers, Talmudic rabbis, Sunni and Shia scholars, Hindu Brahmin and modern bioethicists have grappled with the fundamental, ultimately unknowable,…
Ballots on constitutional amendments mailed
The official ballots for two proposed amendments to The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Constitution were mailed to LCMS congregations Sept. 15. The amendments were adopted by delegates to the Synod’s 64th Regular Convention, meeting July 10-17 in Houston. To take effect,…
CTCR’s creation-care report to be mailed to churches
“Together with All Creatures: Caring for God’s Living Earth,” the Commission on Theology and Church Relations’ (CTCR) report “on the responsible Christian stewardship of the environment,” is being mailed in late September to all congregations and rostered church workers. Adopted…
Concordia — New York gets CPH bookstore
Concordia Publishing House opened its newest campus bookstore Sept. 2 at Concordia College — New York, Bronxville, N.Y. CPH also operates stores at Concordia University campuses in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; and Seward, Neb., as well as at the two…
Fall 'PRAY' event planned
As the Synod’s newly elected leaders begin their service in a church body that is facing structural changes, another PRAY2010 event is planned for Oct. 21-22 in St. Louis. The first PRAY event was held last fall, and two others…
Campus Ministry offers 'Texas Underground,' other events
LCMS Campus Ministry is offering several events for students, ministry leaders, faculty and staff from colleges and universities nationwide. “Texas Underground,” Jan. 2-7 in San Antonio, is a six-day “servant-outreach gathering” conducted in partnership with Can-Do Missions and Acts 1:8…
Registration opens for LEA convocation
Registration is open online and by mail for the Lutheran Education Association (LEA) 2011 convocation March 24-26 at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati. Expected to draw several thousand participants, the triennial national convocation is open to Lutheran teachers, school administrators,…
Official Notice: Proposed Constitutional Amendments (September-October 2010)
The official ballots for two proposed amendments to The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Constitution were mailed Sept. 15 to LCMS congregations. The amendments were adopted by delegates to the Synod’s 64th Regular Convention, meeting July 10-17 in Houston. To take effect,…
Boards elect chairmen, officers
During meetings Sept. 9-11 in St. Louis, the LCMS Board of Directors and the new Boards for National and International Mission elected officers to serve three-year terms. Elected by the Board of Directors were: Dr. Robert T. Kuhn, LCMS president emeritus, of Oviedo,…
Harrison installed as 13th LCMS president
By Adriane Dorr ST. LOUIS — The installation of Rev. Matthew C. Harrison as the 13th president of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod was, in his own words, “an amazing, humbling day.” Pondering both the number of people who were in…
Three years on, Creation Museum is evolving
PETERSBURG, Ky. (RNS) — Ken Ham, the Australian-born creator of the Creation Museum, looks around the throng of about a thousand guests on a hot, August morning and notes that “for a Tuesday, this is not a bad crowd.” In…
Anglican head rebuts famous scientist on Big Bang
LONDON (RNS) — Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has flatly dismissed famed scientist Stephen Hawking’s claim that gravity, not God, was responsible for creating the universe. Hawking, a retired professor at England’s Cambridge University and best-selling author, insists in his…
CPH celebrates sale of one-millionth hymnal
Lutheran Service Book, the hymnal released by Concordia Publishing House in 2006, has sold one million copies, according to the Synod’s publisher. “People need a way to give voice to their faith. There are three core books that can do…
Scharr is new Southern Illinois District president
Rev. Timothy J. Scharr was installed as president of the Southern Illinois District Aug. 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville, Ill. Scharr, 52, succeeds Rev. Herbert C. Mueller Jr., who was elected as LCMS first vice president at the…
Sem plans conference on classic languages
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, is offering a conference Oct. 1-2 on “Lutheranism and the Classics.” The conference is intended for pastors, educators, professional classicists, Latin students and their teachers, and anyone who is interested in the ancient languages of…
