Lutheran Disaster Response is encouraging Lutherans to heed the advice of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during “National Influenza Vaccination Week,” Jan. 10-16, to “protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting vaccinated” against the H1N1…
Dr. Michael Stelmachowicz, former director of higher ed, dies
Dr. Michael J. Stelmachowicz, who served more than 40 years as an LCMS educator and education executive, died in his sleep Dec. 30 at a retirement home in Wauwatosa, Wis. He was 82. A funeral service was held Jan. 6…
Heine accepts BCS news director post
James H. Heine, editor of The Lutheran Witness magazine since 2007, is the new director of News and Information Services for the Synod’s Board for Communication Services (BCS). This month, Heine, 59, accepted an appointment from the board to the…
Resources available for 'Lutheran Schools Week'
Lutheran schools and their sponsoring congregations may order a variety of resources from LCMS District and Congregational Services — School Ministry and Concordia Publishing House to promote “National Lutheran Schools Week,” set for March 7-13. This year’s theme, “Securing Each…
World Relief to assist Haitians; missionary, mission teams OK
By Linda C. Hoops As estimates of the loss of life and destruction in Haiti emerged following Tuesday’s magnitude 7.0 earthquake, LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) began responding, while members of LCMS congregations prayed for the safety of…
CTCR adopts man-woman relationship report
“The Creator’s Tapestry: Scriptural Perspectives on Man-Woman Relationships in Marriage and the Church” is the title of a 76-page report adopted by the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations at its Dec. 10-12 meeting. It is the commission’s latest…
Thrivent gives $1.1 million to Synod
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has given the Synod a $1.1 churchwide grant for Synod projects, programs, or events. Two representatives from Thrivent’s Heartland Regional Office in St. Louis were at the LCMS International Center Dec. 16 to present a check…
Mission society starts work in Cuba, Cambodia
The Children’s Christian Concern Society, an LCMS mission organization, is starting new work in January in Cuba and Cambodia. “For 30 years, we depended entirely on the Lord, as we couldn’t officially function as a church,” said Rev. Ishmael Laborde,…
Seminaries release educational videos
The Synod’s two seminaries — Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne — are making a collection of more than 1,100 educational videos available on their Web sites. The videos were originally part of the Distance Education Leading…
Sudanese mission supporters discuss work
More than 30 people representing 18 LCMS mission agencies and congregational groups that sponsor mission work in Sudan, East Africa, met Dec. 14-15 in Omaha, Neb., to share information and better coordinate their efforts. The goal of the third biennial…
Congregation commits to family torn by tragedy
By Linda C. Hoops “We are committed to support this family, no matter what it takes.” These are the words of Rev. Donald C. Porter, pastor of Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind. The family he is talking…
Delegates offer feedback at regional gatherings
By Paula Schlueter Ross Two of the nine regional gatherings planned for LCMS convention delegates already have taken place, and organizer-presenter Rev. Jon Braunersreuther says that, so far, the events are doing just what they’re supposed to do: explain the…
Florida church's cross doubles as cell phone tower
By Paula Schlueter Ross When T-Mobile approached Dr. Doug Fountain at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Lake Worth, Fla., to see if the pastor would be open to the installation of a cell phone tower on the church’s property — and…
'Transforming Network' helps churches look outward
By Roland Lovstad There is an unknown constituency in the midst of the Ablaze! goal to revitalize 2,000 congregations by 2017: they are the ones with no church home or those who don’t yet know Jesus as their Savior. “Even…
Seminary to host evangelism conference
The second annual “Reaching Out Together” evangelism conference is scheduled for Feb. 13 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The event is sponsored by the Saturday Outreach School, St. Louis, in conjunction with the seminary, the Synod’s Missouri District, and LCMS…
Program prepares congregations for disaster response
By Linda C. Hoops According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States in 2009 had 52 declared disasters — from landslides in the West, tornadoes through the Midwest, and severe flooding and snows along the Eastern seaboard. …
