Vicar Paul Pal, a Sudanese ministry leader in Columbia Heights, Minn., and a student at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, died Nov. 14 in a car accident while traveling from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to his home in Columbia Heights. Pal, 37, was…
Responding to weary after Wilma`s wallop
By Kim Krull Florida’s eighth hurricane in the past 15 months transformed one LCMS church into a refuge for “absolutely weary” evacuees the same day it turned another storm-battered church into a pile of rubble. Our Savior Lutheran Church, in…
`Headcount` at Synod colleges hits new record
By Paula Schlueter Ross Total enrollment at the Synod’s 10 Concordia University System (CUS) schools continues to climb, and this fall’s 18,569 for both undergraduate and graduate programs sets a new record high, with nearly 1,000 more students than last fall. Like…
Members help churches clean up from Katrina, Rita
By Joe Isenhower Jr. The 10 or so Synod churches and schools most affected by Hurricane Rita on Sept. 24 — nine in the “Golden Triangle” of southeast Texas and one in western Louisiana — mainly suffered roof damage from winds…
High school finds benefits in offering classes online
By Paula Schlueter Ross It hasn’t bought more land or built more classrooms, but Lutheran High School of Orange County (Calif.) is making its Christian education available to a wider range of students than ever before. The LCMS high school now offers…
Sem plans relief trip; invites laypeople to come
After Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, 20 volunteers from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, gathered supplies and headed south to help those who had lost their homes and possessions in the storm. The group of volunteers, composed primarily of…
`Lutherhostels` offer opportunities for learning, say participants
Bill and Diana Sornborger of Los Angeles are planning to attend their eighth or ninth “Lutherhostel” sponsored by the national Association of Lutheran Older Adults (ALOA), and they have no plans to make it their last. They keep going, says Diana,…
St. Louis seminary chorus announces Advent tour
The Concordia Seminary (St. Louis) Chorus will perform choral music for the season of Advent at Lutheran churches in five cities during its tour next month. All of the presentations, except those in Wausau, Wis., will include an expanded choral version…
Gamaliel dies; led seminary in India
Dr. James C. Gamaliel, renowned Lutheran evangelism leader and former seminary president in India, died Oct. 4 in a Trivandrum hospital after a three-week illness. He was 79. Dr. Herbert Hoefer, regional director for India and Sri Lanka with LCMS…
People in the News
Rev. Steven Siegel begins serving Nov. 14 as director of North American Ministries with Lutheran Hour Ministries, St. Louis. In the post, Siegel will oversee the North American division’s planning, budgeting, production, distribution, media, and promotion efforts. Siegel served the…
Dealing with disaster: What is a Christian to make of the tragedy?
By James Heine Katrina, Rita, and now Wilma. Tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes. Lives swept away and communities destroyed. New concerns about a catastrophic worldwide outbreak of the flu. What next? Our daily ration of news is almost universally grim, and it…
Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung
My October column advocating an extended period of seasoning before a person assumes a leadership role in the congregation brought a chorus of responses on a common theme: What is good for congregational leadership is also good for pastoral leadership. …
November Letters
The way of escape In my role as facilitator of the 2007 LCMS National Youth Gathering’s planning team, I was one of 13 Gathering-related leaders stranded in a New Orleans hotel as Katrina-driven waters rushed toward us down Canal Street.…
Items wanted, available
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 Filmstrips of Bible stories for deaf congregation; any…
Notice of Nondiscrimination
The colleges, universities and seminaries of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college, university or…
Requests for Reinstatement
RANDALL L. MOLL, Stuttgart, Kan., has applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. MELISSA L. WOLF, Rockville, Mo., and CINDY WULBERT, Buffalo Grove, Ill., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Commissioned…
