The incumbent Synod president and first vice president have received the most nominations from LCMS congregations for election at this summer’s Synod convention to their respective current positions. Synod President Gerald Kieschnick received 1,244 nominations for re-election to his office, and…
CTCR adopts civic-events guidelines
By David L. Mahsman “Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events,” the product of an assignment sparked by questions raised following a post-9/11 event in New York’s Yankee Stadium, was completed and adopted last month by the Commission on Theology and Church…
Outside attorney`s letter responds to opposing lawyers
By Joe Isenhower Jr. The Synod’s Board of Directors the week after Easter sent to every LCMS congregation a mailing that responds to letters from three attorneys who disagree with outside legal opinions obtained by the Board last year. The mailing…
Bush to speak at Mequon graduation
It was no April Fools joke when the university president sent an April 1 e-mail saying that President George W. Bush had accepted an invitation to deliver the spring commencement address May 14 at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon. “We are delighted…
Lutherans respond to tornadoes
Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and local Lutherans are helping those affected by a cluster of 19 tornadoes that ripped through northern Illinois April 21, killing eight people in Utica, about 90 miles southeast of Chicago. LDR is a cooperative program of the…
`Convention Workbook` mailed to delegates, church workers
The Convention Workbook 2004 and three supplemental books, all with the theme of “One Mission Ablaze,” were mailed the last week of April to convention delegates and to all rostered church workers in the Synod. Synod Secretary Raymond Hartwig said that…
`Lutheran Witness,` `Reporter` receive awards
Reporter and The Lutheran Witness, the Synod’s magazine, each won a first-place award and Reporter an “Honorable Mention” in this year’s Associated Church Press (ACP) competition for work done in 2003. The awards were presented April 20 in Toronto. ACP is…
Irvine loses hoops title in close NAIA finals
In a rematch of last year’s title game, the men from Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., relinquished the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division I basketball championship March 30 in Kansas City. Mountain State University, Beckley, W.Va., edged Irvine 74-70 in…
Praesidium adopts report on LCMS-ELCA working relationships
By David L. Mahsman The Praesidium of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is recommending to this year’s Synod convention that current LCMS working relationships with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America be continued. At the same time, the Praesidium — the Synod’s…
CCM: Not necessary to withdraw 8 opinions
By Joe Isenhower Jr. The Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) March 22 reaffirmed its eight opinions that the Board of Directors last year said are “of no effect.” The commission added that the resolutions by which the Board made…
Blind Mission moves toward independence
Lutheran Blind Mission is moving out from under the auspices of LCMS World Mission and becoming an independent mission society May 1. Although it will continue to receive partial funding from the mission board for two years, Lutheran Blind Mission…
People in the News
Dr. Robert Rosin, chairman of the historical theology department at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has accepted a part-time assignment with LCMS World Mission, beginning this summer. While Rosin, 53, will continue teaching at the seminary half time, he also will…
Pastor: Hoax is indication of pain on campus
By Paula Schlueter Ross The case of Audrey Seiler, the University of Wisconsin sophomore who faked her own abduction in late March, is just one example of the deep emotional pain a number of students are experiencing on today’s college…
Gus Melde dies; former Int`l LLL president
Dr. Gus Melde, a one-time president of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League (Int’l LLL) and member of the Synod Board of Directors, died April 4 at a Dallas hospital, from heart failure and an acute infection resulting from diabetes. A memorial…
Williams, Gehrke receive 2004 honors from LEA
Judy Williams and Dennis Gehrke were named 2004 Lutheran Education Association (LEA) Distinguished Lutheran Early Childhood Director and Distinguished Lutheran Principal, respectively, during LEA’s national administrators conference March 21 in Orlando. Williams is minister to families with young children at…
Western fire victims still `sifting ashes`
Although it’s been six months since massive wildfires burned about 750,000 acres and destroyed more than 3,600 houses in Southern California, relief workers say that some people there are still searching for lost belongings. “In fact, some people are still sifting through…
