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…
TV special includes Paul Maier
April 5 ABC-TV special includes commentary from Paul Maier Dr. Paul L. Maier is among commentators in a three-hour ABC-TV special focusing on Jesus Christ and St. Paul, scheduled to air 8-11 p.m. (ET), Monday, April 5. The program, hosted…
Laborers expands program to meet needs of changing congregations
By Paula Schlueter Ross In the face of fewer projects and fewer available workers, Laborers For Christ (LFC) is offering additional services to make its program more useful and “relevant” to today’s changing congregations. The Synod’s LFC program, which began in…
LFL affirms marriage as man-woman union
Marriage is “a God-given institution between a man and a woman.” Homosexual unions “are based on a lie rather than the Word of God … and cannot constitute a marriage,” says a statement adopted Feb. 21 by the national Lutherans…
Arizona congregation sponsors `Igniting` event
By Joe Isenhower Jr. Trinity Lutheran Church, Litchfield Park, Ariz., is thought to be the first congregation to sponsor a “One Mission Ablaze: Igniting Congregations” event March 13. “This is the first congregation-sponsored ‘Igniting’ event that we are aware of,” said…
World`s Lutherans number nearly 66 million
Membership among Lutheran churches in the last two years increased by 570,000, bringing the number of Lutherans worldwide to nearly 66 million by the end of 2003. Regular statistics provided by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) indicate an average .9 percent…
