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…
Thrivent gives $165,000 to train future school administrators
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has awarded a $165,000 grant to develop a training program for potential Lutheran school administrators. The program, known as Administrative Candidates Training Seminars” (ACTS) is “designed to help the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church–Missouri…
Anonymous donor gives Ann Arbor $1 million gift
Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., has received a $1 million anonymous grant to be used for scholarships. A university news release dated March 12 said the donor “is a strong proponent of Lutheran Christian education, and has designated the dollars to…
Mission society opens Baltimore `guest house`
Families from out of town who need a place to stay in Baltimore while a loved one is treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital or at another medical facility there now have an option that is free of charge. The Lutheran Mission…
World Mission cancels New Directions conference
LCMS World Mission, which has sponsored its “New Directions” mission conference annually for more than 10 years, has cancelled this year’s event, which was scheduled for April 29-May 2 in St. Louis. The Synod’s mission board is hosting a series of…
Registration now open for LutherHostel
Registration is open for the Oct. 2-5 LutherHostel 2004 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. A seminary news release describes LutherHostel as “an educational event for adults age 55 and above.” Dr. R. Reed Lessing, assistant professor of exegetical theology at…
Members say network helps family ministry
The new Lutheran Family Ministry Network had signed up more than 30 charter members as this Reporter went to press. A story in the February Reporter announced its formation. “As I read about what it offered, I realized the network…
Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung
Influence and power are used for personal agendas. Those who don’t go along are disparaged and disregarded. Useful projects also are done, but in part perhaps, simply to cover the more insidious agenda. The way is littered with people who…
CPH offers VBS planning tips
Want to make sure your congregation and community hear about your vacation Bible school? Here are five tips for effective VBS publicity from Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis: Encourage open invitations — provide fliers to your congregation’s children and ask them…
LFC is like `mission work,` say volunteers
When Dave and Nina Lett sold their four-bedroom house in Englewood, Ohio, three years ago and moved into a fifth-wheel trailer-home full time, it seemed like the sensible thing to do. “When you’re not at home, you can’t do the maintenance,”…
St. Louis sem receives accreditation extension
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, President John F. Johnson got word from two accrediting agencies last month that the seminary is receiving a 10-year extension of its accreditation, with no notations. That is “the highest level of accreditation renewal possible,” says a…
''Letters'' April 2004
Let the Spirit guide delegates Does the LCMS believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is really in charge of His body, the Church, or does it not? We speak of the “divine call” to serve as pastor, teacher, DCE, district…
