More on sem wives I simply could not believe my eyes when I read the comments in the February “Letters” from two individuals who were protesting the Council of Presidents’ policy that the wives of seminarians be LCMS members. What…
Board to CCM: Let's 'withdraw,' let convention address issues
By Joe Isenhower Jr. The Synod’s Board of Directors says it will withdraw two resolutions declaring eight opinions of the Commission on Constitutional Matters to be “of no effect” if the commission withdraws those opinions, “so as to allow the…
Task force wants more teachers certified
The 20-member Next Generation Task Force has found that only one in three of the 18,000 teachers in schools operated by Synod congregations are Synod-certified. The task force is recommending steps to increase that ratio. The task force, appointed by…
World Mission to share Pentecost 2000 'learnings'
By Paula Schlueter Ross The good news: More than 900 cross-cultural ministries have been started by Missouri Synod Lutherans since LCMS World Mission launched its “Pentecost 2000” initiative in 1999. Even better, information about all 900-plus ministries is listed on the P2K…
Interest in 'Luther' brings film to nearly 100 theaters
With re-issue of the movie “Luther” already booked for almost 100 locations this winter, it will continue “in theaters as long as there is a demand,” said Dennis A. Clauss, the film’s executive producer. Clauss, who also is church and…
New 'Board Briefs' available
“Conflict in the Bylaws” and “Funding National Ministries and Administrative Functions” are the titles of the latest installments of “Board Briefs,” an online question-and-answer feature from the Synod’s Board of Directors. “Board Briefs IV” once again addresses questions raised in…
Number of Lutherans worldwide climbs to 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…
Lutheran singles to gather
Lutheran “singles” — never married, divorced or widowed — are invited to attend a get-together sponsored by International Lutheran Single Adults (ILSA) July 10 in St. Louis, the opening day of the Synod’s national convention there. The gathering will begin at…
Library for Blind offers audio, too
The Library for the Blind, a ministry of Lutheran Blind Mission, St. Louis, offers free, on loan, audio-cassette materials, including 1,394 books on tape; 1,482 Lutheran Hour sermons; and eight magazines. As noted previously in Reporter, the library also offers thousands…
LCMS e-News adds five more newsletters
Subscribers to LCMS e-News now have five more newsletters from whichto choose on the free, Web-based LCMS e-News subscription service: “Lutheran Women in Mission,” produced by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, communicates the work and mission of the LWML to…
COP, Board have plenty to talk about at meeting
By David L. Mahsman The Synod’s Board of Directors and Council of Presidents (COP) had plenty to talk about when they met in St. Louis Feb. 6 and 7. Each group had asked independently to meet with the other. The…
Want to learn more about 'behavioral interviewing'?
The Center for U.S. Missions in Irvine, Calif., sponsored its first workshop on “behavioral interviewing” in January. The event was so successful the center is considering offering it again, if enough people are interested. The three-day seminar was led by Dr.…
'Open Arms' conference set for April
An “Open Arms” Leadership Conference, focusing on starting congregations with childcare ministries, will be held April 30-May 2 at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alpharetta, Ga., site of the Synod’s first “church-planting-with-childcare” model. This year’s conference, sponsored by the…
Fire destroys Sycamore, Ill., church
Rev. Don Phelps wore two “helmets” at the Feb. 9 fire that destroyed the building at 327 S. Main Street in Sycamore, Ill. — as chaplain for the local fire department and as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, whose…
Youth Gathering planners expect participants from 23 overseas church bodies
Young people and their adult leaders from 23 Missouri Synod partner churches around the world are expected to attend the 2004 National LCMS Youth Gathering, July 24-28 in Orlando, according to Gretchen Jameson, communications manager for the Gathering and for…
Youth Gathering registration continues
Registration remains open for the 2004 National LCMS Youth Gathering in Orlando, Fla., with a late-registration fee of $50 to be added for those who register after Feb. 28. The registration fee before that date is $225 per participant. Gretchen Jameson, communications…
