LCMS congregations with email addresses should have received an email in late January from the Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces regarding “Armed Forces Sunday” on May 19. The email is intended to let congregations know that if they want…
Harrison shares Lenten message in new video
In a new video available online for viewing and sharing, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison offers a blessing and encourages the church to pray the Litany during this Lenten season. “Prayer is a great blessing,” Harrison says in the…
February's 'Lutheran Witness' is for young adults
By Adriane Dorr The Church rightly spends a great deal of time speaking to and about married couples, families, grandparents and babies, but too often, it forgets about the youth. That is why the February special issue of The Lutheran…
Physical, spiritual outreach continues to Sandy survivors
By Kim Plummer Krull Nearly three months after Superstorm Sandy, eight elderly, single women struggling to resume their lives along the hard-hit New Jersey Shore were among those offered a helping hand with debris and tree removal by Shepherd’s Heart…
Evangelicals embrace a like-minded pope
(RNS) — Not all Catholics appreciated Pope Benedict XVI’s staunch defense of Christian orthodoxy, traditional marriage and life from conception to natural death. But American evangelicals sure did. As word spread Feb. 11 of Benedict’s resignation, many evangelicals lamented the impending…
Commentary: Black History Month — diversity that's not divisive
By John Nunes The starting point for celebrations of African-American history month in February begins with the recognition of the unique struggles and toilsome successes of people of African descent. For Lutheran Christians, however, the celebrations do not end there.…
Welby confirmed as new Archbishop of Canterbury
LONDON (RNS) — Justin Welby was confirmed Feb. 4 as the new archbishop of Canterbury at a centuries-old service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, six weeks before his formal enthronement inside Canterbury Cathedral March 21. Welby, 57, was a banker and oil…
Religious sponsors loom large in Boy Scouts' policy debate
(RNS) — The decision by Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to postpone any change in policy about gay membership was fueled by an “outpouring of feedback.” Much of that reaction came from a sector with strength in numbers: the religious…
Children conceived through rape open new front in abortion wars
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Standing before the throngs at the March for Life Jan. 25, Ryan Bomberger admitted that he was the poster child for one of the most difficult aspects of the abortion debate: his mother had been raped. “I’m the…
Positions (February 2013)
The following institutions of the Concordia University System (CUS) are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., seeks to fill the following positions: associate dean of the School of Education; center director/student manager (Jackson center); non-traditional admission officer (Frankenmuth…
Catholic hospital says fetus defense was 'morally wrong'
(RNS) — Legal advice trumped church teaching when a Catholic hospital in Colorado tried to defend itself in a wrongful death lawsuit by claiming that twin fetuses who died at the hospital in 2006, along with the mother, should not…
Official notice: requests for reinstatement (February 2013)
DAVID R. WILLIAMS, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, has applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. JEAN A. DREESSEN, Fenton, Mo.; DEBORAH LEE GLISTER (nee Anderson), Verndale, Minn.; SARAH GAFFNEY (nee Utecht),…
Pressure Points (February 2013)
With Dr. Bruce Hartung This month’s “Pressure Points” offers several reader responses to previous columns. Concerning the August column on social media (at http://reporter.lcms.org/?20229): [Facebook] really is … a giant place where friends bid for connection to each other. Occasionally,…
Items wanted, available (February 2013)
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. Notices may be sent to Jennifer Duffy at…
Official notice: LFL position (February 2013)
Lutherans For Life, headquartered in Nevada, Iowa, is seeking a Renewal For Life (RFL) director. RFL, in cooperation with local pastors, seeks to identify and develop Life Teams and Life Team Leaders within congregations across the country. Such Life Teams…
Vatican signals options for protecting gay couples
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A high-ranking Vatican official voiced support Feb. 4 for giving unmarried couples some kind of legal protection even as he reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, head of the Pontifical Council for…
