(RNS) — A professor who was fired in July by the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) says the Atlanta consortium of black seminaries discriminated against his conservative Christian views. The Rev. Jamal-Dominique Hopkins, an African-American expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls, filed…
Report shows 5,000-plus 'multisite' churches
(RNS) — The number of congregations that host worship services at more than one physical location has grown to more than 5,000 in the last decade, according to a new report. Researchers say these “multisite” churches, which may share worshippers across…
Official notice: requests for reinstatement (September 2012)
KEITH CLARK FOX, San Antonio, Texas, has applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. LISA GAYE LESSING (nee RADKE), St. Louis, Mo., SONJA RUPPEL, Palatine, Ill., and SHERRIE SMITH, Justice, Ill., have applied…
Call for nominations: president — LCMS Foundation (September 2012)
The Board of Trustees of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Foundation herewith calls for nominations for the position of president of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Foundation. The president reports to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation and relates to the…
Positions (September 2012)
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: Academic Resource (ARC) director; GST coordinator/FYE faculty; computer science program director and instructor. Concordia University,…
Official notice: convention reports and overtures (September 2012)
The deadline established by bylaw for the submission of reports and overtures to the 2013 convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is March 2, 2013. Boards and commissions of the Synod are asked to submit their reports to the convention…
Items wanted, available (September 2012)
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…
LHM Float Committee announces coloring contest
A coloring contest for students in preschool through eighth grade is being sponsored for the third consecutive year by the Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) Float Committee. Each year the committee plans, designs, raises funds for, promotes and decorates — along…
Convention Corner (September 2012)
With Barbara A. Below With less than a year to go until the 2013 LCMS convention, there has already been a lot of work toward putting in place its basic structure. The electronic voting system that will be used at…
Hymnwriters Conference set for Jan. 27-29
To foster LCMS members in their love of faithful hymnody and in an effort to cultivate and develop aspiring writers, the LCMS Worship Department, under the auspices of the Office of National Mission, will host a Hymnwriters Conference Jan. 27-29…
Pioneering housing in Brooklyn continues to open doors
By Kim Plummer Krull In the early 1980s, a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., was bound, gagged, raped, doused in gasoline and left for dead as her house burned in an area infamous for crime and…
Registration opens Sept. 15 for 'UNWRAPPED'
Registration is set to open Sept. 15 and run through Nov. 15 for “UNWRAPPED” — the first Synod-sponsored national campus-ministry conference in 10-plus years. To register for the conference and for more information about it, go to the Synod’s campus-ministry…
LIMM Director Bobbie Lautenschlager dies
Roberta “Bobbie” Lautenschlager, executive director of Lutherans in Medical Missions (LIMM), died Aug. 18, surrounded by loved ones at her home in St. Louis. Lautenschlager, 68, died of non-smoker’s small-cell lung cancer, which was diagnosed in March. A memorial service is…
Youth workers focus on 'deeper, richer' meaning of 'remember'
San Antonio challenges its visitors to “Remember the Alamo” as they take in the legendary battle site there. But when 237 participants gathered in San Antonio July 12-15 for the Synod’s 2013 NATIONAL youth workers leadership-training conference, they heard the challenge…
Harrison voices concern and thanks to drought-affected members
Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison expresses concern to drought-affected rural and small-town Synod congregations and their families and thanks them for their support for the church in a video message made available Aug. 15. At four minutes, 19…
Cholak, Zill, Pacey, Winters begin national mission work
The Synod’s Office of National Mission welcomed four new staff members in August. The Rev. Steven T. Cholak of The Woodlands, Texas, began serving full time Aug. 1 as project coordinator for Special Ministries. Cholak, former pastoral assistant and administrator for…
