SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) — Kevin Finch grew up in meat-and-potatoes country, a small town off of Flathead Lake in western Montana. The only fine-dining restaurant there was half eatery/half bowling alley. Everything came out of the deep fryer. “It was…
As Rowan Williams retires, speculation turns to successor
LONDON (RNS) — Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said March 16 he will step down at the end of 2012, setting the stage for the unique process of government officials appointing the new leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Williams’…
Britain starts talks on legalizing gay marriage
CANTERBURY, England (RNS/ENInews) — The British government on March 15 launched a 12-week consultation that is widely expected to lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage in England and Wales, despite strong opposition from Catholics and some Anglicans. “Should two…
Quebec parties challenge halal meat laws
TORONTO (RNS) — Two political parties in Quebec are speaking out against the ritual slaughter of meat, saying the practice runs counter to the province’s secular “values.” The opposition Parti Quebecois (PQ) on March 14 declared concerns about halal meat,…
'Ten Commandments Judge' poised to return to Alabama court
MOBILE, Ala. (RNS) — With 98 percent of state precincts counted, Roy Moore held on to 51 percent of the vote in his bid to retake his former job as chief justice of the state’s supreme court. Moore received 279,381…
March 22 webinar to aid rural/small-town ministries
LCMS Rural and Small Town Mission (RSTM) will hold a webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. (CT) Thursday, March 22. The presenter will be Sarah Guldalian, manager of Evangelism Training for Lutheran Hour Ministries, who will discuss “Social Networking Strategies…
Black Ministry Convocation set for July in Greensboro
The LCMS Southeastern District Coalition of Lutherans in Black Ministry is sponsoring a national Black Ministry Family Convocation July 11-15 at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C. The convocation is the first to be held since the Synod’s…
LCMS families deal with tornado damage in Michigan
By Kim Plummer Krull LCMS families in Ann Arbor are among those dealing with damages after three reported tornadoes ripped through southeastern Michigan on March 15, destroying at least 100 homes, according to news accounts. Two members of St. Paul…
Weedon accepts call to LCMS Worship, IC chaplaincy post
The Rev. William C. Weedon of Worden, Ill., has accepted the call to serve as the Synod’s director of Worship and International Center (IC) chaplain. He will join the staff at the IC May 1. His installation is planned for…
Needed: Volunteers, support to bring hope to Minot
By Kim Plummer Krull Strong backs and arms plus volunteers with carpentry and electrical skills are much needed to help put the “hope” in Hope Village, the volunteer center that opens April 1 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Minot, N.D.,…
Northern Illinois District re-elects Gilbert
Delegates to the LCMS Northern Illinois District convention, meeting March 9-10 at Concordia University Chicago, in River Forest, Ill., re-elected by acclamation the Rev. Dan P. Gilbert of Addison, Ill., as district president. Gilbert, 60, was re-elected to his third…
'Be Well Rewards' program extends into 2012
By Elizabeth M. Truong Concordia Plan Services (CPS) — the Synod’s benefits provider — announced in January that the Concordia Health Plan (CHP) “Be Well Rewards” program has been extended through the end of 2012. Some 28,500 CHP members are eligible…
Barnabas conference focuses on caring for nation’s military
By Linda C. Hoops Georgia Fisher becomes emotional when talking about her 24-year-old grandson, Michael, who is a Marine sergeant serving in Afghanistan since November. “He’s already lost one close buddy,” said Fisher, a member of Grace Lutheran Church in…
After months of wrangling, occupiers evicted from St. Paul's Cathedral
LONDON (RNS) — Police on Feb. 28 evicted scores of demonstrators from a makeshift tent city they had erected outside historic St. Paul’s Cathedral more than four months ago as part of a global protest against capitalism. After brief skirmishes in…
Breakaway Anglicans ordered to return property by April 30
(RNS) — A Virginia judge has ordered seven congregations that broke from the Episcopal Church to return all property to the local diocese — from valuable land to sacred chalices — by April 30. The Diocese of Virginia had wanted the…
Israeli postmen refuse to deliver Hebrew-language Bibles
JERUSALEM (RNS) — Israeli postal workers outside Tel Aviv are refusing to deliver thousands of copies of the New Testament and other Hebrew-language Christian materials. Israel media reported March 6 that dozens of religious and secular Jewish mail deliverers jointly informed…
