By Roland Lovstad The Rev. Mark Nebel recalls that when he began serving his first call at a small congregation in Southern Illinois, there were no children in the worship services. “The mentality was ‘We’re too old, we’re too small,…
'Amazing Desert Journey' is CPH's 2012 VBS
Concordia Publishing House is offering an all-inclusive Starter Kit for its 2012 vacation Bible school (VBS) program titled “Amazing Desert Journey.” With the theme “Where Jesus Leads Us Home,” the new VBS materials provide a backdrop for a clear presentation of…
LCMS, ELCA reps discuss cooperation
CHICAGO — Leaders of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met here Feb. 8 as the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation (CLC) to discuss church-to-church cooperation and to share denominational updates. The LCMS, with about 2.3…
LEA announces 2012 awards
Lutheran Education Association (LEA) has announced the eight recipients of its 2012 educator awards, including Dr. Jeffrey Burkart of St. Paul, Minn., for the top Christus Magister (Teacher of Christ) Award. In addition, the LCMS Recognized Service Organization has named…
Harrison testifies as House leaders spar over HHS ruling
By Joel Gehrke WASHINGTON — LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison joined representatives of the Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, and Jewish traditions in Washington, D.C., Feb.16 to testify before Congress on the threat to religious liberty posed by the contraception…
Concordia, Bronxville, president to step down in 2013
Dr. Viji D. George, president of Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y., since 1999, says he plans to step down from the position June 30, 2013. “Periodic changes in leadership breathe new vision and direction into the life of an institution,” George…
Harrison defends freedoms before House committee
By Adriane Dorr LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison spoke in defense of religion and conscience before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in a Capitol Hill hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 16. Expressing concern over…
Harrison to speak before House committee
By Adriane Dorr LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison will take part in a Capitol Hill hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in Washington, D. C., on Thursday, Feb. 16. The hearing will focus on the…
LCMS, ELS, WELS presidents offer papers at Emmaus Conference
The presidents of three American Lutheran synods offered papers at the Fifth Annual Emmaus Conference Feb. 9-10 at Parkland Lutheran Church and School in Tacoma, Wash. Parkland Lutheran Church is a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. LCMS President Rev. Dr.…
Registration open for youth-workers conference
Registration is open for LCMS Youth Ministry’s National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference (also known as “NATIONAL”) — set for July 12-15 at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio. NATIONAL provides leadership training for volunteer and professional youth workers in Synod…
Klaus to headline prison-ministry conference
The Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, speaker emeritus of “The Lutheran Hour” radio program, will be the keynote speaker at the second synodwide “Training and Equipping Conference for Prison and Jail Ministry” to be held Sept. 29-30 in St. Louis, at…
Materials available for 'Concordia Sunday'
Free materials are available from the Concordia University System (CUS) to celebrate “Concordia Sunday,” a recognition of the 148-year history of the Synod’s 10 universities and colleges. The date of April 29 is suggested, but congregations may select any Sunday for…
British group can't tout divine healing in ads, website
LONDON (RNS) — Britain’s powerful media advertising watchdog has banned a Christian group from claiming on its website and brochures that God’s cure-all powers can heal a string of medical ailments. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the independent regulator of advertising in…
U.S. tourists to Israel advised to dress modestly
JERUSALEM (RNS) — The U.S. State Department is advising visitors to Jerusalem to dress modestly when visiting certain neighborhoods, or to avoid the areas entirely, in hopes of not provoking local sensitivities. The State Department guidance did not specify which neighborhoods…
Volunteer center brings hope to flooded Minot
By Kim Plummer Krull Seven months after the Souris River flooded a quarter of Minot, N.D., devastating some 4,100 homes, the great majority of the families affected by the flood still live in FEMA trailers or with friends and relatives,…
Study says U.S. Muslims don't want Shariah either
(RNS) — North American Muslims are more than satisfied with the secular legal system and do not want a set of parallel courts for Islamic law, according to a new study of U.S. and Canadian Muslims by a Washington-based think…
