VATICAN CITY (RNS) — After a 15-year process, the Holy See on Jan. 20 gave its final approval to the Neocatechumenal Way, a lay movement that has been criticized for its unorthodox liturgical practices but that has been successful in…
As missionary movement turns 200, questions for future
SALEM, Mass. (RNS) — When America’s first ordained missionaries sailed from here to India 200 years ago, they kicked off a movement to spread the faith and created America’s most potent export: Christianity. That’s the message that will reverberate across nine…
Americans intrigued but wary still of Mormon beliefs
(RNS) When Mormons call themselves “a peculiar people,” they mean it in the biblical sense — set aside by God, chosen. But many Americans call them peculiar in Webster’s way — strange, odd. Now Mormons, followers of the Church of Jesus Christ…
Obama holds firm on contraception coverage
(RNS) — The Obama administration said Jan. 20 that it will not broaden the religious exemption in new rules that require employers to provide contraception coverage to employees, a move that angered religious groups and opened a high stakes election-year…
Praying for New Orleans, one block at a time
NEW ORLEANS (RNS) — Millie Campbell slipped the transmission into reverse and backed her blue Chevrolet away from her spotless brick home. “Oh God,” she said, “we thank you for the blood of Jesus.” Then the 76-year-old cranked the wheel straight,…
Think tank engages campus ministry reps, Synod leaders
By Joe Isenhower Jr. ST. LOUIS — When 21 “stakeholders” met here for a Jan. 3-4 LCMS campus-ministry think tank, they shared information about what is happening in campus ministry in the Synod and about what they’d like to see for…
Wheat Ridge Ministries announces $263,000 in grants
Wheat Ridge Ministries of Itasca, Ill., is awarding $263,000 in grants to fund efforts of six “health and hope” ministries, including four related to The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. “Wheat Ridge Ministries is excited to offer needed assistance to these Lutheran…
Four career missionaries deployed
Four career missionaries were deployed overseas in January to begin their ministries: Anthony DiLiberto, of Diamond Bar, Calif., who is serving in Peru; the Rev. Dr. Carl and Deaconess Deborah Rockrohr, of Ann Arbor, Mich., in South Africa; and the…
Mission opportunities span variety of vocations, countries
By Paula Schlueter Ross The Rev. Ken and Mildred Young of Chester, Ill., served as short-term missionaries in Chiayi, Taiwan, for two weeks last October, leading Bible classes for children and adults. The Youngs, who are “young at heart” at ages 82…
Muslim men convicted of advocating death for gays
LONDON (RNS) — In the first case of its kind, a British court has convicted three Muslim men — who claimed they were acting under teachings of their religion — of openly advocating the execution of gays. Jurors in Derby, England,…
Survey: Half of churchgoers say lives not affected by pew time
(RNS) — Almost half of churchgoing Americans say their lives have not changed a bit due to their time in the pews, a new survey shows. Barna Group, an evangelical company based in California, found that 46 percent reported no change.…
Crash kills pastor's wife, two children in Kansas
By Kim Plummer Krull “A lot of hearts are broken” at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Salina, Kan., and in other LCMS communities after the tragic car accident Jan. 28 that killed the wife and two young children of the…
LCMS, Lutheran Church of Nigeria to combat malaria
By Adriane Dorr “We are ready to break the silence of awareness about malaria,” said Archbishop Christian Ekong, president of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria (LCN). Following his attendance at Concordia Theological Seminary’s annual Symposia in Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan.…
Concordia, Nebraska, journal now online
Issues in Christian Education, a journal produced by Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Neb., since 1966, is now available only online. The electronic Issues will be produced three times a year. Just like its print predecessor, each issue of the free publication…
Letters to the Editor (February 2012)
Needed: Confession, Absolution In his December “Pressure Points” response to the anxious and scared brother or sister in Christ whose church job is in jeopardy, Dr. Bruce Hartung rightly begins with the comfort of Christian identity — Baptism. He writes,…
Items wanted, available (February 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 Karen Higgins at…
