By James Heine At its meeting Nov. 15-17 in Raleigh, N.C., The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Council of Presidents (COP) continued its ongoing conversation about the church in a post-church culture. The council heard from the Rev. Bill Beyer and the Rev. Mike…
On planting congregations: advice from Beyer, Merker
The Rev. Bill Beyer, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Clayton, N.C., and the Rev. Mike Merker, pastor of Jordan Lutheran Church, Apex, N.C., shared the following church-planting ideas with the LCMS Council of Presidents at its Nov. 15-17 meeting…
Baltic Lutherans give thanks, share need, for theological education
By Adriane Dorr Hearing the stories of Lutheran pastors caring for their flocks in the Baltic region has been “personally heartwarming,” says the Rev. Dr. Timothy C. Quill, director of theological education for The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and a professor at Concordia Theological…
Seminaries offer Lent-related workshops
Both LCMS seminaries are offering Lent-related workshops for pastors in January. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has planned a pre-Lenten workshop, “Seeing is Not Believing: The Passion Story in Mark,” for Jan. 20. In a news release about the workshop, the seminary notes…
Fort Wayne sem readies annual symposia
Concordia Theological Seminary will present its annual symposia on exegetical and confessional theology Jan. 17-20 on its campus in Fort Wayne, Ind., and in a live webcast. The theme for the Exegetical Theology Symposium, Jan. 17-18, is “In Search of Jesus:…
D.C. tosses complaint against Catholic University dorms
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The District of Columbia has dismissed a complaint against The Catholic University of America (CUA) that charged the school’s return to same-gender student housing discriminates against women. In an order issued Nov. 29, the city’s Office of Human…
One-third of shelter residents are newly homeless
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Nearly one in five clients of Christian rescue missions said they were victims of physical violence within the past year, a 6 percent jump from the previous year, according to a new survey. “It’s quite possible that the…
Charitable giving up slightly but still ailing
(RNS) — Charitable giving is trickling back up as the economy heals, but it could take years to return to pre-recession levels, nonprofit leaders say. Giving totaled $291 billion in 2010, according to the 2011 annual report by the Center on…
PBS series to feature Lutheran Indian Ministries
Lutheran Indian Ministries of Brookfield, Wis., will be profiled in the upcoming 17th season of “The Visionaries,” an award-winning public-television series hosted by actor Sam Waterston. Lutheran Indian Ministries is a ministry of the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots…
Native American ministry gets boost from EIIT
By Paula Schlueter Ross Thanks to the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT), the number of Native American pastors now serving The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod has doubled: from two to four. The two newest Native American pastors are the Rev. Will Main…
Multi-Ethnic Symposium to explore 'Gifts of Hope'
The third LCMS Multi-Ethnic Symposium is planned for Jan. 30-31 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. This year’s topic is “Gifts of Hope,” a discussion of the “gifts of cultural diversity that inform and enliven the fullness of the body of…
CTCR meeting focuses on prayer report
The subject of prayer was the focus of the Nov. 10-12 meeting of the Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR). CTCR Executive Director Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer noted that every meeting of the commission includes set times for…
Haiti overview: $5.6 million in aid
By Kim Plummer Krull Generous donors to LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) have provided more than $5.6 million for help in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake. That aid was distributed primarily through grants to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of…
Resources available for 2012 'Life Sunday'
LCMS Life Ministries and Lutherans For Life (LFL) both are offering resources designed to help congregations observe “Life Sunday” on Jan. 22, 2012, the 39th anniversary date of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Jan. 22, 1973, decision that legalized abortion. The…
Registration open for Women's Institute conference
Registration is now open for the Fourth Biennial Conference of the Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI), located on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis. The national conference, March 9-11 at the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis, will explore how women…
Lutherans invited to join Jan. 23 life march in D.C.
As in past years, Lutherans are invited to join the 39th annual “March for Life” Jan. 23 in Washington, D.C., which includes the offer of free lodging for travelers in the homes of Washington-area Lutheran church members. The march is…
