Representatives of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the North American Lutheran Church released a statement Dec. 16 about their discussions Dec. 15-16 in St. Louis. The statement follows. An initial discussion was held on 15-16 December 2011 between representatives of…
Supreme Court upholds NYC ban on churches in schools
NEW YORK (RNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 5 let stand a lower court ruling that bars congregations from using space in New York City schools for after-hours worship services. The decision appears to end a legal saga…
Why do we spend money on happiness we can't afford?
(RNS) — James A. Roberts was watching an ABC News Nightline episode on basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal recently when he heard about the size of the retired player’s Florida home: 70,000 square feet. Even for a man who spends his…
Prison/jail-ministry conference seeks presenters
Presenters are needed to lead sectionals at the second synodwide “Training and Equipping Conference for Prison and Jail Ministry,” planned for Sept. 29-30 in St. Louis. The conference is designed to acquaint participants with “proven models of pastoral and lay prison…
Grimenstein is new disaster-response manager
The Rev. Dr. Edward Grimenstein has been named as manager of Disaster Response for the LCMS Office of International Mission. In the new position, Grimenstein will support congregations and districts with disaster planning, training and assistance. He will report to…
Resources ready for 'Schools Week'
Lutheran schools and their sponsoring congregations may order a variety of resources from LCMS School Ministry and Concordia Publishing House to promote “National Lutheran Schools Week” (NLSW), set for March 4-10, 2012. This year’s theme, “Securing Each Child’s Future —…
COP considers church-planting in 'unchurched terrain'
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…
