New This Week

Synod grant assists Panama COVID-19 relief

The funds are helping care for church workers and supplying much-needed bags of food for congregation members and their surrounding communities.

Campus clips – LCMS schools focus on health, service, future

Updates from LCMS colleges, universities and seminaries.

Concordia, Texas, offers new online health degrees

The Master of Public Health is a competency-based graduate program, and the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care is a degree advancement program for registered respiratory therapists.  

Upcoming retreats offer pastors respite from pandemic

The LCMS Office of National Mission has partnered with DOXOLOGY on the retreats, which are planned for Sept. 28–30 in Bel Aire, Kan., and Oct. 5–7 in Donaldson, Ind.

Hurricane Laura to require long-term, collaborative response

The Category 4 storm made landfall near Cameron, La., on Aug. 27.

In difficult times, international missionaries still being trained, sent

The new missionaries were sent during a service at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis on Aug. 7.

Survey reveals impact of COVID-19 on congregations

More than 1,200 congregations responded to the survey, which was sent to every congregation with a valid email address — 4,787 in total — in June.

Lutherans respond after ‘derecho’ wind storm devastates Iowa cities and farms

On Monday, Aug. 10, the storm tore through the Midwest, taking down trees and power lines, leveling corn crops, and cutting the area off from power and phone signals.

‘Lutheran Witness’ introduces new website, podcast

The refreshed LW site is more user-friendly and accessible. 

August ‘Witness’: Necessary conversations

The issue studies the intersection of faith and politics.

Obituaries
Obituary: Rev. Dr. Ray Halm, former president of Concordia University, Irvine

The Rev. Dr. Ray Halm, who served as president of Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., from 1980 to 1998, died Aug. 4.

‘In All Things’: Youth Ministry announces 2022 Gathering theme

The next LCMS Youth Gathering is set for July 9–13, 2022, in Houston.

Back to school during COVID-19: ‘Campus Clips’ special edition

The Synod’s colleges, universities and seminaries are preparing to return to class this fall under guidelines necessitated by COVID-19.

Faith in the public square: US Supreme Court decisions impact religious principles, freedom

The rulings concern issues of life, sexuality and education.

Obituary: Dr. Thomas W. Kuchta, former chief financial officer of the LCMS

Kuchta died July 14 in Elm Grove, Wis., at the age of 78.