SEATTLE (RNS) — In the headquarters of Washington United for Marriage, a large collage displays a list of the high-powered sponsors backing the ballot-measure campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. They include such iconic businesses as Amazon, Google and…

(RNS) — The Diocese of South Carolina announced Oct. 17 that it has disaffiliated from the Episcopal Church, escalating a long-running skirmish and setting the stage to become the fifth diocese to secede from the denomination. South Carolina said the split…

(RNS) — A North Carolina judge has ruled the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) did not discriminate against a former black employee. Kimberly McCallum worked for the Charlotte, N.C.-based BGEA from 2003 to 2007 and filed suit in 2009. While working on…

By Joe Isenhower Jr.  ST. LOUIS — Participants in the second LCMS prison- and jail-ministry conference here Sept. 29-30 say they are grateful for the opportunities it provided them for networking, gathering information and inspiration. From 25 LCMS districts, the 111 registrants’…

The Synod’s KFUO Radio and the Radio Arts Foundation of St. Louis (RAF) are entering a cooperative arrangement that begins with KFUO sharing its extensive classical music library with RAF.  RAF plans to launch a new FM station serving the…

(RNS) — Eileen Guenther, the national president of the American Guild of Organists, reveals behind-the-scenes church struggles in her new book, Rivals or a Team?: Clergy-Musician Relationships in the Twenty-First Century. Guenther, an associate professor of church music at Washington’s Wesley…

(RNS) — Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Oct. 16 said recent decisions by two regional bodies to allow ordained female pastors were “serious mistakes,” and women who are ordained won’t be recognized — at least for now. “They directly challenge…

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Benedict XVI Oct. 11 urged Catholics to confront the spiritual “desert” of today’s secularized world and to rediscover “the truth and beauty of the faith.” Benedict celebrated a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Square to mark…

The official nominating ballots for the offices of president, first vice-president, regional vice-presidents and regional LCMS board of directors layperson positions (Central and West/Southwest regions only) have been mailed to every member congregation of the Synod according to the list…

Official Notice THE LUTHERAN CHURCH–MISSOURI SYNOD INC. FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE SYNOD (FY 2012) By Jerald C. Wulf I frequently get asked, “How is The LCMS Inc. doing?” I frequently respond, “Our God has and continues to bless the LCMS,…

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH–MISSOURI SYNOD Salary Information The Synod’s policy of full financial disclosure provides for making available to members of the Synod (congregations, pastors, teachers and others on the roster), on written request, the salary grid scales of all Synod…

The colleges, universities and seminaries of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college, university or…

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 Jennifer Duffy at…

The following institutions of the Concordia University System (CUS) are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia College–New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill a faculty position in special education. Concordia University, Portland, Ore., seeks to fill a faculty position in psychology.…

WILLIAM G. NAUMANN, Woodland Hills, Calif.; DONALD REYNOLDS PHELPS, Aurora, Ill.; and DAVID A. SEYBOLDT, Elkhart, Ind., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. DWIGHT D. KARKAN, Greencastle, Pa.; KAREN KESHISHIAN, Forest…

‘Conscience’ Bible study Pastor Bryan Wulfmueller’s “Collision of Conscience: A Bible Study” (on Page 2 of the October Reporter’s “Religious Freedom” insert) is most helpful. He writes that, in view of Genesis 1:27-28, we can “surmise that family planning is…