(RNS) — For Living Faith Lutheran Church, the name change was as much about the future as the past. On Sunday, June 26, the Rockville, Md., congregation formally bid goodbye to its old name, Crusader Lutheran Church. “We’re not saying…

SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) — Mormon (LDS) officials are telling their top full-time leaders that they and their spouses should not participate in political campaigns, including making donations or endorsing candidates. However, part-time leaders — including local and regional congregational…

(RNS) — With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 looming, attendees at North America’s largest Muslim gathering this past weekend are told that the best way to deal with Islamophobia is not to lay low, but to get involved in politics,…

(RNS) — Officials of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) say they were the victims of a hoax in which a group claiming to be the denomination’s Executive Committee announced it had started to support gay marriage. A website of the…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The U.S. Supreme Court announced June 27 that it will examine whether the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the right to ban “fleeting expletives” on broadcast TV. The case will review last year’s decision by the 2nd…

(RNS/ENInews) — Churches in Liechtenstein, one of the world’s smallest countries, could face financial disaster under government plans to withdraw state subsidies under new legislation, according to a Protestant leader. “This will be a drastic change — we depend on…

NEW YORK (RNS) — With cries of “Rebuild now! Rebuild Now!,” parishioners and supporters of a Greek Orthodox church that was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks rallied at Ground Zero on June 26 in hopes of resuming negotiations to rebuild…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — As the U.S. Supreme Court ended its 2010-11 term at the end of June, legal scholars say a decision issued two months ago is likely to resonate within church-state debates for years to come. On April 4,…

By Melanie Ave ST. LOUIS — Thirty-two new career and short-term missionaries and educators began an 11-day orientation in St. Louis July 5 to help prepare them for service abroad later this year. The annual event, held this year for the…

How the Synod can marshal its theological education and mission efforts for the greatest impact worldwide was the topic for a first-time meeting June 30 of 16 representatives from the two LCMS seminaries, Lutheran Hour Ministries, LCMS World Mission (now…

Blessings and Prayers for Those with Cancer — a pocket-sized devotional that’s designed to comfort and encourage those dealing with the devastating disease — is now available from Concordia Publishing House. Written by Karen Boerger and Annetta Dellinger, the 192-page…

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will host a LutherHostel for adults age 55 and older Oct. 1-4. The event is designed to provide growth in biblical knowledge and understanding, fun and fellowship, and is an opportunity to “gain helpful insights for…

Former LCMS and Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) district president Dr. Albin J. Stanfel died July 7 in Kitchener, Ontario, after a long bout with cancer.  Dr. Stanfel, 82, was surrounded at the time of his death by his children Julie, Marty…

By Kim Plummer Krull It’s been about two weeks since three families — some of the thousands of flood evacuees forced out of their Minot, N.D., houses by the swollen Souris River — moved into campers parked near the home…

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (RNS) — Middle school is no picnic for a lot of students, but for Alec McGuire, it was intolerable. He transferred from one Catholic school to another in eighth grade to get away from another student whom…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Saudi Arabian embassy on June 24 denied as “completely false” reports that U.S. Jews would not be able to travel to Saudi Arabia under Delta Air Line’s planned partnership with Saudi Arabian Airlines. U.S. Jewish groups…