By Kim Plummer Krull Even a disaster-response veteran like LCMS World Relief and Human Care’s (WR-HC) Rev. Glenn F. Merritt says the devastation after the deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., surpasses what he has seen after most other disasters. “This…

By John Oberdeck “I personally had no idea how far or in what direction my training as a lay minister would take me. I simply know that it would not have all happened without my training and experience at Concordia.”…

By Sarah Schafer Harold and Harriet Fritz were two of dozens of volunteers from across the country to help with tornado relief at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School in Joplin, Mo., over Memorial Day weekend. “It’s the least…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. FORT WAYNE, Ind. — At its May 18-19 meeting here on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, the Synod’s Board of Directors adopted a national-Synod operating budget of $76,748,812 for the 2011-12 fiscal year that starts…

By James Heine Acting as the Board of Assignments, the LCMS Council of Presidents (COP) April 30 assigned first calls to 149 candidates certified for ministry by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, Ind.; Concordia Lutheran…

Responding to the recent onslaught of natural disasters, Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) has put in place a new program to help LCMS rostered church workers (RCW), congregations, schools and other official Synod-related organizations affected by such disasters with loan…

Iowans can tie yellow ribbons around their old oaks and other trees to welcome home returning National Guard soldiers after the Des Moines chapter of Operation Barnabas distributes free ribbon kits on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, at Camp Dodge…

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. Email notices to karen.higgins@lcms.org. Wanted Chair lift or…

The following institutions of the Concordia University System are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia College–New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill the following position: director of Graduate Program in Childhood Special Education. Other part-time positions include health care financing, bioethics,…

The Board of Trustees of The Lutheran Church Missouri–Synod (LCMS) Foundation herewith calls for nominations for the position of president of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Foundation. The president reports to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation and relates to…

LARRY R. GORLITZ, St. Cloud, Minn.; MAX L. GERTZ, Purvis, Miss.; and FREDERICK C. HILL, Arlington Heights, Ill., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. KELLY SINGER, Billings, Mont., has applied for reinstatement…

Both LCMS seminaries will hold visitation events for high school students this summer. Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., will hold a two-week “Christ Academy — High School” June 19-July 2 on its campus for high school-age men. The program for…

Twenty-one religious agencies providing chaplains to the U.S. military sent a joint letter to the U.S. military’s chiefs of chaplains May 23, voicing concern over the absence of religious-liberty protections if openly practiced homosexual behavior is sanctioned in the military.…

In a video released May 25, LCMS President Dr. Matthew C. Harrison asks Lutherans to pray for all those affected by recent storms — especially the devastating May 22 tornado in Joplin, Mo. — and to “give generously” to those…

Rodger Hebermehl, who served as executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), St. Louis, from 1996 to 2003, died May 22 after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Hebermehl, 67, died at his home in Mount Carmel, Ill.…