In the wake of the Feb. 7 Kirkwood City Hall shootings, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod has placed two half-page ads in St. Louis-area newspapers to encourage residents to look to Christ for healing. The first ad ran in the Sunday,…

ST. LOUIS—In response to the Feb. 7 shootings at Kirkwood City Hall, Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, has issued this statement: “Last night at around 7 o’clock, a man shot and killed a Kirkwood, Mo.,…

Dr. Harald Tomesch, president of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, resigned from the post Feb. 5. Tomesch had served as president of the Lutheran Church–Canada’s eastern seminary since Sept. 1, 2005.  Prior to that, he served eight…

Rev. Wayne J. Knolhoff of Fenton, Mo., was installed and began serving Feb. 1 as director of Stewardship Ministry, with the staff of the LCMS Board for District and Congregational Services (DCS). In that position, Knolhoff “has specific responsibility for…

The Lutheran Campus Mission Association (LCMA) is sponsoring two training events that focus on outreach on college campuses.  LCMA is in partnership with LCMS World Mission to support, promote, and expand campus missions Synodwide. The upcoming training conferences are: the…

A new “DCS Online Store” at the LCMS District and Congregational Services Web site features an inventory of resources for congregational ministry — most available for the first time in downloadable format. For the store, visit www.lcms.org/dcsstore or go to the…

James F. Sanft will begin serving March 3 as president of Concordia Plan Services, administrator of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s health, disability, life, and retirement benefit programs. Sanft, 45, succeeds Paul W. Middeke, who is retiring after serving four-and-a-half years…

By Kim Plummer Krull Kathy Wendling’s eyes filled with tears over the significance of fellow LCMS members joining forces to develop a timely, compassionate response to disasters that turn lives upside down. “I am so touched that this is an…

By Paula Schlueter Ross LCMS World Mission has asked its missionaries to Kenya to remain indefinitely in Ethiopia after they attend regularly scheduled meetings there, according to Travis Torblaa, the mission board’s personnel care manager. The move came in the…

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. Wanted Hymnal Supplement ’98, 100 copies.  Pastor Theodore…

LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) seeks nominations for executive director.  The executive director reports to the CTCR and is responsible for supervising the administration of the CTCR according to Commission decisions, delegating responsibilities according to Commission policies,…

Laborers For Christ, a ministry service of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund–Missouri Synod, is recruiting construction laborers to work for LCMS congregations and organizations, helping them build their own facilities. Construction experience (labor and/or project management) is preferred but not…

MELISSA F. BECKMAN, Parma, Ohio, and AARON ROHDE, Oxford, Mich., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Commissioned roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  Correspondence regarding these applications should be directed to the undersigned for receipt no later than…

By Wilhelm Torgerson Is there a Lutheran congregation today in Wittenberg, the German town so closely associated with Martin Luther and the Reformation? This would seem a fairly easy question to answer, but it also seems to be a matter…

Thrivent Builds in Poland I am a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans employee at the Operations Center in Appleton. Thank you for the article on Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity in the January Reporter. My husband, Chuck, and I will…