Notice of Nondiscrimination

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…

Items wanted, available

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 Filmstrips of Bible stories for deaf congregation; any…

November Letters

The way of escape In my role as facilitator of the 2007 LCMS National Youth Gathering’s planning team, I was one of 13 Gathering-related leaders stranded in a New Orleans hotel as Katrina-driven waters rushed toward us down Canal Street.…

Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung

My October column advocating an extended period of seasoning before a person assumes a leadership role in the congregation brought a chorus of responses on a common theme: What is good for congregational leadership is also good for pastoral leadership. …

Dealing with disaster: What is a Christian to make of the tragedy?

By James Heine Katrina, Rita, and now Wilma.  Tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes.  Lives swept away and communities destroyed.  New concerns about a catastrophic worldwide outbreak of the flu. What next? Our daily ration of news is almost universally grim, and it…

People in the News

Rev. Steven Siegel begins serving Nov. 14 as director of North American Ministries with Lutheran Hour Ministries, St. Louis.  In the post, Siegel will oversee the North American division’s planning, budgeting, production, distribution, media, and promotion efforts.  Siegel served the…

Gamaliel dies; led seminary in India

Dr. James C. Gamaliel, renowned Lutheran evangelism leader and former seminary president in India, died Oct. 4 in a Trivandrum hospital after a three-week illness.  He was 79. Dr. Herbert Hoefer, regional director for India and Sri Lanka with LCMS…

St. Louis seminary chorus announces Advent tour

The Concordia Seminary (St. Louis) Chorus will perform choral music for the season of Advent at Lutheran churches in five cities during its tour next month. All of the presentations, except those in Wausau, Wis., will include an expanded choral version…

`Lutherhostels` offer opportunities for learning, say participants

Bill and Diana Sornborger of Los Angeles are planning to attend their eighth or ninth “Lutherhostel” sponsored by the national Association of Lutheran Older Adults (ALOA), and they have no plans to make it their last. They keep going, says Diana,…

Sem plans relief trip; invites laypeople to come

After Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, 20 volunteers from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, gathered supplies and headed south to help those who had lost their homes and possessions in the storm.  The group of volunteers, composed primarily of…

High school finds benefits in offering classes online

By Paula Schlueter Ross It hasn’t bought more land or built more classrooms, but Lutheran High School of Orange County (Calif.) is making its Christian education available to a wider range of students than ever before. The LCMS high school now offers…

Members help churches clean up from Katrina, Rita

By Joe Isenhower Jr.  The 10 or so Synod churches and schools most affected by Hurricane Rita on Sept. 24 — nine in the “Golden Triangle” of southeast Texas and one in western Louisiana — mainly suffered roof damage from winds…

`Headcount` at Synod colleges hits new record

By Paula Schlueter Ross Total enrollment at the Synod’s 10 Concordia University System (CUS) schools continues to climb, and this fall’s 18,569 for both undergraduate and graduate programs sets a new record high, with nearly 1,000 more students than last fall. Like…

Responding to weary after Wilma`s wallop

By Kim Krull Florida’s eighth hurricane in the past 15 months transformed one LCMS church into a refuge for “absolutely weary” evacuees the same day it turned another storm-battered church into a pile of rubble. Our Savior Lutheran Church, in…

2007 Gathering moves to Orlando

LCMS District and Congregational Services (DCS)–Youth Ministry has announced that plans are now firm to hold the 2007 National LCMS Youth Gathering in Orlando, Fla., instead of in New Orleans.  The Gathering is set for July 28-Aug. 1.   Youth…

LCMS World Relief accepting donations for earthquake relief

LCMS World Relief/Human Care is accepting donations for emergency relief for the millions affected by the Oct. 8 South Asia earthquake that killed an estimated 30,000 people in Pakistan and 1,400 in India, with fewer deaths also reported in Afghanistan. …