‘It’ and the English language Regarding the debate on Amendment A to change Art. XI. F. 2. of the Synod’s constitution (Oct. ’04 Reporter), the following observations: Anyone with a sense of  English syntax has no difficulty seeing that the pronoun “it”…

Teams from five districts and the Synod’s International Center have been trained or are being trained for crisis management, thanks to a $32,283 grant to the Board for Communication Services from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “It is very important that the…

Two Synod commissions appointed by Synod President Gerald Kieschnick — the Commission on Worship and the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support — have met and elected officers for the next three years. Kieschnick also appointed three members to the Commission…

Concordia Publishing House is offering “Luther,” the 2003 film about the reformer’s life and times, for pre-release purchase in DVD and VHS formats.  CPH will start shipping orders Nov. 30, the release date set by MGM Home Entertainment. The “limited-time” price…

By Joe Isenhower Jr.  Although statistics that Synod congregations reported for the end of 2003 show a rise in contributions and “weekday religion-class” attendance, “the real story is that membership is still declining,” according Dr. John O’Hara, research analyst for…

The possibility of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod once again being a full participant in the Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue was raised Oct. 14 at a meeting in Chicago of the Committee on Lutheran Cooperation (CLC). The CLC has six members from each…

Guidelines should be available by the end of January for implementing in congregations a Synod convention action that permits women to hold any congregational office that does not involve the exercise of distinctive functions of the pastoral office. Dr. Samuel H.…

MICHAEL A. CROON SR., Niles, Ill.; WALTER D. KREGER, Bellaire, Mich.; and WILLIAM SINGLETON, Whiting, N.J., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  DINA MATASOVSKY, Belleville, Mich.; JANICE RUSNAK, Bridgeton, Mo.; SUZANNE…

The College of Education at Concordia University, Seward, Neb., is scheduled for a Spring 2005 accreditation review by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).  Federal regulations require that accrediting agencies allow for public comment on the qualifications…

The Board for Mission Services (BFMS) seeks nominations for associate director for ministry to the Armed Forces (MAF).  The associate director for MAF reports to the director of the Ministry to the Armed Forces Committee. The associate director for ministry to…

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 For Such a Time as This, three volumes,…

A half-million-dollar grant from the founder of eBay to Lutheran World Relief, Baltimore, is being used to provide safe drinking water, sanitation and shelter to people displaced by the 18-month conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. eBay founder Pierre…

Former LCMS World Mission executive Dr. Allan Buckman will begin serving Nov. 1 as executive director of the Lutheran Society for Missiology. The part-time position is the first for the 10-year-old mission society, which, in the past, has operated entirely with…

My First Catechism: An Illustrated Version of Luther’s Small Catechism for Children, is now available from Concordia Publishing House. The 128-page hardcover book addresses the Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, confession, books of the Bible, the church…

Voncile D. Stone, vice president of operations for the Synod’s Worker Benefit Plans, has earned the professional designation of Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) and Compensation Management Specialist (CMS). The CEBS is “one of the most respected professional credentials and is…