Rev. David A. Muench of Wildwood, Mo., starts July 5 as the first full-time executive director for the Synod’s Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support (CMGS). Dr. Bruce Hartung has served as the commission’s part-time executive director since the mid-1990s.  Since…

The Board of Regents for Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has appointed Dr. Edward Kettner as interim president. Kettner has served as a professor at the seminary since 1987.  He assumes the role July 1 following the resignation of…

Rev. David L. Mahsman of St. Louis and Dr. Paul Mueller of St. Paul, Minn., have accepted calls from LCMS World Mission. Mahsman, former executive editor of Reporter and The Lutheran Witness, began serving June 9 as assistant to Executive Director…

By Paula Schlueter Ross Ryan Tinetti, 22, has a year to kill before entering Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in fall 2006.  A recent graduate of Michigan State University, East Lansing, Tinetti is waiting a year so that he can begin seminary…

“For Life” is a new 14-minute DVD available from Lutherans For Life (LFL) that presents the pro-life organization’s Gospel-centered message. An accompanying study guide converts the DVD into a Bible study that may be used to introduce LFL to pastors, Sunday…

“Let’s Talk It Over: 10 Conversations on Supporting Church Workers” is a new resource from the LCMS Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support (CMGS) intended to help church professionals and lay leaders discuss potentially sensitive issues in a way that…

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has given the Synod a $1,425,000 churchwide grant this year for seven Synod projects, programs, or events. Three representatives from Thrivent’s Gateway Regional Office in St. Louis were at the LCMS International Center June 1 to present…

Delegates to Lutheran Church–Canada’s June 9-13 convention in Edmonton, Alberta, elected Dr. Ralph Mayan to his fourth three-year term as LCC president. Mayan, 61, has been president since 1996. They also elected: Rev. Nolan Astley, Lloydminster, Alberta, first vice-president; Rev. Daryl…

Congregations have until Sept. 30 to apply for Wheat Ridge Ministries’ “Health and Hope Grants” that will be awarded later this year. A May 27 Wheat Ridge news release indicates that the ministry plans to announce in November the recipients of…

By Paula Schlueter Ross TAMPA, Fla. — Delegates to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League’s 31st biennial convention here adopted a record mission goal of $1.625 million for the 2005-07 biennium. More than 3,100 people attended the June 16-19 convention under the theme…

In a two-day meeting just prior to the opening of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League convention in Tampa, Fla., more than 40 African American, African immigrant, Hispanic, and Hmong women — most of them unfamiliar with the LWML — met…

By Paula Schlueter Ross A few years ago, LCMS North America mission leaders tried to identify the Synod’s “top 100” church-planting congregations — those that had started two or more “daughter” churches over the past five years.  “Our goal was to…

The Web site for the 2007 National LCMS Youth Gathering, at www.lcmsgathering.com, goes live July 1, as planners unveil the logo for the event set for July 28-Aug. 1 in New Orleans. “Over the next two years, the Web site rolls out…

The Ohio District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod seeks applicants for the position of director of ministry resources.  This executive position serves as the lead Mission and Ministry Facilitator (MMF) of the Ohio District.  This leader directs, manages, and motivates…

The following persons have accepted nomination and are candidates for the presidency of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI: Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer — Ann Arbor, MIRev. Dr. Gary Bertels — Elmhurst, ILMr. James Caldwell — Westerville, OHRev. Dr. Robert DeWerff…

It may be a “four-letter word,” but it does work as a successful outreach tool, according to Jeff Van Beaver, president of Green Bay, Wis.-based Acts 1:8 Ministry. The word is “free,” as in “free soda” or “free carwash,” and…