For more details about the preliminary proposals and “possibilities” recommended by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance, click here to see the document titled “Walking Together — The LCMS Future: Proposals and Possibilities for Consideration and Discussion.”…

By Roland Lovstad A revised 2008-09 budget, purchase of management software, and approval for a library addition at the Fort Wayne seminary were among actions by the LCMS Board of Directors at its meeting Aug. 21-22 in St. Louis.  The…

This fall’s Church Planting and Gospel Outreach through Child Care Ministry Conference sponsored by the Open Arms Institute will be hosted by a congregation that’s “a classic example of the Open Arms concept in action, resulting in a new congregation…

Jake, Megan, Hannah, Colin, and Mitch are five high-school seniors from Warsaw, Ind., and their story is coming to a multiplex screen near you. “American Teen,” a PG-13-rated documentary from director Nanette Burstein, follows the lives of the five students and…

JOE C. FAIRCHILD, Virginia Beach, Va., and QUENTIN M. GENKE, Greensboro, N.C., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. BARBARA A. PAAPE, Sheboygan, Wis., has applied for reinstatement to the Minister of…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. Strengthening congregations’ mission and ministry is a major point of preliminary proposals offered by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance.  (See Structure, governance task force proposals.) Made public at the end of…

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. Available The Organist Portfolio, two-to-three years’ worth of…

The following institutions of the Concordia University System (CUS) are seeking candidates for positions described below: Concordia College–New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill the following position: assistant registrar. Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., seeks to fill the following faculty positions: dean,…

Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) is now accepting reservations for its 2009 Ministry Tour to Central America. LHM tours offer participants an opportunity to get a firsthand look at LHM ministries in action and to learn about outreach in the host…

Eighteen Lutheran college fairs are planned for fall at locations around the country. Representatives of the schools — the Synod’s 10 colleges and universities and those of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod — will be at…

By Linda C. Hoops For the 720 participants at the 2008 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music, the one word that seems best to describe their experience at the four-day conference is “unity.” Rev. David Johnson, executive director of…

Dr. George F. Wollenburg, president of the Synod’s Montana District for 22 years, died Aug. 18 at his home in Billings, Mont., after a two-and-a-half year struggle with lung cancer.  Dr. Wollenburg’s wife of 53 years, Martha, and other members…

By Joe Isenhower Jr. ARLINGTON, Va. — Mention “the flame” and this city across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., and most might assume you mean the Eternal Flame at the grave of President John F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery. But the…

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Rev. John T. Pless, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., was elected co-president of the International Wilhelm Löhe Society July 26 in Neuendettelsau, Germany. Pless succeeds Dr. Craig Nessan of Wartburg Theological…