(RNS/ENInews) — Conservative Lutherans are forming a new church body they say will “uphold confessional principles” after disagreements with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) over the ordination of gay clergy. The new North American Lutheran Church (NALC) is…

(RNS) — World Vision, the Christian humanitarian organization, can fire employees who disagree with its theological tenets, a federal appeals court ruled on Aug. 23. In a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that World Vision…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Conservative Christian groups won a major victory Aug. 23 when a Washington judge halted federal funding of embryonic stem cell research to allow a suit challenging the practice as illegal to go forward. The suit, by a…

LONDON (RNS) — A Roman Catholic adoption agency has lost its fight for the right to continue its policy of refusing to place children with same-sex couples based on religious principles. The agency, Catholic Care, saw its battle to limit…

Lutheran Bible Translators seeks an experienced director of Program Ministries to provide leadership to Program Ministries, its staff and missionaries, and to serve as a liaison with partner organizations. The successful candidate will have a strong background in administration and…

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 Missal, altar paraments, altar cross, Spanish Bibles,…

Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., seeks nominations for the position of president.  The president is the chief executive officer of the university’s Board of Regents and serves as the university’s spiritual, academic, and administrative head.  The official functions of the…

WASHINGTON (RNS) — An appeals court ruling that said highway crosses erected to honor fallen Utah state troopers are unconstitutional could prompt additional challenges in other states, legal experts said. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 18…

The 2010 convention adopted two resolutions to amend the Constitution of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  Article XIV of the Constitution details the amendment process: Amendments must not conflict with the provisions laid down in Articles II and VI of the…

DENISE DASH, Harlingen, Texas; SHARON HINZ FRAKER, New Braunfels, Texas; KRISTEN (KLEMZ) MCCARTNEY, Indianapolis, Ind.; and CHRISTY JO RAFSON, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion-Commissioned roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  Correspondence regarding these…

REV. TIMOTHY J. SCHARR, Trinity, Nashville, Ill., will assume the responsibilities of the district president Sept. 1, replacing REV. HERBERT C. MUELLER JR., who was elected as Synod’s first vice-president effective Sept. 1. REV. FRED KRAEMER, Holy Cross, Collinsville, Ill.,…

Blessings and Prayers for Caregivers, a devotional designed to encourage and equip those who care for others, is now available from Concordia Publishing House. “Our research showed that at any given time, 26.6 percent of the U.S. population is in…

By Paula Schlueter Ross The photo is striking.  A minister kneels on the ground, clutching the hands of three women as he leads them in prayer after a shooting Aug. 3 in Manchester, Conn. Rev. Dana Hallenbeck, the minister in…

Kurt Buchholz began serving Aug. 1 as interim executive director of LCMS World Mission. Buchholz succeeds Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder, who stepped down July 31 after serving 21 months in the post — as interim executive director from November 2008…

If a group from your congregation was at July’s National LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans, chances are they enjoyed it.  But in-between Servant Events, worship services and workshops, they may not have had time (or the money) to purchase…