Des Moines Operation Barnabas to distribute yellow ribbons

Iowans can tie yellow ribbons around their old oaks and other trees to welcome home returning National Guard soldiers after the Des Moines chapter of Operation Barnabas distributes free ribbon kits on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, at Camp Dodge…

Items wanted, available (June 2011)

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. Email notices to karen.higgins@lcms.org. Wanted Chair lift or…

Positions (June 2011)

The following institutions of the Concordia University System are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia College–New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill the following position: director of Graduate Program in Childhood Special Education. Other part-time positions include health care financing, bioethics,…

Official Notice — Requests for Reinstatement (June 2011)

LARRY R. GORLITZ, St. Cloud, Minn.; MAX L. GERTZ, Purvis, Miss.; and FREDERICK C. HILL, Arlington Heights, Ill., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. KELLY SINGER, Billings, Mont., has applied for reinstatement…

Call for Nominations: LCMS Foundation president (June 2011)

The Board of Trustees of The Lutheran Church Missouri–Synod (LCMS) Foundation herewith calls for nominations for the position of president of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Foundation. The president reports to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation and relates to…

Pressure Points (June 2011)

With Dr. Bruce Hartung Thanks to alert readers for pointing out that a Web address for Internet accountability software in May’s column actually led to the online opportunity to purchase watches. I apologize. The correct site address is www.x3watch.com. This…

Seminaries invite high school students to visit

Both LCMS seminaries will hold visitation events for high school students this summer. Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., will hold a two-week “Christ Academy — High School” June 19-July 2 on its campus for high school-age men. The program for…

Providers of chaplains voice concerns

Twenty-one religious agencies providing chaplains to the U.S. military sent a joint letter to the U.S. military’s chiefs of chaplains May 23, voicing concern over the absence of religious-liberty protections if openly practiced homosexual behavior is sanctioned in the military.…

In new video, Harrison asks for prayers, help for storm victims

In a video released May 25, LCMS President Dr. Matthew C. Harrison asks Lutherans to pray for all those affected by recent storms — especially the devastating May 22 tornado in Joplin, Mo. — and to “give generously” to those…

Rodger Hebermehl, former LHM executive director, dies

Rodger Hebermehl, who served as executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), St. Louis, from 1996 to 2003, died May 22 after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Hebermehl, 67, died at his home in Mount Carmel, Ill.…

Joplin twister kills 132, including two LCMS members

By Kim Plummer Krull Two children, ages 6 and 8, from a member family at First Lutheran Church in nearby Neosho, Mo., are among 132 confirmed deaths from the devastating twister that ripped through Joplin, Mo., on May 22.  The…

Rast to succeed Wenthe as Fort Wayne seminary president

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, announced May 21 that Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. will serve as its 17th president. Rast, 48, currently serves the seminary as academic dean and professor of American Christianity and American Lutheranism.  He will succeed…

Seminary to announce new president May 21

Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS), Fort Wayne, will introduce its 17th president May 21 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time — both in the Student Commons on campus and via a live webcast. Joining the seminary’s president-elect will be LCMS President Dr.…

'Lutheran Witness' offers new readers $6.99 trial subscription

To celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Synod’s official periodical, The Lutheran Witness, Concordia Publishing House — responsible for production, printing and distribution of the magazine — is offering new readers a reduced subscription price. The magazine, founded in 1882,…

Disaster response team brings spiritual care to tornado victims

By Kim Plummer Krull Lillie Lightford desperately wants to return to the mobile home where she and her sons lived in Huntsville, Ala., before a tornado peeled off the roof and rain drenched her possessions. Rich Stimson probably shouldn’t sleep…

Harrison receives two honorary doctorates

LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison has received two honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Laws from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., during the university’s May 7 commencement ceremony. a Doctor of Divinity during the May 20 commencement at Concordia Theological…