Fred E. Lietz dies — LCMS Church Extension pioneer

Fred E. Lietz, the first executive leader of Church Extension for The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, died April 19 in nursing care at Lutheran Haven, a retirement community in Oviedo, Fla., where he and his wife resided. His death at age…

Harrison leads malaria prayer service at International Center

Synod President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison led staff at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis in a 19-minute prayer service on “World Malaria Day,” April 25. The service included the “14:40 Prayer for World Malaria Day” that asks God…

Pressure Points (May 2012)

With Dr. Bruce Hartung Two questions with similar concerns came to “Pressure Points” over the last two months. Those questions and my answers follow.  Q: There are few polite ways to tell you what is going on in our church. We…

Positions (May 2012)

Concordia Seminary: senior vice-president for Advancement Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, serves church and world by providing theological education and leadership, centered in the Gospel, to form pastors, deaconesses, missionaries and leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  It offers…

Walter Kayser, former LCMS BOD member, dies

Walter William Kayser, who served as a member of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Board of Directors from 1981 to 1984, died April 21 of natural causes. Kayser, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was 94. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m.…

Official notice — Call for nominations: director, Black Ministry (May 2012)

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, Office of National Mission (ONM), St. Louis, calls for nominations for the position of director — Black Ministry. The director is responsible for working within the Office of National Mission. The director will collaborate and coordinate…

Call for nominations: LIRS board, committee members (May 2012)

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) seeks nominations for 2013 board of directors and committees.  Nominations are due June 15.  Visit www.lirs.org/boardnominations to view the call for nominations, expectations of board and committee members, the nominations timeline and the nominations…

Official notice — Requests for reinstatement (May 2012)

ALISON M. BRAND, Springfield, Mo.; DOROTHY CAMPBELL, Lake Zurich, Ill.; WILLIAM G. FECHT, Westlake, Ohio; WENDY F. GREVE, Lansing, Mich.; JANE M. HENDERSON, Jacksonville, Ill.; THEODORE R. HOMANN, Kalispell, Mont.;  DAWN C. KROOHN, Maplewood, Minn.; JENNIFER RECK, Muskegon, Mich.; DAVID…

Final newsletter shares highlights of 'Fan into Flame'

By Paula Schlueter Ross The blessings of the Synod’s Fan into Flame campaign are many: $1.45 million to help 29 new “career” missionaries begin ministries in far-flung locations including Germany, Guinea, Hong Kong, Kenya, Macau, Peru and Slovakia. $1.22 million to…

Oklahoma District re-elects Henke, adopts handbook

Delegates to the 47th convention of the LCMS Oklahoma District re-elected the Rev. Barrie E. Henke to his second term as district president. The convention gathered April 20-21 at the National Center for Employee Development (NCED) in Norman, Okla.  Henke…

Mill Neck releases third Bible story book for deaf

The third of 12 Bible story books combining written language, artwork and illustrated sign language to teach hearing and deaf individuals is available from Lutheran Friends of the Deaf (LFD), a ministry of the Mill Neck Family of Organizations, which…

New book details history of Lutheran Heritage Foundation

The Rev. Robert Rahn, founder of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), has written a 330-page book that traces the development of the organization from its beginnings in Russia to its present-day work in Africa and Southeast Asia. The book’s title, Jesus…

Items wanted, available (May 2012)

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. Notices may be sent to Jennifer Duffy at…

Sattgast re-elected in South Dakota

Delegates to the 59th convention of the LCMS South Dakota District elected President Rev. Dr. Dale L. Sattgast on the first ballot to his third three-year term. The convention met April 18-21 in Sioux Falls, S.D., under the theme “Called into…

Minnesota North re-elects Fondow

At the LCMS Minnesota North District convention, meeting April 16-18 in Alexandria, Minn., delegates re-elected on the first ballot the Rev. Dr. Donald J. Fondow of Park Rapids, Minn., as district president. Fondow, 58, was re-elected to his fourth three-year term.…

Vatican orders crackdown on American nuns

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Vatican has launched a crackdown on the umbrella group that represents most of America’s 55,000 Catholic nuns, saying that the group was not speaking out strongly enough against gay marriage, abortion and women’s ordination. Rome also chided…