CTCR responds to dissent over reports, actions

By Roland Lovstad A “Response to Expressions of Dissent,” dealing with four broad areas of Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) reports and convention actions, was approved for distribution by the CTCR during its Dec. 5-6 meeting in St.…

Help is available for church workers in debt

While two-thirds of LCMS church workers would speak to a financial professional if their debts were affecting their ministries, less than a third know that such services are available. Such awareness — identified in the Lutheran Church Extension Fund study…

Letters to the Editor (January)

Politics and religion Recently in both Reporter and The Lutheran Witness, there have been articles relating to politics in our religion.  I believe these are good.  However, there is a growing number of those who do not believe that politics…

Positions (January)

Concordia Publishing House, the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, is searching for an experienced director of marketing to lead its Marketing Division.  Duties include overseeing the development and implementation of business plans for the various product lines; managing each business groups’…

Requests for Reinstatement (January)

THOMAS BIRD, Kansas City, Kan.; KATHRYN BAGANZ, Oconomowoc, Wis.; ROBERTA BEISWENGER, Prior Lake, Minn.; MICHELLE LEIGH COLEMAN, Valley Park, Mo.; JUDY REYNOLDS, Andover, Minn.; L. BOONE SMITH, Hoyt, Kan.; and CAMELA L. WICHMAN, Newton, N.C., have applied for reinstatement to…

Items wanted, available (January)

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 The Lutheran Hymnal Organist Edition.  Rev. Bruce Linderman,…

Lilly offers grants for pastors` sabbaticals

This year marks the eighth year that Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. is offering grants to support pastors’ sabbaticals. Lilly announced last fall that for 2007, as many as 120 grants of up to $45,000 apiece will be available through its National…

Pressure Points

With Dr. Bruce Hartung Q: It is said that there is a clergy shortage in our LCMS.  And, as a result of that shortage, many pastors have multiple ministries — perhaps as associates or assistants who have other roles that…

63rd LCMS convention meets in July

By Joe Isenhower Jr. The Synod’s 63rd Regular Convention is set for July 14-19 in Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center with the theme “One Message: Christ.”  That theme, part of the Synod’s three-point vision statement of “One Mission, One…

Commentary: Synod schools adapt to meet challenges

By D. Ray Halm I leaned my Schwinn against the side of the house and click-clacked my way to the door.  As I sat on the sill between the back porch and the kitchen unlacing my baseball spikes, my mother…

CTCR seeks top issues for next man-woman talks

Participants in the first consultation on “The Scriptural Relationship of Man and Woman” received a homework assignment from the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) as it continues work on a document to guide Christians regarding the topic. During…

Seminaries offer free calendars

Both Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod seminaries are offering free copies of their 2007 wall calendars. The Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, calendar features photos of the campus and students taken at various times during the academic year. This year’s calendar from Concordia…

Lilly grant funds LCMS family`s study in England

Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church, Payson, Ariz., has received a $44,270 grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. to support its pastor and his family as they pursue studies in England later this year. Shepherd of the Pines is the…

Two years after tsunami: suffering, silver linings

By Kim Krull Expanding an orphanage in Sri Lanka. Providing metal storage cabinets in India. Rebuilding fishing boats in Thailand. When you’re talking about the aftermath of one of deadliest disasters in modern history, those efforts may sound small. But…

New Congress includes 18 Lutherans

When the 110th Congress of the United States is sworn in Jan. 4, it will include 18 Lutherans — 11 Democrats and 7 Republicans, according to the ELCA Washington Office, the federal public policy advocacy office of the Evangelical Lutheran…

Kieschnicks to ride LHM float in Rose Parade

LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick and his wife, Terry, will ride “The Lutheran Hour” float in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. “The Lutheran Hour” float, the only religious float in the parade, is sponsored by the…