Harrison shares Advent message in new video

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison shares an Advent message to the church in a new video. Advent is the season of preparation for Christmas that began on Dec. 2 this year and ends on Christmas Eve. “Jesus promises in Advent…

Typhoon Bopha strikes Philippines; LCMS ready to assist

By Kim Plummer Krull As congregations prepared to gather for Advent services on Wednesday, Dec. 5, the Rev. John A. Fale, associate executive director of LCMS Mercy Operations, asked for prayers for people in the Philippines who are mourning loved…

Disaster-response training helpful, say partner-church reps

By Megan Kincaid “Mercy in Action” was the theme as more than 50 participants from nine countries attended the disaster-response training conference for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s Asia Pacific region Nov. 27-29 in Hong Kong. Conference leaders Rev. Glenn F.…

Historical Institute presents awards for 2011

Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) presented “Awards of Commendation” to 22 historians Nov. 8 for exemplary accomplishment in the field of American Lutheran history during 2011. The awards were in the categories of “Journal Articles,” “Major Publications,” “Organizational Histories,” “Congregational Histories”…

Campus atheists score big funding from Wisconsin university

(RNS) — An organization of student nonbelievers is likely to receive $69,000 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW), the largest grant from an institute of higher learning ever awarded to a nontheistic, student-led organization. The grant’s size marks a milestone for…

Former rector of nation's largest Episcopal church becomes Catholic

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (RNS) — The former rector of the nation’s largest Episcopal church has become a Roman Catholic. The Rev. Larry Gipson was dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham from 1982-94 and rector at St. Martin’s Episcopal…

LCMS President sends Advent blessings

Video message released in preparation for Christmas

Official notice: LCMS audit (December 2012)

The audit for the year ended June 30, 2012, and the program budget summary for fiscal year 2012-13 of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod have been completed and are available upon written request.  Requests for the audited financial statements and program…

Anglicans vow to vote again on allowing women bishops

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) — The Church of England plans to rush through legislation to consecrate women bishops after last week’s surprising defeat at the church’s General Synod in London. The church’s Archbishops’ Council ended two days of closed-door meetings Nov. 28,…

Catholic intensity fades as evangelical devotion surges

(RNS) — After November’s presidential vote, Catholics could cite ample evidence for their renewed political relevance while dispirited evangelicals were left wondering if they are destined to be yesterday’s election news. Yet their roles in American spiritual life may be…

Court: Catholic businessman can fight contraception mandate

ST. LOUIS (RNS) — A federal appeals court Nov. 28 temporarily blocked the enforcement of the Obama administration’s contraception mandate while a Catholic business owner appeals a lower court’s ruling that tossed out his suit. Opponents of the law said it…

Secession theology runs deep in American religious, political history

(RNS) — Corruption has gone too far. The righteous must break away. Hope now rests with a holy remnant that will honor foundational texts. The message sounds familiar. A church schism? No, mounting calls for secession from the United States. Since President…

Lutheran ministries offer free Advent devotions

Several Lutheran ministries are offering free devotions for Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas that begins on Dec. 2 this year and ends on Christmas Eve. Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), St. Louis, is offering two new sets of Advent…

TV station tells story of Concordia, Portland, collaboration with grade school

A story by NBC-affiliate KGW-TV Channel 8 in Portland, Ore. — airing several times over the Nov. 17-18 weekend — highlights the five-year relationship between Concordia University, Portland, and neighboring Faubion Elementary School. Since Concordia University students and faculty began volunteering…

New LHM Bible study tackles challenges of veterans

Americans who sign up to serve their country in the U.S. armed forces expect challenges — especially if their duty includes combat. But service members also encounter challenges far from the battlefield, after they come home. “Warriors of Faith —…

CPH offers gift set to benefit Lutheran Malaria Initiative

This Christmas, you can give a gift of hope to a child a world away while encouraging the gift of compassion in a child close to home. Concordia Publishing House’s “Save A Life Gift Set” includes one copy of the children’s…