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  • Robert Schaefer elected bishop of ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert G. Schaefer, Venice, Fla., was elected May 4 to a six-year term as bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Schaefer was elected on the sixth ballot during the synod assembly May 2-4 in Orlando, Fla. “I am deeply grateful for the confidence that our assembly has placed in me in this call to serve as their bishop,” said Schaefer, who serves as lead pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran in Venice. “I p...

  • Rodger Prois elected bishop of ELCA Western Iowa Synod
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Rodger C. Prois, Storm Lake, Iowa, was elected April 27 to a six-year term as bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prois was elected on the fifth ballot during the synod assembly April 26-28 in Sioux City, Iowa. Prois serves as interim pastor at St. Mark Lutheran in Sioux City, Iowa, and New Life Lutheran in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. He will be installed as bishop Sept. 1 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ch...

  • ELCA observes World Malaria Day with special campaign appeal
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In observance of World Malaria Day April 25, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is emphasizing its commitment to help bring an end to malaria-related deaths with a week- long effort to raise $250,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. The money raised April 22-29 will help spur the ELCA’s anti-malaria efforts in Uganda, where the disease is the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5. “Gifts given to the ELCA Malaria Campaign this w...

  • ELCA leaders advocate for immigration reform in support of families
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to advocate for comprehensive federal immigration reform as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on legislation that calls for reform. A bipartisan group of senators introduced a reform bill April 17. In anticipation of the Senate’s bill, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service sponsored a leadership summit April 14-16 that brought together 40 Lutheran leaders from across the country to Capi...

  • ELCA leaders urge Obama to pursue diplomatic solutions in Syria
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In an April 12 letter to President Obama, leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) urged the administration and others in the international community to find new avenues toward peace in Syria and strive to resolve the civil war there through diplomacy. In their letter, the ELCA presiding bishop and four synod bishops offered their appreciation for Obama’s chosen “path of restraint,” particularly as the bishops have heard louder calls in re...

  • ELCA synod council makes decisions on key leadership positions
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The council of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met April 16 to make decisions and recommendations, in consultation with ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson, regarding key synod leadership positions. In an April 17 letter to members of the synod Eric Peterson, chair of the synod’s council and synod vice president, first expressed gratitude “for the tremendous outpouring of prayers” for Maureen Mengelt’s...

  • ELCA offers worship resources in response to Boston Marathon bombings
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has made available prayer and worship resources in response to the April 15 explosions during the Boston Marathon. The resources are at http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship.aspx. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, offered the following prayer: “Oh God, in Jesus name we renounce the forces of evil and the disruptive power of violence. With all those who suffer, we cry out for mercy an...

  • ELCA concludes its earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has concluded its relief and recovery efforts in Haiti following the January 2010 earthquake - the most powerful to strike Haiti in more than 200 years. Nearly 250,000 people were killed, 300,000 injured and more than 1 million people were left homeless as a result of the earthquake. Through Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA members responded by donating more than $12.5 million dollars to support relief efforts,...

  • ELCA council authorizes advisory council on theological education
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Acknowledging a climate of new institutional mergers and collaborations between seminaries and universities, new technologies and degree program designs, economic challenges facing students and educational providers, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized the formation of an advisory council to address in a holistic way issues on theological education, leadership development, candidacy, call and rostered leaders. Th...

  • ELCA synod continues prayer for Mengelt family, announces acting bishop
    CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent a letter April 11 to pastors, members and congregations of the synod with continued expressions of sorrow and sympathy for the family of Maureen Mengelt, who died April 7 when she was struck by the vehicle of the Rev. Bruce H. Burnside, bishop of the synod, who was arrested and charged with “vehicular homicide while intoxicated.” “We pray that God will com...

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