CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a series of historic and sweeping revisions to ministry policy documents April 10, the result of months of extensive writing, comment and review by hundreds of leaders and members following the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4499 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) honored several Lutheran communicators April 8 here at its annual DeRose- Hinkhouse Memorial Awards program. The awards were presented as part of the Religion Communicators Congress 2010, a once-in-a-decade event which brings together communicators from various churches and church-related organizations. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4498 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or n...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Darlene E. Grega, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) pastor serving at Valparaiso (Ind.) University was a "beloved member" of the Valparaiso family, said the university's president, Mark A. Heckler, in an April 7 message announcing her death. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4497 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews...

DUBUQUE, Iowa (ELCA) -- The board of directors of Wartburg Theological Seminary here accepted the resignation of the Rev. Duane H. Larson, the seminary's president, effective July 1, the seminary announced in an April 6 news release. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4496 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), anticipates an "honest and open conversation" with the Rev. Alex G. Malasusa, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), when the two leaders meet here in May. Hanson said the ELCA and ELCT share a "rich relationship," and he hopes the conversation will explore how both churches can continue to accompany one other in God's mission. More htt...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) said in an Easter sermon that the ELCT does not support certain decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) nor the Church of Sweden's decision to allow its clergy to conduct same-gender marriages. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4494 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www....

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said he "very much appreciated" comments by U.S. President Barack Obama April 6, in which the president spoke of "the significance of Christ's death and Resurrection for his life and faith, and for our witness." More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4493 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news T...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Starting new congregations is a top priority for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). For 2010 the denomination has affirmed 41 "new starts" across the United States. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4492 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Howard V. Hong, English translator of writings by the Danish philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard, a pioneer in leading Lutherans' service to refugees in Europe after World War II, and philosophy professor emeritus at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., died earlier this month while in hospice care in Northfield. Hong's death resulted from effects of a fall in Oct. 2009. He was 97. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4491 For information...

WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- More than 80 members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met here with more than 700 people of faith to worship, study and dialogue about migration and refugee issues at the eighth annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) for Global Peace with Justice March 19-22. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4490 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://tw...

DEN DOLDER, The Netherlands (ELCA) -- An international group of high- level religious and spiritual leaders pledged "stronger, more visible and practical leadership in the response to HIV" as a global Summit of Religious Leaders on HIV concluded here March 23. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4489 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ...

WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced this month it will purchase a second linear accelerator for Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), a project of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in East Jerusalem. The equipment, valued at about $5.5 million, will be used to treat cancer patients. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4488 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http:/...

GENEVA (ELCA) -- The Executive Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) welcomed the "clear and forceful language" used by representatives of the United Nations, the Russian Federation, the United States and the European Union --known as the Middle East Quartet -- in denouncing new settlement activity in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4487 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http:...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Emily A. Nesdahl led worship this past weekend at Harwood (N.D.) Elementary School because the building for the congregation she serves, Maple Sheyenne Lutheran Church, was isolated by overland flooding from the Sheyenne River. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4486 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ...

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:26 For a brief time, while the crucified Jesus lay in a borrowed tomb, it seemed as if death had triumphed once again. Threatened by a messenger of God's expansive, steadfast love, yet another human mob succumbed to death's seduction. They chose its brutal, silencing power and trusted its empty finality. Death's murderous rebellion against the Creator of life seemed unstoppable. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Multitudes of volunteers worked for days to prepare for possible flooding along the Red River in the Fargo, N.D.- Moorhead, Minn., area. The river is expected to crest at 38 feet March 21, some 20 feet above flood stage. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4484 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ...

CHICAGO (ELCA) --The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) released March 18 a 49-page draft social statement on genetics, a framework for discussion on a variety of current topics in the field including certain advances in medicine, reproductive cloning, human embryonic stem cells, and animal and plant genetic engineering. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4483 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.e...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dana College, Blair, Neb., is in the process of being acquired by Dana Education Corporation (DEC), a for-profit organization based in Nebraska. The completion of the sale, expected to be this summer, will end the college's affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4482 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http:/...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As the Red River in Fargo, N.D., Moorhead, Minn., and surrounding areas reached flood levels March 17, Lutherans in the area were working furiously to save their homes and communities. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4481 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews...

WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- Leymah Gbowee, a Lutheran from Liberia, spoke to members of Congress here on March 15 about the prevention of violence against women and girls. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4480 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ...