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ELCA Bishops Immigration letter to President Obama 11-2-11
ELCA Bishops Immigration Letter to Congress 11-2-11
Bin Laden death calls for 'solemn remembrance,' says ELCA presiding bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Responding to the May 1 news of Osama bin Laden's death, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said bin Laden's death "is an occasion for solemn remembrance."
Hanson addressed his May 2 statement to ELCA members. He focused his comments on those who died because of bin Laden's choices "of hatred and violence," and those who continue to mourn the deaths of loved ones.
Hanson also said "joy finds its fullest and deepest expression not over a human death, but in God’s promise to unite all things in heaven and on earth, to reconcile the human family and to bring God’s reign of peace."
The full text of the ELCA presiding bishop's statement HERE
Channel 39 Interview of Bishop Rinehart on the Death Penalty
TLU Announces Presidential Search
FROM: Robin A. Melvin Chair, Board of Regents
As you know, we are launching the search for Texas Lutheran’s 15th president and I am writing to solicit your support and your input. The 13-member search committee, comprised of regents, alumni, faculty, staff, and students, has completed the development of the Presidential Search Profile. The profile will serve as the primary informational piece used in the generation of our candidate pool and it will guide the search process with its outline of our future institutional needs. The profile is posted on the Texas Lutheran website and I urge you to review it.
As you reflect on the search profile, please pay particular attention to the attributes most highly desired in TLU’s next president. We urge you to suggest people you know who could serve effectively as our next president and/or those who might know potential candidates. Please forward their name(s) to our consultant, Tom Courtice, at tom.courtice@academic-search.com. The search committee is well aware that the success of our search depends on the involvement of all members of the TLU community. By nominating strong candidates, you can immediately be involved in the search process.
Over the next several weeks and into early 2011, we will generate the candidate pool through nominations received from you, contact with national education and foundation officials, inquiries at other colleges and universities, letters to friends of Texas Lutheran, advertising in the Chronicle of Higher Education and other publications, and the work of our consultant.
The search is off to a good start. Please don’t hesitate to contact me (rmelvin@gdhm.com) or Dr. Courtice if you have questions. Thank you for your interest and your support.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Announces New Churchwide Organization Design for 2011
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took action Oct. 8 to affirm the concept for a new design of the ELCA churchwide organization in 2011, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, in an Oct. 11 announcement to churchwide staff. The council authorized the officers of the churchwide organization to take the necessary personnel actions and to implement the new design beginning Feb. 1, 2011, the start of the next fiscal year. Read More
Information on the TLU presidential search committe
Dear TLU Community,
I am pleased to announce that the following people have agreed to serve on the presidential search committee:
Joe McKinney, Treasurer, Board of Regents
The Rev. Dr. Stan Meyer, Board of Regents
Russ Rinn, Board of Regents
Laura Sanford, Board of Regents
Willie Staats, Vice Chair, Board of Regents
Lewis Westerman, Board of Regents
Dr. Annette Citzler, Professor, Business Administration and Economics
Dr. Bob Jonas, Professor, Biology Dave Legore, Associate Professor, Dramatic Media
Steve Anderson, Senior Vice President
Lana Urbanek, Director of Auxiliary Services
Paul Riser, TLU Senior and President of TLU’s Student Government Association
Additionally, Mark Wilhelm, TLU's ELCA representative, will serve as an ex-officio member of the committee. I will serve as chair of the committee.
Dr. Thomas B. Courtice of Academic Search will assist the committee with the search. Prior to joining Academic Search in 2004, Dr. Courtice served a total of 27 years as a college president at Ohio Wesleyan University (1994-2004), West Virginia Wesleyan College (1986-94), and Westbrook College (1977-86). Since 2004, Dr. Courtice has assisted a number of colleges and universities in their searches for new presidents, including Carleton College in Minnesota, Central College in Iowa, Maryville College in Tennessee, and Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
I would like to personally thank the committee members for the time and attention they will dedicate to our search efforts over the next several months. The committee will have its first organizational meeting in October, and I will continue to update the TLU community on the actions of the committee as we progress on the search for a new TLU president.
Thank you for your continued support.
Robin A. Melvin Chair, Board of Regents
Lutheran Denomination Receives Pastor Lura Groen onto Clergy Roster
HOUSTON- September 28, 2010 - On All Saints Sunday, November 7, Lura Groen will be the first clergy person allowed onto the roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod under new policy regarding LGBT clergy. Previously, LGBT clergy could serve, but they were expected to remain celibate. "No Longer Strangers," a Service of Reception will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, address 2515 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX 77006, at 4:00 p.m. November 7, with Bishop Michael Rinehart presiding. Everyone is welcome. Read More
Bishop Rinehart's Interview on the effect on giving due to economic conditions on KTRH Radio
Bishop Rinehart to Speak at Salem Lutheran Church of Welcome
(Press Release 09/23/2010)
ELCA Synod Bishop, LDR Director, Preach at Katrina Events in New Orleans
CHICAGO (ELCA) -August 30, 2010-- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were guest preachers at services in New Orleans Aug. 29, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought to the city and the Gulf Coast region around it.
More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4619
Pastor Doug Guthier featured on the Galveston Daily News
Photo by Jennifer Reynolds
Guthier to mark 35th anniversary as a minister
By Rick Cousins Contributor
Published August 28, 2010
GALVESTON — Not every pastor has a fan club, but for most of his professional life, the Rev. Doug Guthier, pastor of Galveston’s First Lutheran Church, has had one. It started in August 1973.
That’s when Vera Danner first met the man whose career she would follow closely and, later, subtly influence.
“That day, we immediately formed a mutual admiration society for one another,” she said.
In addition to sharing the same birthday, Danner had found a kindred spirit in the young minister who bridged the dozen years between their ages. read more
Wartburg Theological Seminary Draws Strength From Heritage
DUBUQUE, IA – July, 2010 - The Wartburg Theological Seminary community is drawing strength from its heritage as it moves into its 157th academic year. In their retreat at the end of June, the board of directors and the trustees of the foundation focused their energies on a faculty paper on “The Loehe Legacy and the Apostolic Calling of WTS for the Church and World in the 21st Century.”* Founded by the “The Sent Ones” from Wilhelm Loehe in Neuendettelsau, Germany, Wartburg Theological Seminary continues to gather and send “apostles” for the mission of Christian communities in the global church. Read More
TLU Appoints Dr. Robert Vogel Interim President
SEGUIN, TX – July 19, 2010 – The Chair of the Texas Lutheran University Board of Regents announced today that Dr. Robert Vogel has agreed to serve as Interim President of TLU beginning July 26.
“Dr. Vogel’s wealth of experience in Lutheran higher education will be a tremendous asset to TLU,” said Robin A. Melvin, TLU Board Chair. “After serving in several interim positions, he understands the critical role. Read More