A summary of news releases, memos and other information distributed by the ELCIC. To view the full text of the release, please click on the title. View archived releases.

COMMUNIQUE FROM THE ANGLICAN-LUTHERAN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSIONMay 31, 2007 -- The Third Anglican - Lutheran International Commission (ALIC) held its second meeting at White Point, Nova Scotia, Canada between 14 and 20 May, 2007, under the chairmanship of the Rt Revd Fred Hiltz, Anglican Bishop of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and the Revd Dr Thomas Nyiwé, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon.
HYMN TEXT COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCEDMay 11, 2007 -- Keri Wehlander of Nanaimo, British Columbia has been named the winner of the Hymn Text Competition. Wehlander's submission, "From the Waters of Creation", set to the tune of Nettleton, was selected by the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission (JALC) following the review of almost one hundred submissions. The competition was created to develop a new tune, familiar to both the traditions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) who will be gathering for a joint day together while in Winnipeg in June for their respective National Convention and General Synod meetings.
CONVENTION NOTES: ELCIC AND ACC JOINT DAY ON JUNE 21, 2007mAY 1, 2007--In the second article in the series, CONVENTION NOTES, is on the ELCIC and Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) joint day which will take place on June 21, 2007. This article is written by the Rev. Paul Johnson, Assistant to the Bishop for Ecumenical Relations.
HUNDRED YEARS AFTER MISSION CONFERENCE GAVE IMPETUS TO START OF ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT, KOBIA CALLS FOR ECUMENICALLLY RESPONSIBLE EVANGELISMApril 30, 2007 -- On the threshold of the 100th anniversary celebration of the 1910 Edinburgh World Mission Conference, widely regarded as the symbolic starting point of the modern ecumenical movement, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia offered a sober analysis of the past century's achievements and failures, and called for an "ecumenically responsible evangelism".
LUTHERAN THEOLOGIANS CALL FOR CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH, COUNTERING OF FUNDAMENTALISMApril 18, 2007 -- "Fundamentalism provides an overarching narrative, in which people find meaning for their lives. Our challenge is to counter this with a compelling counter-narrative of how God is at work in the world, fostering justice, inclusivity and peace," urged Rev. Dr Barbara Rossing, who teaches New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, USA. She was speaking at a theological seminar in Hoor, Sweden, that was held prior to the March 2007 Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council meeting and 60th anniversary celebrations in Lund.
CONVENTION NOTES - A WALK THROUGH THE 11TH BIENNIAL CONVENTIONApril 18, 2007--In just over two months, delegates representing the parishes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) will gather in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the 11th Biennial National Convention of the ELCIC. Over the next few weeks CONVENTION NOTES will share information and highlights on the upcoming gathering. The first article titled A Walk Through the 11th Biennial Convention comes from the ELCIC's National Church Council Executive. Further information, including specific information for delegates, is available on the ELCIC website at www. elcic.ca (click on the link to 2007 National Convention).
AN EASTER MESSAGE FROM ELCIC NATIONAL BISHOP RAYMOND SCHULTZAn Easter Message from ELCIC National Bishop Raymond Schultz.
LWF AFFIRMS HISTORIC STATEMENT ON EPISCOPAL MINISTRYApril 2, 2007 - After eight years of preparation, the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), meeting in Lund, Sweden, from 20 to 27 March, adopted a historic statement on the episcopal ministry.
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES CONGRATULATES LWF ON 60TH ANNIVERSARYMarch 26, 2007--The "strong relationship" between the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) has been characterized "not only by mutual accountability and reciprocity on the journey towards unity, but by the common witness of the member churches in the service of all humanity" says a message addressed to the LWF on its 60th anniversary by the WCC.
FEATURE: IT IS ABOUT THE DIVERSE GIFTS AND WITNESS; WOMEN CHURCH LEADERS PRESENT MESSAGE TO LWF COUNCILMarch 24, 2007 – In 1947, five women were present as delegates at the First Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Assembly held in Lund, Sweden. Sixty years later, in Lund again, almost 150 women participants are attending LWF Council and associated gatherings, including the Conference of Women Bishops and Presidents and regional coordinators of the LWF desk for Women in Church and Society (WICAS) 20-21 March, 2007.
LWF CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES DEBATE PROPOSED GUIDELINES ON MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND HUMAN SEXUALITYMarch 24, 2007 - Participants in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council meeting and Church Leadership Consultation taking place in Lund, Sweden, discussed in plenary session a report on proposed guidelines and processes for respectful dialogue on marriage, family and human sexuality.
LUTHERAN CHURCHES URGED TO BUILD BRIDGES OF HEALINGMarch 22, 2007 - The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, has appealed to churches in the Lutheran communion to take up the urgent task of building bridges of healing between and among Lutheran churches that have no fellowship among themselves.
LIVING IN COMMUNION IS A "SHEER GIFT"; LWF PRESIDENT MARK S. HANSON ADDRESSES COUNCIL MEETINGMarch 21, 2007 – While living in communion takes considerable effort and can appear to even be counter-intuitive, countercultural and unnatural at times, it is a “sheer gift,” said Bishop Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) when he addressed participants in the 20-27 March LWF Council meeting and 60th anniversary celebrations in Lund, Sweden.
INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE ENCOURAGED IN LWF'S DISCUSSION ON MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND SEXUALITY; GENERAL SECRETARY NOKO HIGHLIGHTS MAJOR ISSUES AT PRESS CONFERENCEMarch 20, 2007 - The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko has encouraged the LWF member churches to dialogue on the issues of marriage, family and sexuality in an inclusive manner in order to avoid making it a church-dividing issue.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ELCIC'S NATIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL MARCH MEETINGMarch 18, 2007--The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada ELCIC)'s National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg from March 15-17. The following is an overview of highlights from the third and final day of meetings.
THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION RETURNS TO LUND TO CELEBRATE 60TH ANNIVERSARYMarch 18, 2007 - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) returns to the Swedish city of Lund, to celebrate its 60th anniversary at the place where it was founded in 1947.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ELCIC'S NATIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL MARCH MEETINGMarch 17, 2007--The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Church Council (NCC) is meeting in Winnipeg from March 15-17. The following is an overview of highlights from the second day of meetings.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM ELCIC'S NATIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL MARCH MEETINGMarch 16, 2007 -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Church Council is meeting in Winnipeg from March 15-17. The following is an overview of highlights from the first day of meetings.
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF LWFMarch 15, 2007--Reflecting on the theme, "Living in Communion in the World Today", leaders, delegates, youth and observers from 140 member Lutheran churches will gather in Lund, Sweden for the 2007 Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council meeting, a Church Leadership Consultation and a global celebration of 60 Years of LWF. As a member of LWF, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) will have a number of individuals in attendance.
TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF LWF CHURCHES INCREASES TO JUST UNDER 66.7 MILLIONMarch 6, 2007 (LWI) -- The total membership of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches rose last year by 476,551 to just under 66.7 million (66,690,599). According to the latest LWF statistics, the LWF’s 140 member churches, ten congregations and one recognized council in 78 countries registered a growth of around 0.72 percent for the period 2005-2006. The LWF member churches around the world totaled some 66.2 million members in 2005 and 65.9 million in 2004.
OBSERVING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ON MARCH 8March 2, 2007--Ruth Vince, Executive Director of Evangelical Lutheran Women (ELW) and Raymond Schultz, National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) released a statement to the Church regarding International Women's Day.
GHDA ISSUES APPEAL FOR DONATIONS TO ASSIST WITH RELIEF EFFORTS FOLLOWING SEVERE FLOODING IN MOZAMBIQUEFebruary 22, 2007 -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada's Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) is accepting donations to support relief efforts in Mozambique after weeks of heavy rains in the central Zambezi River valley caused severe flooding to the area. Further flooding is feared with the arrival of Cyclone Favio, a powerful tropical cyclone with reported winds of up to 230 km per hour, which hit southern Mozambique on Thursday morning.
ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE ENDORSES NEGOTIATIONS WITH AUGSBURG FORTRESS CANADA TO ENSURE CONTINUATION OF ANGLICAN BOOKSTORE February 14, 2007 -- General Synod's Communications and Information Resources Committee has unanimously endorsed negotiations with Augsburg Fortress Canada that would see the continuation of a bookstore at the site presently occupied by the Anglican Book Centre.
ELCA DISCIPLINE HEARING COMMITTEE RULES IN ATLANTA CASEFebruary 8, 2007 -- A discipline hearing committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) ruled Feb. 7 that the Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling be removed from the ELCA clergy roster effective Aug. 15, 2007. Schmeling, who reported to his bishop that he is in a committed relationship with another man, is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Atlanta.
LETTER TO THE CHURCH FROM ELCIC NATIONAL BISHOP RAYMOND SCHULTZJanuary 24, 2007--ELCIC National Bishop Raymond Schultz issued a letter to the Church. The full text is available here.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM JANUARY 2007 NATIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL MEETINGJanuary 24, 2007--Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)’s National Church Council (NCC) met in Winnipeg from January 19-20 to discuss matters relating to the business of the church. This release provides brief highlights from the January 2007 NCC meeting
HYMN TEXT COMPETITION ANNOUNCEDJanuary 5, 2007--In celebration of six years of full communion between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada, the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission has announced a Hymn Text Competition.
ELCIC NATIONAL BISHOP RAYMOND L. SCHULTZ ANNOUNCES RETIREMENTJanuary 2, 2007--Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Bishop Raymond L. Schultz has announced that he will retire as of September 1, 2007 following the election of a successor at the 2007 National Convention.
2006 CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM ELCIC NATIONAL BISHOP RAYMOND L. SCHULTZDecember 14, 2006 -- A video of the 2006 Christmas Greeting from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Bishop Raymond L. Schultz is available for viewing on the Bishop's page of the ELCIC website: http://www.elcic.ca/bishop/cathedra.html
CHURCH OF NORWAY SYNOD SUPPORTS PROPOSAL TO END STATE-CHURCH SYSTEMNovember 29, 2006 - The general synod of the (Lutheran) Church of Norway has supported the proposal of a government-appointed commission to abolish Norway's current state-church system.
ELCIC'S EASTERN SYNOD TO REFRAIN FROM ACTING UPON MOTION PASSED AT THE 2006 EASTER SYNOD ASSEMBLY REGARDING A LOCAL OPTION FOR SAME-SEX BLESSINGSNovember 24, 2006 – “It’s a good time to be in the Church,” noted one of the younger members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)’s Eastern Synod Council during a consultation with representatives from National Church Council (NCC) that took place on Saturday, November 18, 2006. The positive nature of the comment was just one of many joyful and optimistic comments heard as ELCIC National Bishop Raymond L. Schultz and Vice-President, Dr. Roger Kingsley, attended the last day of the Eastern Synod Council’s fall meeting at the Queen of Apostles Retreat Centre in Mississauga,
TWO LUTHERAN PASTORS MURDERED IN EL SALVADOR; LWF GENERAL SECRETARY NOKO CALLS FOR SWIFT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONNovember 7, 2006--The General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko has received with deep distress news about the murder of two pastors from the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, Francisco Carrillo and Jesus de Carrillo.
ELCIC NATIONAL BISHOP APPOINTS NEW ASSISTANT FOR STEWARDSHIP IN PUBLIC LIFEOctober 5, 2006 -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Bishop Raymond Schultz has appointed Mr. Ryan Anderson as the Assistant to the Bishop for Stewardship in Public Life. Mr. Andersen joined National Office staff on Monday, October 2, 2006.
ELCIC AND ELCI CHURCHES SIGN LETTER OF UNDERSTANDINGSeptember 22, 2006--At the fall meeting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s National Church Council (NCC), the ELCIC and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (ELCI) signed a "Letter of Understanding" between the two churches which will allow for pastors and deacons/diaconal ministers from either church to exercise their calling in either country.
ELCIC'S LONG-TERM MISSIONARY IN THAILAND CURRENTLY IN CANADA ON HOME LEAVESeptember 21, 2006 - While recent events in Thailand have thrust the country into political unrest, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) is able to advise that Long-term Missionary Lori Endress, who serves in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is currently back in Canada on home leave.
ELCIC AND CLWR NAME NEW INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER COORDINATORSeptember 20, 2006 - Sister Monica Denk has been appointed as the new International Volunteer Coordinator. This position supports the work of both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) by coordinating and promoting the new CLWR International Volunteer Service (IVS) program and the established Volunteers in Mission (VIM) program of the ELCIC.
ELCIC NATIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL ISSUES STATEMENT ON MOTION PASSED AT THE 2006 EASTERN SYNOD CONVENTION REGARDING THE BLESSING OF SAME-GENDER COUPLESWinnipeg, 19 September 2006 -- At the fall meeting of National Church Council (NCC), members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) met September 14-16 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to discuss matters relating to the business of the church. Agenda items before NCC members included a discussion on the motion adopted at the 2006 Eastern Synod Convention regarding the blessing of same-gender couples. In response to questions following the motion's approval at the synodical convention, NCC issued a statement.
AUGUSTA VICTORIA HOSPITAL SITUATION REMAINS CRITICAL; LUTHERANS URGE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR FINANCIAL RELIEFSeptember 15, 2006 – In response to an announcement by the Honourable Josee Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, that the Canadian government would not provide immediate alternative funding to Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH), Lutheran organizations across Canada reconfirmed their commitment to assisting the hospital and urged the government to reconsider their proposal to provide US$900,000 which would keep AVH viable for a three-month period, giving the hospital time to seek other sustainable sources of funding while still providing the only care in the region to refugees and other Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory.
'SERVE FULLY' MESSAGE AND ACTIVITES HIGHLIGHT FULL SERVE, THE 2006 CANADIAN LUTHERAN YOUTH GTHERING; SERVANT EVENTS AT GATHERING RAISE OVER $12,000August 23, 2006--Over 1,200 youth, in the city for the 2006 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering (CLYG 2006) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), spent almost ten thousand hours 'serving fully' at various servant events that took place pre, post and during the national gathering which was held August 17-20. Youth accepted the challenge presented to them by gathering keynote speaker, Rev. Kathy Martin, who told youth to, "get out there and share your gifts," as they participated in a fundraising car wash which saw funds go to the United Way of Winnipeg, partnered with Take Pride Winnipeg to pick up litter throughout the city, arrived at the offices of Canadian Lutheran World Relief to help sort 'We Care' school supply packages, and numerous other activities that took place both within the city and extended out to places such as Gimli, Manitoba.
FAITH WALK TO MANITOBA LEGISLATIVE BUILDING KICKS-OFF CLYG 2006; YOUTH CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO MOVE FORWARD ON COMMITMENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSINGAugust 18,2006--On Thursday afternoon, over 1,200 youth, in Winnipeg for the 2006 Canadian Lutheran Youth Gathering (CLYG 2006), flowed out of the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the main site of the gathering, and into the streets of downtown for a faith walk to the Manitoba Legislative Building to kick-off the start of CLYG 2006. In her opening keynote speech to CLYG 2006 participants, Rev. Kathy Martin, told the youth, "at this gathering we are going to do things differently. We're going to head out there and make a difference."
JOB POSTING FOR OFFICE ASSISTANT AT THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE ELCICAugust 15, 2006 -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) seeks an Office Assistant to join their dynamic team at the national office. This is an excellent opportunity for a self-motivated and multi-tasking individual. Duties include reception, mail, maintaining member, donation and subscription databases, preparing deposits and donation receipts, filling publication orders, ordering office supplies, filing, and assisting with convention administration and registrations.
GHDA JOINS CLWR IN APPEAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF LEBANON; PROVIDES $5,000 FROM DISASTER FUND FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCEAugust 15, 2006--The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)'s Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA) joins Canadian Lutheran World Relief in an appeal for the people of Lebanon, in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Action by Churches Together (ACT), at the request of the Middle East Council of Churches.
JOB POSTING FOR ACCOUNTANT AT THE ELCIC'S NATIONAL OFFICEAugust 14, 2006--The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) seeks an Accountant to join their dynamic team at the national office.
'ACCOUNTABILITY' AND 'KEEPING THE PROMISE' STRONG THEMES AT AIDS 2006 CONFERENCE AND PRE-CONFERENCE; ELCIC PARTICIPANTS PREPARE TO ATTENDAugust 9, 2006--Faith-based participants, including three from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), are preparing to participate in the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2006) which will take place in Toronto from August 13-18, 2006. The conference theme, "Time to Deliver" is a reminder to participants of the past and present commitments for action on HIV/AIDS and an emphasis on the accountability of the responses to those promises. A global, two-day Ecumenical Pre-Conference, taking place just prior to the conference on August 10-12, will examine how participants can contribute to the fight against HIV and call upon governments, corporations and agencies to keep the promises already made to address the AIDS crisis.
WORLD METHODIST CONCIL TO AFFIRM JOINT DECLARATION ON THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION; METHODIST'S FORMAL ENDORSEMENT VERY SIGNIFICANT, LWF GENERAL SECRETARY NOKO SAYSJuly 20, 2006 -- The World Methodist Council (WMC) plans to affirm the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) signed seven years ago by representatives of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Roman Catholic Church. The WMC will release its statement on the affirmation of the JDDJ on Sunday, 23 July 2006, within the context of the World Methodist Conference taking place in Seoul, South Korea, from 20-24 July. LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko and Walter Cardinal Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) will also attend the signing of the Official Common Affirmation.