Steve Hetzel, pastor of St. Paul and Emmanuel Lutheran churches, Shenandoah, Iowa (the Western Iowa Synod), also has been trying to arrange a hay lift to Texas. At press- time, he was waiting until he knew he had a way to ship the hay before call- ing for donations, and he had a con- cern regarding loading and unloading. Hay from his congregation was to go to Hope Lutheran Church, Buckholts, Texas.
Woman to lead bishops Jessica R. Crist, bishop of the Mon- tana Synod, has been elected chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. Crist, who will serve a four-year term, is the first female synod bishop ever to hold this position. She succeeds Allan C. Bjornberg, bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod. The Conference of Bishops is an advisory body that includes the ELCA’s 65 synod bish- ops, presiding bishop and secretary. Crist was elected bishop of the Mon- tana Synod in 2007. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Montana Association of Churches, Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and Lutheran World Relief based in Baltimore.
Tax break challenged The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation is challenging the constitutionality of tax deductions that clergy are allowed to claim on their housing expenses. The tax break, which started in 1954, allows clergy to deduct income that is designated as a housing allowance, including rental payments and mortgage interest. The three plaintiffs receive part of their salaries as housing allowances but do not qualify for the tax exemption because they are not clergy. Grant Williams, a spokesman for the Inter- nal Revenue Service, declined to comment on any pending litigation.
171 ELCA scholarships The ELCA Fund for Leaders in Mis- sion awarded 171 seminarians schol- arships for the 2011-12 academic year. Sixteen of those students were awarded full-tuition scholarships. Three seminarians received partial- tuition mission developer scholar- ships from an ELCA Mission Invest- ment Fund gift to the ELCA Fund for
Leaders. Others were given partial tuition scholarships through synod funds held within the Fund for Lead- ers. The fund has grown to $30 mil- lion and awarded nearly 800 scholar- ships. The goal is for it to eventually provide full-tuition scholarships for every ELCA seminarian committed to parish ministry (see page 42).
10
WAYNE HINSHAW
Leaders celebrate summit ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson and Senior Bishop George W.C. Walker Sr.
(right) of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church gather for worship at St. John Lutheran Church, Salisbury, N.C., to celebrate a new relationship between the denominations. At a summit Sept. 17 at Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, leaders discussed how the denominations can engage in mission and ministry together, sharing in one another’s traditions, witness and service in the world.
November 2011 9
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