Reading & Study Archives

Life transitions and the church work marriage

Life is full of transitions! What unique transitions exist in ministry life and marriages? How can workers build up their marriages in the face of transition?

CTCR Bible study — ‘Immigrants Among Us: A Lutheran Framework for Addressing Immigration Issues’

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) has prepared a Bible study titled “Immigrants Among Us: A Lutheran Framework for Addressing Immigration Issues” to complement a 2012 CTCR report of the same name.

Dear Church Worker – your identity is still your baptism

Our identity is not found in our vocations, but in Christ alone. This is a reminder we need daily in ministry life.

CTCR report — ‘The Royal Priesthood: Identity and Mission’

The royal priesthood is all believers whom God has made a kingdom and priests by working faith in Christ in them by the Holy Spirit. Individuals are priests through their Baptism, and as such offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, pray for this world and confess the faith in their daily lives.

Heart, soul, mind and strength: The intimidation, impact and invitation of wellness

There is only so much time, energy, and money in this world and a lot pulling at our attention, particularly as workers in the church. Introducing one tool to help you grow in wellness…

PKs, church work kids, any kids and expectations

What special expectations do we have for the children of our church workers? Offering grace to all the children in our churches.

‘Lutheran Television: Glory Years’

The Rev. Dr. Ardon Albrecht, who held various roles at Lutheran Television for over 17 years, has written an informative account of the network's history.

LCMS Urban & Inner-City Mission: Caring for the homeless

LCMS Urban & Inner-City Mission offers helpful resources to assist in caring for the marginalized, including the homeless and others in need.

Effective Outreach, Part 4: Effective outreach provides appropriate and appealing entry points into Word and Sacrament ministry

It is up to us to provide ways into the Word and Sacrament ministry of our congregation that ease nonchurched people's fears and keep them from being intimidated.

The secret identity of a pastor’s wife

What do you wish people saw in you, or do you wish they saw if they looked beyond one title or vocation?

Effective Outreach, Part 3: Effective outreach fosters relationship-building

If we can learn to intentionally build relationships with nonchurched people, we will be meeting a tremendous need. And we’ll be opening doors to the Gospel for them.

History and Origins of the Work of LCMS World Relief and Human Care and the Development of LCMS Disaster Response

During the first 100 years of the LCMS’s history, mercy ministry exploded. “By 1928 the number of hospitals, orphanages, child welfare societies, homes for the aged and institution missions totaled

CTCR report – ‘Confession and Absolution’

Requested by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in convention, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations adopted a report on “Confession and Absolution” to address these matters.

Mercy essays feature Lutheran theologians from Reformation to today

In a variety of timely yet timeless essays, Lutheran theologians look at Christ’s mercy and the way in which He showers healing, compassion and forgiveness on His people.

Lutheran Congregational Mercy Work

Over the last 15 years there has been a resurgence of congregational mercy work within congregations in the LCMS. Much of this was due to the guidance of the Rev. Matthew Harrison, who in his capacity as executive director of WRHC wrote to pastors and lay leaders of the LCMS on the theology of mercy and how to incorporate a mercy that flows from Lutheran congregations to the needy in their community.