ITASCA, Ill. (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) reached a consensus March 8 on a draft proposal for a rite that would bring onto the church's official clergy roster those pastors who were ordained and are on the clergy roster of "Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM)." ELM "expands ministry opportunities for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the Lutheran church," according to its Web site. More http:... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For the first time since the earthquake, Lutherans were able to visit the Chilean town of Concepcion, March 4-7. Karen Anderson likened the scene in Concepcion to "a war zone." More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4471 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

ITASCA, Ill. (ELCA) -- The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was introduced to the content of a soon- to-be-released draft of a social statement on genetics in a closed background session here March 5. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4470 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

ITASCA, Ill. (ELCA) -- Despite the financial challenges of 2009, much of it the result of the downturn in the U.S. economy, the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) finished the year with net income of $3.9 million. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4469 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), responded to a variety of questions about the economy, ecumenism, evangelism, youth and young adult ministries, decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly and more at a "Town Hall Forum" here March 7. This was the second in a series of online forums hosted by Hanson. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4468 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) will engage in mission and ministry overseas together as part of a new agreement between both denominations. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4467 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

NEW YORK (ELCA) -- A delegation of 12 Lutherans and other faith group representatives attended the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held at the U.N. headquarters here, March 1-12. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4466 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is among many faith groups participating in the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, March 7-13, according to the Rev. Andrea DeGroot- Nesdahl, coordinator for the Lutheran Malaria Initiative and the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4465 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Trustees of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have taken steps to extend various plan benefits to eligible partners in same-gender relationships. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4464 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Blood Done Sign My Name, Jeb Stuart's film about a little-known chapter in the American civil rights struggle, leads the list of 2010 Wilbur Awards winners, according to a news release from the Religion Communicators Council (RCC). More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4463 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has committed an initial $40,000, through ELCA International Disaster Response, for this past weekend's powerful earthquake in Chile, according to a report from the ELCA Global Mission Executive Committee. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4462 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Earthquake damage is said to be extensive in Santiago and Concepcion following the Feb. 27 severe earthquake in central Chile, according to Karen Anderson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Global Mission staff in Santiago. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4461 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A massive earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale, struck central Chile in the early morning hours Feb. 27, killing at least 122 people. The earthquake is the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4460 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- As deliberations begin on the fiscal year 2011 Federal Budget, the advocacy staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent a letter to members of Congress on Feb. 24, urging a number of priorities "that transform lives of poverty and hunger, and protect creation," according to the letter. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4459 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will field questions on a variety of topics from members of the denomination at an online "Town Hall Forum" Sunday, March 7. The hour-long forum will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. Central Time). More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4458 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twit... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Focusing on immediate provision of shelter and non- food items as the rainy season approaches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced it has increased its financial commitment by $2.5 million toward earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4457 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A German Lutheran bishop, elected in October to lead the 24-million Protestant members of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), said she is resigning days after she was apprehended for an alleged drunk-driving offense. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4456 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Richard W. Hillert, composer of well-known Lutheran liturgical music, and distinguished professor of music emeritus at Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., died Feb. 18, after an extended illness, according to the university's Web site. He was 86. More http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4455 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitter: http://twitter.com/elcanews ... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For nearly 10 years members of Abiding Peace Lutheran Church in North Kansas City, Mo., have been worshiping under public censure and admonition, placed on the congregation for hiring a pastor in a committed same-sex relationship. Today the public censure has been lifted, and members of Abiding Peace have been welcomed back to the fold. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4454 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or new... more >>

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) said it "will continue to respond to those congregations with questions or concerns" related to the actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, adding it is "committed to ongoing conversation" with those congregations. More: http://www.elca.org/News/Releases.asp?a=4453 For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news Twitt... more >>

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans have come to detest Congress ever more deeply as it nears the end of a nasty fight over health care. But more than half still back President Barack Obama, a bright spot for a Democratic Party counting on its leader to help stave off expected losses in elections this fall.... more >>

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has chosen a suburban St. Louis high school to make his closing argument for a health care overhaul, pushing a new anti-fraud plan as he cranks up the pressure on skittish Democratic lawmakers to act fast.... more >>

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Israel apologized Wednesday for disrupting the visit of Vice President Joe Biden with its announcement of 1,600 new homes in disputed east Jerusalem, but made clear it had no intention of reversing the order that has cast a shadow over the latest U.S. push for Mideast peace.... more >>

EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) -- Before he called 911, James Sikes says he reached down with his hand to loosen the "stuck" accelerator on his 2008 Toyota Prius, his other hand on the steering wheel. The pedal didn't move.... more >>

KHOST, Afghanistan (AP) -- The Taliban claimed responsibility Wednesday for a suicide bombing inside a U.S.-Afghan base in eastern Afghanistan that killed two NATO service members.... more >>

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Legislation blending help for the jobless with popular tax breaks for businesses and individuals is slated to pass the Senate Wednesday over protests from conservatives who say it adds too much to the $12.5 trillion national debt.... more >>

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Suspected militants armed with grenades attacked the offices of a Christian aid group helping earthquake survivors in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing six employees and wounding several others, police and the organization said.... more >>

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Google Inc. will sell the online services of other business software makers in an effort to fill its own product gaps and persuade more companies to rely on applications piped over the Internet.... more >>

NEW YORK (AP) -- From the start, David Letterman made sure the story of a $2 million shakedown attempt over his sex life was one he narrated himself.... more >>

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant hit a 17-foot fallaway jumper with 1.9 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to snap their three-game losing streak with a 109-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.... more >>