Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) is the newest LCMS program for preparing pastors to fill an identified need in a congregation, cultural setting, or other ministry.

From seminary student to vicar is a big step, but it’s a step you do not take alone. And it is an incredible learning experience.

Living with the Gospel in church is often comfortable. Living with the Gospel beyond the church doors is often less so.

Inauguration Day found me eating breakfast at a restaurant in Fort Wayne, Ind. My waitress was pretty upset about a congressional bill called the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), written in 2007. This bill was on her mind, and protest was coming out of her mouth, because our soon-to-be-inaugurated president had previously pledged to throw

Rev. Glen Thomas’ letter in the February Lutheran Witness reminds us of an important issue, namely, decent pay scales for our workers. However, there’s another side of this matter that was left out. There seems to be an unwritten rule that pastoral candidates must be married before they start their vicarage year. Think about it.

In the letters section of the February Lutheran Witness, Mr. Cliff Pyle suggested that Dr. Loy was responsible for creating confusion and animosity, as well as a “theological vacuum” in his “Christmas Wars” article. Apparently, the offending words were those concerning Christ still being here and fighting these wars for us. I would suggest that

Thank you for publishing “In Bethlehem: Hope Behind the Wall.” I wish more Americans would read this story. Phyllis MackaouiArroyo Grande, Calif.   Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to “Letters,” c/o The Lutheran Witness, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295; or send them via e-mail to Lutheran.Witness@LCMS.org.

Two articles in February pushed my political “hot buttons”: “In Bethlehem: Hope Behind the Wall” and “Dueling Messiahs.” Each presents only part of a hot political issue. Far worse, each misses an opportunity to share the Gospel. In discussing the Wall, Rev. Mahsman criticizes Israel without discussing Israel’s viewpoint. Of course, my reply leads us

Thank you, Dr. Furnish, for your February story, “Dueling Messiahs,” explaining the Islamic belief of Mahdism, and for showing how this belief influences politics in the Middle East. You have shown how important it is for Christians to understand the beliefs of Islam so that we can (1) be on guard against a foolish naiveté

by Dr. Paul L. Maier Easter is the ultimate test of faith. The one great watershed that ultimately divides believers from unbelievers is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As St. Paul put it so categorically in 1 Cor. 15:14: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is

The Q&A column in the February Lutheran Witness, “Whom May I Commune,” was most distressing. There are some underlying questions that were not addressed: First, where were our LCMS clergy, and what were they doing, or not doing? Second, what are our pastors teaching the members about close(d) Communion that even causes such questions to

With regard to Mr. Pyle’s concerns about Christ’s presence among us (“Letters,” February)—I have Good News: Christ is most certainly and personally among us today! When Christ ascended into heaven, He didn’t remove His presence on earth— He transformed it. Nor did He stop having a body when He sat down at the right hand