Posts in Letters
ELCA Marks 10 Years Since Paris Climate Accords with Call to Courageous Action
ELCA Marks 10 Years Since Paris Climate Accords with Call to Courageous Action

On the tenth anniversary of the Paris Climate Accords, Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry offers a powerful reflection on the church’s call to care for God’s creation. Naming this moment as kairos—a time of crisis and hope—the Bishop urges the ELCA to deepen its commitment to stewardship, sustainability, and action alongside those most vulnerable to climate impacts. He also lifts up the leadership of young adults and Indigenous communities, and commends the ELCA’s social message Earth’s Climate Crisis. Read the full message from the ELCA.

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Bishop Curry, ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardBishop Curry Letters, Climate ChangeComment
“We Must Stay Connected”: A Pastoral Message from Bishop Curry
“We Must Stay Connected”: A Pastoral Message from Bishop Curry

In a new pastoral message, ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry reflects on ministry during a historic government shutdown and the church’s call to serve neighbors amid division, disruption, and fear. He lifts up ELCA ministries feeding the hungry, accompanying immigrants, responding to disasters, and advocating for justice when government fails to protect the vulnerable.

Read the full message: A Pastoral Message for These Troubled Days.

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Bishop Curry, ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardBishop Curry LettersComment
Bishop Hutterer: Stepping into Sabbath
Bishop Hutterer: Stepping into Sabbath

Bishop Deborah Hutterer shares her gratitude for the people and ministries of the Grand Canyon Synod as she prepares for a sabbatical in November and continuing through January 2026. During this time of prayer and renewal, Rev. Mike Girlinghouse will serve as Acting Bishop, working closely with synod staff to ensure continuity. Bishop Hutterer invites prayers for renewal and guidance as our synod enters this season of reflection and preparation for the work ahead.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer LettersComment
Speaking Out Against Inhumane Detention: A Pastoral Reflection
Speaking Out Against Inhumane Detention: A Pastoral Reflection

Rev. Christine Stoxen of Holy Trinity Lutheran in Chandler calls for humane immigration reform and oversight of Arizona’s ICE detention centers, where inhumane conditions continue to be documented. Rooted in Scripture and ELCA social teaching, she urges people of faith to advocate for justice, care for the imprisoned, and welcome the stranger in our midst. Click here to read more.

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Grand Canyon Synod, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardIn the News, Fiesta Conference, Immigration and Refugees, Church and SocietyComment
Bishop Eaton: “God Calls Us to Say No to Political Violence”
Bishop Eaton: “God Calls Us to Say No to Political Violence”

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has released a statement following the September 10 shooting in Utah that claimed the life of Charlie Kirk. Eaton calls the church to say a definitive “no” to political violence, reminding us that our unity in Christ is a grace-filled gift in a fractured society. She urges Lutherans to be peacemakers, embodying Christ’s message of forgiveness and healing through civic engagement and active witness. To read her full message, click here.

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ELCA, Bishop Eaton, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardBishop Eaton Letters, Church and Society, Gun ViolenceComment
ELCA Condemns Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Racial Profiling
ELCA Condemns Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Racial Profiling

In response to the Supreme Court’s September 8 ruling permitting racial profiling in immigration enforcement, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calls the decision unjust and inhumane, rooted in the sin of racism. Speaking directly to the Latino community, she affirms their dignity as children of God and calls the church to advocacy, urging leaders to reverse discriminatory practices and protect constitutional safeguards. Resources from AMMPARO and ELCA social teaching are provided to help congregations stand with vulnerable neighbors. To read the full statement, click here.

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ELCA, Bishop Eaton, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardImmigration and Refugees, Bishop Eaton Letters, Church and SocietyComment
Rocky Mountain Synod Responds to School Shootings with Prayer and Action
Rocky Mountain Synod Responds to School Shootings with Prayer and Action

The Rocky Mountain Synod has released a special pastoral message in response to two recent school shootings in Evergreen, Colorado, and Orem, Utah. Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, along with local pastors, offers prayers, words of comfort, and a call to faithful action against the ongoing reality of gun and political violence. Worship resources, prayers, and litanies are also available to support congregations in lament and healing. To read the full message and resources from the Rocky Mountain Synod, click here.

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Region 2, LettersBrian FlatgardRocky Mountain Synod, Church and SocietyComment
Christians in Jerusalem Call for Peace, Justice, and Equal Dignity for All
Christians in Jerusalem Call for Peace, Justice, and Equal Dignity for All

Christian leaders in Jerusalem—including Emeritus Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan—have issued a letter calling for peace, justice, and equality for all people in the Holy Land. Declaring that “to stay is to bear witness,” they affirm their continued presence in the land as a spiritual act of love and resistance, rooted in the Gospel. Their message urges pastors to walk closely with their people and reminds the global Church of its call to solidarity with Christians in Palestine/Israel. View as PDF.

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ELCA, Global Church, LettersBrian FlatgardChurch and Society, Israel and Palestine, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy LandComment
Obispa Hutterer: Por el Bien del Mundo
Obispa Hutterer: Por el Bien del Mundo

La Obispa Hutterer comparte con gratitud sus reflexiones sobre la Asamblea de toda la Iglesia de la ELCA 2025, donde el Sínodo del Gran Cañón fue anfitrión. Destaca la dedicación de los voluntarios, las transiciones históricas de liderazgo en la ELCA y la alegría de ser una sola iglesia expresada en congregaciones, sínodos y en toda la organización eclesial.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer Letters, 2025 Churchwide AssemblyComment
Bishop Hutterer: For the Sake of the World
Bishop Hutterer: For the Sake of the World

Bishop Hutterer reflects with gratitude on the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, where the Grand Canyon Synod served as host. She lifts up the dedication of volunteers, the historic leadership transitions in the ELCA, and the joy of being one church expressed through congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer Letters, 2025 Churchwide AssemblyComment
Finding God’s Presence in Life’s Transitions
Finding God’s Presence in Life’s Transitions

Transitions—whether the Sunday night shift into a busy week, or the August shift into a new school and church program year—can stir up anxiety and resistance. In her latest Bold Café article, Dr. Crystal L. Hall reminds us that God’s presence meets us in these threshold moments. By practicing simple, grounding rituals—like sharing gratitude, singing together, or pausing for prayer—we return to our bodies, our relationships, and to God’s steady embrace. Read the full reflection and discussion questions at Bold Café: click here.

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Grand Canyon Synod, LettersBrian FlatgardCafé, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
Finding God in Small Rituals of Beginning and Ending
Finding God in Small Rituals of Beginning and Ending

Life is full of transitions—new school years, work weeks, and daily thresholds that can bring both anxiety and possibility. In her Faith Reflections piece, Dr. Crystal L. Hall explores how Jesus’ sending of the Twelve in Luke 9 models vulnerability, hospitality, and rituals that help us embrace change with God’s presence. She reminds us that even simple acts, like blessing a backpack or sharing highs and lows, can mark sacred transitions and ground us in faith. Read Dr. Hall’s full reflection on Bold Cafe: click here.

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Grand Canyon Synod, LettersBrian FlatgardCafé, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
Live More Simply, Love More Deeply: A Faith-Based Call to Simplicity
Live More Simply, Love More Deeply: A Faith-Based Call to Simplicity

What does it mean to live more simply as a person of faith? In a world shaped by overconsumption and climate anxiety, One Home One Future invites us to embrace simplicity as a spiritual, ecological, and justice-oriented practice. Rooted in Scripture and supported by science, this reflection from Rev. Carol Devine explores how simple living—spending time outdoors, consuming less, and making sustainable choices—connects us to God, to our neighbors, and to all of creation. Click here to read the full reflection on Blessed Tomorrow’s blog.

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Grand Canyon Synod, LettersBrian FlatgardBlessed Tomorrow, Climate ChangeComment
Grace in the Face of Violence: Lutherans Respond to Political Division
Grace in the Face of Violence: Lutherans Respond to Political Division

In response to a tragic act of political violence in Minnesota, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry–Minnesota (LA-MN) offers tools and hope to address the root causes of division. From the Graceful Conversations workshop to emerging resources on media literacy and Christian nationalism, this spotlight highlights how faithful advocacy, grounded in Lutheran theology, can help rebuild community and resist extremism. Click here to read the full article from ELCA Advocacy.

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ELCA, News, LettersBrian FlatgardChurch and Society, Advocacy, ELCA Advocacy, Christian NationalismComment
Bishop Eaton Responds to IRS Ruling: “Protect the Church from Partisanship”
Bishop Eaton Responds to IRS Ruling: “Protect the Church from Partisanship”

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a video message in response to a recent IRS ruling that may reinterpret the Johnson Amendment to permit partisan activity by religious organizations. Emphasizing the church’s theological commitment to remain nonpartisan, Eaton urges vigilance while affirming our gospel call to advocate for justice. Watch the video and read the ELCA’s full statement online.

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ELCA, Bishop Eaton, Letters, NewsBrian FlatgardBishop Eaton Letters, Church and SocietyComment
Rediscovering Creativity as a Spiritual Practice
Rediscovering Creativity as a Spiritual Practice

What if your joy is part of your spiritual practice? In this faith reflection originally published by Boldcafé, Sarah Carson invites us to honor the Spirit’s presence in the things we love—doodling, reading poetry, wandering a thrift store. Inspired by Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, Carson lifts up the “artist’s date” as a sacred invitation to play, explore, and reconnect with our God-given uniqueness. Read more in “A Spiritual Endeavor” on Boldcafé—click here.

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ELCA, News, LettersBrian FlatgardCafé, Women of the ELCA (WELCA)Comment
A Teenager’s Vision for Church: Safe, Inclusive, and Always Becoming
A Teenager’s Vision for Church: Safe, Inclusive, and Always Becoming

Kamila Gutierrez, a communications intern with WELCA and student at UW-Milwaukee, shares her personal journey from childhood faith to discovering Process Theology—a theological framework that embraces change, justice, and becoming. Raised in a conservative tradition, Kamila sought a God who welcomes, includes, and acts. In this reflection, she explores how Process Theology affirms God’s dynamic love and the church’s role in shaping a more just world. Click here to read her full essay on Boldcafe.org.

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ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardCafé, Women of the ELCA (WELCA) Comment
Rev. Christine Stoxen: Hunger Is Closer Than You Think
Rev. Christine Stoxen: Hunger Is Closer Than You Think

Rev. Christine Stoxen of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chandler urges us to act on behalf of hungry neighbors across Arizona in the context of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act. With food insecurity rising—especially among children, seniors, and rural residents—Stoxen calls on Christians to advocate for SNAP benefits and support local food pantries. Faith without action is dead, she reminds us. Click here to read her full op-ed published in The Chandler Arizonan.

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Grand Canyon Synod, LettersBrian FlatgardHunger, Fiesta Conference, Holy Trinity Chandler, In the NewsComment
Obispa Hutterer: Dando la bienvenida a la ELCA en Phoenix para la Asamblea de toda la Iglesia 2025
Obispa Hutterer: Dando la bienvenida a la ELCA en Phoenix para la Asamblea de toda la Iglesia 2025

La Asamblea de toda la Iglesia de la ELCA 2025 se llevará a cabo en Phoenix del 28 de julio al 2 de agosto. La Obispa Hutterer invita a nuestro sínodo a orar, aprender y ofrecerse como voluntarios mientras damos la bienvenida a casi 1,000 personas de toda la ELCA. Lea sobre qué esperar, cómo participar y por qué este momento es importante para la vida del mundo.

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Bishop Hutterer, Letters, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer Letters, 2025 Churchwide Assembly, EspañolComment