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.
Read MoreBishop 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.
Read MoreOur August 2025 Mission Support Memo provides a picture into the 2025 Churchwide Assembly where almost a thousand ELCA Lutherans made their way to toasty Phoenix, Ariz., to gather July 28 to Aug. 2. Hear about what a joyous, thoughtful and busy week it was for the voting members who considered resolutions, memorials and social statements and also elected a new presiding bishop and secretary to lead our church for the next six years.
Assembly also included a NEW ELCA Mission Support video available for all to learn what mission support does and to share with others. Each memo ends with words of gratitude and this month we express how extremely grateful we are for all the people who made Churchwide Assembly run successfully. You can even get the memo in pdf too!
Read MoreOver 1,000 people gathered in Phoenix, July 28–Aug. 2, for the ELCA 2025 Churchwide Assembly under the theme For the Life of the World. Daily worship services celebrated baptism, Holy Communion, justice, lament, and prayer—culminating in a sending service affirming our call as Christ’s body in the world. Blue vestments on Wednesday and Thursday symbolized hope and the longing for justice and peace. The ELCA has shared behind-the-scenes photos from worship preparations and services, offering a closer look at the people and moments that shaped our time together. Click here to explore the gallery and reflections.
Read MoreDiscover how your offering fuels life-changing ministry in the ELCA and around the world. From chaplaincy and disaster response to global partnerships and Portico benefits, these short videos highlight God’s work through our church.
Read MoreWatch the powerful sermons preached at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, including messages from Presiding Bishop Eaton, Rev. Wyvetta Bullock, and global ecumenical leaders. Each message speaks to our calling as church—for the life of the world.
Read MoreExplore key moments from the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, including Bishop Hutterer’s welcome, the election of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry, and reports from ELCA leadership. Watch highlights, theme videos, and special award presentations, all from this year’s historic gathering in Phoenix.
Read MoreOn day four of the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton offered a powerful farewell report and received the Servus Dei Award for her leadership. The assembly also considered significant constitutional amendments and welcomed ecumenical and interfaith partners who affirmed the ELCA’s long-standing commitments to dialogue, justice, and unity. In a historic move, the assembly approved a resolution recognizing the Lutheran-Orthodox “Common Statement on the Filioque,” reciting the Nicene Creed without the clause for the first time in ELCA history. Click here to read the full Day Four recap at Living Lutheran.
Read MoreOn Day 3 of the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Bishop Yehiel Curry was elected as the next presiding bishop of the ELCA. The assembly also celebrated ecumenical partnerships, honored federal chaplains, and approved a powerful memorial advocating for peace and justice in Palestine. The day’s reflections—on inclusion, resilience, and moral imagination—embodied the assembly’s theme: “For the Life of the World. Click here to read the full recap from Living Lutheran.
Read MoreIn a landmark decision at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, the Rev. Lucille “CeCee” Mills was elected Secretary of the ELCA—the first Black leader to serve in this role. Mills, a TEEM graduate and assistant to the bishop in North Carolina, was elected on the fifth ballot and spoke of a new season for the church grounded in call, community, and God’s grace. To read the full article from the ELCA News Service, click here.
Read MoreApproximately 250 people gathered for the AMMPARO Candlelight Prayer Vigil on July 30 at Peace Park in Phoenix, across from the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Lutheran and interfaith leaders—including Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Bishop Deborah Hutterer—joined voices in prayer and witness for the dignity and rights of migrants, refugees, and asylees. The vigil was a moving call to live out our faith through accompaniment and solidarity. Click here to view the full pictorial and read more.
Read MoreSeventeen-year-old Kenny from Love of Christ in Mesa served as both a voting member and Election Committee member at the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix. Invited by Bishop Hutterer, Kenny brought energy, thoughtfulness, and leadership to a week of worship, decision-making, and hope for the future of the ELCA.
Read MoreYehiel Curry, bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, was elected as the ELCA’s new presiding bishop on the fifth ballot. The day also featured powerful preaching from the Holy Land, approval of the 2026–2028 churchwide budget, and the adoption of a significant memorial calling for an end to the occupation of Palestine. In a spirit of ecumenical solidarity and prophetic voice, the assembly celebrated partnerships, affirmed resilience, and looked ahead with courage and grace. Click here to read the full Day Three recap.
Read MoreOn day two of the Churchwide Assembly, seven nominees advanced in the election for presiding bishop, with a third ballot and Q&A set for day three. Voting members wore red to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The day featured updates on repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, the introduction of key social statements on civic life and human sexuality, and fiscal reports that revealed a stable budget outlook. Ecumenical partners and college leaders also offered greetings and updates. Click here to read the full Day Two recap.
Read MoreThe 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly officially opened in Phoenix on July 28 with a powerful worship service of Holy Communion and the first plenary session. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton preached on the eucharist as an act of resistance in a divided world. Voting members cast the first ballot for presiding bishop—no election yet. Grand Canyon Synod Bishop Deborah Hutterer offered greetings as the host synod. The day closed with an introduction to Friday’s litany of confession and repentance for patriarchy and sexism. Click here to read the full Day One recap.
Read MoreBishop Yehiel Curry has been elected the fifth presiding bishop of the ELCA, marking a historic first as the denomination’s first bishop of African descent. A former teacher and social worker turned pastor and synod bishop, Curry brings a deep passion for lay leadership, community-rooted ministry, and faithful embodiment of the church’s call. His story is one of discernment, hope, and gratitude for the church’s investment in emerging leaders. Curry will be installed October 4 at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Click here to read the full story on Living Lutheran.
Read MoreThe Rev. Yehiel Curry was elected July 30 as presiding bishop of the ELCA during the Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix. Elected on the fifth ballot with 562 votes, Curry becomes the first Black presiding bishop in the ELCA’s history. He currently serves as bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod and brings a deep history of mission development and theological formation to this new call. Read more in the ELCA’s press release.
Read More140 volunteers from across our synod helped host the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, covering 651 shifts in 16 different roles. We offer our deepest thanks to all who served—and especially to Mary Beth Baron and Darcy Mittelstaedt—for helping our synod extend gracious hospitality to the wider church.
Read MoreThe July Bible study series exploring For the Life of the World through the lenses of climate justice, gender justice, and reconciliation is now available online. Watch the videos and download study guides to explore how Scripture and faith speak into the world’s most urgent challenges. Perfect for personal reflection or group study.
Read MorePresiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton’s daughter, Beckah Selnick, offers a heartfelt reflection on a life and ministry rooted in the sacred intersection of the ordinary and extraordinary. From late nights in the sacristy to leadership on the global stage, Bishop Eaton has modeled a ministry of presence, resilience, and grace. Click here to read the full article on Living Lutheran: Ordinary and extraordinary.
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