Posts in ELCA
Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life in a Lingering Pandemic

The Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments provides a comprehensive update to the guidance originally published in the summer of 2020. View/download the Care-Filled Worship and Sacramental Life in a Lingering Pandemic PDF document.

The consultation included an ecumenical group of theologians, scientists, physicians, pastors, bishops, and practitioners from at least seven church bodies.

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2021 Bishop elections

With numerous bishop elections, we’re using this page to keep a running list of newly-elected Bishops in the ELCA.

  • Brenda Bos elected bishop of ELCA Southwest California Synod

  • Megan Rohrer elected bishop of ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod

  • Kevin Jones elected bishop of ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod

  • Paula Schmitt elected bishop of ELCA Allegheny Synod

  • Timothy Smith reelected bishop of the ELCA North Carolina Synod

  • Lee Miller II elected bishop of ELCA Upstate New York Synod

  • Felix Malpica elected bishop of ELCA La Crosse Area Synod

  • Dee Pederson elected bishop of ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod

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Equality Act demonstrates Lutheran love of neighbor

Most Americans incorrectly assume that federal laws will protect someone being evicted from their home or turned away from a place of business for the sole reason of being part of the LGBTQ+ community. There are no such laws.

But there could be. The Equality Act, a landmark piece of legislation which has already been passed in the U.S. House, would add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Civil Rights Act, affording protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, federal funding, credit, the jury system and more.

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Remembering the Emanuel Nine on June 17, 2021

A collection of resources is available at elca.org/emanuelnine to help synods and congregations mark the martyrdom of the Emanuel Nine — the nine people shot and killed on June 17, 2015, during a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.

These resources can be adapted for virtual worship, online conversation or individual reflection and devotion. Synods and congregations are encouraged to mark this commemoration locally.

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Lutherans Restoring Creation interview with Bishop Eaton

Bishop Eaton offered the sermon for Lutherans Restoring Creation’s Good Shepherd Sunday service in celebration of Earth Day 2021. She also accepted our request to take some follow-up questions collected by the network.

Here are portions of their time with her that we encourage you to share with your congregation as these are questions we are all meant to wrestle with.

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Form A & C Reports filing system shuts down on June 11, 2021

The filing system for Form A & C Parochial Reports on the ELCA.org Office of the Secretary resource page shuts down for the year on June 11, 2021. Forms should be submitted electronically before that date in order to be included in the 2020 ELCA statistics.

Thank you for your work with these reports. We know 2020 will be an interesting year. If your congregation did not receive your password from ELCA Churchwide, or if you have any questions, please contact Theresa Thornburgh in the synod office.

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Hunger Policy Podcast

In this new kind of post for the ELCA World Hunger blog, John Johnson, director of domestic policy for the ELCA, joins Ryan Cumming, program director for hunger education with ELCA World Hunger, for a conversation about hunger and policy, including important public policies that could impact people experiencing hunger and poverty in the United States.

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