“Things have gotten pretty charged this past year in a lot of different ways in our area,” said Seth Nelson, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Ronan, Mont. “People come charged into most situations—they know what they think and they know how to demonize the other side.”
In a world shaped by 24-hour cable news, social media and misinformation spread online, how can Lutherans cut through the noise and speak to each other with civility, compassion and understanding?
Read MoreELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and other members of the Circle of Protection coalition met Thursday, Sept. 22, 2021, with senior officials at the White House. The Circle of Protection letter, including the full list of signers, can be read here.
Eaton and other heads of Christian denominations and organizations are working together to urge passage of the economic bills the U.S. Congress is considering now, along with voting rights legislation this fall. Thursday's meeting focuses on the family support bill currently being debated in Congress.
Read More“My life changed the day I was told that my son has autism. The journey has been full of ups and downs, but through it all God has been actively working to show us beauty and grace in the autism world. Because of the journey with our son, I am honored to serve as the team leader for the tAble planning team.”
Read Jamie’s letter in this post, and view a tAble Webinar she participates in as well.
Read MoreThis week’s Story of Faith in Action features the Dwelling, an ELCA faith community designed for, but not exclusive to, people in Winston-Salem who are or have been homeless. Funding comes from partnerships with Augsburg, the North Carolina Synod, the Moravian Church in America and the ELCA churchwide organization.
Read this story in this post, view as a PDF resource, or visit our SOFIA 2021-2022 page for all resources.
Read MoreEarly-bird registration is now open for the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble!
Congregations that register during Early-bird will be entered to win a variety of prizes (such as their choice of seating at Mass Gathering). Early-bird registration closes 11/21/2021. Register today.
Read MorePlease be advised that the address for the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, doing business as Portico Benefit Services, changed 9/1/5/2021, to 7700 France Ave. S., Ste. 350, Minneapolis, MN 55435-2802. Phone, fax, and emails are not changing.
Read MoreThe stories about the evacuation of American citizens and allies from Afghanistan have been heart wrenching. My feeling of helplessness drove me to discover signs of hope. As Mister Rogers invites us to do in a crisis, I felt compelled to “look for the helpers.”
Read MoreTell Congress to pass H.R. 2590. Send a message to your lawmaker through the ELCA Action Center.
Read MoreSeptember is National Suicide Prevention Month, a month where the fight to end suicide is recognized on a national platform.
Here at the Suicide Prevention Ministry, an Independent Lutheran Organization, suicide prevention is the driving force of our daily work and the focus of our call to love our neighbor, care for the sick, and carry each other’s burdens.
Read MoreRead the latest from Administration Matters, a bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and synodical leaders about day to day operations and management in church settings.
Read MoreBishop Eaton invites us to an online benefit for ELCA World Hunger, Thursday, Oct. 14, 5:30 p.m. MST/PDT, via Zoom. Register here.
Join Bishop Eaton and Rick Steves, guidebook author and travel TV host, as they celebrate World Food Day!
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares its September Update: UN and State Edition on the ELCA blog. Read updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available.
Read MoreSome people may hope for a return to normal after the world-changing events of the last 18 months, but sociologists tell us our future will revolve around living into a "new normal."
Presented by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the 2021 Hein-Fry Book of Faith Challenge will probe this new normal.
Read MoreAfter much prayer and conversation, Gathering leadership have decided to require full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative test result (likely 72 hours before arrival) to attend the 2022 Gathering, MYLE and the tAble.
For a list of updated Frequently Asked Questions, we encourage you to visit: elca.org/YouthGathering/COVID19.
Read MoreTom Cunniff, General Counsel with the ELCA, shares a a resource on items for congregations to consider when evaluating their relationship with the Boy Scouts of America. It can be found as a PDF on elca.org or in this post.
Read MorePresiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton encourages us to celebrate and pray for the new bishops being installed in our region and throughout America.
Read MoreELCA’s Region 2 celebrates the installation of Bishop Brenda Bos in the Southwest California Synod, and Bishop Megan Rohrer in the Sierra Pacific Synod. Check out information and highlights at the Southwest California Synod’s website and Facebook page, and at Sierra Pacific’s Synod website, Facebook, and this wrap-up newsletter.
Read MoreEveryone hoped that the conflict over whether to mask or not mask amid the COVID pandemic would be over by now. It isn’t. The number of cases continues to climb and mask mandates–and opposition to them–are also rising. A recent article points out that the issue can be framed as whether the vulnerable have a right to feel safe at school.
Read MoreWorking the overnight shift at the chapel at Ramstein Air Base in Germany is a challenge, but Chaplain Katie Osweiler is thankful to be helping refugees from Afghanistan on their way to new lives free of the Taliban.
Read MoreThe 2021-2022 Stories of Faith in Action resources are available at ELCA.org/SOFIA. Dive into the latest issue, which is now available in its digital edition or print edition, and includes:
A special message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.
Nine inspiring stories from around the country and the world.
Your 2020 financial report on Mission Support — the portion of your offering your congregation shares with your synod, and your synod shares with the churchwide organization.
A story-based devotional for use at Bible studies or committee meetings.
