“When we talk to someone who shares the same Christian faith, but has a different set of political beliefs or convictions, it can be uncomfortable, or frustrating, and sometimes even scary. As members of the ELCA, we believe that we can have different political opinions but be of the same faith,” asserts Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in her November 2, 2022 video addressing Christian Nationalism.
Read MoreThe Rev. Lamont Wells has been named executive director of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU), effective Jan. 3, 2023.
Wells has served as program director for ELCA Campus Ministry since 2019. In this role he has provided leadership to the Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin), comprising over 240 colleges and universities. Wells is also national president of the African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA).
Read MoreThanks to endowments created in the past for this purpose, Women of the ELCA is able to offer scholarships in two categories: for Lutheran laywomen and for those studying for ordained ministry. Learn more about Women of the ELCA Scholarships.
Read MoreFor all experiencing storms and extreme weather conditions…
For peace among the nations of the world…
For those in the retail and service industries this season…
For our Jewish siblings celebrating Hanukkah…
For the homecoming of Brittney Griner, and for health and justice for all prisoners and prisoners of war…
For victims of gun violence, especially in Mississippi, as well as families marking the 10 year anniversary of Sandy Hook…
For those in North Carolina still facing outages following a power grid attack…
For those enduring the longest night of the year in grief and loss…
For cleanup and mitigation efforts following landslides in California…
For the LGBTQ+ community in Russia and for all oppressed by new legislation…
Lutherans Restoring Creation shares their Good Green News for December 2022, featuring their Actions Speak Loudly program, a call for Board of Directors nominations, and upcoming Connection Calls.
Read MoreThe December, 2022 version of the Women of the ELCA’s monthly newsletter Café is available, featuring Advent reflections on being overwhelmed, as well as the importance of sharing conversations during Advent. View all posts at boldcafe.org.
Read MoreLiving Lutheran shares an interview with Norma Frances "Tootsie" Tomanetz, an associate member at Grace Lutheran Church, in Giddings, Texas, as well as the 87-year-old pitmaster at Snow’s BBQ in Lexington, Texas. Tomanetz’s episode of Chef’s Table: BBQ is available on Netflix.
Read MoreWe share ELCA Advocacy Connections for November/December 2022, from the ELCA advocacy office in Washington, D.C. – the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Senior Director. Highlights include: Homelessness And Affordable Housing Awareness; Global Food Security Action; Status Of Title 42; World Aids Day Demands Attention; and Respect For Marriage Act.
Read MoreThe ELCA is pleased to introduce Journi, a web-based tool designed to help people discern their call to leadership in the ELCA. Explore the site at Journi.faith.
"Journi encourages all of us to seek out and inspire gifted people in our congregations and communities to consider a call to ministry of the gospel," said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop.
Read MoreEach year the ELCA asks congregations to provide information about their people and activities. Though each congregation is much more than these numbers, the information contributes to a greater knowledge of overall trends in the ELCA.
Your congregation may wish to begin compiling information for the annual congregation report before you receive the packet through the mail. You can access electronic versions of the forms and instructions here.
Read MoreELCA Global Mission shares their December, 2022 Global Links, featuring: an Advent reflection from Daudi Msseemmaa, regional representative to East Africa; news around the world; mission personnel; new global mission directory available; and how to get involved.
Read MoreJust before midnight on November 19, 2022, a gunman entered Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and opened fire. Five people died and at least 18 were injured. .
As a queer person who began coming out just before the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, an LGBTQ nightclub in Florida, I am inspired by the bravery of the people at Club Q who confronted the gunman and almost certainly saved lives in the process.
Read MoreLutheran Disaster Response shares this story of a children’s therapeutic camp for children from Ukraine who lost one or both of their parents in the war.
Read MoreOne timely way we can act as ELCA is to sign on with others to offer pointed comments to decision makers when developments demand. ELCA Advocacy shares this updates list of sign-on letters.
Read MoreALOA seeks a high-energy, experienced individual with a passion for older adult ministry to serve as its new Executive Director. View more info in this PDF.
Read MoreELCA Disability Ministries begins accepting grant applications on 12/12/2022, and will officially close the application process on 2/15/2023, for funding to ministries that are committed to inclusion and accessibility. Read more about these grants in this letter from coordinator Rev. Lisa Heffernan.
Read MoreIn the 2022-23 cycle, three leaders are placed through funding of ELCA World Hunger in California, Ohio and Washington, D.C. where they’ve expressed eagerness to connect, learn and grow as they help work for a world where all are fed.
Read MoreOn December 10, 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), written to address the atrocities committed during World War II.
Every year, International Human Rights Day is observed on December 10. To celebrate, we are reflecting on a few of the articles in the UDHR in the context of disaster response and recovery.
Read MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the ELCA Compelling Preaching: Transformed Listeners Initiative.
The goal of the initiative is to cultivate persuasive preaching by inviting ELCA ministry leaders to review research findings about current preaching settings; propose innovative ways to apply those learnings in their individual ministry contexts; participate in funded cohort learning initiatives; and produce successful preaching foundations for all lay leaders and rostered ministers seeking to transform lives through the gospel.
Read MorePresiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reads the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20. Merry Christmas and a blessed Advent! This is a season of preparation. As we prepare for family gatherings, homecooked meals, and Christ’s birth, let us take a moment to relax, breathe, and receive the Christmas story. Merry Christmas, dear church!
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