What does it mean to truly flourish? A global study from Baylor University finds that regular participation in a faith community—not wealth or age—is a key factor in living a good life. Scripture agrees. In John 14, Jesus promises we are never alone, and the Spirit remains with us so we may live abundantly. This week’s Faith Lens explores how our call to community and presence—both divine and human—helps us flourish together, not apart.
Read MoreThe May 2025 Mission Support Memo from ELCA is all about the resiliency of a small-town ministry. Immanuel Lutheran Church, in rural central Texas, faced a variety of challenges, a vacancy in pastoral leadership and the ongoing impact of the pandemic. Yet, they saw opportunity when they called Katie Rode under a special program that allowed her to serve part-time while attending seminary full-time.
Explore the memo to find out how you can participate in the September Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference in New Orleans and learn about the 2024 Mission Support outcomes.
Read MoreLutheran Volunteer Corps is accepting applications for the 2025–2026 program year through June 30. Fellows serve full-time at justice-centered nonprofits in DC, the Twin Cities, Wilmington, and a new site in Pittsburgh, while living in intentional community. Learn more or apply at lutheranvolunteercorps.org.
Read MoreThe Lutheran Church in Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ) has ordained women as pastors for the first time, following a landmark decision last fall to allow the ordination of women. Maria Rudolph and Sue Westhorp were ordained this spring to serve congregations in Perth and Box Hill, respectively. This historic move affirms the LCANZ’s commitment to recognizing the gifts of all whom God calls, regardless of gender, and aligns with broader movements within the Lutheran World Federation. Click here to read the full article on Living Lutheran.
Read MoreThe May 2025 issue of Administration Matters is now live. Find key updates on online Bible studies for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, mental health resources for leaders, health benefit changes coming in 2026, and practical financial and safety tools for congregations. Don’t miss this valuable resource for leaders across the Grand Canyon Synod. Read the full issue.
Read MoreThe Rev. Shelley Bryan Wee has been reelected to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the ELCA’s Northwest Washington Synod. The vote took place May 16 during the synod assembly in Everett, Washington, with Bishop Wee receiving 215 votes on the second ballot. She has served as bishop since 2019 and brings decades of pastoral and leadership experience within the ELCA. To read the full article at elca.org, click here.
Read MoreMay 25, 2025 marks the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. In her message to the church honoring George Floyd, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton calls our attention to how this “horrific act revealed the deadly reality of racism in the United States for many across the world.” Eaton stresses that “racism is one of many tools of white supremacy and a sin that distorts God’s image in all of us, and it stands against the Gospel we proclaim.”
Read MoreEach ELCA congregation is invited to register one observer for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix. Observers receive access to all assembly materials and reserved seating but do not vote. Registration is $125 and closes May 31. Learn more about lodging, travel, and how to be part of this unique gathering of our wider church.
Read MoreFrom proposed Medicaid and SNAP cuts to the dismantling of FEMA and halted humanitarian aid to Gaza, the May 2025 Advocacy Connections report from ELCA Advocacy highlights urgent policy concerns affecting vulnerable communities at home and abroad. Guided by Lutheran social teaching, ELCA advocacy staff are responding with calls to action on hunger, healthcare, global health funding, disaster response, and tax justice.
Learn how these developments intersect with ELCA priorities like Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All and Caring for Creation, and see how our companion churches are helping shape the conversation in Washington, D.C. Click here to read the full May update from ELCA Advocacy.
Read MoreFor justice and peace among nations where war and violence rage, especially Ukraine and Russia, Palestine and Israel, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, India and Pakistan…
For de-escalation of hostilities and a lasting peace between India and Pakistan…
For all affected by wildfires in Minnesota and Arizona, and flooding in Maryland…
For all in need of affordable and accessible healthcare…
For the financial well-being and sustainability of social service agencies, feeding programs, and anti-poverty initiatives…
For the vocation of colleges and universities, and for all faculty, staff, and students…
For Pope Leo XIV and the global Roman Catholic church…
For synods of the ELCA as they gather in their assemblies…
For graduating students in this season of transition…
The Rev. Dr. Katrina Foster has been elected bishop of the ELCA’s Metropolitan New York Synod, following the conclusion of their synod assembly on May 3. Foster, who currently serves as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in NYC, was elected on the fifth ballot and will begin a six-year term. She succeeds the Rev. Paul Egensteiner, who is returning to parish ministry.
Foster brings over three decades of pastoral leadership in New York and holds degrees from ELCA-affiliated institutions including Newberry College and United Lutheran Seminary. Her election marks a new chapter for the Metropolitan New York Synod. Click here for more.
Read MoreGraduation season reminds us that some things we’re required to do—like learning—can become sources of joy and transformation. In John 13, Jesus offers a new commandment: to love one another. This law isn’t a burden but a gift that draws us closer to the heart of God’s good news. Explore how gospel and law intertwine in our everyday lives, and reflect on the ways love shows up in both what we’re told to do—and what we choose to do.
Read MoreIn this inspiring profile from Living Lutheran, Brenna Holmes shares how her life of faith is rooted in community, service, and empowering the next generation. From leading children’s choirs at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Ohio to guiding high school students toward bright futures through her work with I Know I Can, Brenna embodies Lutheran values in every sphere of life. Her story reminds us how vocation and faith come together to form safe, welcoming spaces where others can grow.
Read MoreA new Pew Research Center study shows that Christianity in the U.S. has remained relatively stable between 2019 and 2024, prompting a mix of cautious hope and honest reflection among ELCA leaders. Lutheran scholar Christian Scharen and ELCA researcher Adam DeHoek unpack what the numbers mean for congregations navigating post-pandemic realities, generational shifts, and a spiritually curious—but often institution-wary—public. Click here to read the full article at Living Lutheran.
Read MoreAuthor and wellness coach Heidi Barr’s new poetry collection, Church of Shadow and Light, explores themes of personal and collective healing, spiritual connection, and the holy found in life’s everyday tensions. In this Living Lutheran interview, Barr reflects on how shadow and light shape her writing, her understanding of church, and the faithful path toward peace in uncertain times. Click here to read the full interview at Living Lutheran.
Read MoreThe Deaconess Community of the ELCA is hiring a Strategic Mission and Interpretation Manager to support its storytelling, outreach, and strategic goals. This flexible, benefits-eligible position may be part-time or full-time, remote or called. Learn more in this PDF and share the opportunity widely.
Read MoreListen in to Here I Pod from ELCA Advocacy, where we connect faith-based advocacy and current events that matter in our neighborhoods, worship communities, social service and lives. Each episode brings you insights on important advocacy topics and shows you how to get involved. You will hear from ELCA staff who share their knowledge and experience, helping you reflect on today's challenges. We bring together voices of faith-advocates caring for all people and creation. Tune in to learn, act, and be inspired!
Read MoreLooking for ways to deepen your worship life or equip your music and liturgy leaders? Each month, ELCA Worship highlights events and tools from partner organizations across the Lutheran and ecumenical landscape. Opportunities this summer include the Lutheran Summer Music Academy (June 22–July 20), the ALCM Conference (Aug. 4–8), and the “Let It Be With Me” liturgy seminar (Aug. 13–15), along with rich resources from Sundays and Seasons, Music That Makes Community, and more. Click here to explore the full May update of events, training, and worship resources from ELCA partners.
Read MoreAs we approach the 5th anniversary of George Floyd’s murder (May 25) and the 10th anniversary of the Emanuel Nine (June 17), the ELCA offers worship resources to support congregational prayer, remembrance, and action. These include special collects and petitions for use in services on the Sundays nearest each date.
We are invited to remember the lives lost, confess the church’s complicity in racism, and recommit to justice through our worship and witness. Click here to view the full article and download the prayers.
Read MoreThe Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church has released its final report ahead of the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, outlining 13 recommendations for renewing the ELCA’s purpose, structure, and governance. Pastor Carla Christopher and Leon Schwartz have shared a presentation for our synod assembly, highlighting key calls to action on dismantling racism, increasing accountability, empowering lay leadership, and continuing the work through new task forces. View the full report as a PDF or as images in our blog post.
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