Posts in Leader Resources
Brainstorming ideas from our 2021 Synod Assembly

At our assembly in June, Pastors Karn Carroll and Jacqui Pagel led the assembly in break-out sessions. In this post, we’ve compiled attendee’s answers to three questions posed:

  1. Think for a moment about someone who might be new, young, or diverse to your congregation, then share with your breakout group, one new idea you could do to welcome them.

  2. Discuss with your group about one new relevant issue your congregation should address and how?

  3. Name one thing that we might connect with: school, business, community.

Read More
Advocacy Summer School

Through advocacy, the ELCA community can create lasting, systemic change. If you want to get involved in faith-based advocacy, but aren’t sure where to begin, sign up for Advocacy Summer School.

The first session will take place on August 11, 2021. Sign up for one session or all five. Each virtual session will include a 30-minute virtual presentation followed by an optional question & answer session for 15 minutes.

Read More
How your website can connect with people post-pandemic with Tithe.ly

Would you like to learn more about reaching people through your website? Tithe.ly will host a webinar on the subject on July 27 at 11am MST/PDT. Register here.

Tithe.ly, an ELCA preferred vendor, offers a family of digital tools—including easy-to-use websites—to help increase giving, manage congregational membership data and engage members, with special pricing for ELCA congregations.

Read More
ELCA Growing Younger “Train The Trainer” Virtual Gathering

Join the ELCA Growing Younger “Train The Trainer” Virtual Gathering, August 11-12, 2021, 9am-3:30 pm MST/PDT. Leaders will learn to increase the number of youth and young adults involved in the life and leadership of the church.

Synodical leadership is invited: Bishops, Assistants to the Bishops, Youth and Young Adult leaders, Evangelism, SYMBOL, DEM’s and others. Register here by 8/1/2020 and contact Pastor Jacqui Pagel for questions and if you plan to attend. View this post or this PDF for more info.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
“River of Life” Vacation Bible School At-Home Guide

The at-home guide for ELCA World Hunger’s “River of Life” Vacation Bible School program for 2021 is now available for download.

This at-home guide is a supplemental resource for the full “River of Life VBS leader’s guide and includes modified activities, suggestions for online and at-home VBS, links to new videos and tips for parents, caregivers and other adults leading VBS with children at home!

Read More