Supporting Our Chaplains: Offering and Donations for the ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries

At the heart of our faith lies a call to service, one that extends beyond the walls of our churches and into the diverse “Monday-Saturday” world where real life happens. This year, as part of our commitment to “Embody the Word,” we focus our collective support on those who minister in these everyday battlegrounds—our chaplains. The offerings and donations collected during the 2024 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly will be directed towards the ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries, specifically into the ELCA Fund for Leaders Federal Chaplaincy Scholarship Endowment.

How You Can Contribute

Your generosity can light the way for exemplary pastors and seminary students to serve as federal chaplains. Here’s how you can make a difference:

• At the Assembly: Please bring a check or cash payable to Grand Canyon Synod, earmarked for this vital ministry with “ELCA Chaplains” in the memo line.

• Online: Visit www.gcsynod.org/give to make a digital donation. Remember to add “ELCA Chaplains” in the memo line to ensure your gift is directed appropriately.

Understanding ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries

The Federal Chaplaincy Ministries of the ELCA are committed to finding, nurturing, and sending dedicated leaders to serve in pivotal roles within U.S. military, Veterans Affairs hospitals, and federal correctional institutions. Like their congregational counterparts, federal chaplains engage in preaching, leading worship, administering sacraments, and offering pastoral care. However, their contexts are markedly distinct.

• In the Military and Veterans Affairs: Chaplains provide spiritual support and counseling to service members, veterans, and their families as they navigate the challenges of recovery from physical and emotional traumas.

• In Federal Prisons: These chaplains bring hope and spiritual guidance to diverse inmate populations, facilitating connections with families and fostering paths to reconciliation and healing.

Why It Matters

The need for skilled, compassionate chaplains has never been greater. With decades of global conflicts impacting the lives of young adults, both in uniform and those incarcerated, the role of a chaplain has evolved to meet these emerging challenges. Our chaplains are on the front lines, offering pastoral care that encompasses compassion, ethical discernment, and resilience.

By supporting the ELCA Fund for Leaders Federal Chaplaincy Scholarship Endowment, you help ensure that our chaplains are well-prepared for their calling. Your contributions empower them to bring God’s word to the places where it’s needed most, truly embodying the word of Christ in the world.

Join Us in This Mission

Embrace the opportunity to make a tangible impact. Your gifts do more than support a ministry; they transform lives and strengthen our collective witness in the world. Let us unite in this endeavor, embodying the word through our actions and support of those serving as the hands and feet of Christ in the federal chaplaincy.