How do Christians address controversial civic issues?
Session 2: “How Do Christians Address Controversial Civic Issues?” Leader’s Guide | VIEW PDF | WATCH VIDEO
How are we as Lutheran Christians called to civic engagement, including in the arenas of government and political life? What is the proper relationship of the church with government, and what is not? What does religious liberty actually include? What are our scriptural and confessional resources for probing such questions about civic life?
The ELCA invites you and your congregation to explore these questions and more by using "A Study Curriculum on Civic Life and Faith."
This study curriculum has just been released by the ELCA Task Force for Studies on Civic Life and Faith. It includes six sessions and is a critical step on the way to the social statement called for by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly.
Each session comes ready to use, with prayers, hymn suggestions, Scriptures, a teaching video, group discussion questions, suggested resources, and case studies taken from everyday life. There is a response form after each session for participants to communicate with the task force itself on the material covered.
Core Materials:
Individual Sessions
Session 1: “How Is God’s Invitation to Discipleship Lived Out in a Democracy?” Leader’s Guide | VIEW PDF | WATCH VIDEO
Session 2: “How Do Christians Address Controversial Civic Issues?” Leader’s Guide | VIEW PDF | WATCH VIDEO
Session 3: “What Are Lutheran Views on Civic Life?” Leader’s Guide | VIEW PDF | WATCH VIDEO
Session 4: “What Are the Objectives of Democracy in the United States? Leader’s Guide | VIEW PDF | WATCH VIDEO
Session 5: “What's Faith-based Living Got to Do With Civic Life?” Leader’s Guide | VIEW PDF | WATCH VIDEO
Session 6: “How Do We Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord in Civic Life?” Leader’s Guide | VIEW PDF | WATCH VIDEO
Supplemental Materials:
On-the-ground Case Studies | VIEW PDF
Conversation Covenant Poster | VIEW 4-PAGE PDF | VIEW FULL PDF | VIEW JPG
Glossary | VIEW PDF
All Videos | VIEW VIDEOS
Participants' feedback is key in helping the task force think as they move into the next phase of drafting a social statement on these important issues. The study response period is open until Oct. 15.
To download the study and learn more about the task force's work, go to elca.org/civicsandfaith. If you have questions, please reach out to civicsandfaith@elca.org.
With gratitude,
Roger Willer, Director, Theological Ethics
Carmelo Santos, Director, Theological Diversity and Engagement
Office of the Presiding Bishop
