ELCA Advocacy is excited to introduce the 2023-2024 Hunger Advocacy Fellows, including our very own Autumn Byars with LAMA. Supported by ELCA World Hunger, these dynamic young leaders are poised to make significant impacts in communities locally and globally. With placements across various advocacy offices, each Fellow brings unique insights and passions, uniting in their commitment to a just world where all are fed. Meet these inspiring individuals in a post at ELCA.org.
Read MoreDiscover the art of tending to congregational finances! Join the Southeastern Synod's free training session on 10/26/2023, led by ELCA Treasurer Lori Fedyk, and become a maestro in managing congregation finances. Learn more and register today!
Read MoreAmidst the Central African Republic's deepening crisis, ELCA Advocacy underscores the urgent need for global solidarity and action. Highlighting the turmoil and human rights infractions in CAR, the ELCA calls for robust support for humanitarian efforts and peace initiatives, advocating for a holistic peace that encompasses safety, dignity, and wellbeing for all affected populations.
Read MoreIn consultation with partners on the ground, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) made a very tough but prudent decision to evacuate YAGM personnel, including the 5 Young Adults in Global Mission from the Holy Land and the country coordinators. We are relieved to share that everyone is safe.
The images coming out of the news are heartbreaking and we extend our prayers to the Palestinian and Israeli people who have lost loved ones and are living in fear and uncertainty.
Read MoreWe share a video message to the ELCA from Bishop Sani-Ibrahim Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.
Read More“As Lutherans, we are accustomed to holding tension between two truths. Thus the ELCA denounces the egregious acts of Hamas, acts that have led to unspeakable loss of life and hope. At the same time the ELCA denounces the indiscriminate retaliation of Israel against the Palestinian people, both Christian and Muslim.”
Things you can do:
Find updated resources and statements from the ELCA here.
Join our partner Churches for Middle East Peace for prayer every Wednesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Eastern time. Register here.
Call your lawmakers today through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and urge them to take action to deescalate the conflict and uphold unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza. Find your member of Congress at govtrak.
Support Lutheran Disaster Response here.
In a letter to Bishop Dr. Sani Ibrahim-Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton offers the support, prayers and advocacy efforts of the ELCA. Read Bishop Eaton’s full letter here, as well as Bishop Dr. Azar’s statement.
Read MoreWe talk about Autism as being a spectrum. Some folks talk about Faith as being a spectrum. What happens when Autism and Faith intersect? Join us via Zoom on Wednesday, October 18, as we hear from Rev. Anna K. Gordy, Pastor for Pláticas de Santa Sofia, a ministry of the ELCA.
Join ELCA Coaching every Wednesday at 11am MST/PDT, 12pm MDT, as we practice Courageous Leadership. Log in info is on the ELCA Coaching website.
Read MoreThe ELCA Youth Gathering has extended the volunteer application deadline to November 1, 2023. Don't miss this renewed chance to serve and inspire our youth in New Orleans next summer. Check your registration details, note down key dates, and remember, the Gathering team is here to answer any questions. Read more in the latest updates.
Read MoreThis October, Lutherans Restoring Creation (LRC) offers enriching opportunities to intertwine faith with environmental stewardship in their October newsletter. From the upcoming Ecumenical Training to their newly announced Young Adult Vocational Fellowship, they’re empowering voices and actions that care for our planet. Dive into our resource hub, attend upcoming events, and let your faith-filled actions resonate. Read more to join them in these vital steps for Earth's care.
Read MoreThis September, ELCA celebrated profound ecumenical unity, highlighted by Bishop Gohl's participation in Bishop Schofield-Broadbent's ordination. Our new Congregation and Synod Support Team and the successful "God's work. Our hands" Sunday reflect our ongoing commitment to shared mission and service. Read more in the September 2023 ELCA Mission Support Memo, available at ELCA.org, as a PDF, or a Word doc.
Read MoreEach month ELCA Worship highlights resources and events from other organizations and institutions. These Lutheran and ecumenical partner organizations work alongside the ELCA to support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. From communal song-sharing workshops with Music that Makes Community to the Calvin Institute's worship grants, and insightful reads from Augsburg Fortress, there's something to inspire everyone.
Read MoreIn April, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton launched the Truth and Healing Movement to increase the church’s understanding of the impacts of colonization on Indigenous people in past and present generations. Living Lutheran reached out to Richard A. Magnus, a retired pastor who attends Edina (Minn.) Community Lutheran (ECLC), to hear how the congregation’s work with the movement has affected members and the community.
Read MoreIn celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Living Lutheran talked with Latiné Lutherans and heard their needs and hopes. Today we pause to reflect on the work being done throughout the ELCA to affirm and honor our siblings of Latiné descent. In the article, read quotes from the ELCA Ethnic Specific and Multicultural Ministries team. For more information about the ELCA’s Latiné ministries or other ethnic specific ministries, click here or email Jennifer De Leon, director for racial justice, at jennifer.deleon@elca.org.
Read MoreWe share a panel discussion on the ELCA's Truth Seeking and Truth Telling Initiative, led by Vance Blackfox, with Jessica Crist, Susan Green, and Caleb Rollins.
Read MoreThis week's Faith Lens explores the profound intersection of faith and science, spotlighting the life-saving advancements brought forth by Katalin Kariko, Drew Weissman, and their pioneering mRNA research. As we reflect on the impact of COVID-19 vaccines, we're invited to ponder deeper questions: How does our faith shape our view of science and vaccines? In what ways are we called to be stewards of God’s love in the face of global challenges? Delve into a thoughtful discussion on the Christian response to scientific achievement and the continuing call to serve humanity.
Read MoreFor peace in our world…
For nations of the world experiencing violence and unrest, especially in Gaza/Israel, Ukraine, and Nagorno-Karabakh…
For victims of terrorism and for those who mourn them…
For Jewish, Christian, and Muslim siblings in the Middle East, especially all who live in fear and under oppression…
For all victims of gun violence, especially in Baltimore and Laurel, MD; Fort Wayne, IN; Louisville, KY; Lansing, MI; and Castleton, VT…
For all in the path of Hurricane Lidia…
For continued recovery and relief efforts following the earthquake in Afghanistan…
For rescue efforts following flash flooding in the Indian Himalayas…
Louise Johnson, Executive for Administration, Office of the Presiding Bishop, thanks those who have taken the survey at Future Church: God's Love Made Real, and invites anyone who hasn’t responded to do so by October 16, 2023. Your valuable insights are welcome, and your voices are yearned for in their ongoing listening sessions.
Read MoreIn this video, Bishop Eaton addresses Indigenous Peoples' Day, October 9, 2023.
Read MoreFor victims of the mall shooting in Bangkok, Thailand…
For all in the path of Tropical Storm Philippe…
For Armenian refugees fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh…
For recovery and relief efforts following the earthquake and landslides in Nepal…
For safety amidst earthquakes in Naples, Italy…
For renewed respect and collaboration among political parties and leaders…
For all victims of human trafficking, and especially in Ohio…
For Canadian wildfires and those experiencing diminished air quality due to traveling smoke, especially areas along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States…
For all victims of gun violence, especially in East Louisville, KY; Philadelphia, PA; and Apopka, FL…
In thanksgiving for Nobel Prize winners and their contributions to the good of the world
For areas around the world experiencing violence and unrest, including Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey, and Niger…
