At the beginning of this month, the U.S. House of Representatives elected a new Speaker. Typically, electing a new Speaker occurs rather quickly, needing only one vote, but this time the situation was different. While Representative Kevin McCarthy (Republican from California) was the early favorite, it took fifteen votes for him to be elected Speaker. This is the first time in 100 years that the election for Speaker took more than one vote.
Read MoreMore than two decades after the ELCA and The Episcopal Church became full communion partners, congregations from both denominations are joining forces in arrangements that many see as the way of the future.
Read MoreELCA Advocacy shares updates from state public policy office in the ELCA Advocacy Network for January, 2023.
Read MoreWe pray for Rev. Jeffery Gallen and the people of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Goodyear, part of the Cactus Conference. Visit their site at christevangelical.org, and their social media pages on Facebook and Youtube.
Read MoreThe 118th U.S. Congress convened on January 3, 2023. Following finalization of House speakership, the official swearing in took place January 7, 2023. In this post are some of the legislators with Lutheran affiliation who will serve the country in this new session.
Read More2022 was a full year for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). The highest profile event is the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In addition to the war, LDR worked with partners to respond to a wide range of other disasters, including Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires and gun violence. Internationally, some examples of responses in 2022 include monsoon flooding in south Asia, migration in Central America and refugees in the Middle East.
Read MoreUpdated hours: Faith/La Fa in Phoenix is holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 8am to 1pm. There will be snacks, sales, and a sock & underwear drive for NAUM. Read the full post on how to donate and learn more.
Read MoreThe ELCA Foundation is pleased to announce a new partnership with the investment consulting firm Fund Evaluation Group LLC (FEG).
Previously, the Foundation worked with Graystone Consulting to provide reporting and oversight of three core portfolios — the Ministry Growth Fund, Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Trusts.
Read MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Formation Lab Project.
The goal of the project is to help congregations move past prescriptive, outdated models of youth ministry that often separate youth from the vital faith practices they need if they are to embrace God as the center of their life in today's world.
Read MoreWe stand together as Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in the United States to condemn the recent rise in anti-Christian hate in the Holy Land, including the vandalism of a Protestant cemetery on Jan. 1, and graffiti threatening "Death to Christians" that appeared last week both in and near the Armenian quarter in Jerusalem.
These and other actions taken to erase the presence of Christians in the Holy Land, which would be devastating to us all. May the God of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar comfort our Christian siblings in the place we all believe is holy and give us courage as we speak with one voice against religious bigotry.
Read MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) is making history by ordaining the first woman pastor in Palestine. Listen to local scholars and clergy, as well as international partners to the church, discuss the cultural significance of this event, as well as its theological and biblical importance.
Read MoreClick here to watch the livestream of the Ordination of Sally Azar at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem, February 22, 2023, 6am MST, 5am PST. The same link will show a replay of the service after it has ended.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land will ordain Ms. Sally Azar to be a Reverend in the church, becoming the first female pastor in Palestine.
Read MoreOn Sunday the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) will for the first time ordain a woman into pastoral ministry, Sally Azar. I invite you to join in the celebration by watching this short documentary about what women’s ordination means for the ELCJHL, and the livestream of the ordination service, which will begin at 7 a.m. Central time.
Read MoreSally Azar, LWF Council Member and graduate of intercultural theology in Göttingen talks about her upcoming ordination and how she hopes it will promote greater gender justice in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.
Read MoreMost people will find a church through online search results before ever visiting in person. This course is designed to make sure they discover you.
In this Faith+Lead Academy course presented by Ryan Panzer on January 26, 2023, you'll experience hands-on training and practical wisdom. Register and get more info here.
Read MorePastor Katie Langston, pastor of mission and outreach at New Promise Lutheran Church in St. George, Utah, shares her adventures in delivering cookies to the church’s neighbors.
“Operation Cookie Conversations” was the product of the question, “What would happen if we tried to talk to the neighbors near us?”
Read MoreWe lift up in prayer Dr. Mark Wickstrom, Interim Senior Pastor at Living Hope Lutheran in Las Vegas, as he begins immediate treatments after a recent diagnosis with blood and kidney cancer.
Read MoreBishop Hutterer participates in the AZ Prayer Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023, Jan 20, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, and along with other staff attends the Ordination and Installation of Luis Ochoa at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Chandler, Jan 21, 2023, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Read MoreThis week we celebrate the following ordination anniversaries:
Rev. Tina Mills, Our Savior’s, Mesa, who celebrates 12 years on January 25.
