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Celebrating 50 years of ordained women
With gratitude for those who have gone before and with hope for the future, the ELCA gives thanks to God for the ministry of women. Throughout 2019 and 2020, we have been celebrating 50 years of Lutheran women being ordained in the United States, 40 years of women of color being ordained, and 10 years of LGBTQIA+ individuals being able to serve freely. The first Lutheran women were ordained in November and December 1970.
Congregations are encouraged to hold commemorative events throughout the year! Resources — including a five-session adult forum, a four-session Bible study, videos, and a liturgy with Scripture and hymn suggestions — are available to help congregations observe these anniversaries.
Celebrate these ordination milestones.
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Living Lutheran: “Discipleship in a Democracy”
Debate around many current social issues has convinced members that the ELCA needs to address the foundational matter of church and state. In Living Lutheran’s October issue, the lead feature answers the question ”How should Lutherans be involved in politics?” The divisive political climate in our nation can cause tensions in our congregations. Republicans, Democrats and independents gather under the same roof for Sunday worship, but they may bring very different understandings of our nation’s problems and how to tackle them. Being faithful followers of Jesus, civically engaged citizens and folks who love their neighbors as themselves is a balancing act, but our Christian faith and our Lutheran tradition give us some tools to manage it. Read the full article here and download the study guide.
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Government and civic engagement social message
The ELCA Church Council has unanimously adopted a new social message: “Government and Civic Engagement in the United States: Discipleship in a Democracy.” This project was called for at the 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, with an intention that it be ready to read before the election this fall. The social message explores how government is a gift from God that can also be abused and misused. It also delves into how we can view civic engagement as Lutherans. You can find the social message and study guide in English here. A Spanish translation of the message is also available.
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WATCH THIS
Civic engagement in 2020
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton discusses the importance of voting and our church’s relationship with civic engagement.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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FEATURED RESOURCES
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“Church Together ― Apart: Our Response to COVID-19”
Thanks to your gifts to the COVID-19 Response Fund, the church has adapted its ministry to continue to serve those in need around the world.
WATCH | GIVE
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The Freedom of a Christian Study Guide
You are invited to study and reflect on Martin Luther’s The Freedom of a Christian in 2020, its 500th anniversary year.
DOWNLOAD
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ELCA World Hunger Advent resources
Whether your congregation meets online or in person, ELCA World Hunger’s Advent resources are designed to activate you as you continue to fight hunger.
DOWNLOAD
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BULLETIN BLURBS
These snippets are available for you to copy and paste into your bulletins.
“Stories of Faith in Action” Our annual publication “Stories of Faith in Action” highlights how God changes lives through ministries funded by Mission Support, and illustrates how your congregational offering sustains and advances the work of this church. Stories, videos and an interactive flipbook of the publication are available at ELCA.org/SOFIA.
Shoulder to Shoulder 10th anniversary The ELCA is a founding member of Shoulder to Shoulder, an interreligious campaign working to end discrimination and violence against Muslims in the United States. As the campaign marks its 10th anniversary, we are joining other faith communities to renew our commitment toward building a country where all people are treated with respect and dignity. Learn more about the campaign and sign the Shoulder to Shoulder pledge today.
The Incarnational Preacher Martin Luther believed that the purpose of a sermon was not just to explain the Bible or tell people about Jesus but to help them encounter the crucified and risen Christ in their midst. Dave Daubert’s book The Incarnational Preacher: Proclaiming the Living Christ to Form a Living Faith helps people who have been called on to preach the gospel in a Lutheran voice do so in scripturally grounded ways that not only proclaim the gospel but also reveal it. Free download.
ELCA Wittenberg Center offers webinars on The Freedom of a Christian The ELCA Wittenberg Center invites you to a three-seminar series Oct. 28-30 on Martin Luther’s The Freedom of a Christian. The text will be explored through perspectives of neuroscience, liberation theology, loving our neighbors and relating faith to politics. The events will be in English with live Spanish translations. Each session will last for one hour. Visit the registration page to reserve your place and view a schedule of topics and presenters.
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