Welcome to the Registration for the Lutheran Ethicists' Gathering 2026
Lutheran Ethics and Democracy
January 7 - 8, 2026 (Wednesday from 6:45pm to 8:45pm EST and Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm EST).
Held in-person and via Zoom
Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street. NW
Washington DC.
“Through faithfulness in its life and activities as a community for peace, the Church in the power of the Holy Spirit becomes a presence for peace that disturbs, reconciles, serves, and deliberates” (For Peace, p. 4).
How do these roles of the church shape our ethical commitments and activities today, when democratic institutions are under threat? At the 2026 Lutheran Ethicists Gathering, we will explore the church’s distinctive presence in society, including how the different parts of the church work together as one body for the well-being of all. Washington, DC, will provide both an apt setting and the opportunity as a community to learn from local advocacy partners about practical strategies for living out Lutheran ethics together after we return home.
Presenters Include:
- Dr. Anthony Bateza, Associate Professor of Religion; Department Chair of Race, Ethnic, Gender and Sexuality Studies, St. Olaf College
- Rev. Dr. Sivin Kit, Director of the Department for Theology, Mission and Justice at the Lutheran World Federation
- Dr. Mindy Makant, Professor of Religious Studies and director of the Youth and Family Ministry Program at Lenoir-Rhyne University
- A panel will be announced soon
A full agenda will be available soon.
Registration
You may choose to register to attend in-person or online. In order to make this event accessible for everyone, we have three different costs of registration. Please choose the option that fits your budget.
· In-person Registration Full Price - $60.00
· In person Registration Half Price - $30.00
· In-person Registration Free - $0
· Virtual Registration Full Price - $60.00
· Virtual Registration Half Price - $30.00
· Virtual Registration Free - $0
Meals are not included in the cost of registration. For people joining us in person, we will gather for optional dinners on Wednesday and Thursday, and then hospitality time after program sessions end on both evenings.
Limited funds are available to support travel and registration costs for emerging scholars (e.g. students, first-call leaders, etc.) For more information about scholarships or questions about the event, please fill out this form
2026 Lutheran Ethicists Gathering - Emerging Scholars
(please right click to open link in new tab)
Please consider a donation to support the Lutheran Ethicists Network as you register.
In-person registration closes on December 22, 2025.
Virtual registration will remain open through January 7, 2026.
If you have registration questions, please email Heather.Dean@elca.org.