Martin Luther was eight years old when Christopher Columbus set sail from Europe and landed in the Western Hemisphere. Luther was a young monk and priest when Michaelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel in Rome...
Full communion is when two denominations develop a relationship based on a common confessing of the Christian faith and a mutual recognition of Baptism and sharing of the Lord’s Supper...
Completion of the first call process completes candidacy for all people, including those ordained in another Lutheran church or Christian tradition, moving them toward first call and admittance to the appropriate roster in the ELCA.
With gratitude for those who have gone before and hope for the future, the ELCA gives thanks to God for the ministry of women. In 2019 and 2020 we celebrate 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.
In its simplest form, becoming a sanctuary denomination means that the ELCA is publicly declaring that walking alongside immigrants and refugees is a matter of faith. In baptism, we are brought into a covenantal relationship with Jesus Christ that commits us to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
This resource applies ELCA teaching to questions about public health, vaccination and religious exemptions to vaccines. There is no specific ELCA policy resolution dedicated to vaccination, but in the Lutheran tradition and in ELCA teaching there is no basis for religious exemption. Both the Lutheran heritage and ELCA social teaching documents urge participation in public health efforts because health is a shared endeavor.
A summary focusing on the provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that most directly affect churches and their employees. | Spanish
ELCA World Hunger offers a set of state-specific one-pagers designed for people to learn how to access things like SNAP, unemployment and other emergency assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.
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. To learn more and donate, visit ELCA.org/covidresponse.
Use these graphics in newsletters, email or social media to support your community’s COVID-19 response efforts. The files are available in .jpg, .png and .eps formats.
Our high school seniors are missing out on once-in-a-lifetime experiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognize and celebrate your congregation’s graduating seniors with these ideas from ELCA Youth. | Spanish
Now that many congregations are observing social distancing, with some offering online services, members may be concerned about how to support the work of their congregations, synods and churchwide ministries. A majority of ELCA congregations currently offer online giving as an option and all still accept checks. For congregations hoping to establish online giving, the ELCA has negotiated with preferred vendors who can quickly respond with options.
Due to the nature of the virus, information is being updated on a daily basis. We encourage you to contact and listen to your local health experts and authorities concerning best practices and the status of outbreaks in your local context. The following links may also serve as helpful resources.
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