About the ELCA
About the ELCA

What We Believe

Mission & Vision

History

Congregations

Synods

Leadership

Financial

Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations

Churchwide

Office of the Presiding Bishop

Office of the Secretary

Office of the Treasurer
Related Organizations

Augsburg Fortress

Christian Education Network of the ELCA

Deaconess Community

ELCA Federal Credit Union

ELCA Foundation

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association

Life of Faith

Lutheran Men in Mission

Mission Investment Fund

Portico Benefit Services

Women of the ELCA

Ways to Give

ELCA Giving Opportunities
Find an ELCA Congregation

There is a place for you among our nearly 10,000 congregations across the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands...
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Faith
Faith

ELCA Teaching

Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations

Daily Bible Reading

Faith and Society

• Social Messages

• Social Statements

Journal of Lutheran Ethics
Luther and Lutheranism

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...
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Full Communion Partners

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...
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Find a Congregation
Resources
Resources

Downloadable Resources

Items to Order
ELCA Good Gifts Catalog

The 24-page ELCA Good Gifts catalog offers many different ways to honor friends and loved ones with gifts that will make a difference in the world...

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First Call Process

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.
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News
News

News Releases

ELCA Facts

ELCA Blogs

Statements from the Presiding Bishop

Youth Gathering
50 Years of Ordained Women

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.
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Sanctuary Denomination

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.
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Our Work
Congregations and Synods

Book of Faith

Children's Ministry

Congregational Communication Tools

Congregation and Synod Data

Disability Ministry

Education Program Planners

ELCA New Congregations

Ministries of Diverse Cultures and Communities

Faith Practices

"God's work. Our hands." Sunday

Innovation Lab

Renewing Congregations

Resourceful Servants

Schools

Seeds Monthly

Stewardship

Worship

Young Adult Ministry

Youth Ministry

Youth Gathering
Leadership

Candidacy Leadership Development

Colleges and Universities

ELCA Fund for Leaders

Federal Chaplaincy Ministries

Lay Schools for Ministry

Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta

Quality of Call Initiative

Seminaries

Specialized Pastoral Care

Vocation - Become a Leader

Global Mission

Global Service

Glocal Events

International Leaders

Companion Synod Relationships

Young Adults in Global Mission

Related Ministries

Campus Ministry

Mission Builders

Outdoor Ministry
Relief and Development

ELCA World Hunger

HIV/AIDS Ministry

Lutheran Disaster Response

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services

Social Ministry Organizations

Publicly Engaged Church

Advocacy

AMMPARO

Corporate Social Responsibility

Creation Care Network

ELCAVotes

Faith Science and Technology

Justice for Women

Justice Portal

Lutheran Office for World Community

Organizing for Mission

Sumud

Racial Justice Ministries

Social Issues

Sumud (formerly Peace Not Walls)

Volunteer Opportunities

Synods

Welcome to the Synod resource page. This resource page provides you a visual way to explore and download the many types of resources we have available. You may also use the search engine to find other resources not listed here.

Below are a list of resources you can download. For more information about a specific resource, just hover over the icon.

2024 Toolkit for Synod Bishop Elections PDF

Download

Bishop Election - Affirmation of Ministry Re-election PDF

Download

Bishop Election - Affirmation of Ministry Re-election DOC

Download

Bishop Election - Prayer Resources PDF

Download

Bishop Election - Prayer Resources DOC

Download

Handbook for planning the Installation of a Bishop in ELCA synods

Download

Installation Bishop 2017 PDF

Download

Installation Bishop 2017 DOC

Download

Below are a list of resources you can download. For more information about a specific resource, just hover over the icon.

Financial Assistance Resources for ELCA Rostered Ministers

Download

Synodical Renewing Strategies

Download

Good Samaritan Fund

Gift as emergency aid to rostered clergy currently on leave of call.

Good Samaritan Fund

Download

Good Samaritan Financial Assistance Application

The Application for Good Samaritan Financial Assistance

Good Samaritan Financial Assistance Application

Download

Letter to President Biden calling for a permanent bilateral ceasefire in Gaza

Download

Cuba embargo letter to Senator Menendez

Download

Letter to Congress addressing funds for Augusta Victoria Hospital

Download

Bishops Relational Agreement

Download

Letter to President and Senate on Pandemic Recovery

Download

ELCA reaffirms commitment to combat racism and white supremacy

Download

ELCA reaffirms commitment to combat racism and white supremacy (Spanish)

Download

ELCA / LIRS / LSA letter to Congress addressing COVID-19 and immigrants

Download

ELCA Conference of Bishops letter to Congress addressing No Ban Act

Download

Letter to President Trump urging assistance for Augusta Victoria Hospital

Download

Related Organizations

Find an ELCA Congregation

Luther and Lutheranism

Full Communion Partners

ELCA Good Gifts Catalog

First Call Process

50 Years of Ordained Women

Sanctuary Denomination

Synods

2024 Toolkit for Synod Bishop Elections PDF

2024 Toolkit for Synod Bishop Elections PDF

Bishop Election - Affirmation of Ministry Re-election PDF

Bishop Election - Affirmation of Ministry Re-election PDF

Bishop Election - Affirmation of Ministry Re-election DOC

Bishop Election - Affirmation of Ministry Re-election DOC

Bishop Election - Prayer Resources PDF

Bishop Election - Prayer Resources PDF

Bishop Election - Prayer Resources DOC

Bishop Election - Prayer Resources DOC

Handbook for planning the Installation of a Bishop in ELCA synods

Handbook for planning the Installation of a Bishop in ELCA synods

Installation Bishop 2017 PDF

Installation Bishop 2017 PDF

Installation Bishop 2017 DOC

Installation Bishop 2017 DOC

Financial Assistance Resources for ELCA Rostered Ministers

Financial Assistance Resources for ELCA Rostered Ministers

Synodical Renewing Strategies

Synodical Renewing Strategies

Good Samaritan Fund

Good Samaritan Fund

Good Samaritan Financial Assistance Application

Good Samaritan Financial Assistance Application

Letter to President Biden calling for a permanent bilateral ceasefire in Gaza

Letter to President Biden calling for a permanent bilateral ceasefire in Gaza

Cuba embargo letter to Senator Menendez

Cuba embargo letter to Senator Menendez

Letter to Congress addressing funds for Augusta Victoria Hospital

Letter to Congress addressing funds for Augusta Victoria Hospital

Bishops Relational Agreement

Bishops Relational Agreement

Letter to President and Senate on Pandemic Recovery

Letter to President and Senate on Pandemic Recovery

ELCA reaffirms commitment to combat racism and white supremacy

ELCA reaffirms commitment to combat racism and white supremacy

ELCA reaffirms commitment to combat racism and white supremacy (Spanish)

ELCA reaffirms commitment to combat racism and white supremacy (Spanish)

ELCA / LIRS / LSA letter to Congress addressing COVID-19 and immigrants

ELCA / LIRS / LSA letter to Congress addressing COVID-19 and immigrants

ELCA Conference of Bishops letter to Congress addressing No Ban Act

ELCA Conference of Bishops letter to Congress addressing No Ban Act

Letter to President Trump urging assistance for Augusta Victoria Hospital

Letter to President Trump urging assistance for Augusta Victoria Hospital

Letter to President Trump urging assistance for Augusta Victoria Hospital (Spanish)

Letter to President Trump urging assistance for Augusta Victoria Hospital (Spanish)

ELCA Conference of Bishops Letter to UMC Bishops

ELCA Conference of Bishops Letter to UMC Bishops

ELCA Conference of Bishops Statement on Vision and Expectations

ELCA Conference of Bishops Statement on Vision and Expectations

ELCA Conference of Bishops Statement on Venezuela 2019

ELCA Conference of Bishops Statement on Venezuela 2019

ELCA Conference of Bishops Statement on Venezuela 2019 - Spanish

ELCA Conference of Bishops Statement on Venezuela 2019 - Spanish

COB Statement in Solidarity With Our Children And Youth

COB Statement in Solidarity With Our Children And Youth

COB Pastoral Letter on Violence

COB Pastoral Letter on Violence

COB Pastoral Letter Financial Crisis 2008

COB Pastoral Letter Financial Crisis 2008

COB Pastoral Letter on Human Sexuality 2009

COB Pastoral Letter on Human Sexuality 2009

Academy at a Glance

Academy at a Glance

Family Diagram

Family Diagram

Suggested Readings

Suggested Readings

Review of Years One Two and Three

Review of Years One Two and Three

Find Your Synod