Our faith tradition is based on a life-transforming story. The ELCA’s story is both ancient and timely. It’s a story of a powerful and patient God who has boundless love for all people of the world, who brings justice for the oppressed. It’s a story of Jesus Christ, changing lives. It’s a story that brings comfort and strength to people who today live in modern, often unsettling times. Learn more about our beliefs—and become a part of our story.

Spotlight On...

Immigrants and their supporters march to the White House on May 1, 2009, to call for legal reforms and an end to workplace raids. (Photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler)

Bishop Calls for Immigration Reform

If Congress does not pass comprehensive immigration reform soon, state legislators and local governments will continue to take immigration policy into their own hands, wrote Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson in a July 27 letter to U.S. President Barack Obama.  |  More

Toward Compassionate, Wise, and Just Immigration Reform

Gayle Woloschak is a molecular biologist who is also co-director of the Zygon Center for Religion and Science, an organization housed at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Taking on Faith and Science Questions

Gayle Woloschak is an active participant in the dialogue around faith and science -- and why the two are not mutually exclusive.

Woloschak is a molecular biologist at Northwestern University and associate director of the Zygon Center for Religion and Science, an organization housed at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

More  |  July-August issue of Covalence 

Through the ELCA Prayer Network, thousands of prayer requests are received and prayed for each month.

Prayer Network Offers Comfort, Hope

Lutherans are praying for people all over the world. They are praying for soldiers readying for battle, families facing foreclosures, couples with relationship struggles, individuals who need work.

Through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Prayer Network, thousands of prayer requests are received and prayed for each month.

More  |  Request a Prayer  |  Prayer Network

Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, president, United Methodist Council of Bishops, shares communion with an assembly participant

Assembly Adopts UMC Full Communion

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly adopted a full communion agreement with the United Methodist Church (UMC) by a vote of 958-51. 

This is the ELCA's sixth full communion relationship and the first for the UMC.

UMC Bishop Gregory D. Palmer said, "God has brought both our churches to a broad place where Jesus calls us ... to all be one."

News release  |  Download agreement PDF Format  |  Sermon

New or Returning to Church?

Statements of Belief

The Bible

New or Returning to Church? Statements of Faith The Bible
Get the basics on Christianity, our Lutheran traditions and an overview on how we live our faith. As part of our worship service, learn how we express our faith together through shared creeds and our Confession of Faith.

Learn how this ancient text has continued relevance for Lutherans today and find ways to understand it in The Bible.