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...
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.
We are a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace — our congregations are evangelical mission centers where courageous and wise stewards are grown. Congregational stewardship begins with a healthy understanding of gratitude and generosity. We have first received and therefore we give.
Developing a culture of gratitude and generosity is the focus for growing stewards in many congregations. Through the study of Scripture, we develop a trust in God’s abundance and strive to be faithful disciples and stewards. The formation of these stewards is a lifelong journey, and one in which we accompany each other.
Resources for this journey are available for all age groups, many languages and many contexts. The following resources listed on the right are specific resources for various aspects of congregational stewardship.
Bible Study
Fundraising: Building a Case Statement
Stewardship: The Way of Love
Rediscover Macedonia
Ventures
Walk with Jesus
Giving Magazine
Stewardship Key Leader
Stewardship in Small Membership Congregations
Make it Simple
Kids, Money, and Stewardship
Annual Report Cover
Rekindle
Money Leadership for Thriving Congregations
Online Giving
The Generosity Project
The Generosity Project is an intergenerational, household-focused approach to stewardship. Its goals are to connect generations, create centers for the faith practice of generosity, and grow in God’s grace generation to generation.