Social Message on Homelessness
Your feedback is needed!
In 1990, the ELCA Church Council adopted the social message “Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment.” You can read this official 1990 social message here. Since that time, much has changed in our experience and understanding of homelessness and housing insecurity in the United States.
Aware of these many changes, the ELCA Church Council has authorized a substantive reconsideration of two sections of the “Homelessness” social message, “with attention to contemporary and systemic issues affecting housing in the United States and impacting individuals experiencing homelessness.” The two sections are “Remembering the Reality” (pages 1-2) and “Walking with People Who Are Homeless” (pages 2-3).
Reconsideration of a social message is a formal process in which the whole church is invited to participate. While this reconsideration for revision may lead to substantive changes, there is no pre-determined outcome for the process.
A draft version of the reconsidered social message is now available for public comment. A survey will be open from August 4 to November 30, 2026.
To download the draft social message, click here
To complete the survey, click here
Several resources are available to help ELCA members participate in this process:
Large-print version of the draft social message
Draft social message with changes marked
Frequently Asked Questions (large-print)
Adopted ELCA social message on homelessness (1990)
To email questions, comments, and feedback about the draft social message, click here
Thank you for being part of this important season of discernment!
Updates to the process will be shared on this webpage.
To learn more about the reconsideration of social teachings, download Policies and Procedures of the ELCA for Addressing Social Concerns.