CHICAGO — Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will gather for the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, July 28–Aug. 2 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Meeting under the theme “For the Life of the World,” the assembly will participate in plenary discussions to make decisions about the work of this church. They will also spend time in worship and engage in various ways of theological reflection.
The triennial gathering — the highest legislative body of the denomination — is composed of an allocated 845 voting members, serving on behalf of the 2.7 million members of the ELCA. The ELCA’s 65 synods elect voting members to serve at churchwide assemblies.
Two key action items at the assembly are election of the ELCA’s presiding bishop and secretary. The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, the first female presiding bishop of the ELCA, was elected in 2013 and reelected to a second term in 2019. She will retire at the end of her current term. Deacon Sue Rothmeyer, elected secretary in 2019, will retire at the end of her current term.
Voting members will also consider:
• The proposed social statement Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All and its proposed implementing resolutions. The statement addresses critical questions about life in society including the purpose of civic life, God’s call to be active in civic life, the appropriate use of power in government, the harms of Christian nationalism and the public role of rostered ministers in speaking about political issues.
• Proposed editorial changes to the social statement Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust in response to the memorial “Reconsideration of Social Statement on Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust,” which was approved by the 2022 Churchwide Assembly. The proposed changes are language updates to bring the social statement up to date and in line with current law and the church’s emerging understanding of the diversity of what makes a family.
• Reception of the 2024 Lutheran-Orthodox Common Statement on the Filioque. Filioque refers to the words “and the Son,” which divided the Eastern and Western churches when they were added to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed in 1054.
• Proposals (known as memorials) from the ELCA’s 65 synods that address social justice issues and matters relating to the structure of the ELCA. Topics include: missing and murdered Indigenous women; Indian boarding school remembrance; discourse on Israel-Palestine and an end to the occupation of Palestine; CRLC recommendation No. 1, addressing immediate action on dismantling racism; restoration of USAID funding; and reconsideration of the ELCA social message on end-of-life decisions.
• Amendments to “Constitutions, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA.”
• Budget proposals for fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Voting members will also receive:
• A report from the presiding bishop and officers of the ELCA.
• A report on the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church (CRLC), established by the ELCA Church Council in response to the 2022 Churchwide Assembly call for the council to establish the CRLC to consider statements of purpose for the church and its organizational structure, being particularly attentive to the shared commitment to dismantle racism.
• Greetings from ecumenical and interreligious guests, global partners and others.
The assembly will have the opportunity to participate in an AMMPARO candlelight prayer vigil recognizing and preserving the human dignity of all God’s people, with special emphasis on migrant, asylee and refugee communities.
An exhibition powwow will feature dancers, drummers and singers from the tribal and urban Indian communities in the Phoenix area. This exhibition will be an opportunity for assembly participants to learn from their Indigenous siblings about the dances, songs, regalia and other elements of powwow tradition and culture.
Live video of the plenary sessions will be accessible at elca.org/CWA.
Reporters interested in speaking to the newly elected presiding bishop and secretary should contact Candice Hill Buchbinder at Candice.Buchbinder@elca.org or 708-220-6119.
To register as press or access other news and media information, contact Candice Hill Buchbinder at Candice.Buchbinder@elca.org.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
