News

CHICAGO (April 16, 2019) – In her Easter message, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), reminds us that Easter makes it possible, even at the grave, to sing alleluia. Listen to Eaton's message. View the message in English. View the message...

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met at the Lutheran Center in Chicago April 4-7. The council, which serves as the ELCA’s board of directors, took action on a variety of matters designed to help move the church’s mission and ministries forward.

Dear Church, Today we awoke to the devastating news of the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. We join in mourning for the people who were killed and wounded, for their families, for the first responders and grief counselors, and for all whose lives have been shattered...

Gathering under the theme “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds,” the ELCA Conference of Bishops met here Feb. 28 – March 4. The conference is an advisory body of the ELCA that includes 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.

Approved by the ELCA Church Council in 1990, Vision and Expectations has, through several revisions, outlined this church's standards for its rostered ministers since that time. As a Conference of Bishops, we recognize and acknowledge that its application has been uneven and inequitable. We express our profound grief and deep...

The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) stands with and holds up in prayer the people of Venezuela during the current multifaceted crisis within their nation. We care about the consequences of this crisis as already felt in neighboring countries and about its wider impact...

Dear Church, This morning at worship in the Churchwide Office we sang;God, when human bonds are broken, and we lack the love or skillTo restore the hope of healing, give us grace and make us still...Give us faith to be more faithful, give us hope to be more true,Give us...

In its commitment to pursuing wholeness for creation, the ELCA is pleased to announce collaboration with ecoAmerica and its Blessed Tomorrow program, which helps faith-based organizations elevate their leadership on the moral, religious and justice issues surrounding climate change.

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, and leaders from The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have prepared a series of devotions for the annual ecumenical celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed this year from January 18 to 25. Each year churches from around the world mark a week to pray together for Christian unity.

November 14, 2018Current U.S. Policy, Israel/Palestine, and the ChurchesA New ContextForty years ago, the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel were signed and 25 years ago, the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were signed. For many, these two events offered hope of movement towards...

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met at The Lutheran Center in Chicago Nov. 8-11. The council, which serves as the ELCA’s board of directors, centered its meeting around worship, Bible study and personal reflections on faith.

The Rev. Philip C. Hirsch was elected to a four-year renewable term as executive director of the Domestic Mission unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Hirsch was elected by the ELCA Church Council at its November meeting. His term will begin Feb. 1, 2019.

The Presiding Bishop and Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church on behalf of its House of Bishops, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committees on International Justice and Peace and Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs together wish to...

Dear Sisters and Brothers,I write to you with a broken heart – for the lives lost, wounded, and shattered by horrific hatred and violence at Tree of Life Congregation this morning. We join our Jewish neighbors and enter into mourning for all that has been lost. In our grief, God...

The Conference of Bishops of the ELCA continues to discern the denomination’s future as outlined in the priorities and goals of Future Directions 2025. The conference is an advisory body of the ELCA that includes 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.

In early September, members of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were saddened and dismayed to hear reports that the U.S. government was planning to discontinue financial assistance to Augusta Victoria Hospital and five other East Jerusalem hospitals. We appreciate and strongly affirm ELCA...

Media reports say the United States will not continue to fund the Lutheran World Federation-operated Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. Please call the White House hotline (202-456-1111) or write a comment in its comments submissions area to urge them to ensure there is no interruption of assistance for children and...

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) members pray and care for God's marvelous creation every day. We also join the global Christian community each Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 to mark the Season of Creation. This season starts with a World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, an invitation...

In response to the ever-changing health care landscape, the ELCA and Portico have worked together to design changes to ELCA Medicare-Primary health benefits that will take effect Jan. 1, 2019. The majority of members with these benefits will be positively affected by enhanced coverage and reduced monthly contributions, or premiums.

June 26, 2018 Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow ... (Jeremiah 22:3).I am dismayed by the Supreme Court's recent decision...