News

About two weeks ago, I joined more than 20 other faith leaders in raising concerns about the administration’s announced plans that it would begin separating families and criminally prosecuting all people who enter the U.S. without previous authorization. In line with that statement, I acknowledge that President Donald Trump’s new...

The Rev. James E. Hazelwood, Wakefield, R.I., was re-elected June 8 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly June 7-9 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has convened ELCA ecumenical and inter-religious partners in a statement addressing concerns over a recent U.S. government policy calling for more stringent enforcement of federal immigration laws. The policy will most likely result in an increase in family separations.

May 15, 2018Like so many here in our country and around the world, I am appalled and saddened by yesterday's escalation of Israeli military action against protestors in Gaza. Many reports indicate that at least 60 Palestinians, including six children, have died and more than 2,000 have been injured as...

The Rev. Susan J. Briner, Seguin, Texas, was elected May 6 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly May 5-6 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in San Marcos, Texas.

The Rev. James W. Gonia, Denver, was re-elected May 3 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly May 3-5 at the Westin Hotel Westminster in Westminster, Colo.

The Rev. Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld, Beloit, Wis., was elected May 6 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the ELCA. Thomas-Breitfeld is the second African American woman to be a bishop in the ELCA.

The Rev. Patricia A. Davenport, Philadelphia, was elected May 5 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. Davenport is the first African American woman to be a bishop in the ELCA.

The Rev. Shelley R. Wickstrom, Anchorage, was re-elected April 27 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Alaska Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly April 27-29 at Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has made history with the elections of the first female African-descent synod bishops.

The ELCA Church Council met at The Lutheran Center in Chicago April 5-8. The council, which serves as the ELCA’s board of directors, convened under the framework of ELCA Future Directions 2025.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton has issued a statement in observance of Earth Day.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton has issued a pastoral response to the escalation of conflict in Syria.

Following the “Act Now: Unite to End Racism” rally in Washington, D.C., the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has issued a statement on racism, recommitting this church “to work for racial justice and inclusion, to work against white privilege, and to be a church that truly welcomes all.”

In her Easter message, the ELCA presiding bishop reminds us that Jesus’ crucifixion is the death of our death.

Entering its fifth scheduled year, the ELCA's first comprehensive campaign, Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, is celebrating $144 million in cash gifts and gift commitments, representing 73 percent of the five-year, $198 million goal by Jan. 31, 2019.

Addressing recent efforts in Jerusalem to confiscate church lands and tax church properties, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, along with leaders from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Armenian Church of America and The Episcopal Church, have sent a letter of support to the heads of churches at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Meeting under the theme “To Claim and Test Our Heritage,” the ELCA Conference of Bishops engaged in discussions around two key priorities for this church: congregational vitality and leadership. The conference, which met here March 1-6, is an advisory body of the ELCA that includes 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.

The ELCA Conference of Bishops has approved the following statement of support for the March for OurLives on March 24.

Today, I join our partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), in expressing solidarity with the churches in Jerusalem to defend their properties and protect the Christian presence in the Holy Land.