News

Since they lost their daughter, Terri Ann, to suicide in 1987, Jerry and Elsie Weyrauch, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), have been motivated to help make a difference in the lives of those who are affected by suicide. They have spent the past 27 years working to raise awareness of suicide prevention and the issues that lead to suicidal behavior.

The ELCA has awarded 20 students attending ELCA seminaries with full-tuition or mission developer scholarships for the 2014-2015 academic year through ELCA Fund for Leaders – a scholarship program that attracts men and women of promise to study at one of eight ELCA seminaries.

The ELCA Conference of Bishops gathered here Oct. 2-7 to consider an array of topics ranging from this church's commitment to starting new and renewing congregations to discerning the landscape of theological education, from funding the mission and embracing a new comprehensive campaign to the assignment of more than 100 rostered candidates. Other topics included an invitation to study The Use of the Means of Grace, a proposed new Word and Service roster, the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation and more.

Bearing witness as a church that is committed to ending violence, members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will gather Oct. 2 for a prayer revival in Chicago to address the violence happening here and in communities around theworld.

In an effort to help contain the Ebola outbreak in Africa, provide food assistance and more, ELCA members have committed an initial $100,000 as of Sept. 25 to support the response efforts of partners and Lutheran companion churches there.

Hundreds of ELCA members were among the more than 400,000 participants in the People's Climate March in New York City on Sept. 21. The Lutheran delegation joined the People's Climate Interfaith Contingent, one of the largest groups in the march.

The national leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church of Canada and The Episcopal Church offered on Sept. 19 a pastoral message on climate change. A PDF version of the letter is available on the ELCA website at http://www.elca.org/Resources/Presiding-Bishop-Messages.

Building on the work they do every day, thousands of members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) gathered together Sept. 7 to serve their communities as part of “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday.

Sixty-three young adults from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have begun a year-long journey in which they will “live and learn and serve” with ELCA companion churches and partner organizations around the world. The young adults are participants in the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program – an international mission opportunity for young people from the ages of 21 to 29.

TheELCA is celebrating the first six months of its five-year, comprehensive campaign, Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, with nearly $25 million raised. The amount as of July 31, 2014, includes $12.6 million for the ELCA Malaria Campaign, which is part of The Campaign for the ELCA, and represents approximately 12 percent of the campaign's total goal of $198 million by Jan. 31, 2019. Approved by the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the campaign seeks to raise funds to sustain and grow the ministries of the ELCA.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) offers prayers for all those affected by the Aug. 24 earthquake that struck near Napa, Calif.

As the 4 million-member ELCA gathers for Sunday worship Aug. 17 and shares in the reading of Psalm 133, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of this church, said the Psalm "reminds us of the goodness and blessing of a life lived in unity with one another."

In response to the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., which has triggered outrage among some area residents and others across the country, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, has called for prayer and peace.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will provide $100,000 in humanitarian assistance to Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem to help support the operation of the healthcare system in the midst of the current violence in the Middle East. The funds will be disbursed through Lutheran Disaster Response to The Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

Meeting under the theme "of many generations," the Ninth Triennial Gathering of Women of the ELCA brought more than 2,300 women of all ages to Charlotte, N.C., July 24-27 to share their faith through worship, featured speakers, workshop sessions and more.

Prior to the U.S. House of Representatives' cancellation July 31 of its vote to provide an emergency response to the tens of thousands of unaccompanied children entering the United States, some ELCA members had worked to contact their representatives to encourage them to "address the issue with dignity and compassion."

The 4 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are being called to put their faith into action and engage in service activities across the country Sept. 7 as part of “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday.

Students attending some of theELCA's colleges, universities and campus ministries surpassed a matching challenge goal this month of raising $125,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign by $6,619.20 and counting.

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop, said part of the reason why women now serve as ordained pastors in the ELCA "is because of the work done by Women of the ELCA and predecessor church bodies."

The Ninth Triennial Convention of Women of the ELCA concluded here July 24 with the installation of new officers and members of the Women of the ELCA churchwide executive board. The convention, which took place at the Charlotte Convention Center July 22-24, is Women of the ELCA's highest legislative authority with delegates elected by each of the 64 synodical women's organizations.