New pope has ties to Lutherans, says ELCA presiding bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to the election today of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as the new pope, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said he is “encouraged that Pope Francis has worked with Lutherans in Argentina.” Meeting with...
ELCA bishops discuss a distinctive Lutheran witness in the world
ITASCA, Ill (ELCA) -- Recognizing the rapidly changing landscape of religion, society and the world the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said the ELCA is in a “kairos” moment and that members can make a compelling “Lutheran witness in our culture...
ELCA bishops say addressing violence begins by listening
ITASCA, Ill (ELCA) -- Expressing grief over the tragedy of gun violence in the United States, the 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) offered a pastoral letter on violence to the 4-million-member church. In their letter, the bishops invite members to address together the cause...
ELCA Bishop Joins Plea for U.S. Budget that Protects the Vulnerable
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In a Feb. 25 letter to President Obama and Congressional leaders, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), joined more than 100 national church leaders, calling for fiscal responsibility that models our nation’s values and is mindful of the...
ELCA presiding bishop offers prayers for pope, Catholic Church members
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- On behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson extends prayers for Pope Benedict XVI and for the members of the Catholic Church following the announcement of the Holy Father’s intention to resign on Feb. 28. While the resignation comes as...
Lutheran church in Ethiopia severs relationship with ELCA
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is severing its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Church of Sweden and “those churches who have openly accepted same-sex marriage.” The action for “all Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus departments and institutions (at every level) to...
ELCA missionary receives American Medical Association honor
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Mark L. Jacobson, a medical missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has been awarded the 2013 Dr. Nathan Davis International Award in Medicine from the American Medical Association. “This is indeed a fantastic honor, and we take great pleasure in having our decades...
ELCA, U.S. religious leaders reaffirm need for two-state peace agreement
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- U.S. Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders are calling for a bold new U.S. initiative for a two-state peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East “before it is too late.” In a Jan. 25 statement issued by the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative, 30 religious leaders...
Lohre to participate in Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service Jan. 22
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Kathryn Lohre, director of ecumenical and inter- religious relations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is participating in a responsive reading at the 57th Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service on Jan. 22. Lohre has been invited to participate in her role as president of the National...
ELCA responds to the needs of Syrian refugees in Jordan
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $100,000 to support the needs of people at the Za’atri refugee camp in Jordan. More than 50 percent of the refugees there are below the age of 18. The funds were sent to The Lutheran World Federation, which is...
ELCA presiding bishop says, 'We have work to do'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 4 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has made the commitment “to being peacemakers in a culture of violence,” said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, in a pastoral video message at http://bit.ly/Va2BYS. “As long as a culture of violence is holding us...
ELCA church in Pomaria, S.C., burns
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pomaria, S.C., was destroyed by fire Jan. 10. St. Paul is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). While an investigation is now underway, there is no inclination among church members that it is arson, said Andrew Boozer, a...
ELCA, Reformed churches issue report on Scripture, moral discernment
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and three U.S. Reformed churches that make up the “Formula of Agreement” issued a report Jan. 7 that considers the question of Scripture and moral discernment regarding human sexuality and other topics. Nearly two years ago the Formula of Agreement...
ELCA bishops urge Congress to protect the poor amid 'fiscal cliff'
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As 2012 comes to a close and concerns continue regarding the current debt and deficit negotiations in the U.S. Congress -- or the so-called “fiscal cliff” -- five synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met with White House staff, policy staff for the...
2012 Christmas Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), shared a Christmas greeting today with the more than 4 million members of this church. Hanson also delivered his greeting to the ELCA's full communion and ecumenical partners and member churches of...
Christmas Eve CBS special to spotlight ELCA congregation
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Hope Lutheran Church in Reading, Pa., will be featured in “One Christmas Story: People Rich in Spirit” -- a national CBS television special to air Dec. 24 at 11:35 p.m. (EST). Hope is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Produced by Odyssey Networks,...
Richard Foss named interim president of ELCA's Luther Seminary
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of directors of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., named the Rev. Richard J. Foss to serve as interim president of Luther, one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Foss’ appointment, effective Jan. 1, follows the Dec. 10 announcement that...
ELCA expresses sorrow for lives lost in Newtown, Conn.
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Prayers of Intercession from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in response to the school shooting Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn., are now available at ELCA.org. A gunman shot dead 20 students and six adults before apparently killing himself. “Today we express our sorrow for lives...
ELCA Church Council supports apologies to Tribal people
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Lutheran witness among American Indians and Alaska Natives has more than 350 years of history filled with solidarity and times of injustice. In a commitment to work together today and in the future, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) resolved to...
Richard Bliese resigns as president of ELCA's Luther Seminary
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Dr. Richard Bliese has resigned as president of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., according to a Dec. 10 announcement from the seminary. Luther is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Bliese served as president since 2005. “Throughout this church...
