Rodger Prois elected bishop of ELCA Western Iowa Synod
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Rodger C. Prois, Storm Lake, Iowa, was elected April 27 to a six-year term as bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prois was elected on the fifth ballot during the synod assembly April 26-28 in Sioux City,...
ELCA observes World Malaria Day with special campaign appeal
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In observance of World Malaria Day April 25, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is emphasizing its commitment to help bring an end to malaria-related deaths with a week- long effort to raise $250,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. The money raised April 22-29 will help...
ELCA leaders advocate for immigration reform in support of families
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to advocate for comprehensive federal immigration reform as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on legislation that calls for reform. A bipartisan group of senators introduced a reform bill April 17. In anticipation of the Senate’s bill, Lutheran Immigration...
ELCA leaders urge Obama to pursue diplomatic solutions in Syria
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In an April 12 letter to President Obama, leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) urged the administration and others in the international community to find new avenues toward peace in Syria and strive to resolve the civil war there through diplomacy. In their letter,...
ELCA synod council makes decisions on key leadership positions
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The council of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met April 16 to make decisions and recommendations, in consultation with ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson, regarding key synod leadership positions. In an April 17 letter to members of the...
ELCA offers worship resources in response to Boston Marathon bombings
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has made available prayer and worship resources in response to the April 15 explosions during the Boston Marathon. The resources are at http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship.aspx. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, offered the following prayer: “Oh God, in Jesus name...
ELCA concludes its earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has concluded its relief and recovery efforts in Haiti following the January 2010 earthquake - the most powerful to strike Haiti in more than 200 years. Nearly 250,000 people were killed, 300,000 injured and more than 1 million people were...
ELCA council authorizes advisory council on theological education
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Acknowledging a climate of new institutional mergers and collaborations between seminaries and universities, new technologies and degree program designs, economic challenges facing students and educational providers, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) authorized the formation of an advisory council to address in...
ELCA synod continues prayer for Mengelt family, announces acting bishop
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sent a letter April 11 to pastors, members and congregations of the synod with continued expressions of sorrow and sympathy for the family of Maureen Mengelt, who died April 7 when she...
ELCA offers prayers for family, friends of pedestrian killed in Wisconsin
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are extending prayers for the family and friends of a pedestrian killed April 7 in Sun Prairie, Wis., and for the Rev. Bruce H. Burnside, bishop of the ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. Reports indicate that Burnside’s vehicle...
2013 Easter Message From ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his 2013 Easter Message, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), shares the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation with the more than 4-million members of this church. The full text of the presiding bishop’s message follows: Dear Sisters...
ELCA renews relationships with Malagasy, Malawi Lutherans
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Malagasy Lutheran Church signed a partnership agreement designed to strengthen the relationship “in a new time.” The signing took place March 13 at the Malagasy church offices in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The agreement “is a strong foundation...
ELCA members journey to southern Africa for malaria campaign
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Embarking on a “journey of listening and learning,” a group of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) members will travel March 16-25 to southern Africa to visit Lutheran companion churches working to help contain the deadly disease of malaria. “This is not just about going on a...
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...
