News

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The presiding bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church welcome the 20,000 people traveling from 200 countries to the United States for the 2012 International AIDS Conference taking place July 22-27 in Washington, D.C. In a letter to participants, ELCA Presiding...

NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) - For Emily Schmidlin of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kent, Ohio, it is important to know that people with disabilities have a lot in common with those who do not. "Although we in the definitely abled community may look or act differently than (what) you're used to,...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Three top leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) strongly support a recent statement by ecumenical Christian leaders who are calling for a bipartisan solution to U.S. immigration reform. In a July 2 response, ELCA leaders said that the "Evangelical Statement of Principles for Immigration...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, was presented a 2012 Climate Leadership Award from Second Nature in recognition for the steps the institution has taken to be a leader in reducing its carbon footprint. Luther is one of 26 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- After spending several days evacuated from their building and homes, members of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., were able to return to their church building July 1 for worship. Christ the King's building sustained no damage, although four of the congregation's families lost...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- For the past 25 years, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has been deeply committed to the faith formation of its teenagers, namely through ELCA Youth Gatherings - the largest event organized by the 4.2 million-member church. Held every three years, ELCA Youth Gatherings bring together...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- After a week of natural disaster across the United States, the congregations and ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are now in the process of assessing damages and getting to work in the recovery process. In Colorado, where four separate wildfires have consumed over...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - Calling the Obama administration's decision to stop the deportation of young undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria a step in the right direction, the Rev. H. Julian Gordy said there is still more to do. Gordy said the administration's policy change, announced June 15, follows an action...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Souris River began rising June 22, 2011, in Minot, N.D. Five days later it would crest nearly 13 feet above the flood stage, driving 12,000 people from their homes and damaging more than 4,100 homes and businesses, including four church buildings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. James E. Hazelwood was elected June 9 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He was elected on the fifth ballot at the synod's assembly June 8-10 in Springfield, Mass. Hazelwood is...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Tessa Moon Leiseth, her husband, Jon, and their two children will soon call Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, home for the next four years. Tessa is among 15 new missionaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) beginning service in July. The ELCA is one of...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Brian D. Maas was elected June 2 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He was elected on the fourth ballot with 432 of the 702 votes at the synod's assembly June 1-2...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Stephen S. Talmage was elected May 30 to second a six-year term as bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He was re-elected on the first ballot with 228 of the 261 votes at the synod's assembly May...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Clayton J. Schmit has been named founding provost of the new School of Theology, which is to be formed when Lenoir- Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C., merge July 1. The seminary is one of eight of the...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James A. Justman was elected June 1 to a third six-year term as bishop of the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He was re-elected on the first ballot with 256 of 339 votes at the synod's assembly in...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Ray Tiemann was re-elected May 20 to serve a third six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He was re-elected on the fifth ballot at the synod assembly May 19-20 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Tiemann...

CHICAGO (ELCA) --Although there are still signs of devastation one year later throughout Joplin, Mo., hope remains, said the Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, bishop of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The United States' deadliest tornado in six decades struck Joplin in the afternoon...

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Kelsey Nulph is a college student passionate about joining the global fight against malaria, and she's not the only one. Students from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are coming up with creative ways to speak out against the disease, which claims the life of...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. James R. Nieman was elected May 14 to serve as the 7th president of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He will begin his service Aug. 1. An installation service will be held at Rockefeller Chapel here Oct. 28. The seminary is one of...

CHICAGO (ELCA) - Two years ago Stephanie Berkas set out to Cape Town, South Africa, to work in a Lutheran congregation and an elementary school there. Having lived in Minnesota for the majority of her life, she knew she would be stepping out of her comfort zone but did not...