News

Dear church, Whatever personal perspective one might take on the June 24 abortion ruling from the Supreme Court, it is the legal framework in which we now minister, and I wish to speak a pastoral word at this time.The Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, removing federal...

The Rev. Stacie R. Fidlar of Rock Island, Ill., was elected June 18 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, which met online on June 5 and 12 and then in person at Augustana College in Rock Island June 17-18.

The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will join faith and government leaders on June 17 to mark the seventh anniversary of the racially motivated shootings at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. The leaders will participate in a commemorative Bible study event that will kick off a yearlong Bible study across the country.

The Rev. William O. Gafkjen, Indianapolis, was reelected June 9 to serve a third six-year term as bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election was held during the synod assembly, June 9-11 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie, Ind.

The Rev. Scott Alan Johnson, Fremont, Neb., was elected June 4 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 2-4 at the Younes Conference Center South in Kearney, Neb.

June 6, 2022The Conference of Bishops (COB) met Sunday evening; Bishop Megan Rohrer chose not to attend. I shared that I am initiating the discipline process immediately, including suspension of Bishop Rohrer, based on additional information that has come to light. The COB strongly affirmed this decision. This process will...

June 1, 2022The report was not immediately released out of respect for the confidential nature of the work they undertook, and that of the individuals they interviewed. After further consultation with the Listening Team, I have decided that releasing the report is a necessary step so that we can move...

The Rev. David C. Nagler, San Diego, was elected May 20 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, May 20-21 at the Irvine Marriott in Irvine, Calif.

Sierra Pacific Synod Bishop's Report to the Church After listening to the concerns of this church, careful review of the report of the Listening Team and other accompanying documents, consultation with outside legal counsel, and prayerful reflection and discernment, I have decided not to bring disciplinary charges against Bishop Rohrer....

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid" (John 14:27).Gracious God, news of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas,...

The Rev. Paul D. Erickson, Milwaukee, was reelected May 21 to a six-year term as bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

In a May 18 letter, bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) urged congressional leaders to support the transfer of much-needed funds to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to cover debt owed to Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem.

"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?" —Jeremiah 8:22Our hearts grieve for those who have been killed and our souls cry out against more lives lost to the hatred birthed by racism. As we...

The Rev. William J. Gohl Jr., Baltimore, was reelected May 12 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly May 12-14 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Md.

The Rev. Erik Gronberg, Fort Worth, Texas, was reelected April 29 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly April 29-30 at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Dallas.

Dear Muslim neighbors, Greetings to you for a joyous Eid al-Fitr. On this blessed occasion, I write to share "A Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Muslim Community." Through this message to you, we recommit ourselves to the heart of both our theological traditions: love of...

The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) met March 31–April 2. The council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, took action on a variety of matters before this church. Among them were preparations for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, to be held Aug. 8-12 in Columbus, Ohio.

The ELCA has announced that the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering will be held in New Orleans, July 16-20.The Gathering pre-events — the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble, the ELCA gathering for youth living with disabilities — will be held July 13-16.

March 24, 2022For those of you who are wondering about the particulars of the process to address the issues that arose in the Sierra Pacific Synod, I want to give you an update on the ways in which we are moving forward.I have selected members of a Listening Team who...

Immanuel, God with us, we pray for the world and the plague that racism has brought upon your people, destroying nations and erasing identities. As a church, we recognize our own complicity in racial discrimination, acknowledging the pain that we have caused to our fellow siblings in Christ. Release the...