ELCA presiding bishop explores mission with Christian leaders in China
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In his first visit to China, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), shared a message of hope, appreciation for and commitment to the ministries and relationships between ELCA members and Chinese Christians. During his Sept. 11-17 trip, Hanson...
ELCA presiding bishop responds to new U.S. poverty data
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In response to the new poverty figures released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said that this church's commitment to those who live in poverty is "a biblical imperative for which Christ...
ELCA presiding bishop to visit church leaders in China
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will meet with national Chinese church leaders Sept. 11-17 in Shanghai and with regional leaders in the Sichuan Province of China to share the current context of mission and explore opportunities for...
ELCA synods affected by Hurricane Isaac begin to assess damage
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In the past week Hurricane Isaac has caused flooding and damage across parts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Southeastern and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synods. Both synods are now working with ELCA Disaster Response and their congregations, as well as other social service providers to...
ELCA leaders hopeful about citizenship for undocumented youth
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As thousands of young people are now seeking legal temporary residency in the United States, under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals process, leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are hopeful about this first step toward citizenship for undocumented immigrant youth. "This...
ELCA working to meet needs of Syrian refugees in neighboring Jordan
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is responding to the needs of Syrian refugees in Jordan, where an estimated 150,000 Syrians -- 39,600 of which are registered with the United Nations as refugees -- have fled. As the conflict in Syria continues to worsen, some Syrians...
ELCA member named president of Lutheran Services in America
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Charlotte Haberaecker will be installed Aug. 22 as president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Haberaecker is the fourth president of Lutheran Services in America. In alliance with the ELCA, Lutheran Services in America is made...
Cost adjustments to ELCA benefits program lower than national average
MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Trustees of Portico Benefit Services approved 2013 cost adjustments to the benefits program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that fall below the national average of health premiums. At their Aug. 2-4 meeting here, Portico's board of trustees approved an overall cost increase of between...
ELCA celebrates its 25th anniversary
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is celebrating its 25th anniversary beginning January 2013. Under the theme, "Always being made new" the 4.2 million-member church will embark on a year-long reflection on the people and events that have shaped this church and the life-changing ministries across...
ELCA presiding bishop expresses sympathy to the U.S. Sikh community
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- On behalf of the 4.2 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop, expressed sympathy, love, solidarity and prayers in an Aug. 6 letter to the American region of the World Sikh Council in response to the Aug. 5 shooting at...
ELCA members cite progress toward sustainable HIV response, but not enough
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) attended the 2012 International AIDS Conference July 22-27 in Washington, D.C., as advocates of the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS." We are at a critical moment in the response to HIV," according to Dennis Frado, who directs...
About 35,000 ELCA youth, adults and volunteers build a community of love
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) - Dane Bakken wanted to know what it was like to haul a 41.5-pound jug of water on foot for 3.7 miles -- the average for what a woman or girl in Africa will walk to bring clean water for her family. "You can read about (such...
ELCA, Episcopal bishops say 2012 is a defining moment for HIV, AIDS
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...
ELCA youth celebrate diversity, abilities and faith
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,...
ELCA leaders support Christian leaders' call for immigration reform
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...
ELCA college awarded Second Nature Climate Leadership Award
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...
ELCA congregation returns home after Colorado wildfire evacuation
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...
35,000 ELCA teenage, adult members to descend on New Orleans, July 18-22
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...
ELCA congregations face challenges after a week of natural disasters
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...
ELCA leader grateful for halt in some youth deportations, but more to do
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...
