News

Dear Sisters and Brothers,I write to you with a broken heart – for the lives lost, wounded, and shattered by horrific hatred and violence at Tree of Life Congregation this morning. We join our Jewish neighbors and enter into mourning for all that has been lost. In our grief, God...

The Conference of Bishops of the ELCA continues to discern the denomination’s future as outlined in the priorities and goals of Future Directions 2025. The conference is an advisory body of the ELCA that includes 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.

In early September, members of the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were saddened and dismayed to hear reports that the U.S. government was planning to discontinue financial assistance to Augusta Victoria Hospital and five other East Jerusalem hospitals. We appreciate and strongly affirm ELCA...

Media reports say the United States will not continue to fund the Lutheran World Federation-operated Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. Please call the White House hotline (202-456-1111) or write a comment in its comments submissions area to urge them to ensure there is no interruption of assistance for children and...

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) members pray and care for God's marvelous creation every day. We also join the global Christian community each Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 to mark the Season of Creation. This season starts with a World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, an invitation...

In response to the ever-changing health care landscape, the ELCA and Portico have worked together to design changes to ELCA Medicare-Primary health benefits that will take effect Jan. 1, 2019. The majority of members with these benefits will be positively affected by enhanced coverage and reduced monthly contributions, or premiums.

June 26, 2018 Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow ... (Jeremiah 22:3).I am dismayed by the Supreme Court's recent decision...

About two weeks ago, I joined more than 20 other faith leaders in raising concerns about the administration’s announced plans that it would begin separating families and criminally prosecuting all people who enter the U.S. without previous authorization. In line with that statement, I acknowledge that President Donald Trump’s new...

The Rev. James E. Hazelwood, Wakefield, R.I., was re-elected June 8 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the New England Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly June 7-9 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has convened ELCA ecumenical and inter-religious partners in a statement addressing concerns over a recent U.S. government policy calling for more stringent enforcement of federal immigration laws. The policy will most likely result in an increase in family separations.

May 15, 2018Like so many here in our country and around the world, I am appalled and saddened by yesterday's escalation of Israeli military action against protestors in Gaza. Many reports indicate that at least 60 Palestinians, including six children, have died and more than 2,000 have been injured as...

The Rev. Susan J. Briner, Seguin, Texas, was elected May 6 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly May 5-6 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in San Marcos, Texas.

The Rev. James W. Gonia, Denver, was re-elected May 3 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly May 3-5 at the Westin Hotel Westminster in Westminster, Colo.

The Rev. Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld, Beloit, Wis., was elected May 6 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the ELCA. Thomas-Breitfeld is the second African American woman to be a bishop in the ELCA.

The Rev. Patricia A. Davenport, Philadelphia, was elected May 5 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. Davenport is the first African American woman to be a bishop in the ELCA.

The Rev. Shelley R. Wickstrom, Anchorage, was re-elected April 27 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Alaska Synod of the ELCA. The election was held during the Synod Assembly April 27-29 at Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has made history with the elections of the first female African-descent synod bishops.

The ELCA Church Council met at The Lutheran Center in Chicago April 5-8. The council, which serves as the ELCA’s board of directors, convened under the framework of ELCA Future Directions 2025.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton has issued a statement in observance of Earth Day.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton has issued a pastoral response to the escalation of conflict in Syria.