Monday, January 30, 2012

ELCA presiding bishop supports Syrian church leaders' call for peace

CHICAGO (ELCA) - In letters to Christian church leaders in Syria, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), offered his support of the churches' collective call for an end to violence and his prayers for the people in the region. "In these difficult days, I will continue to pray and encourage members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to pray for you and your efforts to sustain the courage and faith of your communi...

Monday, January 30, 2012

ELCA leaders' effort to protect families pays off

CHICAGO (ELCA) - Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) believe progress has been made with a recent policy change that would keep some families living in the United States, without legal residency, to remain here while applying for legal status -- a step intended to keeping families together. Such "policies have significant human consequences that affect the lives and well-being of our neighbors," said the Rev. H. Julian Gordy, bishop of the ELCA Southeas...

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Palestinian Lutheran pastor to receive 'German Media Award'

CHICAGO (ELCA) - Dr. Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, will receive the German Media Prize award Feb. 24 for his work in founding educational, cultural and health care institutions and his commitment to inter-faith dialogue and peacemaking in the Middle East. "Mitri Raheb is a pastor with passion in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Persistently working for a lasting, just peace in the Middle East, Pastor Raheb is a visionary l...

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Lutherans invite students to help end malaria

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The ELCA Malaria Campaign, a campaign of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Lutheran Malaria Initiative will provide new opportunities for college and university students attending Lutheran schools and ELCA campus ministries to engage in the global fight against malaria. Supported with a generous gift from Arne and Ruth Sorenson of Washington, D.C., the campaign and initiative will help equip and inspire young leaders to help make a differenc...

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Lutheran-Anglican-Episcopal meeting a sign of hope for the church

CHICAGO (ELCA) - Lutheran, Anglican and Episcopal leaders from the United States and Canada met in December to explore new possibilities for working together and to deepen their sense of unity for doing God's work in the world. In a report issued from their meeting, the leaders stated that their conversation and work together "are hopeful signs for the church." "There was truly a spirit of Advent expectant hope as we met to pray and plan for greater cooperation in ministry and ...

Thursday, December 15, 2011

2011 Christmas message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), shared a Christmas greeting today with the 4.2 million members of this church. Hanson also delivered his greeting to the ELCA's six full communion, ecumenical and interfaith partners, and member churches of The Lutheran World Federation. The full text of the presiding bishop's message follows: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all (Titus 2:11). ...

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Secretary of State Clinton highlights the work of ELCA-related ministries

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton noted the vital work of Lutheran social ministry organizations in welcoming refugees to the United States, during her Dec. 7 address at the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugee's ministerial conference in Geneva. In her presentation to world leaders, Clinton shared a story about Fatuma Elmi, who applied for asylum in the United States after civil war broke out in her native Somalia in 1991. Settled in Minneapolis, Elmi ha...

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

ELCA, Episcopal presiding bishops remember lives lost to HIV, AIDS

CHICAGO (ELCA) - Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Episcopal Primate Katharine Jefferts Schori said World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 is "an opportunity for us to remember the 30 million lives that have been lost to the deadly pandemic." In their first joint letter about the international observance, the presiding bishops said, "The struggle against HIV and AIDS is our own struggle as churches and, as the pandemic continues into its...

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Presiding bishop says ELCA is deeply rooted in God's mission

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In his report to the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson said that the ELCA is "a church deeply rooted in God's mission (and) in the belief that Christ frees us all to serve our neighbor and seek the common good." The council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, met here Nov. 11-13. "Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to bring forth fruit from our labors. (In 2005), this ...

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

ELCA Church Council responds to actions of the 2011 Churchwide Assembly

CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted on several recommendations in response to actions of the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, also approved revisions to the 2012 current fund spending authorization and considered other matters when it met here Nov. 11-13. The council appointed a six-person advisory committee to continue the work of the "Living into the Future Tog...