Every day, families seeking refuge face fear, separation, and uncertainty. Parents are forced to make impossible choices. Children endure journeys no child should have to take. And as our nation reckons with how it will treat the most vulnerable, we are called—as people of faith—to respond.

This Ash Wednesday, we remember. We remember our shared humanity. We remember that we, too, were once strangers in a foreign land. And we remember that faith calls us to act.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has convened a coalition of interfaith leaders in support of refugees and immigrants who are forced to flee their homes.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a video message in response to the executive order on immigration that rolled back guidance to immigration authorities in protected areas such as places of worship, schools and hospitals.

Houses of worship, while sacred spaces, are not immune to disruption, emergencies, or violence. The top recommendation from ELCA’s crisis communication experts is simple but crucial: assemble a crisis team before you need one. A well-prepared congregation can respond swiftly, communicate effectively, and ensure safety for all.

False claims about Lutheran organizations and federal funding circulated on X on February 1, prompting a strong response from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. In a video statement, Bishop Eaton reaffirmed the ELCA’s commitment to truth and its long-standing mission of serving the vulnerable. Lutheran organizations have responsibly used federal grants for 85 years, and the ELCA calls on political leaders to reject misinformation and uphold integrity. Watch Bishop Eaton’s full response in our blog post.

What to Do If You Feel Led to Be a Leader in Ministry?

Connecting with the La Crosse Area Synod Candidacy Committee is a great next step. This is a team of appointed people throughout the synod to accompany people exploring their calling to further education and leaders in the church.

The Publishing House of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)—the official name of our parent organization—is reverting to our previous "doing business as" name of Augsburg Fortress Publishers. What isn't changing is our commitment as your denominational publisher: to create substantive and innovative materials to support you and your congregation in communicating the good news of God's liberating grace.

Civic engagement, including voting and public service, is a meaningful way we live out our faith in the public sphere. The ELCA encourages everyone to engage in the political process with integrity, advocating for justice, peace, and the common good.

ELCA World Hunger looks back on 50 years of ministry and reflects on how God calls all of us into the bold pursuit of ending hunger in our world. Join us and be part of the story of our next 50 years together — boldly and faithfully pursuing God’s promise of a just world where all are fed. 

ELCA Conference of Bishops Analyzes Churchgoing Trends in Planning for Future

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Bishops of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin have sent out a plea request for a cease-fire for the conflict in the Middle-East.

Tune in on Oct. 15 to hear firsthand stories from partners at ELCA World Hunger projects — including Educación Popular en Salud (EPES), a community health organization in Chile founded over 40 years ago, and more recent starts such as Tapestry Farms, a Midwestern urban farm system in the “Quad Cities” of Iowa and Illinois. You’ll see the impact of 50 years of ELCA World Hunger work and get excited and equipped to be a part of the next 50 years!

The ELCA Conference of Bishops has issued a statement on the need to speak the truth.

ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is a fantastic part of our church that shows up where help is needed and works until the job is done. As we support LDR, we are helping to meet the needs of our neighbors.

In anticipation of Election Day in the United States, Bishop Eaton reminds us that “civic engagement through political and nonpolitical processes is how we live into our baptism and share Christ’s love as we work to make a difference in our communities and strive for justice and peace across the globe.”

Reflections from a newbie at the ELCA National Youth Gathering Whew!  What a whirlwind!  I had the pleasure of attending the tAble, MYLE, and the National Youth Gathering this past July in New Orleans.  Honestly I am still processing all of it a month later because there was so much to take in. 

Contribute to the ELCA's developing a social statement on civic life and faith, the relationship of church and state, and related matters.

The Conference of Bishops of the ELCA added its voice to concerns about international situations during its meeting Feb. 27-March 5 at Eaglewood Resort in Itasca, Ill.

The Bishops issued a statement and sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza and urging the president and legislators “to do everything in their power to bring an end to the current suffering and lay the foundation for lasting peace with justice.”

The conference is an advisory body of the ELCA that comprises 65 synod bishops, the presiding bishop and the secretary.