Bishop Eaton Releases Statement on Gaza Hospital Attack
[The Lord] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. —Psalm 147:3 Dear church, Last week, we heard from our partners on the ground in the Holy Land about another attack in Gaza on the Al Ahli Hospital — a close partner of the Augusta Victoria Hospital, which is
A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Eaton on the Election of Pope Leo XIV
Dear church, We of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America join with people around the world in praying for the ministry of Pope Leo XIV. We rejoice with the people of the Roman Catholic Church, especially those in our communities, as they joyfully receive their new shepherd. Today we witnessed
Bishop Eaton Issues Pastoral Message on the Death of Pope Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not
North America – Holy Land Solidarity Visit Statement
“The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’” (John 12:12-13a). Over the past week we have engaged in a solidarity visit with the people
ELCA Conference of Bishops calls for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza
ITASCA, Ill. – The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is adding its voice to the growing group of faith leaders urgently calling for a permanent bilateral cease-fire in Gaza. We urge President Joe Biden, our legislators, and all who lead and make decisions on
LAMPa Presence at ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering
Pennsylvania synod hunger leaders, LAMPa Director Tracey DePasquale and ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellow Quentin Bernhard joined fellow hunger leaders from around the country and world at the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering, Feb, 1-4 in Houston, Texas. The gathering celebrated 50 years of ELCA World Hunger and included service-learning site
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) Rolling Applications Open
The ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis, and applications are accepted year-round. Those who apply by February 1 will be considered for the service year beginning the following August. Priority will be given to those who apply before January
A Statement from Bishop Eaton on the Conflict in the Holy Land
Dear church, The ELCA’s commitments call on us to denounce unequivocally any attacks — past, present or future — by any party that lead to civilians becoming victims. Our hearts are with all those who have been killed or injured, and with their families and friends. With an anticipated ground
A Statement from Bishop Eaton on the Israel-Hamas War
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?" —Psalm 22:1 Dear church, As Lutherans, we are accustomed to holding tension between two truths. Thus the ELCA denounces the egregious acts of Hamas, acts that have
A Call to Act as Church Begins 2023 Season of Creation: Let Justice and Peace Flow
The Prophet Isaiah proclaims: “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43: 19). The Season of Creation is an international,
