Bishop Eaton Shares Message: This is the Day
June 5, 2020 “Out of my distress I called on the Lord” (Psalm 118:5). We are a nation in distress. We are a church in distress. The coronavirus has killed 103,000 of us. The virus of racism has taken hundreds of thousands more throughout our history. Now these two deadly
ELCA Presiding Bishop Calls on Church To Observe National Day of Mourning
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has called on the church to join with faith communities across the United States in lament and remembrance, and on our elected leaders to observe Monday, June 1, as a day of mourning to honor
ELCA Presiding Bishop Issues Pastoral Message on COVID-19 Racism and White Supremacy
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. -- I Corinthians 12:12 May 13, 2020 Dear church, Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! During the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic,
COVID-19 Resources
We give thanks to God for the many ways disciples and ministries are working to see that no one goes hungry. Whether you are currently operating a feeding ministry, donating to community feeding efforts, or are in need of food assistance, please look to the state and federal programs that
ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Shares Earth Day Message
April 2020 Sin and captivity, manifest in threats to the environment, are not the last word. God addresses our predicament with gifts of ‘forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation’ (Luther, Small Catechism). By the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God frees us from our sin and captivity, and empowers
Message from Bishop Eaton Outlining the ELCA’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear church, The last couple of weeks have been trying ones for everyone across this church. Our synods, congregations and ministries are facing challenges that they’ve never faced before. Being church together means more now than ever before. The churchwide office is launching a comprehensive Covid-19 response across the ELCA
Asian American Hate Crimes Outreach from the PA State Police
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in ways we could never have imagined. Lives are being lost, schools and businesses are closed, and our way of life has drastically changed. An additional consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic are the increasing volume of hate/bias crimes and incidents targeting members of
ELCA Presiding Bishop Extends Invitation to Join in the Lord’s Prayer
March 24, 2020 Dear Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church America, as part of the body of Christ, is united with other Christians in our communities, in our country and around the world. This unity takes many forms, including prayer. I am writing to extend an invitation we have received from
Help To Support Migrants in Detention During COVID-19
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) recently launched "Hope Can't Be Quarantined: How To Support Migrants In Detention During This Time of Crisis". For our friends in immigration detention, the isolation that they experience has only been intensified by the authorities’ decision to indefinitely postpone visits from family, faith leaders
Congregational Resources & Bishop Eaton On COVID-19
With the outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States and around the world, congregations and houses of worship need to be well-informed and well-prepared. The following information offers guidance as we minister to and engage with each other, and within our communities, as the body of Christ.
