The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will convene July 28-Aug. 2 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The assembly, the primary decision-making body of the church, will gather on the original and ancestral homelands of the Hohokam, O’odham and Piipaash peoples under the theme “For the Life of the World” (learn more about the theme here).
This year the 845 voting members will elect a new presiding bishop and secretary. Elizabeth Eaton has served as presiding bishop since 2013. Sue Rothmeyer, an ELCA deacon, has been secretary since 2019.
Voting members will participate in plenaries, discussions and worship; act on key legislative business; hear reports from officers and the nominating and memorials committees; and receive updates on the work of the church.
Key actions coming before the assembly include the social statement “Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All” and its proposed implementing resolutions; and proposed editorial changes to the social statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.”
Voting members will review proposed amendments to the ELCA’s constitution and adopt a budget. Other voting measures include electing 20 people to the Church Council and others to churchwide boards and committees.
The assembly will also receive the 2024 Lutheran-Orthodox “Common Statement on the Filioque.” The filioque refers to the words “and the Son,” which divided the Eastern and Western churches when they were added to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed in 1054. This year’s 1,700th anniversary of the creed marks an opportunity for reconciliation between Eastern and Western Christianity.
The assembly will have the opportunity to participate in an AMMPARO Migrant Ministry candlelight vigil and walk recognizing and preserving the human dignity of all God’s people, with special emphasis on migrant, asylee and refugee communities.
An exhibition powwow will feature dancers, drummers and singers from the Native American communities in the Phoenix area. This exhibition will be an opportunity for assembly participants to learn from our Indigenous siblings about the dances, songs, regalia and all that makes for powwow tradition and culture.
Worship and assembly proceedings will be available via the assembly’s livestream. For more information on the event and to view the livestream, visit the assembly web page. Living Lutheran will also post daily assembly recaps on its homepage.
