Ongoing persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, economic shocks and natural disasters, as well as other destabilizing events, all compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, have greatly increased the number of people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes. The ELCA AMMPARO strategy to accompany migrants with protection, advocacy, representation and opportunities was adopted […]
“In its simplest form, becoming a sanctuary denomination means that the ELCA is publicly declaring that walking alongside immigrants and refugees is a matter of faith. In baptism, we are brought into a covenantal relationship with Jesus Christ that commits us to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Following the example of […]
While Karina was shoulders deep in a river in the Darién Gap, crossing between Colombia and Panama, her main thought was whether she, her 6-year-old son and her 18-year-old daughter would make it safely to the other side. The idea of reaching the U.S. border or being allowed into the United States seemed increasingly unlikely. […]
A man in flip-flops, dirty jeans and a worn T-shirt sat on a rickety chair in a migrant safe house in southern Mexico. His two teenagers stood beside him. Holding his head in his hands, he said, “I’m just so thankful my daughter wasn’t raped in front of me.” The day before Mexican bandits assaulted […]
Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has issued a statement on the U.S. Congress’ passing of a budget package that she said “will have a monumental impact on many in the country and on our ministries and communities.” The scope of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is “generation-defining and life-altering for many, […]
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 […]
Every day, Living Lutheran offers a prayer for the day from the ELCA resource “Prayer ventures,” which can be downloaded here. These daily petitions are offered as a guide for your own prayer life as together we pray for the needs of the world and give thanks for the ministries of our church. Friday, June […]
Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has issued a statement on the Trump administration’s recently announced travel ban to the United States from 12 countries, several of which are majority-Muslim. The ban is scheduled to take effect on June 9 and will suspend issuing of immigrant visas that can lead to permanent residency […]
Every day, Living Lutheran offers a prayer from the ELCA resource Prayer ventures. These daily petitions are offered as a guide for your own prayer life as together we pray for the needs of the world and give thanks for the ministries of our church. The prayers for the entire month can be downloaded here. Saturday, March 15 […]
Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has issued a statement on the immediate impacts of recent executive orders focused on immigration. “I have heard about families frightened of being torn apart and from congregations fearful that their churches can no longer offer safety or support to their immigrant neighbors,” the statement read, in part. […]
