I am a transgender woman. I’m also a person of faith—an active member of and leader in my ELCA congregation. I’m sure the Lord guided my journey toward becoming a woman, an activist and an author. My mother named me Mark, and for nine years I acted the role of a boy. Then I discovered […]
Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has issued a statement on anti-LGBTQIA+ bills that have recently been introduced in the United States. “As we approach March 31, many people are preparing to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility, an international day to celebrate the contributions of transgender people and raise awareness about the deadly […]
Katey Zeh thought she knew the stories in Scripture—and she did, but mainly those about men. When she started combing through the Bible looking specifically for women, named or unnamed, everything changed. Her new book Women Rise Up: Sacred Stories of Resistance for Today’s Revolution (FAR Press) is partially the result of that exploration. Not […]
With Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, the ELCA issued the following statement on gender identity discrimination: In light of recent public events and conversation, it is important to remember the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) rejects all forms of hatred or discrimination. This includes employment discrimination against the transgender community, as stated in “Gender Identity […]
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How does our church walk with lesbian, gay, and bisexual people?
On day three of the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, Lutheran young people explored freedom—the freedom to be their full selves, loved by a God who created them just as they are; the freedom work of highlighting the dignity of all people; and the freedom to accompany others, putting God’s love into action. On Thursday 5,012 […]
On the second day of the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, Lutheran young people gathered collectively and in groups across New Orleans to explore together the meaning of “Created to Be Authentic.” From July 17-19 youth groups will alternate engaging in different participation days. On Synod Day groups explore the city with others from their synod […]
At the end of Christendom, the church is in crisis. The conditions that allowed the growth of the church until the 1960s have collapsed. While nostalgia for that era continues, there is no going back. We hear widespread laments at the decline of the institutional church and despondency among church leaders. As a denomination, the […]
June is Pride Month! We are excited to affirm and embrace everyone in the church, and to amplify the voices of our ELCA siblings in the LGBTQIA+ community. Today we are speaking with Vica-Etta Henrietta Steel (she/her). How are you connected to the ELCA? I was outside of the Christian faith for decades. Most of […]
