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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In January the ordination of Sally Azar as the first female pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) was celebrated worldwide. This historic moment emphasized a powerful message of acceptance and progress in the church’s journey toward gender justice. Though Azar blazes a path for women in the ELCJHL, […]
Lectionary for May 14, 2023 Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21 Our church family had a bit of an accidental quiz recently as we discussed congregational space and usage. Someone asked why there was a special chair with a basin in front of it. A new member excitedly […]
When COVID-19 first struck, many saw it as a crisis driven by such basic questions as how to get people vaccines, protective gear and food. But groups such as the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) soon realized there were other aspects to consider: how the pandemic was affecting education, particularly for girls; how restrictions caused economic […]
Passing the Sunday-morning offering plate has traditionally been a visible role for church men. But it was the passing of a much bigger offering plate that cemented the legacy of North Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission (NCLMM), which this year celebrates 100 years of ministry and is recognized as the granddaddy of men’s groups across […]
