Stories, reflections and perspectives from diverse range of voices across the ELCA.
My wife, Janie, recently reminded me of a Bible story I’ve read countless times but perhaps never fully understood. In Mark 2, a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus by…
Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater, Minn. President and CEO, Portico Benefit Services I grew up at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, where I was confirmed and married and where our…
An ELCA pastor, economist, activist and World Food Prize laureate, David Beckmann has spent his varied career working to end poverty and hunger. Though there has been dramatic progress against…
How do Palestinian Christians tell their story? In “Stolen Stories,” a 5-part educational video series by ELCA Sumud, listen to the voices of Palestinian siblings in Christ as they recount…
![[Video] Patricia Davenport: Beloved child of God](https://livinglutheran.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/pd-436x239.jpg)
Patricia Davenport, the first African American woman to be elected bishop in the ELCA, died on July 29, 2026. This is an excerpt of an interview with Davenport by Nicolette…
Editor’s note: The following collection of reflections is a response to a reader call asking people to share their favorite hymns. “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship…
Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport, the first African American woman to be elected a bishop in the ELCA, died Wednesday, July 29. She was 70 years old. Davenport served the Southeastern…
“After a moment, Theo spoke. ‘Then I propose that we make a trade. Give me that old picture in your head, and take this new one home with you.’” —Allen…
Elected June 11 as bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Jennifer Dee believes in the value of a good conversation that acknowledges and moves through grief toward hope in Christ….
St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Portsmouth, Va. Personal care assistant St. Andrew was my mom’s first call as pastor. She’s been there for 10 years! The church has changed and grown…
As a professional oboist, Merideth Hite Estevez had always thought of herself as an artist. At a certain point in her career, however, she realized that she was pursuing artistic…
Elected on May 31 as bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod, Lisa Lewton envisions a table where all are invited to sit together enjoying God’s grace through Christ. Lewton,…
This time last year, I had a remarkable dinner with seven extraordinary people of faith. The setting fit the celebratory occasion: a restaurant with wood-paneled walls that were decorated with…
Author and ELCA pastor Natalia Terfa knows what it’s like to find oneself on the outside looking in. Growing up, she had a healthy curiosity that she found wasn’t always…
Elected May 16 as bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, Justin Grimm believes that everyone in God’s family has gifts to use in our work of transforming the…
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